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Resident doctors working in Central Institutes in India have requested the government of Nepal to take steps to make sure that they get stipend from the medical colleges they are studying in.

Nepali resident doctors working in All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi lament that they have to perform usual clinical/hospital duties as part of their courses without remuneration, while their Indian counterparts get more than InRs 100,000 for the same job.

At least 60 Nepali students enrolled in MD, MS, MDS, DM and MCH courses are working as resident doctors in one of India’s top medical colleges. They log 12 hours on a normal shift and have to put in 48 hours extra during emergencies, without getting paid.

As their long-pressed demand for stipend has gone unheard, resident doctors at AIIMS have requested the government of Nepal to take up the matter with India, once again.

Notably, earlier government effort in a similar case has paid off. 

Nepali students in Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh and Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry have been getting the stipend. 

These institutions started paying the Nepali students too after the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli raised the issue during his visit to India in 2020. 

However, AIIMs students in New Delhi and Rishikesh continue to struggle for the same, even after repeatedly requesting Indian and Nepali government authorities to address their concern.

“This comes as a huge economic burden for us, for our families and for our nation. Seats are allocated for Nepali medical students, but stipends are not provided. This needs to stop,” said Dr Laxman Bhagat, one of the representatives of the Nepalese Resident Doctors in AIIMS Delhi.

Despite repeated efforts from the doctors, including meetings with relevant officials and written communication with Indian government authorities, this issue remains unaddressed, said Dr Bhagat.

Notably, this is an instance of non-reciprocal treatment on the part of Indian authorities.  

Nepal has been providing stipend to post-graduate Indian students studying in Nepali medical colleges. The Indian students studying in the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University and BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan under self-financing schemes get a monthly stipend of Rs 33,000 and Rs 32,000 each.

It may be noted that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India, had written to AIIMS to inform the latter about amendments required in the act/rules/regulations to facilitate payment of stipend to students from Nepal enrolled in PG courses in AIIMS, New Delhi, to no avail. 

AIIMS offers postgraduate degrees in about 55 different specialties/super specialties.

India saw a single day rise of 656 new cases of coronavirus on Dec 24, pushing the active cases to 3,742 according to the Union Health Ministry. Amid the surge in cases of Covid-19, health experts have asked people to remain calm and follow Covid-appropriate behavior.

In Nepal, health experts have suggested people not to worry about the latest surge of coronavirus infection in India. They say that the mutations of the virus are always evolving, and this is one of the mutations of the omicron variant. 

“Though this strain is circulating faster, it is not very serious. It is not that scary. If you are vaccinated once or twice, or were previously infected there won’t be much severity if you get infected,” said Sameer Mani Acharya Dixit, chairperson and head of research at Intrepid Nepal Pvt Ltd.

The symptoms of the infection are similar to the infection caused by similar other variants of the coronavirus, such as headache, sore throat, fever, etc. Health experts, however, have advised people to take booster shots to prevent oneself from the severity of the infection.

What is JN.1?

JN.1 is a closely-related descendant of BA.2.86, a highly mutated strain that first worried scientists over the summer. BA.2.86 was deemed a “variant of interest” by the World Health Organization back in August.

The UN health body has recently designated JN.1 as a variant of interest, differentiating it from its parent lineage BA.2.86. The WHO defines variants of interest as strains that are worrying enough to trigger stepped up investigations of the variant by countries, like laboratory studies and field investigations of its outbreaks.

Despite its swift dissemination, the WHO has underscored that the overall risk associated with JN.1 is currently considered low based on available evidence.

In recent weeks, JN.1 was reported in multiple countries, and its prevalence has been rapidly increasing globally. But the WHO has maintained that there is no evidence to suggest any additional public health risk posed by the variant.

Concerns triggered

After first being spotted in the United States in September, the variant has spread across 41 countries.

Health experts say the JN.1 is spreading fast in all regions, probably because it has an additional mutation in the spike protein compared to the BA.2.86 variant from which it’s descended.

The outbreak of the JN.1 sub-variant of the coronavirus in India has triggered concerns among the Nepalis. Indian states Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Goa, Puducherry, Gujarat, Telangana, Punjab and Delhi have reported a slight increase in the number of cases of late. 

According to the Indian media reports nearly 93 percent of those infected have mild symptoms and are isolating at home. Among those who are undergoing treatment at hospitals across the country, only 0.1 percent are on ventilator support, 1.2 percent are admitted into the intensive care unit and 0.6 are on oxygen support.

No need to panic

Nepal currently hasn’t seen a rise in the number of coronavirus cases. The authorities however say that they are closely monitoring the development in India.

“Many people in Nepal have had the infection and people have received at least two doses of the vaccine. Therefore, the probability of severe infection is low,” said Dr Prakash Budhathoki, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population. “Intensive care units, oxygen plants, and other physical infrastructure constructed during the Covid-19 pandemic can be utilized if needed.” 

