Page 6 - India Nepal Ties

MEA, NSIL sign agreement to assist launch of Nepalese Munal satellite

The Ministry of External Affairs and ISRO's commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) signed an agreement on Saturday to grant assistance for the launching of the Nepal-built Munal satellite, according to an official statement. Munal is an indigenous satellite developed in Nepal under the aegis of the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), the MEA said. Antarikchya Pratishan Nepal (APN), a Nepalese space startup, has assisted Nepalese students in the design and fabrication of this satellite. The satellite aims to build a vegetation density database of the earth's surface, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in the statement. The MoU was signed by Anurag Srivastava, Joint Secretary (North) from MEA and Arunachalam A, Director from NSIL. Rabindra Prasad Dhakal, Secretary, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Surendra Thapa, Charg d'affaires of Nepali Embassy and Abhas Maskey, Founder, Antarikchya Pratishan Nepal (APN) were also present on the ...

Over 100 stranded in UP flash floods after Nepal releases 'excess' water

Rescue teams evacuated over 100 villagers who were stranded in flash floods after Nepal released an excessive amount of water that resulted in flooding in Ghaghra river here, officials said on Saturday. The residents of Chahalwa village, close to India-Nepal border, were stranded in the agricultural fields situated on the other side of river Ghaghra near the border, they said. In a statement issued on Saturday, the office of the Relief Commissioner of UP said the farmers and labourers of the village daily cross the river for agricultural work. On Friday, 115 villagers had gone to the fields during which the water level was low, the statement said. At around 6 pm, due to the excessive amount of water released from Nepal, the water level of the river increased, trapping the villagers. As the river swelled up, 63 people managed to be brought out safely by boats, but the remaining villagers were stuck in the fields, it said. According to the statement, the rescue operation with the he

Indian Ambassador to Nepal discusses mutual concerns with new Deputy PM, FM

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava on Tuesday called on newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh and Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana and discussed matters related to bilateral interest and mutual concerns. Srivastava met Singh, who is also the Minister for Urban Development, and Rana at their respective office a day they assumed charge as part of the Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli-led coalition government of Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and Nepali Congress sworn in on Monday. During the meeting, Srivastava and Singh discussed matters relating to bilateral interest and mutual concerns, sources at the Ministry said. Ambassador Srivastava on the occasion extended best wishes to Deputy Prime Minister Singh for a successful tenure, saying that India is ready to enhance mutual cooperation. Deputy Prime Minister Singh and Ambassador Srivastava on the occasion discussed India's possible cooperation in controlling river pollution and soli

Nepal seeks India's help to search for passengers swept in landslide

Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs wrote to India on Monday, asking for India's assistance to search for the missing buses and passengers

5 deaths reported in Nepal twin bus tragedy, Indian nationals among victims

Rescuers in Nepal on Sunday found the body of a person who went missing when two buses were swept into a swollen river by a mudslide last week in Chitwan district, police said, taking the death toll to five, including that of an Indian. The rescue team on Sunday found the fifth body at Gaindakot-7 while searching for passengers after two buses carrying 65 passengers, including seven Indians, went missing in the flooded Trishuli River on Friday. The landslide happened in the Simaltal area along the Narayanghat-Mugling road in Chitwan district. Three people swam to safety soon after the incident. So far only five bodies, including that of an Indian, have been recovered during the search operation, My Republica news portal quoted a police official as saying. The identity of three dead, including the Indian national who carried an Indian Identity Card in his pocket, has been revealed while the bodies of two others are yet to be identified, the official added. The first body from the b

Veteran Nepalese leader Oli returns as PM, tasked with ensuring stability

K P Sharma Oli, a wily politician who has wrecked many governments in Nepal in the past and endangered ties with India during his first tenure, has a tough task ahead as the new prime minister amidst frequent political turmoil. Almost on predictable lines, the Oli-led Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), which is the largest party in the ruling coalition, withdrew support from the government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' last week. Oli, 72, ditched his one-time friend Prachanda to join hands with his foe-turned-friend Sher Bahadur Deuba, leading the largest party in the House of Representatives, the Nepali Congress for the remaining 40 months of Parliament. President Ramchandra Paudel on Sunday appointed CPN-UML Chairman Oli as the prime minister of Nepal. This is Oli's fourth stint as the country's chief executive. Since 2008, when the erstwhile monarchy was formally abolished and Nepal adopted an interim Constitution, it has had 13 .

