essay on river indus

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World history

Course: world history   >   unit 1, indus river valley civilizations.

• Indus Valley civilization
• The Vedic Period
• Sanskrit connections to English
• Hinduism: core ideas of Brahman, Atman, Samsara and Moksha.
• Ancient India
• The Indus River Valley Civilization, 3300-1300 BCE, also known as the Harappan Civilization, extended from modern-day northeast Afghanistan to Pakistan and northwest India.
• Important innovations of this civilization include standardized weights and measures, seal carving, and metallurgy with copper, bronze, lead, and tin.
• Little is understood about the Indus script, and as a result, little is known about the Indus River Valley Civilization’s institutions and systems of governance.
• The civilization likely ended due to climate change and migration.

Geography and time-frame

Urban infrastructure and architecture, innovation and exchange, religion, language, and culture, institutions and hierarchies, what do you think.

• Why was it important that the Harappans developed standardized weights and measures?
• Do you think there is enough evidence to support the idea that Harappans were peaceful and enjoyed social equality?
• How did the Indus Valley Civilization interact with the river networks in the region? Were there any detrimental effects of the location in such a dense river network?
• What do you think is the most plausible explanation for the decline of this civilization?
• Partially adapted from "The Indus River Valley Civilizations" from Boundless World History, "CC BY-SA 4.0"

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Essay on the Indus Valley Civilisation | Indian History

In this essay we will discuss about Indus Valley Civilisation:- 1. Introduction to Indus Valley Civilisation 2. Race of Indus Civilisation 3. Date 4. Town Planning and Architecture 5. Social Life of the People 6. Economic Life of the People 7. Religion of the People 8. Art and Craft 9. Causes for the Destruction of Indus Valley Culture 10. Contribution of the Indus Valley Civilisation.

• Introduction to Indus Valley Civilisation
• Race of Indus Civilisation
• Date of Indus Civilisation
• Town Planning and Architecture of Indus Civilisation
• Social Life of the People of Indus Civilisation
• Economic Life of the People of Indus Civilisation
• Religion of the People of Indus Civilisation
• Art and Craft of the People of Indus Civilisation
• Causes for the Destruction of Indus Valley Culture
• Contribution of the Indus Valley Civilisation

1. Introduction to Indus Valley Civilisation:

For a long time it was believed that Indians are stay at home people and our civilization was only of recent origin. But the excavation at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, which led to the dis­covery of Indus Valley civilization, has set all these doubts at naught.

It has now been established beyond all doubts that India possessed one of the advanced civilisation at a time when the English people were still living in the jungle age. This unique and important civilisation of the pre-historic times in India was for the first time discovered by Daya Ram Sahni and R.D. Banerjee in 1921 and 1922.

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Further excavation were carried out along the Indus between Rupar at the foot of Shimla hills and Sutkagendor, 300 miles close to Karachi, where similar remains were discovered. In recent years excavation at village Alamirpur near Meerut and in Saurashtra have also revealed the similar remains.

All these discoveries point to the existence of an advanced civilisation in pre-historic India which is now popularly known as Indus Valley Civilization or Harappa Culture.

Though this civilisation is termed as Indus civilisation it covered even area beyond the Indus Valley. It extended from the upper Sutlej to the Gulf of Camba in the South and from Makran coast of the Arabian Sea in the west to the Jamuna-Ganges coun­try in the east. Thus the Indus civilisation was the largest of the early civilisations.

2. Race of Indus Civilisation:

There has been much contro­versy amongst the historians regarding the race to which the people of Indus Valley civilisation belonged. Different scholars have tried to speculate, mainly on the basis of human skeletons and skulls found in the ruins, about their race.

While some scholars are of the opinion that they were Aryans. This point is not acceptable to Sir John Marshall. Marshall holds that this civilisation was quite different from the earlier Vedic civilisation and that it was quite different from that of the Aryans.

According to Gorden Childe, the people of Indus Valley were of Sumerian race. However, he fails to give convincing and substantial proof in support of this view. RD. Banerjee has expressed the view that the people of the Indus Valley Civilisation were Dravidians.

However, if we take the funeral customs of the people of Indus Valley, it would be difficult to accept this contention. On the basis of the finds discovered Dr. Guha has expressed the view that the people belonged to a mixed race. Thus we find that there is great difficulty in ascertaining the race to which the people of Indus Valley civilisation belonged.

Most probably many races contributed to the evolution of Indus Valley culture and perhaps Aryans also formed an important part of them. There is every reason to believe that the Indus’ Valley culture was a synthesis of the Aryan and non-Aryan cultures and its authorship cannot be ascribed to any particular race. But one thing can be said with certainty that the Indus Valley civilisation was of a very high order.

3. Date of the Indus Valley Civilisation:

The Indus Valley, civilisation combines the features of the Neolithic and copper age. The excavation at Mohenjo-Daro have brought to light seven different it layers of buildings, which have assigned to three different period viz., early, intermediate and late. The early layers lie submerged under sub-soil water.

After due consideration the scholars have assigned 500 years to every age, and come to the inclusion that this civilisation must be having an early beginning because it must have taken the people quite a long time to develop such a urban life. Another criteria adopted by the scholars in determining the age of the Indus civilisation is discovery of seals m Mesopotamia, which are dated back to 2500 B.C.