Following the surge in coronavirus cases, health desks established at checkpoints and international airports have been placed on standby, and a request has been made to place patients with respiratory problems under special supervision.

“As the infection is seen in Kerala, we are relatively at lower risks. If the infection was seen in the southern areas of India that borders Nepal, it would have been quite risky, as there are high chances for the variant to enter the country in a shorter time span,” said Dr Budhathoki. 

He also informed that patients with long-standing respiratory problems have been recommended for gene sequencing. The ministry has also requested health centers to keep a check on the people visiting the hospitals with the symptoms of coronavirus and has asked them to submit a report to the ministry.

“It is anticipated that this variant may cause an increase in Sars-Cov-2 [coronavirus] cases amid a surge of infections of other viral and bacterial infections, especially in countries entering the winter season,” the WHO said in its risk assessment.

The UN health agency also noted that there is still limited evidence on how capable JN.1 is of getting round the immunity offered by vaccines.

Strengthen surveillance

The WHO has urged countries in the South-East Asia region to strengthen surveillance and for people to take protective measures in view of increasing numbers of cases of respiratory diseases, including due to coronavirus and its new sub-variant JN.1, and influenza. 

“The Covid-19 virus continues to evolve, change and circulate in all countries globally. While current evidence suggests the additional public health risk posed by JN.1 is low, we must continue to track the evolution of these viruses to tailor our response. For this, countries must strengthen surveillance and sequencing, and ensure sharing of data,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO regional director for South-East Asia. 

Considering the available, yet limited evidence, the additional public health risk posed by JN.1 is currently evaluated as low at the global level. It is anticipated that this variant may cause an increase in Covid-19 cases amid a surge in infections of other viral and bacterial infections, especially in countries entering the winter season.

 Ways to protect

 Health experts have advised people to take protective measures and seek timely clinical care when unwell. They have also urged people with high risk such as elderly citizens, people with comorbid health conditions to take vaccination against coronavirus and influenza.

“All WHO-approved Covid-19 vaccines continue to protect against severe disease and death from all variants, including JN.1,” said Dr Singh. “With Covid-19 continuing to circulate at high levels globally, countries must strengthen surveillance, sequencing and reporting to effectively manage respiratory diseases and to protect people’s health.”

To prevent infections and severe disease, the WHO advises to:

• Wear a mask in crowded, enclosed areas
• Cover up coughs and sneezes
• Clean your hands regularly
• Stay up to date with covid and flu vaccinations, especially if vulnerable
• Stay home if ill
• Get tested if you have symptoms

On Dec 11, the Supreme Court of India delivered a historic judgment on the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35(A). Through its judgment, the Court has upheld the sovereignty and integrity of India, something that is cherished by every Indian. The Supreme Court rightly observed that the decision taken on 5 Aug 2019 was done with the purpose of enhancing constitutional integration and not disintegration. The Court has also recognised the fact that Article 370 was not permanent in nature.

Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh’s breathtaking landscapes, serene valleys, and majestic mountains have captivated the hearts of poets, artists and adventurers for generations. It is a place where the sublime meets the extraordinary, where the Himalayas reach for the sky, and where the pristine waters of its lakes and rivers mirror the heavens. But, for the last seven decades, these places have witnessed the worst form of violence and instability, something which the wonderful people never deserved.

Unfortunately, due to centuries of colonization, most notably economic and mental subjugation, we became a confused society of sorts. Rather than taking a clear position on very basic things, we allowed duality, leading to confusion. Sadly, Jammu and Kashmir became a big victim of such a mindset. At the time of independence, we had a choice of making a fresh start for national integration. Instead, we decided to continue with the confused society approach even if it meant ignoring the long-term national interests.

I have had the opportunity of being connected with the Jammu and Kashmir Andolan from a very early part of my life. I belong to an ideological framework where Jammu and Kashmir was not merely a political issue. But, it was about addressing the aspirations of society. Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee held an important portfolio in the Nehru Cabinet and could have remained in government for a long time. Yet, he quit the Cabinet over the Kashmir issue and preferred the tough road ahead, even if it meant paying with his life. His efforts and sacrifice led to crores of Indians becoming emotionally attached with the Kashmir issue. Years later, Atal Ji, at a public meeting in Srinagar gave the powerful message of ‘Insaniyat’, ‘Jamhooriyat’ and ‘Kashmiriyat’, which has also always been a source of great inspiration.

It was always my firm belief that what had happened in Jammu and Kashmir was a great betrayal- to our nation and to the people living there. It was also my strong desire to do whatever I can to remove this blot, this injustice done to the people. I have always wanted to work to alleviate the suffering of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

In very basic words- Articles 370 and 35 (A) were like major obstacles. It seemed like an unbreakable wall and the sufferers were the poor and downtrodden. Articles 370 and 35 (A) ensured that the people of Jammu and Kashmir never got the rights and development that the rest of their fellow Indians got. Due to these Articles, a distance was created between people belonging to the same nation. Due to this distance, many people from our nation who wanted to work to solve the problems of Jammu and Kashmir were unable to do so even if they clearly felt the pain of the people there.