KP Sharma Oli appointed Nepal's new prime minister, to succeed PK Dahal

K P Sharma Oli was appointed Nepal's Prime Minister for the third time on Sunday to lead the new coalition government that faces the daunting challenge of providing political stability in the country. Oli, 72, succeeds Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda who lost the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives on Friday, leading to the formation of the new government process as per Article 76 (2) of the Constitution. President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed Oli as the new Prime Minister of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML)-Nepali Congress (NC) coalition. Oli along with the new Cabinet will be sworn in on Monday. Late on Friday night, Oli staked his claim to become the next Prime Minister with the backing of NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba and submitted the signatures of 165 House of Representatives (HoR) members -- 77 from his party and 88 from the NC. Oli served as Nepal's prime minister from October 11, 2015, to August 3, 2016 and then, from February

Nepali Congress & CPN-UML strike deal to oust Prachanda, form new alliance

The two leaders tentatively agreed to form a new government, amend the Constitution, and work out a power-sharing formula

8 Nepal ministers from CPN-UML in Dahal-government set to resign today

The latest change in the government in less than 100 days of its formation on March 4 comes amid a new agreement that was struck at midnight in between KP Sharma Oli and Sher Bahadur Deuba

India can be 'reliable partner' for Nepal's development, says ex-PM Madhav

India can be a "reliable partner" for Nepal's development and prosperity, former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said on Sunday, as he congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government for conducting successful elections in the world's largest democracy. Addressing an event with the theme Indo-Nepal Friendship and Economic Cooperation here, Madhav Nepal also said that India and Nepal should stand together to fight against the effects of climate change. India can be a reliable partner for Nepal's development and prosperity, said Madhav Nepal, the chairman of CPN-Unified Socialist Party, which is part of the ruling coalition. He said that Nepal can provide a solution of green energy to India through its abundant hydropower resources. Addressing the event, Minister for Tourism and Culture Hit Bahadur Tamang said that Nepal cannot reduce its trade deficit only by exporting hydroelectricity to India and Bangladesh and for that, we need to promote tourism as ...

New updates: Sonia Gandhi unanimously elected as Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson

Catch all the latest updates from around the world here

Regional leaders set to attend PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony on June 9

The swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi and the Council of Ministers, following the General Elections 2024, is slated for June 9, 2024

Modi's swearing-in: Top leaders of neighbouring countries to be invited

India is likely to invite leaders of a number of its neighbouring countries, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, to the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the weekend, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Modi is all set to take charge as the prime minister for a historic third consecutive term with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) winning 293 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. The people cited above said top leaders of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and Mauritius are likely to be among the foreign leaders to be invited for Modi's oath-taking ceremony. The media division of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe's office said Modi invited him to the swearing-in ceremony. It said Wickremesinghe accepted the invite. It said Wickremesinghe congratulated Modi on the electoral victory in a phone call. "During the conversation, Prime Minister @narendramodi invited President Wickremesinghe to his swearing-in ceremo

Nepal to introduce new Rs 100 currency note featuring Indian territories

India has contested Nepal's decision to print notes with an updated map which includes Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani

Nepal aims to export 10,000 MW hydroelectricity to India: President Paudel

The Nepal government has accorded top priority to the development of the hydropower sector and aims to export 10,000 MW of hydropower to India in the next decade, President Ramchandra Paudel said on Thursday. Nepal wants to contribute towards promoting renewable and green energy in our neighbouring market by harnessing its immense hydro-potentiality, said Paudel while inaugurating the three-day Himalayan Hydro Expo 2024 at Bhrikutimandap here. The Nepal government is moving ahead in collaboration with the private sector by pursuing the aim to export 10,000 MW of hydroelectricity to India in the next ten years as per the bilateral agreement reached between the two countries a few months ago, he said. He urged the government to make necessary legal reforms so that both the private sector within the country, as well as foreign investors, may find a conducive environment to invest in the hydropower sector. The economic prosperity and development sought by the people of Nepal is only ..