On the basis of these seals and other available material the scholars have suggested that the upper most layer belong to the period 230C-2200 B.C. and the lower layers must have belonged to earlier period. Therefore, the period which is roughly assigned to the Indus civilisation ranges between 2500 B.C. to 500 B.C.

4. Town Planning and Architecture of Indus Valley Civilisation:

All the cities of the Indus Valley civilisation such as Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, Chanhuduro, Lohumjudaro etc., display the remarkable skill of the Indus valley civilisation in town planning and sanitation.

Of a these Mohenjo-Daro is better preserved and its excavation has revealed the points that the successive cities were built according In tin plan. This city was built after careful planning, as is clear from streets which though vary in width yet intersect at right angles.

These streets thus divide the entire city into square or rectangular blocks, which are further intersected by narrow lanes. Some of the streets are very long and wide. At least one street has been traced which is more than half a mile long and at places over 30 wide. All the roads are aligned east to the west and north to south. The corners of the streets were rounded so that loads should not get dislodged.

The bricks used for the pavements were comparatively of small size and were plain surfaced. L shaped bricks were occasion­ally used for corners. Mud mortar was universally used. The plaster of the wall was mainly of mud or gypsum.

The city had an elaborate drainage system, consisting of horizontal and vertical drains, street drains, soak-pits, etc. The architecture of Mohenjo- Daro though not quite artistic and beautiful was quite utilitarian. The peoples used burnt bricks in building walls, pavements, bath rooms, drains, etc.

Some sun-baked bricks were used for the foundation. The foundations were usually very deep. The buildings were generally erected on high platform to protect them against floods, which seem to have been quite common.

Dr. A.D. Pusalker has greatly admired the town planning of the Indus Valley people and says, “A visitor to the ruins of Mohenjo-Daro is struck by the remarkable skill in town planning and sanitation displayed by the ancients, and as an English writer has observed, feels himself surrounded by ruins of some present- day working-town in Lancashire.”

He has divided the buildings unearthed into three categories:

(1) Dwelling houses or residential buildings

(2) Larger buildings and

(3) Public baths.

The size of the Dwelling houses differed from one and another. The small houses consisted of minimum two rooms while the big ones had large number of rooms and often could be mistaken for the palaces. Each house had a wall and drain which were connected with the main street drain.

Vertical drain pipes suggest that bath rooms were constructed in upper storeys also. The presence of the stairways also suggests that the houses used to be double-storey; The entrance to the houses were placed in narrow by-ways and windows were non-existent.

The roofs were floored by placing reed matting of veans and covering them with mud. The planning of the houses does not suggest any purdah. The size of the doors used in the houses varied from 3 feet 4 inches to 7 feet and 10 inches.

In addition to the dwelling houses certain spacious and large buildings also-existed. Some of these possessed large pillared halls about 80 ft. square. These buildings were probably supposed to be temples, municipal or assembly halls.

Another important feature of the houses which deserves mention was that the people were very fond of baths. In every house a special place was set aside for a bath-room. The floor of the bath-room was water-tight with a clear slope towards one corner. The water of the bath-room would pass to the latrine which was generally situated between bath-room and the outer wall of the house.

People were probably in the habit of taking bath daily. The love of the people for the bath is further confirmed from the discovery of a public bath at Mohenjo-Daro. This bath was 30 X 23 X 3 feet and was surrounded by varandah, galleries and rooms on all sides. It was constructed of the burnt bricks and was connected with the fine drainage system for filling and emptying it.

The swimming baths were filled with the water from the wells, which were built of burnt bricks. With a view to keep the wells neat and clean steps were provided. In addition to the Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro, a bath has also been discovered at Harappa which measures 39 X 13 X 8 feet.

The walls of this bath were plastered with gypsum and lime morter. People used these baths on religious occasions as well as otherwise. Thus we find that the people of Indus Valley civilization attached great signifi­cance to the bath like the Hindus.

Careful study of the above features of town planning viz. ade­quate water supply, efficient drainage system, and existence of pucca houses shows that the art of town planning and architecture was quite advanced. The presence of lamp posts at intervals indicates that the system of street lighting also existed.

In short we can agree with Dr. R.C. Majumdar and say that the ruins of the city of Mohenjo-Daro reveal that “on this site a large, populous and flou­rishing town, whose inhabitants freely enjoyed, to a degree unknown elsewhere in the ancient world, not only the sanitary conveniences but also the luxuries and comforts of a highly developed municipal life.”

5. Social Life of the People of Indus Valley Civilisation:

It has already been observed that the people of Mohenjo-Daro were of cosmopolitan character. Evidently these people were attracted by the fertility and productivity of the area and came from different parts of Asia.

1. Food and Drinks:

The people of the Indus Valley were both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. They cultivated wheat, bailey rice and bred cattle sheep, fish and poultry for food. They also used fish as food. They were also in the habit of taking fruits and vegetables and date was the most favorite fruit of the people.

As regards, the non-vegetarian food they took beef, mutton, poultry, flesh etc.. This has been proved by the discovery of half-burnt bones, found in the houses, lanes and streets.

