Profile
Settings
Refer your friends
Sign out
In Unacademy’s India Bhutan Relations UPSC notes, we will discuss the India Bhutan Friendship Treaty, the establishment of the India Bhutan Foundation, and how the two countries cooperate on economic and infrastructure development, education, and military.
India shares land boundaries with six distinct countries. One of these countries is Bhutan. Bhutan is a landlocked country heavily influenced by Tibetan Buddhism and culture. Bhutan is a semi-constitutional monarch and follows the unitary parliamentary system.
In 2016, Bhutan ranked number 1 in SAARC’s (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) ease of making business, peace, lack of corruption, and economic freedom rankings. Bhutan is dependent on the Indian military; however, it does maintain several military units of its own.
A brief overview of Treaty of Friendship
- The treaty of Perpetual Peace and Friendship between India and the Government of Bhutan was signed on August 8, 1949.
- The treaty was signed by the last governor-general of India, C. Rajagopalachari.
- The two countries signed the treaty after the termination of the British government to regulate and maintain a peaceful state of affairs.
- According to the treaty, the Government of India cannot interfere with the internal administration of Bhutan. However, it can guide the government of Bhutan regarding its external relations.
- The government of India also agreed to return the territory of Dewangiri to Bhutan within one year from the date of signing this treaty.
India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty 2007
- The India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty was signed on February 8, 2007, in New Delhi
- The treaty came into force on March 2, 2007, after the two governments exchanged the instruments of ratification
- The India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty was signed by Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of External Affairs, and Jigme Khesar Wangchuk, the current King of Bhutan
- Two original copies of each of the Hindi, Dzongkha, and English treaties were equally authenticated
- Both countries agreed to promote cultural exchanges and cooperation amongst each other
- The two countries also agreed to continue to consolidate and expand economic cooperation
Developmental Cooperation
- For several decades, India has assisted the government of Bhutan by contributing funds for socio-economic development
- The GOI has helped the government of Bhutan in the construction of three hydroelectric projects in Bhutan
- These Hydroelectric projects produce 1416 MW, and the surplus power is exported to India
Cultural Relations
- India is the birthplace of Buddhism. Therefore, India welcomes many Bhutanese pilgrims every year. Bhutanese pilgrims usually travel to famous Buddhist sites in India like Nalanda, Sikkim, Bodh Gaya, and Udayagri
- To celebrate the 50th anniversary of peaceful diplomatic relations between the two countries, India sponsored a visit of 18 Buddhist monks and the representative of the Central Monastic Body of Bhutan to India
- To celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava, the government of India gifted Bhutan a 3 feet tall bronze statue of Lord Buddha. The statue, which weighs 200 kgs, was enshrined and consecrated in the sacred Kuenrey of Tashichodzong
Military Cooperation
- Bhutan is a small country under constant threat of annexation from China. Therefore, despite Bhutan’s military units, India offers Bhutan assistance and protection against external threats
- The defence of Bhutan has been integrated into the roles and responsibilities of the Eastern Command of the Indian Army and Air Force
- The Indian Military Training Team even trains Bhutanese security and military personnel
Education
- The Government of India offers Bhutanese students several scholarships for study in Indian Universities
- Some of the current scholarship schemes are-Ambassador’s Scholarship, Undergraduate Scholarship, Nehru Wangchuck Scholarship, Nalanda University Scholarship, AYUSH scholarships, ICCR undergraduate engineering scholarship, and SAARC scholarships
- Every year, at least 1000 Bhutanese youngsters enroll in Indian institutes, thanks to the Ambassador’s Scholarship. The Ambassador’s Scholarship was instituted in 2001
India Bhutan Foundation
- In August 2003, during the visit of Bhutan’s King (Jigme Khesar Wangchuck), the India Bhutan Foundation was established
- The co-chairpersons of the India Bhutan Foundation are the ambassadors of Bhutan and India
- The India Bhutan Foundation enhanced education, culture, and environmental protection
- The governments of each country have deposited Rs 8 crore each to a corpus fund with IBF and are kept in a fixed deposit in Bhutan. Amongst India’s several neighbouring countries, its relationship with Bhutan is the most cordial. Several developmental programs have been funded because of the treaty and the India Bhutan Foundation.
Related Articles
