India Nepal Ties

18th Exercise Surya Kiran: India-Nepal joint military exercise commences

The 18th edition of Exercise Surya Kiran, a joint military exercise between India and Nepal aimed at enhancing interoperability and fostering collaboration between the two nations' armies, began on Tuesday. The annual training event is conducted alternatively in the two countries. The exercise, taking place at the Nepal Army Battle School, Saljhandi in the Shivalik ranges of Western Nepal, will be conducted till January 13. It "aims to enhance interoperability, primarily in the fields of Counter Terrorism (CT) Operations," according to an X post by the Indian embassy here. "Exercise Surya Kiran signifies the strong bond of friendship, trust and common military linkages that exist between India and Nepal," it said. The Indian Army contingent, comprising 334 personnel, is being led by a Battalion from the 11th Gorkha Rifles, according to a press release by the Defence Ministry in New Delhi. The exercise aims to enhance interoperability in jungle warfare, counter-terrorism operation

Nepal 2024: Shifting coalitions; new PM balances ties with India, China

The tradition of musical chairs continued in Nepal politics in 2024. Coalition equations changed yet again with a dispensation perceived as pro-China coming to power, a development India viewed with caution. K P Sharma Oli, 72, became prime minister for the fourth time to lead a new coalition government that faces the daunting challenge of providing political stability to the Himalayan nation. In July, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', 69, lost a trust vote as Oli's Communist Party of Nepal (Unified-Marxist) withdrew support to his government after inking a new power-sharing deal with the largest party in the House led by Sher Bahadur Deuba. Under their deal, Oli will hand over power to Nepali Congress leader Deuba after 20 months. The year began with a visit by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Nepal in January, and Nepal's Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba visited India as the year came to a close. Rana also visited earlier in August, a week after India's Foreign Secretary .

'Exercise Surya Kiran': 300 Indian Army personnel depart for Nepal

During the exercise, the soldiers of two nations will be able to share best practices, enhance interoperability and foster a stronger bond in conduct of joint operations

Nepal earns Rs 815 cr from electricity export to India in 5 months of FY25

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has exported electricity worth Nepalese rupees 13 billion (INR 8.15 billion approximately) during the first five months of the current fiscal year. According to NEA officials, about 1.76 billion units of electricity worth Nepalese Rs 13.04 billion have been exported to India from mid-July to mid-December of the current fiscal year 2024-25. Nepal has been exporting surplus electricity to India during the rainy season for the last few years, NEA spokesperson Chandan Ghosh said. The average rate of electricity exported to India in the five months is Nepalese Rs 7.39 (INR 4.63 approximately) per unit. The authority is selling the surplus electricity at competitive rates in the day-ahead and real-time markets of the Indian Energy Exchange and to the states of Haryana and Bihar as per the bilateral medium-term power sales agreement. As a result, the authority has earned INR 8.15 billion by selling electricity during the review period as the trading

Future full of challenges, says Nepal Army Chief at IMA passing out parade

The future environment for military leaders will be full of challenges due to the emergence of disruptive new technologies, said Nepal Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel as he reviewed the IMA's passing-out parade for the autumn course on Saturday. He called upon the gentlemen cadets passing out of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) to be ready for such challenges and said they can embark on their exciting new journey with confidence, as they have received the best training available in the field. "The job ahead is not easy. You will face a future environment that is invariably multi-domain, multi-theatre, and multi-sectoral. The challenges will be multi-pronged due to the emergence of disruptive technologies, but you can go forth with confidence because you have received the best training," General Sigdel said, addressing the cadets. A total of 491 cadets passed out of the IMA on Saturday, including 456 from India and 35 from friendly countries. "Valour will carry you through ...