2. Domestication of Animals:

The Indus Valley people domes­ticated various types of animals. The most common amongst them were the buffalo, sheep, goat, camel, cow etc. They worshipped the humped bull which has been proved by the various seals. It is not fully’ known whether the people of Indus Valley knew about the horse.

However, certain scholars have taken certain bones recovered on the upper-most layer as bones of the horse, while the others have denied. The people also knew about wild animals like lion, rhino­ceros, tiger, monkey, bear etc. In addition they also knew about similar animals like mongoose, squirrel, parrot, peacock, cat etc. This is borne out by the presence of large number of clay models or toys of these animals.

3. Dress and Ornaments:

As regards the dresses no actual specimens of clothing have fallen into the hands of the excavators and we have to make conjectures about their dress from the various figures. Most probably both cotton and woolen clothes were used by the people. The clothes were sewn as has been indicated by the discovery of needles.

We can form an idea about the dress used by the people from the various sculptures of the age. It appears that the women used loin cloth bound by a girdle. In fact there was very little difference between the dress of the males and the females. Most of the people used lower garments which resembles the modern dhoti along with the upper garments which was a type of a shawal.

The people of Indus Valley were great lovers of fashion. Men kept various types of beards and whiskers. The women were also very fashion conscious and bore fan-shaped hair dress. Various objects of head dressing like ivory combs, bronze mirrors have been discovered.

People were in the habit of using antimony also. The discovery of various toilet jars made of ivory, metal pottery and stone have led the scholars to the conclusion that the people were in the habit of using powder.

The authors of Vedic age have also observed:

“Small cockle shells containing a red ochre rouge, lumps of green earth white face paint, and black beauty substance show that the belles in ancient Sind attended to beauty and toilet culture. It is interesting to note that Chanu-daro finds indicate use of lip-sticks”.

Both men and women were in the habit of using ornaments. These ornaments were made of clay and various metals like gold, silver, copper, bronze etc., Certain ornaments like necklaces, fillets, armlets, finger-rings and bangles were used by both men and women. On the other hand ornaments like girdles, nose studs, ear-rings and anklets were used by women alone.

4. Sports and Games:

The people had great love for sports and games and a number of evidences are available to this effect. Some of the prominent games of the tune were dice playing. This is indicated by the presence of large number of dieses during the course of excavation. People were also fond of hunting.

This is proved by the various seals on which men are shown as hunting wild goats and a large anti-lopes with bows and arrows. People also delighted in birds fighting. Fishing was used both as game as well as regular profession.

The children had special love for clay modelling as is proved by the presence of large number of crude models of men and women and animals, whistles, cattle etc. But probably the greatest source of amusement for the- people was music and dance. This is proved by the figure of a bronze dancing girl and terra cotta figures.

5. Disposal of the Dead:

From the evidence, we find three methods were used for the disposal of the dead person:

Firstly, the dead body was buried.

Secondly, after burning the dead body the remains of the dead body were buried under earth.

Thirdly, the dead bodies were left for the wild animals.

Almost all the three methods have been discovered but according to Sir John Marshall, the second method was the most popular.

6. Household Articles:

A number of household articles have been unearthed at Mohenjo-Daro. These articles include cake moulds, dippers, beakers, bowls, dishes, gobies, basins, pans, saucers, etc. These articles are made of stone, shell, ivory, metal etc.

It is note­worthy that during this period the copper and bronze replaced stone models for the manufacture of household objects. In addition certain needles, axis, sans, sickles, knives, fish hooks, chisels have also been discovered.

6. Economic Life of the People of Indus Valley Civilisation:

The various objects recovered at the site of Mohenjo-Daro suggest that it was a prosperous city. The people were fully acquain­ted with agriculture and different types of agriculture. Implements like sickle have been discovered. The common agricultural products of the time were wheat, barley, vegetables, cotton etc.

As the laud of the Indus Valley was quite productive and had sufficient irrigation facilities, the agriculture seems to have been the main stay-of the people. In addition to this people domesticated animals for econo­mic purposes. The main animals which were domesticated by the people of Indus Valley included cow, bulls, buffaloes, sheep, goat, camel etc.

1. Industry:

Mohenjo-Daro was a great industrial centre and a number of industries were practiced there. But probably the most important of these industries was weaving. This is proved by the discovery of a number of spindles and spinning wheels in the various houses of Indus Valley. This suggest that spinning of cotton and wool was quite common.

In addition the people of Indus Valley also knew the practice of dyeing. People also knew the art of using metals like gold, silver, bronze, copper, tin, led etc. and they produced various articles with these metals. But probably the most important industry of the Indus Valley people was pottery.

The earthen pots of those days which have been discovered now can be broadly classified into two categories—hand made and wheel made. The discovery of number of pottery kilns shows that the pots were burnt in kilns. People produced a variety of pots, certain pots were meant for daily use and were plain while other pots were meant for the preservation of valuables and were painted.