Govt assisting five nations develop early warning systems, says IMD chief

India is helping Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Mauritius develop early warning systems to reduce the loss of life and property due to extreme weather events, IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra has said. In a conversation with PTI editors, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) director general said India will play the role of a big brother and a peer advisor to Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Mauritius in the efforts to guard against the impact of extreme weather events. India's efforts are part of the 'Early Warnings for All' initiative announced by the United Nations in 2022 to ensure that everyone is protected from hazardous weather, water or climate events through life-saving early warning systems by the end of 2027. Mohapatra said India is helping five of the 30 countries identified across the world for the first phase of the initiative of establishing early warning systems. "Fifty per cent of the countries do not have an early warning system. The poor .

BRI implementation plan discussed with China: Nepal Dy PM Shrestha

Nepal and China have made progress in moving forward with the implementation plan of the Beijing-backed Belt and Road Initiative projects in the Himalayan nation, Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha said here on Monday. Shrestha, who is also the Minister for Foreign Affairs, returned home on Monday, after concluding an eight-day official visit to China from March 25 to April 1. He held discussions with Chinese officials on matters relating to giving final shape to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Implementation Plan for its actual implementation. An understanding has already been reached with China regarding the BRI Implementation Plan during the visit of our Prime Minister to China and talks have moved forward during my visit as per the understanding, he said. Under the BRI, Nepal is free to select development projects as per its choice, he added. Responding to a question, he said We prefer grant assistance under the BRI but both options including, grant and loan are op

India renews agreement to export electricity to Nepal for next 3 months

At a time when Nepal is facing a power crisis, India on Friday renewed the agreement to export electricity to Nepal for the next three months. Under the agreement, which was to expire on March 31, Nepal can import a total of 554 MW electricity from India between 6 am and 6 pm. Nepal's domestic electricity production currently stands at around 1,200 MW while the country's demand for electricity is 1,800 MW to 2,000 MW during this period. Nepal is experiencing a shortage of electricity as most of the domestic power plants in the country are based on a run-of-the-river system and during winter, there is less water in the rivers. We have received the notification about the renewal of the agreement to export electricity to Nepal until June end, Chandan Ghosh, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) spokesperson, told PTI. The Himalayan nation can import 500 MW of electricity from the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur cross-border transmission line and 54 MW through Tanakpur, Ghosh added. After mid-June

Nepal PM Prachanda wins vote of confidence in Parliament for 3rd time

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda' on Wednesday secured a vote of confidence in Parliament, as the Himalayan country struggled to maintain political stability due to the frequent shifting of alliances. Prachanda, 69, a former guerilla leader belonging to the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) -- the third largest party in the House of Representatives (HoR) --received 157 votes in the 275-member lower house. Altogether 268 MPs were present during the voting. A total of 110 votes were cast against him while one lawmaker abstained from voting. Prachanda needed 138 votes to win the trust vote, his third since assuming charge in December 2022. The Prime Minister has won the vote of confidence, announced Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire, amidst cheers from the ruling coalition members. The vote comes days after the Maoist leader dumped the Nepali Congress and forged a new alliance with the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist). According to constitutional ...

Amid dropping popularity, Nepal PM Prachanda heads for 3rd confidence vote

The largest party in the parliament in terms of seats in the federal parliament, the Nepali Congress, has also issued a whip to its parliamentarians to vote against Dahal