China may have just initiated a water war with India. How? It has begun work on the controversial dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, known as the Brahmaputra River in India. Once completed, it will be the world’s biggest dam.

As China formally began construction of a dam over the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, closer to the Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh, the river is back in the spotlight. Let's understand this key UPSC geography current affairs topic by connecting it with your syllabus in a simple way.

The dam will be located in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo. India and Bangladesh have already raised concerns about its possible impact on the millions of people who live downstream.

Former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal criticised Beijing for ignoring the rights of downstream countries like India and Bangladesh, even as it backs Pakistan’s position on the Indus Waters Treaty.