2. Trade and Commerce:

The city of Mohenjo-Daro was a great trading centre and both internal and external trade was carried on from there. The international trade was mainly carried on by the land routes in which bullock-carts were used. The people of Mohenjo-Daro had trade relations with the people living in South India, Cen­tral India and North-Western India, is proved by the common use of precious and semi-precious stones.

The trade with foreign coun­tries was mainly carried through water routes. This has been proved by the representation of a boat on a seal. Trade was particularly carried with countries of Western Asia. The chief articles sent to the foreign countries were the clothes.

The presence of certain objects of Indus Valley civilisation in Sumeria suggest that India had trade re­lations with that country also. Scholars have expressed the opinion that Mohenjo-Daro was economically prosperous city only because it was a flourishing centre of trade and commerce.

3. Weights and Measures:

A large number of weights have been discovered from Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa. These weights differ a great deal in size. While some of the weights are so heavy that they could not be picked up with hands and were used with the help of ropes, while the others were so small that it appears that they were used exclusively by the jewelers.

But the most common weight which was used by the people of Indus Valley is cubical in shape. The people of Indus Valley also knew about the footage system. It appears that the State exercised strict control over weights and measures.

7. Religion of the People of Indus Valley Civilisation:

As regards the religion of the Indus Valley people nothing can be said with certainty because the excavation have not revealed any temples, shrines, altars or cult objects. However, we can make some conjectures, about their religious beliefs from the various seals and objects of sculptures.

This testimony clearly indicate that the people had quite an advanced type of religious faith. At least, one thing, is quite clear that the iconic and an iconic cults existed side by side.

The principal deity of the people was Mother-Goddess, a prototype of the ‘Power’ (which later developed into Shakti). A number of standing and semi-nude female figure, wearing a girdle or band round her loins, with an elaborate head dress and collar, etc. have been discovered.

Mackary has suggested that some sort of oil or incense was burnt before this goddess to please her. Human sacrifices were offered to the Mother-Goddess as is proved by the seal. The animal sacrifices were quite common. In addition to the Mother-Goddess, people worshipped a three-headed-deity which can be recognised as a prototype of historic Shiva.

It has been suggested by certain scholars that the Aryans borrowed Siva cult from the Indus Valley people. The cult of animal worship was also quite common. The animals were not only worshipped but were also regarded as Vahana of the gods viz. bull was regarded as the vehicle of Lord Siva.

At Mohenjo-Daro we get a number of evidence of animal, tree and image worship also. Yoga also played an impor­tant part in the religious practice as is proved by the presence of ‘ring-stones’ and ‘chess-men’.

The image worship was certainly known to the people of Indus Valley as is indicated by the crossed legged figure on a table discovered recently. On this tablet devotees are shown kneeling to the right and left to the figure and the snake be­hind the worshipper.

Water played an important role in the religious beliefs of the people, as is evident from the presence of the Great Bath. Certain scholars have suggested that the Great Bath was the temple of the River God. Certain scholars have also suggested that before perfor­ming the Puja people used to take bath in the Great Bath for their purification.

8. Art and Craft of the People of Indus Valley Civilisation:

The people of the Indus Valley did not make much progress in the field of fine arts and crafts. The various tools, weapons, vessels, houses and public buildings which have been dis­covered lack artistic touch.

We have also not come across any monumental sculpture in any of the remains. Although the people of Indus Valley could not produce works of art on a large scale, they displayed notable artistic achievement at-least in seal engravings, especially those of animals.

The various figurines and amulets also show their art at great height. A few stone images found at Harappa are specimens of an excellent finish and show a high degree of deve­lopment in the art of the sculpture. But probably most outstanding artistic work produced by the Indus Valley people is the bronze ‘dancing girl’.

As one writer has said:

“She is naked but wears bracelets, right up to the shoulder. She is standing in a provocative posture, with one arm on her hip and one lanky leg half-bent. This young woman has an air of lively pertness quite unlike anything in the work of other ancient civilizations. It has been suggested that this ‘dancing girl’ is a representative of a class of temple dancers and prostitutes, such as existed in contemporary Middle Eastern civiliza­tion and were an important feature of later Hindu culture, but this has as yet not been historically established. It is not certain that the girl is a dancer, much less a temple dancer.”

Some of the important crafts which flourished during the Indus Valley civilization period were that of pottery, carpentry, masonry, blacksmith, ivory work, stone cutting etc. The people also knew about spinning as is proved by the presence of large number of spindle wheels.

The Art of Writing and Script:

The inscriptions on the seals discovered at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro prove that the people of Indus Valley knew some sort of writing. Their script has been characterized as pictographic, each sign standing for a particular word or object. It appears the people wrote from left to right but in some cases they first wrote from right to left and then from left to right and so on.

According to Basham, “The Indus script may have been inspired by the earliest Sumerian script which proba­bly antedates it slightly, but it bears little resemblance to an” of the scripts of ancient Middle East.”

Nothing can be said for certainty about the language or the script used by the Indus Valley people, because the script has not so far teen un-deciphered. However, certain scholars regard this script as Sanskrit while other considers it as Dravidian. But R. B. Dikshit is of the view that the people of Indus Valley developed an indepen­dent script of their own.

