Nepal (India & Neighbourhood).
Syllabus: UPSC Mains GS2: India & neighbourhood, groupings, international institutions, diaspora
India-Nepal relations for UPSC: 1950 treaty, open border, Gorkhas, Kosi, Gandak, Mahakali treaties, hydropower trade, Kalapani-Lipulekh map row and China.
India's Ministry of Power has approved export of up to 654 MW of electricity to the Nepal Electricity Authority, 18 hours a day, from 13 September to 31 December 2026. Up to 600 MW will flow through the Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar line and up to 54 MW through Tanakpur-Mahendranagar. Floods had damaged Nepal's hydropower plants and cut its generation.
UPSC angle: Prelims: cross-border transmission lines.
14 Sep 2026
Indian Railways ran the first direct commercial container freight train from Kolkata Port to the Biratnagar Customs Yard in Nepal, the Railways Ministry said on 28 July 2026. The 40-wagon train carried canola. It ran under the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol, with no transshipment at the border, cutting time, cost and handling.
UPSC angle: Prelims: India–Nepal connectivity.
28 Jul 2026
India and Nepal launched a peer-to-peer cross-border remittance link between UPI and Nepal's National Payments Interface on 6 June 2026, MeitY/NPCI noted on 11 June. NPCI International Payments Limited and Nepal Clearing House Limited did the technical integration. Users can send instant transfers through mobile banking apps and wallets. UPI is accepted in nine countries including Nepal.
UPSC angle: Prelims: UPI linkages with other countries.
11 Jun 2026
MeitY's Digital India BHASHINI Division signed an MoU with Kathmandu University's Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure and AI on 6 June 2026. They will build Nepali language datasets, speech corpora, translation and speech tools, so Nepal can offer digital public services in people's own languages. The exchange took place before both Foreign Ministers.
UPSC angle: Prelims: BHASHINI.
6 Jun 2026
Regular secretary-level visits keep the agenda ready for leader-level talks; note the defence supplies alongside the diplomacy.
UPSC angle: Prelims: none. · Mains: India-Nepal ties.
17 Aug 2025
Himalayan climate risks.
UPSC angle: Prelims: none.
16 May 2025