{"id":76728,"date":"2026-06-13T18:13:36","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T12:43:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=76728"},"modified":"2026-06-13T18:15:21","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T12:45:21","slug":"india-nepal-relations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/13-06-2026\/india-nepal-relations","title":{"rendered":"A New Phase in India-Nepal Relations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/IR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recent high-level exchanges between India and Nepal signal efforts by both sides to strengthen bilateral ties despite differences over boundary issues.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India- Nepal Border Disputes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India and Nepal share a border of about 1,751 km, but disputes persist in certain sectors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kalapani\u2013Lipulekh\u2013Limpiyadhura Dispute: <\/strong>Nepal has asserted its claim based on the <strong>Sugauli Treaty of 1816<\/strong>, signed between the <strong>East India Company and Guru Gajraj Mishra.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Under the Treaty, the <strong>Kali River was marked as Nepal\u2019s western boundary<\/strong> with India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nepal claims the river originates at<strong> Limpiyadhura, which would place the Lipulekh and Kalapani regions within its territory<\/strong>. Conversely, India maintains that the river begins at a lower point near Kalapani, keeping the <strong>Lipulekh Pass<\/strong>, a strategic tri-junction between India, Nepal, and China, within its state of Uttarakhand.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>Kali River has changed direction over the years,<\/strong> causing confusion in defining the border.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d8cbc3\" data-has-transparency=\"true\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d8cbc3;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"451\" height=\"377\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-92.png\" alt=\"india-nepal relations\" class=\"has-transparency wp-image-76729\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-92.png 451w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-92-300x251.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Susta Border dispute: <\/strong>Susta is a disputed territory between Nepal and India. It is administered by India as part of West Champaran district of Bihar.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nepal claims the area a part of West Nawalparasi District under Susta rural municipality, alleging that over 14,860 hectares of Nepali land in Susta has been encroached upon by India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Overview of India &#8211; Nepal Relations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Shared Border:<\/strong> The country shares a border <strong>with five Indian states &#8211; Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Land-locked Nepal relies heavily on India for the transportation of goods and services and access to the sea is through India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship<\/strong>: Signed in <strong>1950<\/strong>, it forms the <strong>bedrock of the special relations that exist between India and Nepal.\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nepalese citizens <strong>avail facilities and opportunities<\/strong> <strong>on par with Indian citizens <\/strong>in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Defence Cooperation: <\/strong>India has been assisting the Nepal Army (NA) in its <strong>modernisation by supplying equipment and providing training.\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Both countries conduct <strong>Joint Military Exercise SURYA KIRAN<\/strong> alternately in India and in Nepal.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Since 1950, India and Nepal have been awarding each other\u2019s Army Chief with the<strong> honorary rank of General<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Gorkha regiments<\/strong> of the Indian Army are raised partly by recruitment from <strong>hill districts of Nepal.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Trade and Economic: <\/strong>India remains <strong>Nepal\u2019s largest trade partner and Investment <\/strong>where Indian firms account for <strong>33.5 % of total FDI stock in Nepal<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nepal is India\u2019s 17th largest export destination, up from 28th position in 2014.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Main exports from India to Nepal are petroleum, iron &amp; steel, automobiles, machinery, cereals, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Connectivity and Development Partnership:<\/strong> India is the largest developmental donor of Nepal in the field of priority sectors such as health, education and connectivity.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Some of the major projects include <strong>Gauchar Airport<\/strong> (presently Tribhuvan Airport), East West Highway, development of cross-border rail links and establishment of <strong>Integrated Check Posts<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Operation Maitri &amp; post-earthquake reconstruction assistance: <\/strong>In the wake of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, GoI was the first responder and carried out its <strong>largest disaster relief operation abroad (Operation Maitri).\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cultural Ties:<\/strong> The leaders of the two countries have often noted the <strong>age-old \u2018roti beti\u2019 relationship, <\/strong>which refers to <strong>cross-border marriages<\/strong> between people of the two countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Other Areas of Concern<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Implementation Delays: <\/strong>Slow progress in certain connectivity and infrastructure projects has occasionally generated concerns in Nepal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Geopolitical Competition: <\/strong>China&#8217;s growing economic and strategic presence in Nepal has added a new dimension to regional geopolitics and India&#8217;s neighbourhood diplomacy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Perception of Asymmetry:<\/strong> Sections of Nepal&#8217;s political establishment and public discourse have at times expressed concerns over India&#8217;s dominant role in the bilateral relationship, often referred to as the &#8220;Big Brother&#8221; perception.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Political Sensitivities: <\/strong>Domestic political developments and nationalist rhetoric in both countries can periodically create mistrust and strain bilateral ties.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Water Resource Management:<\/strong> Differences over the management of shared rivers, hydropower cooperation, and flood-control projects continue to require close coordination and dialogue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Strengthen Diplomatic Dialogue:<\/strong> Resolve outstanding issues, including boundary disputes, through existing bilateral mechanisms and sustained diplomatic engagement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enhance Connectivity and Trade:<\/strong> Accelerate the implementation of cross-border infrastructure, railway, road, and energy connectivity projects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Deepen Energy Cooperation: <\/strong>Expand collaboration in hydropower development, cross-border electricity trade, and transmission infrastructure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Promote Mutual Trust:<\/strong> Address concerns through regular high-level exchanges and respect for each other&#8217;s sovereignty and sensitivities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Expand People-to-People Ties: <\/strong>Strengthen educational, cultural, tourism, and youth exchanges to reinforce the age-old &#8220;Roti-Beti&#8221; relationship.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/international\/a-new-phase-in-india-nepal-relations\/article71080699.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Recent high-level exchanges between India and Nepal signal efforts by both sides to strengthen bilateral ties despite differences over boundary issues.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> India- Nepal Border Disputes <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> India and Nepal share a border of about 1,751 km, but disputes persist in certain sectors. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Kalapani\u2013Lipulekh\u2013Limpiyadhura Dispute: Nepal has asserted its claim based on the Sugauli Treaty of 1816, signed between the East India Company and Guru Gajraj Mishra. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/13-06-2026\/india-nepal-relations \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-76728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76728"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76728\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":76735,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76728\/revisions\/76735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}