Certain scholars have tried to advocate that the script of the Indus Valley people was identical to the one used by the people in Egypt, Sumeria and other countries of West Asia. However, nothing can be said for certain about the script of the Indus Valley people except that it was pictographic.

9. Causes for the Destruction of Indus Valley Culture:

In the absence of any written material or historical evidence scholars have made various speculations regarding the causes for the Decline or destruction of Indus Valley civilisation.

Some of the causes advanced by the scholars are as follows:

Firstly, some scholars contend that due to decrease in rainfall, Sindh might have become desert and people might have migrated to some other place.

Secondly, certain scholars believe that the earthquake or cyclone might have been responsible for the decadence of Indus Valley culture.

Thirdly, it is argued that the great wealth of the people of the Valley attracted wild tribes from the hills, who might have brought about the destruction of the Indus Valley civilisation. Certain skele­tons have been unearthed which provide testimony to this view.

It cannot be said for certain as to who were the invaders who destroyed the Indus Valley civilisation. There is also a possibility that the Aryans who were better equipped might have conquered Indus Valley people. In support of this view it is pointed out that Rig-Veda contains a reference to the conflict between the Aryans and non-Aryans and the destruction of the walled cities of non-Aryans.

Fourthly, archaeologists have attributed the decline of the Valley civilisation to the progressive decay of the land due to cultivation, neglect or destruction of the irrigation facilities and the continuous exploitation of land and firewood for brick manufacture.

Finally, scholars believe that the decline of Indus Valley culture might have taken place due to the change of course by Indus liver. As a result of this change the fertile Indus Valley was converted into a tract of sand and people were forced to leave the place. However, all these views are mere conjectures and nothing can be said for certain about the causes of the decline of Indus Valley civilisation.

10. Contribution of the Indus Valley Civilisation:

The Indus Valley civilisation had made very rich contribution to the modern Hindu culture. In fact many of the features found in the Indus Valley civilisation have been adopted by the Hinduism. Siva as a deity is as popular with the people today as it was during the time of the Indus Valley civilisation.

Similarly the cult of Linga and Yoni is also prevalent throughout the country and was taken from the Indus Valley people. The worship of trees and plants is also in vogue in many parts of the country. Certain plants like Tulsi and Pinal are worshipped.

The animal worship which was popular with the Indus Valley people is also found at present. Certain sacred animals, cows and bulls are worshipped even today. Certain animals and birds still regarded as the vehicles or vahana of certain deities.

Therefore, we can conclude that there is an organic relation­ship between the ancient culture of the Indus Valley and Hinduism of today. The religion of the Indus Valley people was the lineal progenitor of Hinduism.

Related Articles:

• Indus Valley Civilization in India | Indian History
• Essay on Indus Civilisation
• History of the Indus Valley Civilization
• Indus Valley Civilisation: Origin, Evolution and Characteristics

• IAS Preparation
• UPSC Preparation Strategy
• Indus Water Treaty

Indus Waters Treaty - UPSC Notes

The Indus Waters Treaty is a water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan signed in 1960. It was brokered by the World Bank. This is an important treaty and one of the most successful water-sharing agreements to date. It is an important topic for the UPSC exam as it features in the news whenever Indo-Pak relations are discussed.

Indus Water Treaty Latest Update

• The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) between India and Pakistan marks its 60 th  anniversary on 19 th  September 2020.
• In March India had suggested a virtual conference but Pakistan had insisted on a physical meeting. But, India said because of restrictions on movement in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, travelling to the border for a meeting isn’t advisable.
• In August 25, 2021 Pakistan raised objections to a mega 624 MW project over the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir citing that the dam was in violation of the Indus Water treaty. But the Indian government firmly asserted that the construction of the dam was within the established norms of the treaty.

Table of Contents:

Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)

The IWT was signed by the then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the then Pakistani President Ayub Khan. Brokered by the World Bank (then known as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development), the negotiations for the agreement went on for nine years.

Ever since the partition of India in 1947, the Indus River had been a bone of contention between the four countries through which it runs – India, Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan. The river originates from Tibet.

India had blocked water to Pakistan for some time in 1948 but later restored it after the ceasefire. In 1951, Pakistan took the matter to the United Nations (UN) and accused India of cutting the supply of water to many Pakistani villages.

On the recommendations of the UN, the World Bank came up with this agreement in 1954. It was eventually signed on September 19, 1960.

Indus Waters Treaty – Provisions in Brief

The treaty spells out conditions for water-sharing of the River Indus and its five tributaries.

• All the waters of the Eastern Rivers shall be available for the unrestricted use of India until the arise of any unwanted situation.
• A Permanent Indus Commission was set up by the United Nations for resolving any disputes that may arise in water sharing, with a mechanism for arbitration to resolve conflicts amicably.
• According to the treaty, India can use the water from the western rivers for domestic, non-consumptive needs such as storage, irrigation, and also the generation of electricity.
• The treaty gives India 20% of the water from the Indus River System and the rest 80% to Pakistan.
• In executing any scheme of flood protection or flood control each country(India/Pakistan) will avoid, as far as practicable, any material damage to the other country.
• The use of the natural channels of the Rivers for the discharge of flood or other excess waters shall be free and not subject to limitation by either India or Pakistan, and neither of the countries shall have any claim against the other in respect of any damage caused by such use.

