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India-Nepal Relationship

  Syllabus: Bilateral relation with neighbour

  Context: Recently, Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’s visited India and signed many bilateral agreements.

During the visit, India and Nepal announced a series of projects focusing on highways, I-ways, and trans-ways, aiming to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Some of the key projects include:  

• Development of the Phukot Karnali Hydroelectric Project
• Project Development Agreement for the Lower Arun Hydroelectric Project
• India set a target of importing 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal.
• Phase II facilities under Motihari-Amlekhgunj Petroleum Pipeline.
• The 35-km cross-border railway line linking Jaynagar in Bihar to Kurtha in Nepal.
• Revised Transit Agreement (1992): To allow Nepal access to India’s inland waterways.
• Inaugurated the Indian Railway cargo train from Bathnaha in India to Nepal Customs Yard.
• Nepal to join the India-led International Solar Alliance .
• India to set up a fertilizer plant in Nepal
• Integrated Check posts at Rupaidiha in India and Nepalgunj in Nepal.

Areas of Cooperation in the India-Nepal Relationship:

Challenges in India-Nepal Relationship:

Conclusion:

India-Nepal relations require formal mechanisms to resolve boundary issues, drawing from successful resolutions in other regions. People-to-people interactions and updated discourse are crucial, considering Nepal’s federated governance and changing demographics.

Insta Links

  India-Nepal relations

Mains Links

The bilateral relations between India and Nepal have been sliding apart, and hence there is a need for recalibration of ties. Discuss. (250 Words)

Prelims Links

Consider the following pairs: (UPSC 2016)

Community sometimes mentioned in the news

• Kurd — Bangladesh
• Madhesi — Nepal
• Rohingya — Myanmar

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 (d) 3 only

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No. 1 UPSC IAS Platform for preparation

Foreign Policy Watch: India-Nepal

Prachanda’s visit to india: a stepping stone for stronger nepal-india relations.

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: NA

Mains level: Issues and opportunities in bilateral relations between Nepal and India.

Central Idea

• Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ recently concluded a successful four-day official visit to India, marking his third stint as Prime Minister. Compared to his previous visits in 2008 and 2016, this visit in 2023 has yielded more concrete outcomes and managed to navigate contentious issues successfully. The visit holds significance for Nepal’s political landscape and the potential for enhanced bilateral relations between Nepal and India.

India Nepal Ties: A Backgrounder

• Ancient ties: The relationship between India and Nepal goes back to the times of the rule of the Sakya clan and Gautama Buddha.
• Cultural relations : From 750 to 1750 AD period saw a shift from Buddhism to Hinduism in Nepal and witnessed widespread cultural diffusion.
• Diplomatic ties: India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 forms the bedrock of the special relations that exist between India and Nepal.

Significance of the visit

• Strengthening Bilateral Relations: The visit signifies a renewed commitment to strengthening the bilateral relations between Nepal and India. It provides an opportunity for high-level engagement, dialogue, and cooperation, which are essential for fostering a closer partnership between the two countries.
• Concrete Outcomes: Compared to Prachanda’s previous official visits to India, this visit has yielded more concrete outcomes. The focus on economic cooperation, particularly in the hydropower sector, has resulted in progress towards realizing Nepal’s hydroelectric potential and reducing its dependence on electricity imports.
• Navigating Contentious Issues: The visit successfully managed to avoid public disagreements and controversial issues that could have strained the bilateral relationship. By prioritizing economic ties and constructive dialogue, both sides demonstrated their commitment to finding common ground and building trust.
• Political Stability in Nepal: Prachanda’s visit, along with the complex power-sharing arrangement within the coalition government, contributes to political stability in Nepal. The coalition government’s unity and consensus-based decision-making provide a conducive environment for addressing developmental issues and focusing on the country’s economic growth.
• Sub-regional Cooperation Prospects: The visit highlighted the potential for sub-regional cooperation, especially in the areas of connectivity and energy. Agreements on the expansion of transmission lines, the facilitation of trade and movement of goods and people, and the prospect of utilizing the Indian grid for Nepal’s electricity export to Bangladesh all indicate the willingness to enhance collaboration in the broader South Asian region.