President Murmu confers honorary rank of General on Nepal's army chief

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday conferred the honorary rank of 'General of Indian Army' on Nepal's Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel at a ceremony here. There has been a tradition of conferring the title of Honorary General on the Army chiefs of Nepal and India since 1950. The President "conferred the Honorary Rank of General of the Indian Army on Suprabal Janasewashree General Ashok Raj Sigdel, Chief of the Army Staff, Nepali Army, at a special investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan for his commendable military prowess and immeasurable contribution to further fostering Nepal's long and friendly association with India", her office said in a statement. General Sigdel commenced a significant visit to India on Tuesday, marking a key step in further strengthening defence ties between the two nations. His visit, which spans from December 11-14, underscores the ongoing efforts to further strengthen and deepen the defence cooperation between Nepal and India. Nepal's ...

1st India-Nepal Tourism meet held in Kathmandu to promote Mahakumbh 2025

The event organised with an aim to create B2B connections to foster implementation of circuit tourism between India and Nepal

Only grant projects accepted in Belt and Road Initiative: Nepali Congress

The Nepali Congress, which is part of the ruling coalition, on Monday said that the country can only accept agreements under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) if they are based on grants. A meeting of the party's Central Working Committee held at the residence of party president and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said that the BRI projects should not be financed through loans. The party's statement came days after Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli visited China where the two countries signed the BRI Cooperation Framework. Following the meeting, Nepali Congress spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat told the media that the party's position remains unchanged BRI projects should be funded only by grants. Mahat said that during Prime Minister Oli's visit to China, the agreement for financing was referred to as an assistance and not a loan. He said any future BRI projects must follow this framework and be funded through grants. Nepal Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai inked the ...

Funded by India, foundation stone laid for Khamlalung Health Post in Nepal

The project aims to provide better medical facilities to the people of Nepal

China's Prez Xi praises Nepal PM Oli's commitment to promote bilateral ties

President Xi Jinping on Tuesday lauded visiting Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli's commitment to promote China-Nepal relations and pledged to advance strategic ties with Kathmandu as both sides inked nine agreements. Oli arrived in Beijing on Monday on a four-day visit to China, his first official visit to that country after assuming office for the fourth time. Xi met Oli and expressed appreciation for the Nepalese leader's firm commitment to promoting friendship between the two sides over a long period, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. He also pledged efforts to advance the strategic partnership of cooperation with Nepal where Beijing has scaled up its investments in the last decade, expanding its influence in the landlocked country located between India and China. Xi said China and Nepal, linked by the same mountains and rivers, are good neighbours, good friends and good partners, and bilateral relations have maintained sound and steady development. Noting that n

PM Oli to begin first foreign visit to China from Monday: MFA Nepal

Apart from formal engagements, the Nepali Prime Minister also will deliver a keynote address at Peking University. In addition, Prime Minister will address the Nepal-China Business Forum being jointly

Army chief lands in Nepal; to receive Honorary General rank from President

Indian Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi arrived here on Wednesday on an official visit to Nepal during which he will be conferred the honorary rank of "General of the Nepal Army" in continuation of an age-old tradition that first started in 1950, reflecting the strong ties between the two militaries. "To honour the singular tradition of conferment of honorary General rank of Nepali Army, COAS, IA Gen Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM arrived at Kathmandu for a five-day visit," the Embassy of India in Kathmandu said in a post on X. Gen Dwivedi, who is leading a five-member delegation, was warmly received by Maj Gen Madhukar Singh Karki on behalf of Nepal Army chief Gen Ashok Raj Sigdel upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Later, Gen Dwivedi interacted with the Ambassador of India to Nepal and discussed issues related to the bilateral relationship between the two countries. He is expected to hold extensive talks with Gen Sigdel and will call on President Ramchandra Paudel

Nepal-India talks third-country nationals' movement at border security meet

They indicated the movement of Chinese and Pakistani nationals from our border and we also expressed concerns about the Rohingya refugees as well as Bangladeshi nationals

Khattar launches 1st trilateral power flow deal from Nepal to Bangladesh

During the visit, both sides had expressed their commitment towards greater sub-regional cooperation, including in the energy sector, which would lead to increased interlinkages between the economies

