India and Nepal share a unique relationship of friendship and cooperation characterized by open borders and deep-rooted people-to-people contacts where people across the borders share family ties and culture. Nepal shares a border of over 1850 kms. in the east, south and west with five Indian States – Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Recent Developments 1st Trans-border Fuel Pipeline between Nepal and India
Constitutional Crisis in Nepal and India’s Stand
Open Border
Floods in Plain area of Nepal
Kosi Barrage Issue
Arbitrary Blockages/Custom Check at Border Points The arbitrary blockages and go-slow at Indian Customs at border points, the selective use of quarantine for the export of Nepali agricultural produce, the increasing high-handedness of the Sashastra Seema Bal of India, in dealing with Nepalese crossing over —are some of the challenges on the bilateral plane. |
The India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 forms the bedrock of the special relations that exist between India and Nepal. Under the provisions of this Treaty, the Nepali citizens have enjoyed certain advantages in India, availing facilities and opportunities at par with Indian citizens. Nearly 6 million Nepali citizens live and work in India.
Nepal’s Constitution of 2015
After years of debate, Nepal is celebrating a new constitution. Out of the 598 members of the Constituent Assembly, 507 voted for the new constitution, 25 voted against, and 66 abstained in a vote on September 16, 2015. Some small parties of the Tharu and Madhesi ethnic communities organized protests against the Constitution, leading to widespread violence in southern Nepal.
The then President Ram BaranYadav promulgated the new constitution on September 20, 2015.
New Principles
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Trade and Economic Cooperation
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.
Indian Investment in Nepal
1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty ofPeace and Friendshiphip
Key Provisions of the Treaty
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Water Resources and Energy Cooperation
A three-tier mechanism established in 2008, to discuss all bilateral issues relating to cooperation in water resources and hydropower has been working well. In the area of river training and embankment construction, Government of India has been providing assistance to Nepal for strengthening and extension of embankments along Lalbakeya, Bagmati and Kamala rivers. Started in 2008, with the present assistance, the total grant assistance already disbursed for embankments construction along these rivers amounts to over USD 4.5 billion.
Earthquake 2015
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India’s Development Assistance to Nepal
New Partnership in Agriculture
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Defence Cooperation
Gorkha Soldiers in the Indian Army
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Cultural Relations
Government of India initiatives to promote people-to-people contacts in the area 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.
Projecting Soft Power
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