Indus Waters Treaty Issues

There have been issues concerning the treaty with both sides accusing each other of violating the terms of the treaty.

• In 2016, Pakistan had approached the World Bank raising concerns of India’s Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric power projects being constructed in Jammu & Kashmir. India then requested for neutral experts to inspect the plants, saying that the points raised by Pakistan were technical ones and do not require a court of arbitration (as Pakistan has taken it to an arbitration court). The World Bank permitted India to proceed with the projects after talks were concluded between both the countries on the technicalities of the treaty.
• The Tulbul project (which is a navigation lock-cum-control structure at the mouth of the Wular Lake, situated on the Jhelum from Anantnag to Srinagar and Baramulla) was suspended in 1987 after Pakistan objected to it. Recently, the government decided to review this suspension not taking into account Pakistan’s protests.
• Pakistan’s Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) project passes through the Rann of Kutch in India’s Gujarat. The project was constructed without India’s consent. India has objected because this is in contravention to the IWT. The lower riparian state is in India and hence it needs to be given all details. There is also the danger of flooding in the state of Gujarat.
• Recently, the bilateral relations between India and Pakistan have taken on a downward spiral. In the wake of the Uri attacks on India, Prime Minister Modi remarked that blood and water cannot flow simultaneously indicating to Pakistan that its support to terrorism across the border will lead to India rethinking its generous stance on the IWT. Indeed, many experts believe that the treaty is more favourable towards Pakistan than India.
• Another issue cited with the IWT is that it was signed on India’s behalf by the then PM Nehru. However, he was not the head of state and that the treaty ought to have been signed by the head of state, the then president of the country.
• India does not use its entire share of water it is entitled to as per the provisions of the IWT. About 2 million acre-feet (MAF) of water from the River Ravi flows into Pakistan unutilized by India.
• In the wake of the Pulwama attacks in 2019, the Indian government stated that all water flowing into Pakistan at present, in the three eastern rivers, will be diverted to Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan for different uses.
• Shahpurkandi Project: This will help in generating power for Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
• Ujh Multipurpose Project: This will create storage of water on the Ujh, which is a tributary of the River Ravi, for irrigation as well as power generation.
• 2nd Ravi Beas link below Ujh: This has been declared a National Project by the GOI. This involves constructing a barrage across river Ravi for diverting water through a tunnel link to the Beas Basin. This is planned to prevent excess water flowing into Pakistan.

For more on India – Pakistan Relations  visit the linked article.

Developments on the Eastern rivers of Indus Water Treaty

• To utilize the waters of the Eastern rivers which have been allocated to India for exclusive use, India has constructed Bhakra Dam on Satluj river, Pong and Pandoh Dam on Beas river, and Thein (Ranjit Sagar Dam) on Ravi river.
• India utilizes nearly an entire share of 95% of the water of Eastern rivers with the help of works like Beas-Sutlej Link, Madhopur-Beas Link, Indira Gandhi Nahar Project, etc. However, about 2 Million Acre Feet (MAF) of water from Ravi is reported annually to be still flowing unutilized to Pakistan below Madhopur.
• Construction of Shahpur Kandi Project to utilize the water coming from Thein Dam for irrigation and power generation in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
• Construction of Ujh multipurpose project – River Ujh is a tributary of Ravi. It will create storage of water for irrigation and power generation in India. This project is a National Project whose completion period will be 6 years from the beginning of the implementation.
• The 2nd Ravi Beas link below Ujh project is being planned to tap excess water flowing down to Pakistan through river Ravi, even after construction of Thein Dam, by constructing a barrage across river Ravi for diverting water through a tunnel link to Beas basin.

IWT – Options for India

A few political thinkers believe that the treaty is one-sided and biased towards Pakistan and that it should be abrogated.

However, this is easier said than done and not without serious ramifications. 

• The treaty’s provisions do not allow a unilateral abrogation.
• Even if India decides to back down from the treaty, the 1969 Vienna Convention on the law of treaties should be abided by.
• This can hamper the country’s image internationally. India’s other neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal may become skeptical about similar treaties with them.
• Some experts on international affairs think that India should safeguard bilateral treaties if it is aspiring for a permanent seat in the UNSC.
• The move to abrogate the treaty may lead to more problems with respect to terrorist activities.
• India should also build adequate infrastructure to use the entire water before stopping water from Pakistan.
• Another angle is that of China. China, with its support to Pakistan, may block the water from the Brahmaputra to Assam. It can also stop the waters of the Indus which originates in the Chinese territory.

Experts opine that India should use the waters of the western rivers as permitted by the IWT. This alone can send a strong signal to Pakistan. A lot should be thought over before any other drastic steps are taken, as they can have lasting effects on the relationship with Pakistan.

Indus Waters Treaty – Indian Polity:- Download PDF Here

UPSC Questions related to Indus Water Treaty

What is the indus waters treaty.

It is a water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan signed in 1960, to divide the waters of the Indus and its five tributaries between the countries.

Who signed on the Indus Basin Treaty from Pakistan?

The treaty was signed between Jawaharlal Nehru from India and Ayub Khan, the then President of Pakistan.