Nepal, Bhutan seek Indian investment in hydro projects, power export

India, which aims for net zero emissions by 2070, is looking for renewable power to fuel its economic expansion. Nepal and Bhutan have surplus power and export 2,070 megawatts and 700 megawatts

India's first consignment of emergency relief reaches flood-hit Nepal

The Indian Embassy here handed over the first consignment of emergency relief materials, including sleeping bags, blankets and tarpaulin sheets, to authorities in flood-struck Nepal, according to an official statement. The 4.2 tonnes of aid supplies handed over on Monday were for families affected by the recent inundation in Nepal, the Indian Embassy said in a press release. Days of relentless downpours late last month triggered widespread floods and landslides, leaving more than 240 people dead across the Himalayan nation. Transported to Nepalgunj from India, the consignment was handed over by Second Secretary Narayan Singh on behalf of the Indian government to the Chief District Officer of Banke, Khagendra Prasad Rijal, the press release said. It comprised tarpaulins, sleeping bags, blankets, Chlorine tablets and water bottles. The Indian government was also "arranging other essential hygiene items and medicines as well as other relief materials, which will be delivered soon," t

India stands firm with Nepal amid disastrous floods, offers hand of help

After the heavy rainfall since last week of September, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority recently issued warnings of possible heavy rainfall across various locations

Nepal, India, B'desh sign pact to facilitate cross-border electricity trade

Nepal, India and Bangladesh on Thursday signed a tripartite agreement to facilitate cross-border electricity trade, officials here said. As per the agreement, Nepal will export its surplus electricity to Bangladesh via India from June 15 to November 15 every year. India will make arrangements to supply electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh. In the first phase, Nepal will export 40 MW of hydroelectricity to Bangladesh via Indian territory. The rate per unit of electricity has been fixed at 6.4 cents. From the export of electricity, Nepal will make an annual income of around USD 9.2 million, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) officials said. The MoU was signed in Kathmandu between NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising, NTPC Vidyut Byapar Nigam CEO Deino Naran, and Bangladesh Power Development Board Chairman Mohamad Rizwan Karim, Nepal's Ministry of Energy officials said. Nepal's Energy Minister Dipak Khadka and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sayeda Rijwana Hasan were also present on the .

India pledges Rs 47.4 cr for construction of 12 impactful projects in Nepal

India has pledged NRs 474 million to build 12 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Nepal in the education, health, agriculture, drinking water and culture sectors, according to an official statement. The Embassy of India here and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration of the Nepalese government signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for the projects on Friday. The 12 projects are being undertaken with the grant assistance of NRs 474 million from the Indian government. These include the construction of school buildings and a multipurpose foundation building, according to a press release issued by the Embassy of India here. The projects also include the constructions of the Basepu-Hulu Water Supply Project in Solukhumbu, a building for the Agriculture Promotion Centre for Food Grain Collection and Distribution Centre in Bajura, a Health Post-Birthing Centre in Dhading, and the Operation Theatre Building of Rapti Eye Hospital in Dang. These ...

Modi meets leaders including Nepal PM, Palestine President in New York

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held separate talks with world leaders, including his Nepalese counterpart K P Sharma Oli and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, discussing various facets of bilateral ties and reaffirmed India's support for the Palestinian people. Modi is in New York on the second leg of his three-day US visit and met the leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session. "Had a very good meeting with Prime Minister KP Oli in New York. The India-Nepal friendship is very robust and we look forward to adding even more momentum to our ties. Our talks focused on issues such as energy, technology and trade," Modi said in a post on X. "Deepening the warm and close friendship. PM @narendramodi met PM @kpsharmaoli of Nepal, on the sidelines of the UNGA today," the official account of the Ministry of External Affairs said in a post on X. "The two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest to strengthen cooperation in all areas of age-old, multi-faceted and expandi