Prepare for competitive exams with our Indus Water Treaty MCQs with Answers. This collection covers key facts, history, and provisions of the Indus Water Treaty signed between India and Pakistan. Ideal for students, CSS, PMS, and general knowledge quizzes, these multiple-choice questions help reinforce your understanding of international water-sharing agreements.
1. In which year was the Indus Water Treaty signed?
A) 1950
B) 1955
C) 1960 ✅
D) 1965
2. Which two countries are parties to the Indus Water Treaty?
A) China and India
B) India and Pakistan ✅
C) Nepal and Pakistan
D) Afghanistan and India
3. Who brokered the Indus Water Treaty?
A) United Nations
B) World Bank ✅
C) United States
D) United Kingdom
4. How many rivers are included in the Indus Water Treaty?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 6 ✅
D) 5
5. Which rivers were allocated to Pakistan under the treaty?
A) Beas, Ravi, Sutlej
B) Indus, Jhelum, Chenab ✅
C) Ganges, Yamuna, Brahmaputra
D) Ravi, Chenab, Yamuna
6. Which rivers were allocated to India under the treaty?
A) Indus, Jhelum, Chenab
B) Beas, Ravi, Sutlej ✅
C) Sutlej, Indus, Yamuna
D) Chenab, Ravi, Ganga
7. The Indus originates in which country?
A) India
B) China ✅
C) Pakistan
D) Nepal
8. The headquarters of the Indus Waters Commission is located in:
A) Islamabad
B) Lahore
C) New Delhi
D) Both New Delhi and Islamabad ✅
9. What is the main purpose of the Indus Water Treaty?
A) Flood control
B) Hydropower sharing
C) Water distribution ✅
D) Trade regulation
10. The Permanent Indus Commission was established under which article?
A) Article I
B) Article VI
C) Article VIII ✅
D) Article X
11. The treaty allows India to use Pakistan’s rivers for:
A) Storage
B) Unlimited irrigation
C) Non-consumptive use (e.g., hydropower) ✅
D) Agriculture
12. How often does the Indus Waters Commission meet?
A) Monthly
B) Quarterly
C) Annually ✅
D) Every five years
13. The Beas river flows into which river?
A) Indus
B) Ravi
C) Sutlej ✅
D) Chenab
14. Which river is the largest in the Indus system?
A) Sutlej
B) Indus ✅
C) Chenab
D) Jhelum
15. Which country has upper riparian rights in the Indus system?
A) Pakistan
B) India ✅
C) Both
D) None
16. How many annexures are in the Indus Water Treaty?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 5 ✅
D) 7
17. Under the treaty, disputes are first resolved by:
A) Military action
B) Court proceedings
C) The Permanent Indus Commission ✅
D) The UN
18. The treaty is considered an example of:
A) War management
B) Conflict resolution ✅
C) Political dominance
D) Hydropower sharing
19. The treaty has survived:
A) Two wars
B) Three wars
C) Several conflicts ✅
D) One border skirmish
20. India is allowed to build:
A) Dams on western rivers
B) Hydroelectric projects with restrictions ✅
C) Large storage dams
D) Canals for export
21. The Kishanganga project is on which river?
A) Indus
B) Jhelum ✅
C) Beas
D) Chenab
22. Which river flows through Kashmir into Pakistan?
A) Yamuna
B) Jhelum ✅
C) Sutlej
D) Beas
23. Who signed the treaty on behalf of Pakistan?
A) Liaquat Ali Khan
B) Ayub Khan ✅
C) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
D) Benazir Bhutto
24. Who signed the treaty on behalf of India?
A) Nehru ✅
B) Gandhi
C) Patel
D) Lal Bahadur Shastri
25. The treaty allows India to irrigate:
A) 1 million acres
B) 500,000 acres
C) 700,000 acres ✅
D) Unlimited acres
26. The Baglihar Dam was objected by:
A) Afghanistan
B) Nepal
C) Pakistan ✅
D) China
27. The Indus basin is primarily located in:
A) Afghanistan
B) India
C) Pakistan ✅
D) Bangladesh
28. The Treaty mentions "neutral expert" for:
A) Water storage
B) Mediating disputes ✅
C) Flood management
D) Trade facilitation
29. The Indus Waters Treaty came into force on:
A) 19 September 1960 ✅
B) 14 August 1960
C) 15 August 1961
D) 2 October 1962
30. What is the total catchment area of the Indus basin?
A) Around 500,000 sq km
B) Around 700,000 sq km
C) Around 1.1 million sq km ✅
D) Around 1.5 million sq km
The Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan with the help of the World Bank. According to the treaty, India received control over the eastern rivers Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej while Pakistan got the western rivers Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. The agreement outlines water sharing, usage rights, and dispute resolution methods, ensuring cooperation over the Indus basin water resources.