Significant Progress in Hydropower Cooperation

• Increased Installed Capacity: Nepal has increased its installed capacity of hydropower from a mere 1,200 MW a decade ago to 2,200 MW currently. This growth in capacity enables Nepal to generate more electricity domestically and reduce its reliance on electricity imports from India.
• Power Export to India: During the peak season, Nepal can now export power to India. In 2021, Nepal exported 39 MW of electricity to India, and the following year, the export increased to 452 MW. This not only contributes to Nepal’s economic growth but also strengthens energy cooperation between the two countries.
• Long-Term Power Trade Agreement: Nepal and India have finalized a long-term power trade agreement that sets a target of exporting 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal to India within a 10-year timeframe. This agreement demonstrates a shared commitment to enhancing energy cooperation and regional integration.
• Hydropower Project Initiatives: Several hydropower projects have been initiated to tap into Nepal’s vast hydropower potential. For instance, the 900 MW Arun III project, started by the SJVN (formerly the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam), is expected to become operational later this year. Furthermore, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed for the 695 MW Arun IV project, and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has signed agreements for two projects with a total capacity of 1,200 MW.
• Transmission Line Expansion: To facilitate the transmission of electricity between Nepal and India, work has begun on a second high voltage transmission line between Butwal in Nepal and Gorakhpur in India. Additionally, plans are in place to construct two more transmission lines under a line of credit of $679 million. These infrastructure developments are crucial for enabling efficient power exchange and strengthening the energy partnership between the two countries.

What are the key contentious issues between the two?

• Kalapani Border Dispute: One of the longstanding issues between Nepal and India is the Kalapani border dispute. The dispute revolves around the demarcation of the border in the Kalapani region, which is claimed by both countries. Nepal argues that the region falls within its territory based on historical and cartographic evidence, while India maintains control over the area.
• Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950: The India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed in 1950 has been a subject of contention. While the treaty was intended to foster close ties and cooperation, some in Nepal perceive it as unfair and imposed upon them. There have been calls to review and update the treaty to address concerns related to sovereignty and equality.
• Cross-border Trade and Transit Issues: Cross-border trade and transit have faced challenges and occasional disruptions, impacting the flow of goods and creating economic strains. Issues related to customs procedures, tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and transit routes have led to occasional trade disputes between the two countries.
• Hydropower Development and Water Resources: Nepal’s potential for hydropower development has been a subject of interest for both countries. However, disagreements have arisen over issues such as the sharing of water resources, joint projects, and cross-border impacts of hydropower development.
• Employment of Gurkha Soldiers : The recruitment and employment of Gurkha soldiers from Nepal in the Indian Army has been an issue of concern. The Agnipath scheme, which governs the recruitment process, has been a subject of revision and discussion between the two countries.

Way Forward

• Dialogue and Diplomacy : Both countries should prioritize open and constructive dialogue to address contentious issues. Regular high-level meetings, diplomatic negotiations, and bilateral dialogues can help build mutual understanding and find mutually acceptable solutions.
• Boundary Dispute Resolution: The Kalapani border dispute should be addressed through diplomatic means. Engaging in discussions based on historical evidence, cartographic data, and international legal frameworks can help find a mutually acceptable resolution that respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both nations.
• Treaty Review and Update: Considering Nepal’s concerns about the India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950, both countries can engage in substantive talks to review and update the treaty. This process should involve thorough discussions, taking into account the evolving bilateral dynamics and ensuring a fair and mutually beneficial agreement.
• Enhancing Trade and Transit: Both nations should work towards simplifying customs procedures, reducing non-tariff barriers, and facilitating smoother cross-border trade and transit. Establishing efficient mechanisms for resolving trade-related disputes and enhancing connectivity through improved transport infrastructure will contribute to a stronger economic partnership.
• Cooperation in Water Resources: Collaborative efforts can be undertaken to harness Nepal’s hydropower potential while addressing concerns related to water resources and cross-border impacts. Joint projects, sharing of technical expertise, and mechanisms for equitable sharing of water resources can promote cooperation and mutual benefit.
• People-to-People Exchanges : Encouraging people-to-people exchanges, cultural exchanges, and promoting tourism can foster greater understanding, goodwill, and friendship between the citizens of both countries. Promoting educational exchanges, cultural events, and tourism initiatives will help strengthen the bonds at the grassroots level.
• Sub-regional Cooperation: Exploring opportunities for sub-regional cooperation within the South Asian region can contribute to mutual growth and development. Initiatives such as the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) sub-regional grouping can be further strengthened, focusing on areas such as trade, connectivity, energy, and infrastructure development
• Prachanda’s visit to India marks a significant milestone in Nepal-India relations. The progress made in hydropower cooperation, the avoidance of controversial issues, and the commitment to dialogue pave the way for a renewed focus on mutual growth and trust. As Prime Minister Modi and Prachanda have demonstrated, the “HIT” approach (Highways, Infoways, and Transways) provides a framework for rebuilding trust and strengthening the bond between Nepal and India

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• Nepal Prime Minister Prachandas Visit to India UPSC Current Affairs

Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda’s Visit to India [UPSC Current Affairs]

Recently Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal visited India on a 4-day trip and discussed various matters related to energy, trade and connectivity, etc. This is an important topic for the IAS exam International Relations segment. 

Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda’s Visit to India:

• Before the PM of Nepal arrived in India, the President of Nepal gave assent to a controversial amendment to citizenship law that Grants citizenship to women foreigners married to Nepalis.
• The Amendment grants instant citizenship and political rights to women foreigners married to Nepalis and will become one of the most liberal citizenship laws in the world.
• But the liberalization of citizenship law might face opposition from China as it is worried that the law may give descendants of Tibetan refugees citizenship and property rights.
• Though the PM of Nepal was considered as a supporter of China earlier, at present PM Prachanda is more cordial and aligns with Indian views on containing the influence of China.
• PM Dahal also joined hands with Nepali Congress to get a $500 million US grant under the Millennium Challenge Corporation ratified by Parliament and opposed his own party’s view that the grant being part of the “Indo-Pacific security plan” will undermine Nepal’s diplomatic non-alignment.
• The approval of the citizenship law by President Poudel on Wednesday is seen as an outreach to India and the US. 
• There is also progress in addressing issues around hydropower projects that India is executing in Nepal and Nepal’s PM is also treading a cautious path on projects under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that Nepal agreed to six years ago.

Read more about India- Nepal relations .

Challenges:

• Nepal’s perception of an attempt by India to micromanage is resulting in a significant loss of goodwill.
• The Association of Nepal with Western powers is leading to China take aggressive measures to increase its presence and influence in the region.
• There is a political instability and economic crisis in Nepal which will affect regional stability.
• Rising political instability is evident from an opinion poll conducted by  Interdisciplinary Analysts (IDA) where 91% of respondents said the army was the most trustworthy institution.
• There is also a demand for trying Maoists at the court in The Hague by Human rights activists.

Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda’s Visit to India [UPSC Current Affairs]:- Download PDF Here

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‘Neighbourhood First': Nepal PM to embark on 4-day visit to India to boost bilateral ties today

To boost bilateral ties, prime minister of nepal pushpa kamal dahal ‘prachanda’ will visit india on a four-day official visit..

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Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ will reach New Delhi on Wednesday afternoon on a four-day official visit to India. This will be his first bilateral visit abroad after assuming office in December last year. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation.

During the visit, the Nepalese Prime Minister will call on the President and Vice-President. He will also hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss diverse areas of the bilateral partnership. ALSO READ | Need to do ‘home-work’ before visiting India: Nepal PM ‘Prachanda’

In this three-city tour, he will be visiting New Delhi, Ujjain and Indore in Madhya Pradesh (May 31-June 3). Prachanda, 68, will be accompanied by his daughter, Ganga Dahal. He is visiting India at the invitation of Modi and will lead a delegation comprising ministers, secretaries and senior government officials, Nepal’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

Expect significant outcomes in terms of energy cooperation, connectivity projects, trade infrastructure and development cooperation initiatives, said a source.

“This is the fourth visit of Prime Minister ‘Prachanda’ to India as the Prime Minister of Nepal. The visit will further strengthen the age-old, multifaceted, and cordial relations between Nepal and India,” according to the statement. ALSO READ | Former Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal is Nepal's new PM again

“The Prime Minister (Prachanda) will address the Nepal-India Business Summit in New Delhi jointly organised by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Confederation of Indian Industry and interact with business leaders of both countries.”

India in its statement highlighted the government’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy saying, “The visit continues the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Nepal in furtherance of our ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. The bilateral relations between the two countries have significantly strengthened in the last few years in all areas of cooperation.” ALSO READ | Nepal's PM Prachanda likely to visit India next month on his first overseas trip: Report

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PM Modi visits Nepal; says India-Nepal ties unshakeable like Himalayas

PM Narendra Modi arrived in Nepal on the occasion of Buddha Jayant. This was his fifth visit to the nation. The PM was received by his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba on Monday morning. (Photo- Twitter/@MEAIndia)

Sharing images of his visit to the Maya Devi temple, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "I feel blessed to have prayed at the Maya Devi Temple on Buddha Purnima. May Lord Buddha bless us all and make our planet peaceful and prosperous." (Twitter/@narendramodi)

PM Modi's visit to Nepal is focused on bringing soft power to the centrestage of India-Nepal relations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal saw the signing of six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements between India and Nepal. (Twitter/@narendramodi)

“India and Nepal’s ever-strengthening friendship and our closeness will benefit the entire humanity in the kind of global conditions that are emerging,” Modi said while addressing the International Buddhist Conference in Lumbini. (Photo- Twitter/@MEAIndia)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday offered prayers at the sacred Maya Devi temple here in Nepal on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.(Twitter/@narendramodi)

