Teesta
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Overview
The Teesta rises in north Sikkim, flows through West Bengal and enters Bangladesh, joining the Brahmaputra system. The Himalaya between the Kali and the Teesta is called the Nepal Himalaya, and east of the Teesta lies the Assam Himalaya.
Sharing its water is a pending India–Bangladesh issue: a draft agreement was ready in 2011 but stalled over West Bengal's objections. China has offered support for a Teesta development project in Bangladesh.
Geography and key facts
- Source: north Sikkim
- Flows through Sikkim and West Bengal into Bangladesh
- Divides the Nepal and Assam Himalaya
- Water-sharing draft (2011) still pending
Why it matters for UPSC
Asked in a statements question on the Teesta (2017), a river map question (1997) and a 2026 river identification question; also a GS2 India–Bangladesh topic.
Note for UPSC
Rises in north Sikkim and flows into Bangladesh; its water sharing is an India–Bangladesh issue.
Prelims asks about tributaries, the states a river flows through, its basin and the projects on it, so trace the course on the map.
Asked in PYQs
- UPSC Prelims 2026 · Q35Identify the river of the Indian sub-continent on the basis of the following information : Select the answer from the following :…
- UPSC Prelims 2017 · Q30With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements : Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?…
- UPSC Prelims 1997 · Q76In the map shown in the given figure, rivers labelled as 1, 2, 3 and 4 are respectively…
Questions from our Prelims bank whose text names Teesta.
Key facts
- Type
- River
- States / UTs on its course
- West Bengal, Sikkim
- River system
- Himalayan
- Basin
- Brahmaputra
- Extent on map
- 25.4°–27.6°N, 88.4°–89.7°E
- Asked in Prelims
- 3 questions · 2026, 2017, 1997
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.
In the lessons
- India's Foreign Policy: Principles and Neighbourhood
- India–Bangladesh and India–Myanmar Relations
- Physiographic Divisions of India in Depth
- Drainage Systems of India: Himalayan and Peninsular Rivers
- Physical Features and Drainage of India (map lesson)
- The Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilisation (map lesson)