Haryana, Rajasthan Sign Upper Yamuna Water-Sharing Pact

Haryana and Rajasthan signed a Memorandum of Understanding in New Delhi on 29 June 2026 to implement the 1994 Upper Yamuna River Board Agreement. The arrangement concerns the allocation and transfer of Yamuna river water among basin states under the Upper Yamuna framework.

Upper Yamuna River Board Agreement

The Upper Yamuna River Board Agreement was signed on 12 May 1994 by five basin states, including Haryana and Rajasthan. The agreement covers the distribution of surface flow of the Yamuna River among participating states.

Yamuna Water Project

The water transfer arrangement for Rajasthan will use a dedicated 295.5-km underground pipeline system. The project is named the Yamuna Water Project and has an estimated cost of Rs 34,102 crore.

Meetings and Institutional Framework

A consensus on the water-sharing arrangement was reached on 23 June 2026 in a high-level meeting chaired by Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil in New Delhi. The 9th meeting of the Upper Yamuna Review Committee in November 2025 had already recorded progress on the project for transferring Rajasthan’s share of Yamuna water.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Yamuna is a major tributary of the Ganga river system in northern India.
• The Upper Yamuna River Board was created to manage water allocation among basin states.
• Underground pipelines are used in water transfer projects to reduce open-channel losses.
• Memorandums of Understanding are commonly used in inter-state administrative arrangements in India.

Signatories and Venue

The signing ceremony was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. The MoU was signed in New Delhi on 29 June 2026.