What are the main features of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 between India and Pakistan?

The Treaty allocates the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan and the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India. At the same time, the Treaty allows each country certain uses on the rivers allocated to the respective other country.

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Essay on Indus River For Kids & Students

Starting from Tibet, the Indus River flows through Jammu & Kashmir to the rest of Pakistan. It is the greatest river on the west of the subcontinent and it is among the seven holy rivers for Hindus. It was the source of Indus Valley Civilization.

Indus is the longest river in Pakistan with the total length of 2880 km and drainage area of whopping 1,165,000 sq. km (450,000 sq. miles). The annual flow of the river is estimated at around 207 cubic km. (50 cu. Miles). So, it is the 21 st largest river in terms of annual flow in the world.

The river was also known as “Sindhu” in ancient India. The word “Indós” was used by the Ancient Greeks and “Hinduš” was used by Old Persians and it is known as Sindhu in Sanskrit.  On the sub-continent, modern languages use either Sindhu or Sindh or similar words. So, it is no doubt that the country India is named after this river.

River Delta

Around 60% of total land area of Indus River lies in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. On the other hand, Tibet has only 10%, India has 22%, and Afghanistan got just 7% of catchment area of Indus River basin.

The water system of the rivers includes Indus River along with its tributaries, Kurram River and Kabul River on right bank, and Ravi River, Jhelum, Chenub River, Beas River, and Sutlej on the left. When the first two rivers join Indus just after Indus leaving the mountains, others fall down in the plains. The head parts of Sutlej and Ravi and whole of Beas enter the Republic of India, while most parts of Jhelum and Chenab lie in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Agriculture would be in a major trouble without Indus waters in Pakistan, as the area doesn’t receive much rain. Due to rapid industrialization in Pakistan, water resources are very important. A huge portion of its proposed and existing industry need to survive on the agricultural produce for manufacturing with the raw materials. Virtually all the Indus river basin gets average rainfall of just 15 inches, i.e. 60% of area getting only 10 inches, and 16% getting only 5 inches.

In the Indus lands at Skardu, walnuts, apples and poplars grow. In the Shigar valley, delicious apricots, melons, and nectarines grow. As they are spoilt in transit, it is not easy to distribute them across the country.

The main sources of upper Indus are glacial melt water and snow from the Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and the mountainous regions of Himalayas. It flows through the picturesque valleys and deep gorges. But Indus River hardly navigates because of harsh turbulence. It gets waters from the five rivers of Punjab (Jhelum, Chenab, Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej).

Indus is known as the chief river in Pakistan and King of Rivers in India. The valley was the site of a civilization which ruled from 2500 BC to 1500 BC. There are twin Takht-I-Sulaiman peaks in the western corners of the river in Central Pakistan.

Santosh Kumar

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10 Lines on Indus River

Indus River is the longest and one of the oldest rivers which flows through China, India and Pakistan. It originates from the Tibetan plateau along the foothills of Lake Mansarovar. Indus River runs through Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and then it enters in Pakistan. Indus River is the lifeline and the longest river of Pakistan as it flows to Karachi and drains in the Arabian sea with the coverage area of 450,000 square miles.

The ultimate source of Indus River is in Tibet. The river flows from north-west through Ladakh, Baltistan in Gilgit, PoK and from there it flows to entire Pakistan. Indus Valley Civilization, which is the oldest known civilization of mankind was located on the banks of the Indus River around 5500 BC.

Ten Lines on Indus River in English

10 lines on indus river – set 1.

1) Indus River or better known as “Sindhu” is a largest water body in South-East Asia.

2) It is the longest river on the western side of the Indian subcontinent.

3) Indus River has the total length of 2880 km and it is also a trans-boundary river.

4) It flows through the Tibetan region of China, India and Pakistan.

5) Indus is the longest river of Pakistan which also passes through North-Western India.

6) Indus River was the birthplace of early Indus valley civilisation around 5500 BC.

7) Indus River has Indus valley which is located at the fertile flood plain along the river.

8) Entire Indus river basin covers about an area of 3,84,000 square miles of open land.

9) Over 60 percent of the total area of the Indus river basin is located in Pakistan and PoK.

10) The rest 22 percent of Indus river basin is in India and 10 percent is in Tibetan region.

10 Lines on Indus River – Set 2

1) Indus River is one of sacred rivers for Hindus; it is also called as “Sindhu” in Sanskrit, “Hindu” in Persian and “Sindh” in Urdu.

2) Indus River is one of the longest rivers of the world which originates from the south of Kailash Mountains in Tibet and falls into the Arabian Sea near Karachi, Pakistan.

3) Indus River has the total coverage area of 1,165,000 square kilometres and the annual water flow of Indus river is 203 km 3 making it as the 21 st largest river of the world.

4) The Indus water river system consists of main Indus River and its five tributaries viz, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas rivers on the right and Sutlej River on the left.

5) Indus River follows a typical path from its start at 18000 feet in the Himalayas near Lake Mapam, and flows 200 miles north-west from Kashmir to Pakistan.

6) The famous Indus Valley Civilization which is the oldest known civilization was located on the fertile riverbank of Indus River around 5500 BC.

