Major Treaties & Agreements
International Relations · प्रमुख संधियां और समझौते · 19 facts
Simla Agreement 1972: Signed by PM Indira Gandhi and PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after 1971 war; established LoC; agreed to resolve disputes bilaterally.
Indus Waters Treaty 1960: World Bank brokered between India (PM Nehru) and Pakistan (President Ayub Khan); governs sharing of 6 rivers.
Indus Waters Treaty: India gets eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej); Pakistan gets western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab); considered successful water-sharing treaty.
Tashkent Declaration 1966: India (PM Lal Bahadur Shastri) and Pakistan (President Ayub Khan) signed after 1965 war; PM Shastri died in Tashkent the following day.
Lahore Declaration 1999: PM Vajpayee (bus yatra to Lahore) and PM Nawaz Sharif signed; committed to peaceful resolution of disputes, including Kashmir.
SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Agreement, 2006): Tariff reduction among SAARC countries; limited impact due to India-Pakistan tensions.
RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership): India opted out in November 2019 over concerns about Chinese goods flooding the market.
Kartarpur Corridor 2019: India-Pakistan agreement to allow Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan visa-free.
Indo-US 123 Agreement (2008): Civilian nuclear cooperation deal; India agreed to IAEA safeguards on civilian reactors; USA agreed to supply nuclear fuel/technology.
Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (India-Soviet Union, 1971): Signed just before 1971 Bangladesh War; ensured Soviet support at UN against US/Pakistan.
Panchsheel Agreement 1954: India-China Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence; signed in context of Tibet trade agreement.
Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs): India revised its BIT model in 2016 after losing several international arbitrations; now includes carve-outs for public interest regulations.
India-EU Free Trade Agreement: Under negotiation since 2007 (paused 2013, restarted 2022); covers goods, services, and investment.
India-UAE CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, 2022): India's first CEPA with a Middle East country; covers goods, services, investments.
India-Australia ECTA (Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, 2022): First FTA in 10 years for India; fast-tracked to boost trade between the two Quad partners.
Shimla Convention 1914: Britain, China, Tibet met to demarcate borders; McMahon Line drawn; China never ratified it.
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961): Governs diplomatic immunity; India is a signatory; consular and embassy staff have immunity.
India-Sri Lanka Peace Accord 1987: PM Rajiv Gandhi and President Jayewardene signed; India sent IPKF; ended after IPKF withdrew in 1990.
Treaty of Friendship India-Bhutan 2007: Replaced 1949 treaty; gives Bhutan full sovereignty in foreign policy (earlier India had advisory role).