About Nepal
- Nepal is a south asian country with a capital at Katmandu that is sandwiched between India and China. Nepal acts as a buffer state between India and China.
Areas of Cooperation
- Historical Background
- Uniting Factor: Nepal also shares common cultural ties with India which through the Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal in the Sakya clan.
- Pre-Independence: Nepal acted as an exile place for Indian freedom fighters during British suppression.
- Political Relations
- During 1950 India and Nepal signed a Treaty of Peace and Friendship that acted as the bedrock for both countries’ relations.
- Both parties maintain mutual respect for sovereignty and accept non-interference of territory.
- Both countries share common international platforms like SAARC, BIMSTEC, and NAM.
- India extended strong support and solidarity from the people and Government of India in advancing its home-grown peace process as well as in the process of writing the Constitution through the elected Constituent Assembly.
- Defence Relation
- Both countries conduct bilateral exercises like Surya Kiran which witness the largest troop participation.
- Nepal youth are recruited to the Indian army’s Gurkha regiment.
- During the earthquakes in Nepal in April and May 2015, India promptly offered to help hands. The Government of India has also been substantially supporting Nepal’s reconstruction efforts through Operation Maitri.
- Economic Cooperation
- India is the largest trading partner of Nepal.
- India acts as the bridge for Nepal to conduct external trade.
- India has been a key development partner of Nepal.
- During the period of the COVID pandemic, India extended aid.
- A series of cross-border connectivity projects like rail links, roads, and Integrated Check Posts are under implementation with GoI’s grant assistance.
- The ‘New Partnership in Agriculture’ was announced in April 2018, which focuses on collaborative projects in Agriculture, Education, and R&D.
- Through initiating Hydro Diplomacy India gave support to Nepal for constructing dams. For example – Saptakoshi and Sunkosi projects.
- Both countries signed the Mahakali treaty in 1996 for water sharing.
- Culture
- India and Nepal extend visa-free entry in their respective territories to each other’s nationals.
- Close bonds through marriages and familial ties, popularly known as Roti-Beti ka Rishta.
- Indians account for about 30% of foreign tourists in Nepal.
- With a view to strengthen people to people exchanges, sister city agreements have been signed (Kathmandu-Varanasi, Lumbini-Bodhgaya, Janakpur-Ayodhya) & India-Nepal Ramayana Circuit have been launched.
- GoI provides around 3000 scholarships annually to Nepali nationals studying in India and Nepal at all levels of education in a wide range of disciplines.
- The Swami Vivekananda Centre for Indian Culture was set up in Kathmandu in August 2007 to showcase the best of Indian culture.
Concerns in the Bilateral Relations
- Kalapani Dispute
- The source of the Kali River which acts as a natural border between India and Nepal has been a point of dispute.
- India states that Kalapani is in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand where the river originates from. Nepal alleges that the river originates either from Limpiyadhura or from Lipulekh and considers both locations as part of Nepal’s Sudurpaschim province.
- India’s big brother attitude.
- Nepal’s political instability and change in policies.
- Nepal’s tilt towards China and conducting joint exercises.
- Infiltration and smuggling of goods.