As a Karyakarta who has seen the issue closely over the last several decades, I had a nuanced understanding of the specifics and the complexities of the issue. Yet, I was crystal clear about one thing—that the people of Jammu and Kashmir want development and they want to contribute to the development of India based on their strengths and skills. They also want a better quality of life for their children, a life free from violence and uncertainty.

Thus, while serving the people of Jammu and Kashmir, we gave primacy to three pillars—understanding of the citizens’ concerns, building trust through supportive actions, and prioritizing development, development and more development.

In 2014, just after we assumed office, deadly floods struck Jammu and Kashmir, with a lot of damage in the Kashmir valley. In Sept 2014, I went to Srinagar to assess the situation and also announced InRs  10bn as a special assistance for rehabilitation, signaling our government’s commitment to supporting the people during crises. I had the opportunity to meet people from different walks of life and there was one common thread in these interactions- the people not only wanted development but they also wanted freedom from the rampant corruption prevailing for decades. The same year, I decided not to mark Diwali in remembrance of those we lost in Jammu and Kashmir. I also decided to be in Jammu and Kashmir on Diwali day.

In order to further strengthen Jammu and Kashmir’s development journey, we decided that our Government ministers would frequently go there and interact with people directly. These frequent visits also played a crucial role in building goodwill in Jammu and Kashmir. From May 2014 to March 2019, over 150 ministerial visits took place. This is a record in itself. The special package of 2015 was a significant step in addressing the developmental needs of Jammu and Kashmir. It contained initiatives for infrastructure development, job creation, tourism promotion and support to the handicraft industry.

We harnessed the power of sports in Jammu and Kashmir, recognising its potential to ignite the dreams of the youth. Through sporting initiatives, we witnessed the transformational impact of athletic pursuits on their aspirations and futures. Sporting venues were upgraded, training programmes were organized and coaches were made available. One of the most unique things was to encourage the setting of local football clubs. The results were outstanding. The name of the talented footballer Afshan Ashiq comes to my mind- in Dec 2014 she was a part of a stone pelting group in Srinagar but with the right encouragement she turned to football, she was sent for training and excelled in the game. I recall interacting with her in one of the Fit India Dialogues where I said it’s time to move over ‘Bend it like Beckham’ because it is now ‘Ace it like Afshan.’ Other youngsters began to shine in kickboxing, Karate and more.

The Panchayat polls were also a watershed moment in the region’s quest for all-round development. Once again, we were faced with a choice of either remaining in power or standing by our principles- the choice was never tough and we let go of a Government but preferred that those ideals that we stand for, the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir are given top priority. The success of Panchayat polls indicated the democratic nature of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. My mind went back to an interaction I had with Pradhans from the villages. Among other issues, I made a request to them- that at no point must schools be burnt and that must be ensured. I was delighted to see that this was adhered to. After all, if schools are burnt the biggest sufferers are the small children.

The historical day of 5th August is etched in the hearts and minds of every Indian. Our Parliament passed the historic decision to abrogate Article 370. Since then, much has changed in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The judicial court verdict came in December 2023 but seeing the wave of development across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, the people’s court have given a resounding thumbs up to the Parliament’s decision of abolishing Articles 370 and 35(A) for four years now.

At a political level, the last 4 years have been marked with a renewed faith in grassroots democracy. The women, tribals, SC, ST and marginalized sections of society were not getting their due. At the same time, the aspirations of Ladakh were totally ignored. 5 Aug 2019 changed all that. All Central laws now apply without fear or favor. Representation has also got more widespread- a three tier Panchayati Raj System is in place, BDC elections have been held, and refugee communities who were all but forgotten have begun to enjoy the fruits of development.

Key Central Government schemes have attained saturation levels, thus covering all sections of society. These include Saubhagya, Ujwala and Ujjwala schemes. Strides have been made in housing, tap water connection and financial inclusion. Healthcare, otherwise a major challenge for the people, has witnessed an upgrade of infrastructure. All the villages achieved ODF Plus stats. Government vacancies, which were otherwise a den of corruption and favoritism have been filled in a transparent and process driven manner. Other indicators like IMR have shown betterment. The boost to infrastructure and tourism has been for everyone to see. The credit for this naturally goes to the resilience of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who have shown time and again that they want only development and are willing to be drivers of this positive change. Earlier, there was a question mark on the status of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Now, there are only exclamation marks about record growth, record development, record tourist inflow.
In its verdict on Dec 11, the Supreme Court has strengthened the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’—it has reminded us that what defines us is the bonds of unity and a shared commitment to good governance. Today, every child born in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is born with a clean canvas, where he or she can paint a future full of vibrant aspirations. Today, the dreams of the people are no longer prisoners of the past but are possibilities of the future. After all, Development, democracy and dignity have replaced disillusionment, disappointment and despondency.

