[CA] India - Nepal border turmoil

Amidst the border dispute with India, Nepal’s cabinet has accepted a new political map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura under its territory. India and Nepal are at a dispute after the Indian side released its new political map on Nov 02, 2019 which covers above three areas in Indian territory.

Both India and Nepal consider Kalapani as their integral part. India calls it part of Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand while Nepal is part of Dharchula district.

The Sugauli Treaty of 1816 was signed between Nepal and the British East India Company in 1816 after the Anglo-Nepal War. It depicts the Kali (Mahakali) river as the western border of India and Nepal. On the basis of this, Nepal claims to be under the jurisdiction of Lipulekh and other three regions. However, the situation regarding the border between the two countries is unclear. Both countries have their own maps showing the disputed area under their jurisdiction. It is to be noted that India and Nepal share 1,800 kilometers (1,118-mile) of open border.

[CA] Agreements / MoUs signed between India and Nepal

S.No.	Title of Agreement
1.	MoU on Modalities for Utilization of India’s Housing Grant Component to support Reconstruction of 50,000 Houses
2.	MoU on Implementation of the Grant Component of India’s Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Package in the Education Sector in Nepal
3.	MoU on Implementation of the Grant Component of India’s Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Package in the Cultural Heritage Sector in Nepal
4.	MoU on Implementation of the Grant Component of India’s Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Package in the Health Sector in Nepal
5.	MoU for Implementation Arrangement on Cost Sharing, Schedules and Safeguard Issues for Construction of Mechi Bridge under ADB's SASEC Road Connectivity Programme (Tranche 2), Funded by Government of India
6.	MoU on Drug Demand Reduction and Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursor Chemical and Related Matters
7.	Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Standardization and Conformity Assessment
8.	MoU between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal

[CA - Notes] Agreements signed b/w India and Nepal

MoU signed b/w India and Nepal

#	MoU / Agreement	Brief Description
01	MoU on utilization of US$ 250 million Grant component of GOI’s Assistance package for Post-earthquake reconstruction assistance	Four sectors, i.e., housing, health, education and cultural heritage have been identified. In housing, US$ 100 million would be utilised for construction of 50,000 houses in 14 severely earthquake affected districts. US$ 50 million each would be utilised in health, education and cultural heritage sectors in 31 earthquake affected districts of Nepal.
02	MoU on strengthening of road infrastructure in the Terai area of Nepal	This MoU will enable speedy implementation of remaining work on 17 Roads in Package 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Terai Road Phase-I project, totalling 518 kms. Two roads in Package 1 totalling 87 kms have already been completed.
03	MoU between Nepal Academy of Music and Drama and Sangeet Natak Academy	This MoU aims to enhance relations between India and Nepal in the field of performing arts through exchanges of experts, exponents, dancers, scholars and intellectuals.
04	Letters of Exchange on Transit Routes: (i) Transit between Nepal and Bangladesh through Kakarbitta-Banglabandh corridor (ii) Operationalization of Vishakhapatnam Port	i) This Exchange of Letters between India and Nepal would result in simplification of modalities for traffic of goods between Nepal and Bangladesh while transiting through India, through the Kakarbhitta (Nepal) and Banglabandha (Bangladesh) corridor. ii) This Exchange of Letters would provide for transit facilities for Nepal through the Vishakhapatnam port.
05	Letters of Exchange on Rail Transport: (i) Rail transport to/from Vishakhapatnam (ii) Rail transit facility through Singhabad for Nepal’s Trade with and through Bangladesh	(i) This Exchange of Letters would allow for rail transport to and from Vishakhapatnam to Nepal. (ii) This Exchange of Letters would help operationalise rail transit facility through Singabad in India for Nepal’s trade with and through Bangladesh.
06	Inauguration of Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar transmission line [Initial supply of 80 MW, to be augmented to 200 MW by October 2016 and 600 MW by December 2017]	The Nepal portion of the 400 KV Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar transmission line is being implemented by GoN, under an LoC of US$ 13.5 million. 80 MW power would flow immediately through this line, with an initial charge of 132 KV. Thereafter, it will be augmented to 200 MW in October 2016 at 220 KV, and then to 600 MW by December 2017 at 400 KV.
07	Establishment of Eminent Persons Group	At the third meeting of the India–Nepal Joint Commission held at Kathmandu in July 2014, it was decided to establish an Eminent Persons Group (EPG). The EPG comprises eight members with each country nominating four members, preferably a parliamentarian, a lawyer, an economist and a civil society activist. The EPG has now been constituted. Its mandate would be to comprehensively review bilateral relations and recommend measures including institutional frameworks to further enhance bilateral ties.

èNewly Added Topicsç

More on Current Affairs

[Study Materials/Notes] Schemes

[Study Materials/Notes] GK

[Study Materials/Notes] Indian Polity
[Study Materials/Notes] Indian Geography

[Study Materials/Notes] Economics

[Study Materials/Notes] Culture

[Study Materials/Notes] Indian Defence

[Study Materials/Notes] Other Topics

[CA - Bilateral Issues] India and Nepal Friendship Bus

Friendship Bus

India-Nepal Bus Service resumed after a gap of 27 years. The service was suspended 27 years ago in the wake of the Indo-Nepal Trade and Transit Treaty. The service runs between Kanchanpur in Nepal, which is close to Banbasa border in Champavat district of Uttarakhand, and Anand Vihar ISBT in Delhi.

To travel in these buses, no special documents are required as both the countries share open border. The service is expected to benefit people living along the border areas as they have family as well as trade relations with each other.

And, it is also expected to benefit around 10000 Nepalis who travel from Kanchanpur district, Dandel Dhura, Voti, Sapen, Acham, Kalali, Jagbuddha and Siddhartha Nagar areas in Nepal.

=========================================

èNewly Added Topicsç

More on Current Affairs

[Study Materials/Notes] Schemes

[Study Materials/Notes] GK

[Study Materials/Notes] Indian Polity
[Study Materials/Notes] Indian Geography

[Study Materials/Notes] Economics

[Study Materials/Notes] Culture

[Study Materials/Notes] Indian Defence

[Study Materials/Notes] Other Topics