InternationalTuesday, 1 September 2026·The Hindu - National
India rejects Hague court ruling on Indus Waters Treaty; MEA cites lack of jurisdiction
On 31 August 2026, India rejected the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling on the Indus Waters Treaty, saying the body lacked jurisdiction and the treaty remains in abeyance.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On August 31, 2026, India’s Ministry of External Affairs rejected the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague’s ruling on the Indus Waters Treaty, saying the court had no jurisdiction and that India’s decision to keep the treaty in abeyance remained in force.
Key specifics
- The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration said the Indus Waters Treaty remains “fully in force”.
- India said the court was constituted by the World Bank in “patent breach” of the treaty terms.
- The MEA reiterated that India had placed the Indus Waters Treaty “in abeyance” after the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.
- The court’s interim measures mentioned the Ratle Hydro-Electric Plant (RHEP) and a 90-day period after the Neutral Expert’s final decision, expected in July 2027.
- The arbitral panel was chaired by Prof. Sean D. Murphy and included members from Belgium, the United States, Jordan and Australia.
Exam lens
Question type: International relations and treaty bodies, key facts: Indus Waters Treaty, Permanent Court of Arbitration, World Bank, abeyance, Ratle Hydro-Electric Plant, July 2027. TNPSC one-liner: Which body did India reject for lacking jurisdiction over the Indus Waters Treaty dispute?