The two leaders watered the Bodhi tree sapling from Bodh Gaya which was gifted by Modi to Lumbini in 2014 and also signed the temple’s visitor’s book. (PTI Photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nepalese PM Sher Bahadur Deuba Monday laid the foundation stone of the India International Centre for Buddhist Culture & Heritage at a plot belonging to the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), Delhi, in Lumbini.(Twitter/@narendramodi)

The India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage in the Lumbini Monastic Zone will be an important centre for learning and cultural exchanges between India and Nepal. 'Honoured to have performed the Shilanyas for the Centre with PM Sher Bahadur Deuba', the PM shared on his Twitter account. (Twitter/@narendramodi)

PM Modi said the Centre will strengthen the shared bond of Buddhism between India and Nepal. It will also further popularise the teachings and noble ideals of Lord Buddha, he added. (Photo- Twitter/@MEAIndia)

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Why in news?

• Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Prime Minister of Nepal is on an official visit to India from 31 May 2023 to 03 June 2023.
• This is the first bilateral visit abroad by the PM of Nepal after assuming office in December 2022.

What’s in today’s article?

• India-Nepal bilateral relation

News Summary

India Nepal bilateral relations

• As close neighbours, India and Nepal share a unique relationship of friendship and cooperation characterized by open borders and deep-rooted people-to-people contacts of kinship and culture.
• Under this Treaty, the Nepalese citizens enjoy unparalleled advantages in India, availing facilities and opportunities at par with Indian citizens.
• Nearly 6 million Nepali citizens live and work in India.

Different aspects of Bilateral Relations

• India is the largest trading partner of Nepal . Nepal is also India’s 11th largest export destination, up from 28th position in 2014.
• In 2021-22, while Nepal’s exports to India stood at US$ 1,371.04mn, India’s exports to Nepal were US$ 9,634.06mn.

Indian Investment in Nepal

• India is the largest source of investment into Nepal, accounting for more than 32% of the total FDI stock of Nepal, which is worth nearly USD 520 million, as per NRB data until mid-2020.

Connectivity and Development Partnership

• India’s development assistance to Nepal is a broad-based programme focusing on creation of infrastructure at the grass-roots level.
• Various projects have been implemented in the areas of infrastructure, health, water resources, education and rural & community development.
• The total economic assistance earmarked under ‘Aid to Nepal’ budget in FY 2022-23 was Rs 6.8 billion.

Cooperation in the power sector& energy

• Nepal exports more than 450 MW of electricity to India.
• India has built several hydroelectric projects, like Pokhara (1 MW), Trisuli (21 MW), Western Gandak (15 MW), and Devighat (14.1 MW) etc.
• Two additional 132 kV cross-border transmission lines between Kataiya (India) - Kusaha (Nepal) and Raxaul (India) - Parwanipur (Nepal), built with GoI grant assistance, were completed in 2017.
• South Asia’s first cross-border petroleum products pipeline , constructed and funded by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., connecting Motihari in India to Amlekhgunj in Nepal was inaugurated in September 2019.

Defence Cooperation

• A number of defence personnel from Nepal Army attend training courses in various Indian Army training institutions.
• The Joint Military Exercise SURYA KIRAN is conducted alternately in India and in Nepal.
• Since 1950, India and Nepal have been awarding each other’s Army Chief with the honorary rank of General in recognition of the mutual harmonious relationship between the two armies.
• The Gorkha regiments of the Indian Army are raised partly by recruitment from hill districts of Nepal.

Earthquake 2015

• A devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April 2015.
• India was the first country to respond by dispatching National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and special aircrafts with rescue and relief materials to Nepal.
• The total Indian relief assistance to Nepal amounted to over US$ 67 million. Later, India announced a post-earthquake reconstruction package of US$ 1 bn.
• PM Modi and his visiting Nepalese counterpart held wide-ranging talks focusing on boosting India-Nepal cooperation in several areas including energy, connectivity and trade.

Key highlights:

• Handing over of Kurtha-Bijalpura section of railway line.
• Inaugural run of an Indian railway cargo train from Bathnaha (India) to Nepal Customs Yard which is the newly constructed rail link under Indian grant.
• Inauguration of Integrated Checkposts (ICPs) at Nepalgunj (Nepal) and Rupaidiha (India).
• Ground breaking ceremony of ICPs at Bhairahawa (Nepal) and Sonauli (India).
• Ground breaking ceremony of phase-II facilities under Motihari-Amlekhgunj Petroleum Pipeline.
• Ground breaking ceremony of Indian portion of Gorakhpur-Bhutwal Transmission Line.
• Treaty of Transit between the Government of India and the Government of Nepal;
• MoU between the Government of India and the Government of Nepal for cooperation in the field of Petroleum Infrastructure;
• MoU between India and Nepal for the development of infrastructure at Dodhara Chandani check post along India-Nepal Border;
• MoU between NPCIL & NCHL, Nepal for cross border payments;
• Project Development Agreement of Lower Arun Hydroelectric Project;
• MoU for the development of Phukot- Karnali Hydroelectric Project.