Centre for Social Inclusion and Federalism (CESIF) organized a round table discussion on Nepal-India bilateral relations, focusing on the Prime Minister’s visit to India from May 30 to June 3, 2023. The discourse brought together distinguished parliamentarians, experts, journalists, former bureaucrats and diplomats.

Raj Kishor Yadav, chairperson of the International Relations and Tourism Committee at the House of Representative, was the chief guest speaker of the discussion.

Similarly, former Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and lawmakers Barsha Man Pun, Udaya Shumsher Rana and Sunita Baral were the prominent speakers of the event.

The Prime Minister’s official visit to India last May/June further strengthened Nepal-India close ties in many fronts, including power trade, cross-border infrastructures, among others.

The visit was noted by many as a fruitful development to the existing relations; however, the burden now falls upon the implementation of the deals and agreements signed. The discussion was aimed at critically analyzing the visit and reviewing the implementations of the deals and agreements reached, reads a statement issued by Centre for Social Inclusion & Federalism.

The dialogue was moderated by the Executive Chair of CESIF, Ambassador Vijay Kant Karna.

In his opening remarks, he reflected that the visit showed an increased political trust as evidenced by PM Modi’s pledge on border issues to be resolved through dialogues. “Nonetheless, controversial issues like border disputes demand considerable preparation and consensus from both sides,” Ambassador Karna analyzed.

The dialogue brought together diverse views from the parliamentarians and participants, according to the statement.

Lawmaker Baral expressed satisfaction regarding economic perks that were achieved during the PM’s visit to India.

Likewise, lawmaker Pun agreed on the fact that slowly and gradually, an environment of trust is being witnessed which has obvious economic perks.

Similarly, lawmaker Rana emphasized on compartmentalizing structural and economic issues while dealing with India. “Issues like border disputes require a long-term solution, and the present concentration should be on economic aspects,” he reflected.

Chief Guest Yadav concluded that it is important for Nepal to also learn of India’s concerns in order to effectively navigate diplomatic hurdles. “Nepal and India’s issues are interconnected, and thus we need to carefully tread the path,” he shared.

During the program, all the participants expressed that there is a trust deficit between Nepal and India, and that there has to be diversification and decentralization of diplomacy, the statement further reads.

Regarding the PM’s visit to India, while some remarked it to be successful, some also expressed dissatisfaction.

The crux lies in the implementation of the deals and agreements signed, which is yet to be seen.

However, it would be unfair to anticipate a radical breakthrough, in this visit, on longstanding contentious issues that have plagued Nepal-India relations for decades. This isn’t to claim that there was no room for further negotiations and deals but owing to the limitations, only so much could have been achieved.

Acting on the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India on Thursday handed over a third tranche of over 12 tons of earthquake relief material to Nepal.

The relief materials consisting of blankets, sleeping bags, tents and essential medical supplies were brought to Nepal via a special Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130 flight.

As a first responder, India has provided 33 tons of emergency relief materials for the earthquake affected families in Nepal through three special Indian Air Force flights.

The support included tents and tarpaulin sheets, blankets and sleeping bags as well as vital medicines, and medical equipment such as surgical equipment, portable ventilators as well as hygiene supplies to meet the urgent requirements of the earthquake affected families.

India’s swift response affirms its commitment to support Nepal as a close friend and neighbor.

As Nepal’s foremost development partner, India has been steadfast in its efforts to support the people of Nepal in this difficult time.

India will continue to provide support based on the priorities and guidance provided by the Government of Nepal, reads a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

The border guarding forces of Nepal and India are discussing wide-ranging issues related to border security and management, at a time when Nepal is grappling with a 6.4 magnitude quake and aftershocks that have left behind a trail of death and devastation. 

The seventh edition of bilateral talks between the Armed Police Force and Sashatra Seema Bal kicked off in New Delhi on Monday. According to officials, the two sides are discussing measures to curb trans-frontier crimes and timely sharing of intelligence inputs, among other issues.

As per the SSB, “the annual talks on mutual issues have been held alternatively in India and Nepal since 2012”.

This annual meet is significant as the heads of APF and SSB engage in discussions on border-related matters such as trans-border crimes and intelligence-sharing. The meeting also helps in strengthening coordination between the two border guarding forces for more effective management of the open and unfenced India-Nepal border.

APF and SSB are also expected to raise other issues such as effective border management, a new mechanism to collaboratively combat trans-border crimes, facilitation of real-time information and exchange of critical information.

The last coordination meeting between the two border guarding forces was held at Kathmandu in Sept 2022. 

