📖 Bilateral treaties
- Indus Waters Treaty (1960) — governs river water sharing between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank; has survived multiple wars between the two countries, though India has recently signalled intent to review certain provisions.
- Treaty of Peace and Friendship (1950) — the foundation of close India-Nepal relations, including open borders.
- India-US Civil Nuclear Agreement (2008) — ended India's nuclear isolation, discussed further in India & Major Powers.
🌐 Multilateral treaties and agreements
- Paris Agreement (2015) — a global climate treaty aiming to limit global warming; India has committed to specific emissions and renewable energy targets under it.
- Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) — India is not a signatory, viewing it as discriminatory between recognised and non-recognised nuclear states.
- Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) — India has also not signed this treaty, citing similar concerns about discriminatory disarmament obligations.
🎯 Why treaty knowledge matters for the exam
Questions often test whether a candidate can correctly distinguish which treaties India has signed versus abstained from, and the stated reasoning behind India's position — a recurring theme especially around nuclear-related agreements.