Key highlights of PM Modi’s speech

• In 2014, during his first visit to Nepal, PM Modi had given a 'HIT' formula for India-Nepal relations - Highways, I-ways, and Trans-ways.
• He said that today's agreements would help that relationship become a 'super HIT '.
• He also said that we will continue to strive to take India-Nepal ties to Himalayan heights .
• Nepal's first ICP was made in Birganj.
• The first Cross-Border Petroleum Pipeline of our region was built between India and Nepal.
• The first Broad-Gauge rail line has been established between us.
• In this, along with new rail routes for the people of Nepal, provision has also been made for the facility of India's inland waterways.
• To boost connectivity to the far western region of Nepal , two more bridges will be built at Shirsha and Jhulaghat.
• Economic connectivity will be strengthened by the construction of three "ICPs ” (MoU in this regard has been signed during this visit).
• Under this Agreement, India has set a target of importing 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal in the coming ten years .
• Cooperation in the power sector has been further strengthened by agreements on the Phukot-Karnali and Lower Arun Hydro-Electric Projects.
• Besides this, another new pipeline will also be constructed from Siliguri to Jhapa in eastern Nepal.
• Simultaneously, new storage terminals will also be set up at Chitwan and Jhapa.
• Both sides have also agreed on mutual cooperation to set up a fertilizer plant in Nepal.

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Nepal PM Dahal to visit India next week, hold talks with Modi

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• Recently, the Prime Minister of India and his Nepali counterpart launched multiple projects to boost connectivity between the two countries.

Key Highlights 

• Developmental cooperation, 
• Power cooperation for projects and transmission infrastructure.
• A 35-km cross-border railway line is launched.
• Linking Jaynagar in Bihar to Kurtha in Nepal.
• It will be extended to Bardibas in Nepal
• Indian grant: ?548 crore. 
• A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on enhancing technical cooperation in the railways sector.
• The joint vision statement for joint development of power generation projects in Nepal .
• Development of cross-border transmission infrastructure .
• Bi-directional power trade based on market demand and coordinated operation of national grids. 
• Nepal invited Indian firms to invest in development, construction and operation of renewable and hydropower projects .
• The Indian side handed over the Solu Corridor , a 90-km, 132 kV power transmission line built at a cost of ?200 crore under an Indian line of credit. 
• The line will help bring electricity to several remote districts in northeastern Nepal by connecting them to the country’s national grid.
• India’s RuPay card was launched in Nepal. 
• Nepal is the fourth country, after Bhutan, Singapore and the UAE, where RuPay is live.
• The domestic variant of the RuPay card will now work at 1,400 point-of-sale machines in Nepal.
• It is expected to facilitate bilateral tourist flows. 
• Nepal signed a framework agreement to join the India-led International Solar Alliance (ISA)

India-Nepal Relations

• India and Nepal share a unique relationship of friendship and cooperation characterised by open borders and deep-rooted people-to-people contacts of kinship and culture. ( Treaty of Peace and Friendship, 1950 )
• India has been a key development partner of Nepal. About 150 Indian ventures operate in Nepal in manufacturing, services (banking, insurance, dry port, education and telecom), power sector and tourism industries.
• Both the public and private sectors of India have invested in Nepal.
• India is Nepal’s largest trading partner. 
• India has provided a transit facility to Nepal for the third country trade. 
• Both nations promote people-to-people contacts, organise cultural programmes, and conferences and seminars. 
• India and Nepal have also signed three sister-city agreements for the twinning of Kathmandu-Varanasi, Lumbini-Bodhgaya and Janakpur-Ayodhya .
• The Terai Belt of Nepal shares the relationship of shelter and marriage (Roti Beti ka Sambandh) with the Indian states of UP and Bihar.
• Hinduism is the major religion in Nepal.
• Several scholarships are provided to the Nepali nationals annually.
• Nepalese are given jobs in the Indian Government and Army.
• India has assisted the Nepalese Army (NA) in its modernization through the provision of equipment and training and cooperation in areas of disaster management.
• ICPs have been proposed at four points on the Indo-Nepal border namely (i) Raxaul-Birganj, (completed and operationalised from April 2018) (ii) Sunauli-Bhairahawa, (iii) Jogbani-Biratnagar and (iv) Nepalganj Road-Nepalgunj. 
• Both Nepal and India work in tandem in the United Nations, Non-aligned Movement and other international fora on most of the important international issues.
• Both the countries have been deeply engaged in the regional and sub-regional frameworks of SAARC, BIMSTEC and BBIN for enhancing cooperation in the region.