India handed over the first consignment of emergency relief materials worth INR 1 billion to Nepal on Sunday.

Following the earthquake in Jajarkot on November 3, 2023, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed his commitment to provide all possible assistance to Nepal.

A special Indian Air Force C-130 carrying the consignment of over 11 tons emergency relief materials that included tents and tarpaulin sheets, blankets and sleeping bags as well as essential medicines and medical equipment such as portable ventilators for the affected people landed at the Nepalgunj Airport this afternoon.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava on behalf of the Government of India handed over the relief materials to Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka in the presence of Karnali Province Chief Minister Raj Kumar Sharma.

Further consignments of the relief material are expected to arrive in the coming days, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said.

“As a close friend and neighbor, India remains committed to extending all possible support to those affected by the earthquake in Nepal”, the Embassy further said.

India continues to be a first responder in crisis situations in its neighborhood and beyond.

Following the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, the Government of India was the first responder and carried out its largest disaster relief operation abroad - Operation Maitri.

India had also extended USD 1 billion to Nepal as part of its long-term assistance for post-earthquake reconstruction in housing, education, health and cultural heritage sectors and included reconstruction of 50,000 houses in Nepal’s Gorkha and Nuwakot districts.

The Indian government, which has banned the export of sugar, has now allowed Nepal to import up to 25,000 metric tons of sugar.

A meeting of the Agriculture Ministry held recently decided to export sugar equal to that quantity to Nepal.

Earlier, the Nepali market had been facing a shortage of sugar due to the ban imposed on sugar by India.

India, the world’s largest sugar producing country, had stopped exporting sugar to other countries citing decrease in the production.

India had banned the export of sugar for the past three-four months.

“We have expected that there will be an easy supply of sugar in the market leading to the end of black marketing,” Tartharaj Chiluwal, Director General at the Department of Commerce Supply and Consumer Protection, said. “Now, there will not be an acute shortage of sugar in the market. Once the sugar is exported to Nepal, it will be enough for three months.”

Nepal needs 300, 00 metric tons of sugar annually. At least 150, 000 metric tons of sugar is produced in Nepal.

India has implemented a new energy rule that allows its distributors to include imported hydropower energy within the renewable energy quota allocated to them.

In a notification published in the Gazette on Oct 20, India’s Ministry of Power established a revised quota for renewable energy that distribution companies must adhere to, starting from the fiscal year 2024/25. This new quota comprises separate shares for wind, hydropower, distributed renewable energy, and other renewable sources.

As per the new rule, Indian energy distributors are required to source 29.91 percent of their total energy demand from renewable sources in 2024/25. The share will increase to 43.33 percent by 2029/30. The specific quota for hydropower has been set at 0.38 percent for 2024/25, with an increment to 1.33 percent by 2029/30.

“The hydropower renewable energy component may also be met from hydropower projects located outside India, as approved by the Central Government on a case-to-case basis,” the notification states. Previously, Indian energy distributors were allowed to count hydropower produced domestically to meet their hydropower purchase obligations (HPOs). Distributors who fail to meet the new HPOs may face penalties imposed by the government.

Kul Man Ghising, executive director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), welcomed the new rule and said that it would benefit Nepal and Bhutan as well as India. “We had long been requesting Indian officials to recognize imported energy within the HPO, and it has finally been implemented,” Ghising said. “This new rule, if effectively enforced, will create a promising market for our energy in India.”

NEA has been exporting surplus energy to India during the wet season. It has received permission to sell 522 MW in the Day-Ahead market of the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX). Furthermore, it has been selling 110 MW to NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd after reaching a five-year agreement with the Indian energy distribution company. NVVN is distributing energy imported from Nepal in the Haryana state. NEA has also received permission to export 44 MW, out of the 522 MW permitted for sale in the competitive market, in the Real TIme market of IEX.

Meanwhile, NEA exported electricity worth Rs 11.8bn to India from the second week of June to mid-October. NEA began its energy exports on June 11 this year. It sold electricity worth Rs 4.02bn in the month of mid-Sept to mid-Oct alone. Likewise, it sold energy worth Rs 1.75bn in mid-June to mid-July, Rs 2.14bn in mid-July to mid-Aug and Rs 3.47bn in mid-Aug to mid-Sept. 

The average unit price for the energy sold stood at Rs 10.27. Kul Man Ghising, Executive Director of NEA, projects that NEA could earn Rs 16bn by selling energy to India during the current fiscal year. The Indian cabinet has already decided to import 10,000 MW electricity from Nepal in the next 10 years. 

Nepal are taking on India in the quarterfinals of the men's cricket tournament in the ongoing 19th Asian Games on Tuesday.

This is the first T20 international Nepal will be playing against cricket giant India.

Earlier last month, Nepal had played against India in the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

In the match, Nepal had lost to India by 10 wickets.

