Profile
Settings
Refer your friends
Sign out
Q1. Critically analyse the current updates on the bilateral relationship between India and Nepal. (250 words, 15 Marks)
Decoding the Question:
- Introduction: Give a brief background of India and Nepal relations.
- Body:
- Highlight the current updates on India-Nepal relations.
- Mention the issues between the India-Nepal relations.
- Conclusion: Conclude with a way forward.
Answer:
As two close neighbours, the friendship and family ties between India and Nepal are inspiring. There exist historical ties between the two nations. This relationship is also often described as the Roti-Beti relationship. This close relationship has been reaffirmed through the India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship, 1950. Both the nations treat the citizens from each other’s nations as their own citizens and there is a provision for the free movement of people across the border.
Current Scenario of India-Nepal Relations:
- Nepal’s induction into the International Solar Alliance: Prime Minister of India welcomed Nepal’s decision to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) on 01 April 2022.
- Inauguration of Cross-Border Rail Link (02 April 2022): The operationalisation of the 35-kilometre cross-border rail link from Jayanagar (Bihar) to Kurtha (Nepal) was inaugurated. Two further phases will extend it to Bijalpura and Bardibas.
- Launch of RuPay in Nepal (02 April 2022): Prime Minister of India and P M India both leaders also jointly launched the RuPay card in Nepal.
- Power Sector Cooperation (02 April 2022): Nepal and India signed a Joint Vision Statement on Power Sector Cooperation.
- Solu Corridor 132 kV Power Transmission Line (03 April 2022): 90 km long 132 kV double circuit transmission line connecting Tila (Solukhumbu) to Mirchaiya (Siraha) close to the Indian border was inaugurated.
- Border Issue: Nepalese Prime Minister urged his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to take steps to resolve a boundary dispute.
- India’s Developmental Projects in Nepal: The Indian PM thanked Nepal PM for the full support in resolving bottlenecks and facilitating the time-bound completion of such India-assisted projects. Various developmental projects in Nepal include:
- National Police Academy at Kavrepalanchowk.
- The Integrated Check Posts at Nepalgunj and Bhairahawa.
- The projects under the ‘Ramayana Circuit’.
Issues in India-Nepal Relations:
- China’s Intervention: In recent years, Nepal has drifted away from India’s influence, and China has gradually filled the space with investments, aid and loans.
- China has been slowly shrinking India’s sphere of influence in Nepal and overtaken India as the largest source of foreign direct investment.
- Today, China is also engaged with airport expansion projects at Pokhara and Lumbini.
- It threatens India’s security interests with increasing Chinese presence at its doorstep.
- Border Dispute: Relations between the two countries soured in 2019, when Nepal, then under Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, amended the constitution to include the disputed territories of Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, and Lipulekh in a map of Nepal.
Way Forward:
- The two sides need to find a way to resolve the prickly disputes like the territorial one over Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura instead of allowing them to fester and be an irritant in bilateral ties.
- India also needs to look into Nepal’s consistent demand for a review of the 1950 Treaty of Peace Friendship.
- India’s relationship with Nepal is one of the main pillars of its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
- India needs to be a sensitive and generous partner for the “Neighbourhood First” policy to take root.