Irritants in the Indo-Nepalese Relations

• The Chinese Propaganda and debt diplomacy is luring Nepal.
• Nepal too is using the China Card to negotiate with India.
• India has been alleged to apply blockade after the Nepalese Constituent Assembly failed to acknowledge the demands of the Terai region Madhesis.
• The place is located in the easternmost corner of Pithoragarh and shares a border on the north with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and Nepal in the east and south.
• The area resembles a slice of cake wedged in between Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani and is the largest territorial dispute between Nepal and India consisting of at least 37,000 hectares of land in the High Himalayas.
• The area is in India’s control but Nepal claims the region because of historical and cartographic reasons.
• Both sides need to address boundary issues in a responsible manner through discussion and dialogue in the spirit of close and friendly relations.
• Since Nepal’s dependence on India is more than India’s dependence on Nepal, it is all the more necessary to balance such relations. 
• The focus should be given to more air, road, train, and waterways connectivity.
• Considering India’s economic and strategic importance for Nepal, Kathmandu needs to enhance cultural ties and people-to-people contact with India. 
• There is a need to build an environment of trust between the political leadership of the two countries. 
• Nepal also needs to create a congenial environment in the country to enable India to complete its projects in Nepal on time. 
• The importance of government-to-government relations can no longer be underestimated. 
• Also, politicisation of issues needs to be avoided.
• Need to play an active role in several important multilateral forums such as BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal), BIMSTEC, NAM, and SAARC to serve their common interests.

Source : HT

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PM’s Visit to Nepal

[GS Paper – Bilateral Relations, Culture]

Context – the prime minister of India and Nepal held bilateral talks in Lumbini after laying the foundation stone of the India International Center for Buddhist culture and heritage.

Key Developments

• The construction of the ‘India International Centre for Buddhist Culture & Heritage’ to be undertaken by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), India, with financial support from the Ministry of Culturecomes decades after most foreign nations, including the US, China, Canada, France, Germany and Thailand, among others, built their centers in Lumbini as an instrument of promoting Buddhist philosophy.

India-Nepal Relations

• India is Nepal’s largest trade partner and the largest source of foreign investments, besides providing transit for almost the entire third-country trade of Nepal.

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NEPAL PM’S VISIT TO INDIA

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• The border between India and Nepal should not become a barrier, PM Modi said as the two sides signed a series of agreements on energy and transport, including export of Nepal’s hydropower to Bangladesh through Indian territory.
• Welcoming Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, who is on a four-day visit to India, PM Modi said the two countries should fast-track projects related to the Ramayana circuit.
• Both sides signed the Transit Agreement . It will help Nepal’s population access India’s inland waterways.
• Taking this forward, a long-term Power Trade Agreement has been signed between India and Nepal.
• Under this agreement, a target of importing 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal in the coming years has been set.
• Focusing on energy cooperation, a new pipeline will be constructed from Siliguri to Jhapa in eastern Nepal.
• The two sides signed a number of agreements, including an MoU between NHPC and VUCL (Vidyut Utpadan Company Ltd.) of Nepal, for the development of Phukot Karnali Hydroelectric Project and a Project Development Agreement for Lower Arun Hydroelectric Project between SJVN (India) and Investment Board of Nepal.
• The two PMs agreed to “ achieve tangible and time-bound progress on the Pancheshwar multipurpose project ”.
• The two Prime Ministers participated through a video link in the ground breaking ceremony of the Gorakhpur-Bhutwal Transmission Line — on the Indian side.
• The two Prime Ministers jointly inaugurated a cargo train from Bathnaha in India to Nepal Customs Yard.
• They also inaugurated integrated checkposts (ICPs) at Nepalgunj in Nepal and Rupaidiha on the Indian side.
• They participated in the ground breaking ceremony of ICPs at Bhairahawa and Sonauli as well as Phase-II facilities as part of the Motihari-Amlekhgunj Petroleum Pipeline.

Other developments

• Prime Minister of Nepal called on  the President of India.
• It makes Nepal’s citizenship law among the world’s most liberal.
• The action is likely to upset China, which has been warning that the law may give descendants of Tibetan refugees citizenship and property rights.