One of the recommendations made by the Nepal-India Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) report prepared in 2018 is regulation of existing open borders between the two countries. While the report has not been made public, some of its drafters say they have suggested regulating the porous border between Nepal and India with a string of approaches, such as use of identity cards, installation of cutting-edge technology and strategic control of border crossings.

The previous leadership of the Nepal Army had also suggested the government to regulate the borders with India, albeit without offering any specifics. Besides several communist parties and left-leaning experts have long been advocating for controlling the Nepal-India border  

Yet, amidst these discussions, the corridors of power have remained eerily silent. The government and major political parties of Nepal are yet to give the border regulation issue a serious consideration. Some communist parties have touched upon the topic in their election manifestos, but they have not ventured beyond this electoral commitment in the form of proper deliberation.  

The debate on Nepal-India border regulation does not stop there. Even the Supreme Court has waded in with its order to the government to regulate the open border. 

A few years ago, advocates Chandra Kanta Gyawali, Bimal Gyawali, Liladhar Upadhaya, and border expert Budhi Narayan Shrestha had filed a case demanding a court order to regulate the border between Nepal and India—their primary concern being the surge in cross-border crimes.

It took almost two years for the top court to come up with the full-text of its order which directs the government to take essential actions based on existing national and international laws for the management and regulation of the Nepal-India border.  

The 25-page  document has explained in detail about the border management system, shedding light on some international experiences as well. According to the court’s order, there are three types of border management systems in the world: open border, regulated border, and closed border.  

Advocate Gyawali, one of the petitioners, proclaims that this ruling has turned a political quagmire into a legally binding obligation. The Supreme Court has unequivocally called upon the government to take the reins in hand, directing them to manage and regulate the cross-border movement, citing national and international laws as their guide.

To control criminal activities, protect Nepali territory, facilitate smooth transit process, and uphold Nepal’s independence, sovereignty and national integrity, the court has directed the government to manage and regulate the open border on the basis of past treaties and agreement. It has also ordered the government to sign additional treaties and agreements with India, if needed, on the basis of mutual equality, respect, and cooperation.

To meet this challenge head-on, the court encourages the adoption of technology – drones and CCTV cameras – for a secure, seamless border. Language training for border personnel and the issuance of identification cards for travelers are also recommended.

Moreover, diplomatic overtures to India are prescribed to clarify disputed border areas, ensuring that future disputes do not disrupt the harmony between the two neighboring nations. 

The court has directed the government to give continuity to the tasks related to the installation of new border pillars and restoration of missing ones, as well as evacuation of settlers from the no-man’s land areas.

Arguing that criminal activities, unchecked human trafficking, drug trade, and counterfeiting were thriving in the border areas, the petitioners had demanded for a robust border security and monitoring mechanism. They had argued that the absence of record-keeping had further compounded these challenges. 

Their plea? Revision of treaties, mandatory ID cards for border crossers, and meticulous record-keeping by the government.

In response to the petition, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers had said that border management falls within the purview of the executive branch.

“In its previous rulings, the Supreme Court has explicitly stated that decisions regarding the nature and type of relationships to maintain with other countries rest with the sovereign country. Such matters fall under the jurisdiction of the state's executive branch,” it said. “The government is actively and earnestly addressing these concerns to ensure the security and interests of the nation and its citizens through diplomatic channels and other appropriate means.”

It added: “People of both countries have traversed this border without hindrance for centuries. EPG formed by the two countries are studying treaties and agreements. Likewise, officials of both countries are holding regular meetings on border management.”

At the time, the Ministry of Home Affairs also issued its own rebuttal.  “Six immigration offices have been opened along the Nepal-India border for management of movement of people and goods between the two countries. Likewise, the Eminent Persons’ Group having experts from both countries are holding discussion on different treaties between the two countries including the 1950 Treaty,” it said. 

“The two countries have been holding meetings under minister, secretary and high-ranking official level on a regular basis to address border management and control crimes, smuggling, human trafficking, use of counterfeit currency, movement of drugs and narcotics.”

Aadvocate Liladhar Upadhyay says: "Now, government has responsibility to implement the mandamus of the Supreme Court. Regulating border is equally important for India to control various kinds of crimes by taking benefit of open cross border between the two neighbouring countries."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence had also joined the chorus for the dismissal of the petition. They too cited cooperative initiatives, joint measurements, and border pillar deployment, and the EPG initiative, asserting that unilateral decisions are not the answer.

However, the report prepared by EPG is gathering dust and chances of its acceptance by India appears slim. 

Nepal-India border management issue has been overshadowed by the map row that erupted in 2020. There was no official response from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the latest court order. 

India’s PM Narendra Modi, while addressing world leaders at the G20 meeting in New Delhi, frequently used the word ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India’ and reiterated a 2,500-year history of his country in Sanskrit. 

