January 22, 2026

Indian Treaties Database (MEA) Access Extradition, Trade & Tax Agreements (1947-2026)

Indian Treaties Database (MEA): Access Extradition, Trade & Tax Agreements (1947-2026) description: "The ultimate 24x7 guide to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Treaty Database. Learn how to download the full text of India's Extradition Treaties, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAA), and historic pacts like the Shimla Agreement." date: 2026-01-13 author: Resources Desk | Sansad Online tags: [MEA Treaty Database, Indian Treaties, Extradition Treaty, DTAA, Shimla Agreement, Article 253, International Relations, UPSC IR]

🌏 24x7 Resource: Indian Treaties Database (MEA)

The Diplomacy Hub

Access the legal contracts between India and the World.

  • Official Portal: mea.gov.in/treaty.htm
  • Maintained By: Legal and Treaties Division (L&T), MEA.
  • Key Content: Bilateral & Multilateral Agreements since 1947.
  • Motto: "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (The World is One Family).
🏛️ CONSTITUTIONAL FACT: Unlike the US Senate which must ratify treaties, in India, the Executive (Cabinet) has the power to sign and ratify international treaties without Parliament's approval (unless a new law is needed to implement it under Article 253). This makes the MEA database the only place where these binding documents are publicly listed.

Introduction: The Fine Print of Foreign Policy

(Why Treaties Matter to You)

Foreign policy is often seen as photos of leaders shaking hands. But the real work happens in the documents they sign.

  • For the Businessman: The Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Singapore determines if you pay tax twice on your profits.
  • For the Fugitive/Lawyer: The Extradition Treaty with the UK determines if a Vijay Mallya or Nirav Modi can be brought back.
  • For the Student: The Indus Waters Treaty (1960) determines how much water flows into Pakistan.

The Indian Treaties Database is a digital archive managed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). It contains the full text of over 3,000 agreements signed by India since Independence. Whether it is a "Cultural Exchange Program" with Peru or a "Nuclear Deal" with the USA, the specific clauses are hidden here.

This "24x7 Resource Page" guides you through this clunky but vital database, decoding the difference between an "MoU" and a "Treaty," and highlighting the historic documents that shaped India's borders and economy.

🔍 How to Search the Database

The MEA website is vast. The Treaty Database is tucked away in the "Legal" corner.

Step 1: Access the Portal

  • Go to: mea.gov.in -> "Documents" -> "Treaties/Agreements".
  • Direct Link: mea.gov.in/treaty.htm

Don't just scroll. Use the search filters.

  • Country: Select "United States of America" or "Pakistan."
  • Subject: Type "Extradition" or "Cyber Security."
  • Year: Select "1960" (for Indus Waters) or "2008" (for Nuclear Deal).

Step 3: Bilateral vs. Multilateral

  • Bilateral: Agreement between two nations (e.g., India-France Rafale IGA).
  • Multilateral: Agreement between many nations (e.g., Paris Agreement on Climate Change).

📖 Decoding the Documents: Types of Agreements

Not all handshakes are equal. In diplomacy, the title of the document changes its legal weight.

1. Treaty (The Strongest)

  • Nature: A binding commitment under international law.
  • Example: Extradition Treaty, Indus Waters Treaty.
  • Status: Hard to break. Breaking it causes a diplomatic crisis.

2. Agreement

  • Nature: Specific operational deals.
  • Example: Air Services Agreement (Allows Air India to land in London).
  • Status: Binding, but often has "Exit Clauses" (e.g., 6 months notice).

3. MoU (Memorandum of Understanding)

  • Nature: A statement of intent. "We agree to agree on this in the future."
  • Example: MoU on Cooperation in Yoga.
  • Status: Usually non-binding. If nothing happens, nobody sues.

4. Protocol

  • Nature: An addition/amendment to an existing treaty.
  • Example: Protocol amending the India-Mauritius Tax Treaty.

🏛️ Hall of Fame: 5 Treaties That Defined India

Every citizen should read the text of these five historic documents available in the archive.

1. The Instrument of Accession (1947)

  • Signatories: Maharaja Hari Singh (J&K) and Lord Mountbatten (India).
  • Significance: The legal basis for Jammu & Kashmir becoming part of India. The text is short, standard, but historically explosive.

2. The Indus Waters Treaty (1960)

  • Signatories: Jawaharlal Nehru (India), Ayub Khan (Pakistan), and the World Bank.
  • Significance: Often cited as the most successful water treaty in the world. It survived three wars. It allocates the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan and Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India.

3. The Shimla Agreement (1972)

  • Signatories: Indira Gandhi and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
  • Significance: Signed after the 1971 War. It converted the Ceasefire Line into the Line of Control (LoC) and mandated that all disputes (including Kashmir) must be settled bilaterally (no UN interference).

4. The Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal (123 Agreement) (2008)

  • Significance: It ended India's nuclear apartheid, allowing us to buy nuclear fuel despite not signing the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty). The text is a masterclass in diplomatic ambiguity.

5. The Tashkent Declaration (1966)

  • Signatories: Lal Bahadur Shastri and Ayub Khan (mediated by USSR).
  • Significance: Signed after the 1965 War. Shastri died mysteriously in Tashkent hours after signing this.

👮 The "Extradition" Section: Bringing Them Back

This is the most searched section by journalists.

How Extradition Works:

  1. The Treaty: India must have a signed Extradition Treaty with the country where the fugitive is hiding. (e.g., We have one with the UK, but not with China).
  2. The Principle of Dual Criminality: The crime must be a crime in both countries. (e.g., Financial Fraud is a crime in both India and UK).
  3. The Political Exception: Most treaties say you cannot extradite someone for "Political Offences." This is the loophole fugitives often use, claiming they are victims of political vendetta.
  • Search Tip: Search "Extradition" in the database to see the full list of ~50 countries India has treaties with.

Your diplomatic library:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Is a treaty binding on Indian courts?

Not automatically.

  • Dualist Theory: India follows the "Dualist" model. A treaty does not become law for Indian citizens until Parliament passes a specific Enabling Act.
  • Example: To implement the TRIPS Agreement (World Trade Organization), India had to amend its Patents Act. Without the amendment, you cannot sue in an Indian court based solely on the treaty text.

Q2. Can a State Government sign a treaty?

No. Under the Constitution, Foreign Affairs is exclusively in the Union List (List I).

  • A Chief Minister (e.g., of Tamil Nadu or West Bengal) cannot sign a deal with Sri Lanka or Bangladesh. They can only hold talks, but the signature must be of a Central Government representative.

Q3. What is a "Letter of Rogatory" (LR)?

It is a formal request from an Indian Court to a Foreign Court asking for help (e.g., "Please freeze this bank account"). It is not a treaty, but it operates based on the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLAT) found in this database.

Q4. Why is the "Indus Waters Treaty" text important?

Whenever Pakistan objects to an Indian dam (like Kishanganga), they quote specific "Annexures" of this 1960 treaty regarding the height of the dam gates. Reading the text helps you understand the technical water wars.

Q5. What is the "Vienna Convention"?

It is the "Treaty on Treaties." It defines diplomatic immunity. It is the reason why a diplomat's car cannot be stopped by traffic police. India is a signatory, and the text is in the MEA archive.

Bookmark this page. In a globalized world, your rights are often decided by a document signed in Geneva or New York.