Analysis of the visit

• Regular reciprocal visits by heads of state/government had been a bilateral tradition until 1997, after which India continued to host Nepali leaders, but not making reciprocal visits.
• While India’s role in mobilising external support in favour of the establishment of the secular republic in 2006 was widely appreciated , its attempts at “micro management” in Nepal resulted in a significant loss of goodwill.
• Also, the increased western role in Nepal saw China take aggressive counter-steps to increase its presence and influence in the country.
• However, the Prime Minister is now widely expected to assure India that he is amenable to aligning with it to contain the influence of China.
• Last February, Dahal had made political U-turn by joining hands with the Nepali Congress to have the $500 million US grant under the Millennium Challenge Corporation Nepal Compact ratified by Parliament, abandoning his party’s view that it was part of the “Indo-Pacific security plan” that would undermine Nepal’s diplomatic non-alignment.
• The approval of the citizenship law is seen as another outreach to India and the US.
• He also appears keen to be seen as respecting the sentiments of Nepali Hindus by including Indore and Ujjain — cities with important Shiva temples — in his itinerary .
• Apart for the political instability and a looming economic crisis in his country, Dahal is also concerned about possible Indian backing for royalists who want Nepal’s Hindu kingdom restored.
• There has been progress on resolving the points of friction around hydropower projects that India is executing in Nepal.

Mural of Akhand Bharat Controversy

• A major controversy has broken out in Nepal over a mural depicting the Indian subcontinental landmass in the newly inaugurated Parliament building.
• The mural has been interpreted as a map of Akhand Bharat or undivided India, which has drawn angry responses from Nepali political leaders across party lines.
• The mural shows Lumbini, the birth place of Gautama Buddha, indicating India’s claims over the region .
• Nepal considers Lumbini as one of the major cultural centres on the Nepalese map.
• The issue has once again triggered memories of the Kalapani dispute, which erupted in November 2019 when India published a political map showing the Kalapani region as part of Uttarakhand.
• Nepal, in response, published a map asserting its control over Kalapani,

Background of Relations

• As close neighbors, India and Nepal share  unique ties of friendship and cooperation characterized by an open border and deep-rooted people-to-people contacts of kinship and culture .
• There has been a long tradition of free movement of people across the border. Nepal shares a  border of over 1850 km with five Indian states – Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
• The  India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 forms the bedrock of the special relations that exist between India and Nepal. Nepalese citizens avail facilities and opportunities on par with Indian citizens in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.
• Nearly  8 million Nepalese citizens live and work in India .
• Nepal is a unique country whose  citizens can enrol into the Indian civil services as also the Army, which bestows an honorary General’s title to the Nepal Army Chief , a gesture that is reciprocated in equal terms.

Defence Cooperation

• India has been assisting the Nepal Army (NA) in its modernisation by supplying equipment and providing training.
• Assistance during disasters, joint military exercises, adventure activities and bilateral visits are other aspects of India’s defence cooperation with Nepal.
• A number of defence personnel from Nepal Army attend training courses in various Indian Army training institutions.
• The  ‘Indo-Nepal Battalion-level Joint Military Exercise SURYA KIRAN’ is conducted alternately in India and in Nepal.
• The  Gorkha regiments of the Indian Army are raised partly by recruitment from hill districts of Nepal.

2015 Earthquake in Nepal

• Government of India swiftly dispatched National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and special aircrafts with rescue and relief materials to Nepal.
• The total Indian relief assistance to Nepal amounted to over US$ 67 million.
• The Government of India announced a  post-earthquake reconstruction package of US$ 1 billion (which comprises US$ 250 million grant and US$ 750 million concessional Line of Credit)

Connectivity and Development Partnership

• Government of India’s development assistance to Nepal is a broad-based programme focusing on creation of infrastructure at the grass-roots level, under which various projects have been implemented in the areas of infrastructure, health, water resources, education and rural & community development.
• In recent years, India has been assisting Nepal in development of border infrastructure in the Terai area; development of cross-border rail links at Jogbani-Biratnagar, Jaynagar-Bardibas; and establishment of Integrated Check Posts at Birgunj, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, and Nepalgunj.
• The  total economic assistance earmarked under ‘Aid to Nepal’ budget in FY 2019-20 was INR 1200 crore.
• Apart from grant assistance,  Government of India has extended Lines of Credit of USD 1.65 billion for undertaking development of infrastructure .
• ‘India-Nepal New Partnership in Agriculture’ was launched in 2018.

Water Resources Cooperation

• A  three-tier bilateral mechanism established in 2008 , to discuss issues relating to cooperation in water resources, flood management, inundation and hydropower between the two countries, has been working well.