The podium he was taking to welcome foreign delegates, too, was decked as ‘Bharat’, with a symbolic ‘Lotus’—Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s election symbol—displayed around the summit venue. The unprecedented branding of ‘Bharat’ along with ‘Hindu civilization’ could help set a nationalistic agenda for the ruling BJP in upcoming general elections. 

Latest developments like India’s emergence as a ‘Space power’, its soft tone at the recent BRICS summit, and successful execution of G20 Summit could result in a great strategic advantage to India to rise as a prominent power on the world stage. 

A moot question is: How will India balance ties with China, Russia, the US, and various multilateral associations, including QUAD, IPS and BRICS? 

The author is a geostrategic thinker 

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song has come under fire for making ‘undiplomatic remarks’ regarding the Nepal-India ties. 

Speaking at an event in Kathmandu on Saturday, Chen had made contentious comments regarding economic matters between Nepal and India, terming it as ‘not mutually beneficial’. He also claimed that Nepal can achieve economic prosperity from China rather than India.

Sundarmani Dixit, a civil society leader, has called on the government to promptly seek an explanation from Ambassador Chen and request the Chinese government for his recall.

Speaking at a function on Tuesday, Dixit remarked that the comments made by the Chinese ambassador had the potential to negatively impact Nepal’s long standing relationship with India. 

“The foreign minister should promptly seek clarification from the Chinese ambassador,” he said.

Chen had pointed out that in the last fiscal year, Nepal exported electricity worth Rs 10bn to India, while simultaneously importing electricity worth Rs 19bn from India.

 “How can Nepal achieve self-sufficiency in the sector it takes pride in under such circumstances,” the Chinese envoy remarked at the program, which was also attended by Speaker Devraj Ghimire and CPN-UML leader Aanandaraj Pokharel.

Chen went on to highlight that in the first month of the current fiscal year alone, Nepal had imported agricultural products worth Rs 7bn from India. “In this ratio, Nepal imports agricultural products worth Rs 100bn from India in a year,” he said, underscoring Nepal’s heavy reliance on India for agricultural products.

Vijay Kant Karna, a former Nepali ambassador to India, expressed his concern, labeling Chen’s comments as highly undiplomatic and unprecedented.

“This is the first time in Nepal that an ambassador of any country has given such an undiplomatic comment,” he said. “China had previously commented on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the US and now is making remarks about India.”  

Karna said Nepal was capable of establishing relationships with other countries and it didn't need any suggestions from other countries on how to conduct its foreign affairs.

“The Chinese ambassador should have spoken about China being reluctant to open its border for trade with Nepal and the stalled BRI projects,” said Karna. 

Meanwhile, the International Relations Committee of Parliament has summoned Foreign Minister NP Saud to address various diplomatic matters, including the controversial remarks made by the Chinese ambassador.

Committee chair Raj Kishor Yadav said the meeting’s agenda will also encompass a discussion on establishing a code of conduct for foreign diplomats in Nepal. 

“The meeting will explore strategies to ensure that ambassadors adhere to diplomatic code of conduct,” he said.

Former ambassador Dinesh Bhattarai said the Chinese ambassador should not have gone to that extent in his speech. “It’s not his responsibility to teach us the kind of economic and political system we follow,” he said. 

Spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sewa Lamsal said the ministry was unaware of the remarks made by the Chinese ambassador.

Three months after Nepal and India signed a preliminary agreement on long-term power trade, the Indian Cabinet has finally endorsed the deal under which the southern neighbor has agreed to buy 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal in the next 10 years.

While Indian approval for the purchase of 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal marks a major milestone in bilateral energy cooperation, it has come at a time when Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is preparing for a China visit, during which Nepal plans to seal power trade agreement with the northern neighbor.  

The endorsement from the Indian Cabinet has paved the way for signing long-term power trade between India and Nepal. Nepal has been requesting the southern neighbor for a long-term power trade deal arguing that an inter-government agreement would lock in the market and end the unpredictability of the Indian market’s availability for electricity from Nepal in the long run. With a gradual increment in electricity generation in the past few years, Nepal has been looking for a market for its electricity export to avoid energy spillage. 

While Nepal wanted to sign the final deal during Prime Minister Dahal’s India visit in the first week of June, the signing was delayed as it was yet to be passed by the Indian Cabinet. Both countries then planned for the third week of June for agreement signing for which Energy Secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire did travel to New Delhi. However, it was again postponed as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was busy on an abroad visit. 

Madhu Prasad Bhetuwal, spokesperson at the Energy Ministry said that they have received information that the draft of the long-term electricity trade agreement has been approved by the Indian Cabinet. “We are yet to receive the official letter on it,” said Bhetuwal. However, Shankar Prasad Sharma, Nepali Ambassador to India, confirmed this on social media, saying that “India’s cabinet approval to purchase 10,000 MWs of electricity from Nepal in the next ten years has paved the way to develop a new road map for electricity development in Nepal. This could play a significant role in the economic development and restructuring of Nepal.”

