India Holds Indus Waters Treaty in Abeyance Since April 2025, Pakistan Seeks ICJ & UNSC Intervention Over Water Dispute

4th PCA Award Against India: Ratle Project Halted, Treaty Remains in Force as India Keeps Abeyance

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has issued its fourth award against India, ruling that India's decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance is impermissible and ordering a halt to the Ratle Hydroelectric Project. India rejects the PCA as illegally constituted and maintains the treaty is effectively dead. Meanwhile, India is pushing ahead with eight major infrastructure projects on the western rivers worth ₹50,000 crore, signalling a decisive shift in its water-sharing stance.

India-China Brahmaputra River Dispute: No Water Treaty, Data Sharing Suspended, Medog Dam (60 GW) Threat

India and China have no binding water treaty for the Brahmaputra; only two flood-season memorandums (2002, 2005) that China suspends during tensions. China's Medog mega-dam (60 GW) in a seismic zone threatens Arunachal and Bangladesh. India itself is an upstream withholder (Indus with Pakistan) and lacks a binding framework.

India-Bangladesh Tensions: Ganga Water Treaty Renewal, Teesta Stalemate, Hasina Factor

India-Bangladesh relations are strained due to Sheikh Hasina's exile in India, unresolved water sharing issues (Teesta and Ganga treaty renewal), and the new BNP government under Tarique Rahman. Strategic concerns include revival of extremism, China's influence, and Pakistan's attempts to drive a wedge. The Ganga Water Treaty expires December 2026, requiring renegotiation.

Permanent Court of Arbitration Rules Indus Waters Treaty Fully in Force; India Ordered to Restrict Ratle Dam Work

The Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague ruled that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) remains fully in force and India cannot unilaterally suspend it. India rejects the court's jurisdiction and has not participated in proceedings. The ruling also restricts construction on the Ratle hydro-electric plant, impacting India-Pakistan water relations.

India Joins P4M Alliance, Seeks UN Security Council Seat 2028-29 as UN Authority Fades

India's growing global influence coincides with the UN's declining authority. The article analyses India's strategic dilemma: it must shape international rules while avoiding dependence on rival power blocs. Key development: India co-launched the Partners for Multilateralism (P4M) group with Brazil, Canada, Kenya, EU, Australia, Barbados to counter economic coercion and advance collective interests.

India-China Corps Commander Talks in Eastern Sector for 2 Days; 23 Rounds Since 2020

India and China held 2-day Corps Commander-level talks in the eastern sector (Arunachal Pradesh) amid tensions in Taksing area. This mechanism, active since 2020 in eastern Ladakh, has completed 23 rounds. The talks follow Special Representative meetings and set the stage for Xi Jinping's likely India visit for the BRICS Summit.

18th BRICS Summit 2026: Xi Jinping's First India Visit Since 2020 Border Clashes

The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi (Sept 12, 2026) is a landmark event with Chinese President Xi Jinping visiting India for the first time since the 2020 border clashes. The summit features an expanded BRICS with new members like Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and the UAE, alongside ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. For exam purposes, this summit tests your understanding of India's foreign policy balancing, multipolar world order, and the evolving role of BRICS as a platform for the Global South.

India Raises Concerns on US SRIA Law Allowing 100% Tariff on Russian Oil Buyers

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and conveyed India's concerns over the newly signed US 'Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act' (SRIA), which authorizes up to 100% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil and gas, including India. India reiterated its commitment to protect its economic interests and ensure energy security.