7) Numerous towns and cities were built up in the Indus valley during 2500 BC and Indus Valley Civilization was at its peak in 2500 to 2000 BC.

8) During its peak, the civilization was boasted off with its well-built houses with wells, bathrooms, underground drainage systems etc.

9) Two major cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were excavated and explored in Indus valley civilization coinciding with Babylonian and Egyptian civilization. 

10) Indus River is the key source of water supply to India and Pakistan and apart from drinking water the river is very useful for agriculture and transportation.

10 Lines on Indus River – Set 3

1) Indus River emerges in central Asia.

2) It is regarded as one of the world’s longest river.

3) The river traces its course in India, China, and Pakistan.

4) Manasarovar Lake in the Tibetan plateau is the originating place of the river Indus.

5) Indus River is 3180 km in length.

6) The area of the drainage basin of river Indus is 1165000 square km.

7) Zanskar, Suru, Soan, Jhelum, etc are the left bank tributaries of the river Indus.

8) Shyok, Hunza, Gilgit, etc. are the right bank tributaries of the river Indus.

9) The average discharge of the river Indus is 6930 cubic meters per second.

10) Indus River finally terminates into the Arabian Sea via Karachi.

10 Lines on Indus River – Set 4

1) Indus is an important river of the Asian continent.

2) It is ranked among the 50 largest rivers in the world in terms of the flow rate of water.

3) The river has great cultural significance.

4) Sindhu was the ancient name of the river Indus.

5) Ravi, Jhelum, Chenab, Beas, Sujtej rivers form Indus water system.

6) The river water is the source of drinking water in Pakistan.

7) It is also utilized for agricultural purposes in Pakistan.

8) Indus River gets flooded with water during the months of July to September.

9) It has been the center for the development of ancient civilizations like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.

10) Indus River is home to a variety of flora and fauna.

During the flow of Indus River, it goes through the area of Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan where walnuts and apples are highly cultivated. In the Shigar valley, delicious apricots and melons are also grown due to the fertile river. Indus River is very much important for India as well as Pakistan and in fact it is the lifeline of whole Pakistan. As Indus River covers a large portion of Pakistan’s Punjab, Sindh and other provinces and Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab in India, it highly supports agriculture and transportation in these areas making the river very important for these countries.

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Essay On River

500 words essay on river.

Rivers are the backbone of human civilizations which provide freshwater that is the basic necessity for human life. We cannot live without water and rivers are the largest water bodies for freshwater. In fact, all civilizations in the past and present were born near river banks. In other words, they are veins of the earth that make life possible. Through an essay on rivers, we will take a look at their importance and how to save them.

Importance of Rivers

We refer to rivers as the arteries of any country. No living organism can live without water and rivers are the most important source of water. Almost all the early civilizations sprang up on the river banks.

It is because, from ancient times, people realized the fertility of the river valleys. Thus, they began to settle down there and cultivate the fertile valleys. Moreover, rivers originate from mountains which carry down rock, sand and soil from them.

Then they enter plains and water keeps moving slowly from the mountainsides. As a result, they deposit fertile soil. When the river overflows, this fertile soil deposits on the banks of rivers. Thus, bringing fresh fertile soil constantly to the fields.

Most importantly, rivers help in agriculture. In fact, a lot of farmers depend on rivers for agricultural purposes. Rivers have the ability to turn deserts into productive farms. Further, we can use them for constructing dams as well.

Further, rivers also are important highways. That is to say, they offer the cheapest method of transport. Before road and railways, rivers were essential means of transportation and communication.

In addition, rivers bring minerals down from hills and mountains. We construct damns across the river for generating hydel power and also preserve the wildlife. Further, they also come in use for encouraging tourism and developing fisheries.

Save Rivers

As pollution is on the rise, it has become more important than ever to save rivers. We must take different measures to do so. First of all, we must use biodegradable cleaning products and not use chemical products for body washing.

Further, we must not waste water when we shower. After that, we must install the displacement device in the back of the toilet for consuming less water. It is also essential to turn the tap off while brushing or shaving.

Moreover, one must also switch off the lights and unplug devices when not in use. This way we save electricity which in turn saves water that goes into the production of electricity. Always remember to never throw trash in the river.

Insulating your pipes will save energy and also prevent water wastage. Similarly, watering the plants early morning or late evening will prevent the loss of water because of evaporation . Finally, try to use recycled water for a carwash to save water.

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Conclusion of the Essay on River

Rivers are essential as they are nature’s blessings for human beings. It provides us with so many things but nowadays, they are being polluted on a very large scale. We must all come together to prevent this from happening and saving our rivers for a better future.

FAQ of Essay on River

Question 1: What is the importance of rivers?

Answer 1: Rivers are important as they carry water and nutrients to areas all around the earth. Further, rivers play quite an important part of the water cycle, as they act as drainage channels for surface water. Most importantly, they provide excellent habitat and food for many of the earth’s organisms.

Question 2: How can we protect our rivers?

Answer 2: We can protect our rivers by segregating our household garbage into biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. Moreover, volunteering with NGOs and community groups is also great option to save rivers from pollution.

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