According to Energy Ministry officials, energy secretaries of both countries will now sign the intergovernmental agreement for medium-term and long-term electricity trade. The Energy Ministry plans to sign the agreement amid a special program in Kathmandu. 

According to NEA officials, with an umbrella agreement in place, electricity can be sold through long-term agreements spanning from 7-25 years, as well as medium-term agreements spanning 2-7 years. 

The agreement is an umbrella agreement that will pave the way for power trading agencies in Nepal and India such as Nepal Electricity Authority and NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN) to enter into a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA). The NEA and NVVN will sign a separate agreement for commercial deals. 

The long-term power deal has become of paramount importance for Nepal with the country’s electricity generation capacity gradually increasing. If the market for Nepali electricity is not ensured, the country faces the risk of electricity spillage every year, especially during the wet season.  In the rainy season last year, the country’s electricity spillage reached as high as 800 MW during the festive period in October and November.

The country’s generation capacity has already reached nearly 2,700 MW which requires more exports to India to avoid spillage in the rainy season when power plants start generating power at their full capacity.

India allows Nepal to export additional 180 MW of electricity 

India has also allowed Nepal to sell an additional 180 MW of electricity to its market. Nepal has already received approval to export 452 MW to India. With an additional 180 MW of electricity export now allowed, total energy exports to India have reached 632 MW. 

Of the 180 MW, 70 MW will be exported from Tanakpur in western Nepal to Uttar Pradesh while 110 MW will be exported to another Indian state of Haryana through Dhalkebar-Muzaffpur 400 KV cross-border transmission line. 

According to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), India has allowed the export of electricity from 83 MW Dudhkosi Project, and 27 MW Lamjung’s Dordi Corridor under the medium-term agreement. Similarly, the electricity from 37 MW Upper Chameliya, and 33 MW Upper Kalangada projects will be exported from Tanakpur. 

Nepal which has been selling its electricity to India's day-ahead market since Nov 2021, has recently been allowed to sell electricity to its real-time market also. 

While conducting foreign policy, we should seek to strike a balance between our two neighbors—India and China. We can change friends but not neighbors. The onus is also on us to maintain a cordial and balanced relationship with both of our neighbors. We have to be able to convince the two neighbors about our concerns and hear out their core concerns as well.  Keeping a balanced relationship with two of our neighbors is the only way to move forward.

As for electricity trade, India is the only market for our electricity, so we have to be flexible while negotiating with India on this issue. 

As India is the only buyer of our electricity, we have to heed its concerns too. Because of this constraint, we have some difficulties and compulsions when it comes to selling electricity. 

We have to keep our national interests at the center while conducting foreign policy. 

The author is a former PM and president of the Nepali Congress 

India has endorsed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to purchase electricity from Nepal.

Under this agreement, India has agreed to import 10,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity from Nepal in the next ten years.

According to Nepal's ambassador to India, Dr Shankar Prasad Sharma, the federal Council of Ministers of India formally endorsed the agreement on the power trade with Nepal and India shared information about this through social media X (twitter).

He said the decision would contribute to accelerating Nepal's economic development and restructuring efforts.

The MoU was initially signed between the two countries during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's latest visit to India (May 31-June 3, 2023) and at the time the Prime Minister termed the moment historic. Energy secretaries from both countries signed and exchanged the document.

Following India's latest decision to endorse the agreement, the energy secretaries from both neighboring countries will participate in a special ceremony to formally resign it.

Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Hydro Resources and Irrigation and Spokesperson for the Ministry, Madhu Prasad Bhetuwal said they were unofficially informed about the official decision of the Indian government to endorse the agreement and expect to receive an official confirmation regarding the decision.

With the decision, the door to export the electricity produced in the Indian market in an easy and smooth manner has been opened.

Nepal had been urging for power export in the Indian market in short-term, mid-term and long-term. 

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has been exporting 452 megawatt electricity in the Indian Energy market on a daily basis. 

Nepal and India had signed a power trade agreement in 2014. The Indian Company, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam, is constructing a 900-megawatt Arun III hydropower project. Although the Indian company, GandhI Mallikarjun Rao, has been said to construct a 900-megawatt Upper Karnali hydropower project, it has not been started yet.

Similarly, Indian companies have forwarded necessary processes for the construction of different projects including Lower Arun, West Seti and SR-6.

An agreement has been reached between Nepal and India to construct some projects after preparing joint investment.

Nepal has been making preparations to export 40-megawatt electricity in Bangladesh soon.

The private sector has been demanding the government to grant permission for power trade. The proposed new electricity bill has made this arrangement.

The Cabinet meeting held on August 29 had given permission to the Energy Ministry to table the electricity bill in the Federal Parliament.