Energy Cooperation

• India and Nepal have a  Power Exchange Agreement since 1971 for meeting the power requirements in the border areas of the two countries, taking advantage of each other's transmission infrastructure.
• India is currently supplying a total of about 600 MW of power to Nepal.
• An Agreement on ‘ Electric Power Trade, Cross-border Transmission Interconnection and Grid Connectivity’  between India and Nepal was signed in 2014.
• South Asia’s  first cross-border petroleum products pipeline connecting Motihari in India to Amlekhgunj in Nepal was inaugurated in

Economic Coperation

• India is the largest trading partner of Nepal.
• Total bilateral trade in 2018-19 reached INR 57,858 cr.
• In 2018-19, while Nepal’s exports to India stood at INR 3558 cr, India’s exports to Nepal were INR 54,300 cr.
• Indian firms are among the largest investors in Nepal, accounting for more than 30% of the total approved foreign direct investments.

Education and Culture

• GoI provides around 3000 scholarships/seats annually to Nepalese nationals for various courses at the Ph.D/Masters, Bachelors and plus–two levels in India and in Nepal.
• GoI initiatives to promote people-to-people contacts in the fields of art & culture, academics and media include cultural programmes, symposia and events organized in partnership with different local bodies of Nepal, as well as conferences and seminars in Hindi.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1929110

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Qatari emir in Nepal, expected to tackle migrant conditions and Nepali student held hostage by Hamas

Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Poudel checks his watch as he and Minister of Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, wait for Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al arrival at Tribhuvan international airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The emir arrived on a two-days visit to the Himalayan nation. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shreshta)

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al arrives at Tribhuvan international airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The emir is on a two-days visit to the Himalayan nation. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shreshta)

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is received by Nepal President Ram Chandra Poudel, left as he arrives at the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The emir is on a two-days visit to the Himalayan nation. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shreshta)

Nepal’s president Ram Chandra Poudel, right, introduces Nepal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha to Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al arrival at Tribhuvan international airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The emir is on a two-days visit to the Himalayan nation. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shreshta)

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is received by Nepal President Ram Chandra Poudel, right as he arrives at the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The emir is on a two-days visit to the Himalayan nation. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shreshta)

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, center left, stands with Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Poudel, center right as he receives guard of honor at his arrival at the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The emir is on a two-days visit to the Himalayan nation. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shreshta)

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, center right, walks with Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Poudel, center right as he receives guard of honor at his arrival at the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The emir is on a two-days visit to the Himalayan nation. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shreshta)

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, greets one of the children who received him upon his arrival at the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The emir is on a two-days visit to the Himalayan nation. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shreshta)

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, center behind, stands with Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Poudel, center front as he receives guard of honor at his arrival at the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The emir is on a two-days visit to the Himalayan nation. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shreshta)

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KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The emir of Qatar landed in Nepal Tuesday on his first-ever visit to the South Asian country, after visiting Bangladesh and the Philippines, where improving migrant workers’ conditions in the Gulf state and a Nepali student still held hostage by Hamas are expected to be on the agenda.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is set to meet Nepali dignitaries, including President Ram Chandra Poudyal and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal during his two-day visit.

Qatar hosts an estimated 400,000 Nepali workers, most in construction and manual labor. Concerns about working in extreme heat — that could reach over 40 C (104 F) — inadequate living facilities and abuse have risen in recent years.

New York-based Human Rights Watch called on Qatar, Nepal and Bangladesh in a statement Sunday to prioritize labor protection for migrant workers during the emir’s visit.

“It is important ... to go beyond exchanging diplomatic pleasantries over their longstanding labor ties and seize this moment to publicly commit to concrete, enforceable protections that address the serious abuses that migrant workers in Qatar continue to face,” the statement quoted Michael Page, the agency’s deputy Middle East and North Africa director, as saying.

The statement added that while Qatar-based jobs have allowed migrant workers “to send remittances back home to their families,” many experience abuse, including “wage theft, contract violations, and chronic illness linked to unsafe working conditions.”

Nepali officials are also likely to seek Al Thani’s help in freeing a local , Bipin Joshi, who is held hostage by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Joshi was among 17 Nepali students studying agriculture in Alumim kibbutz, near the Gaza Strip, when Hamas attacked Southern Israel on Oct.7. Ten of the students were killed, six injured and Joshi was held captive.

Though there has been no information on his condition or whereabouts, Nepali officials said they believed he was still alive.

Hamas’ sudden attack in October killed 1,200 people and some 250 others hostage were taken hostage. This has sparked a war that has so far killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza, at least two-thirds of them women and children, according to the local health ministry.

Qatar has been a key intermediary throughout the war in Gaza. It, along with the U.S. and Egypt, was instrumental in helping negotiate a brief halt to the fighting in November that led to the release of dozens of hostages.

A spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday his country was undergoing an assessment of its role in mediating talks between Israel and Hamas over a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. He also said discussions were ongoing about Hamas’ presence in Qatar where the militant group has had a political office in the capital, Doha, for years.

France and Qatar mediated a deal in January for the shipment of medicine for the dozens of hostages held captive by Hamas.