States Of India Sharing Boundaries with Nepal

A border is a line that separates two states, countries or administrative divisions, or other areas. Generally, a border is a line that indicates a boundary. For instance, an Indo-Nepal border is an open international border or the IB for India running between India and Nepal that allows free movement of people between two countries. This border is the foundation of relations between India and Nepal that was laid under the treaty of Indo-Nepalese friendship in 1950

Indian states share their border with the following countries:

• China, 

• Bhutan, 

• Myanmar, 

• Afghanistan, 

• Nepal, and 

• Bangladesh. 

This page discusses the list of Indian states sharing boundaries with Nepal. Along with this, we will go through the recent highlights on the Indo-Nepal Border.

About India-Nepal Border:

The India-Nepal border is also called the open international border that runs between India and Nepal. Below, we will find the characteristics of the same:

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History and Description of Indo-Nepal Border: The Year 1950

Historically, the border region persisted at the edge of various Indian and Nepali kingdoms. It acquired its modern shape during the reign of British rule in India that began in the 17th century. During the late eighteenth century, the Nepali realm launched an expansion drive, carrying them into conflict with the British and resulting in the Anglo-Nepalese War that occurred between the period 1814-16.

Nepal lost the war and, by the Treaty of Sugauli, surrender its land to Britain, viably making the advanced India-Nepal boundary. Finding the Terai district hard to deal with, the British returned portions of it to Nepal in 1816.

India acquired independence in 1947, and three years later, it signed a companionship treaty with Nepal, by which the two nations consented to regard the territorial integrity of the other.  Since then, relations have largely been cordial. However, various borderline debates remain. Occasionally, there have been various blockades on the border at times of pressure, for instance, in 1987 and 2015 (further, we will discuss in detail).

The border originates in the west at the western tripoint with China close to the Tinker Pass, proceeds to the southwest via the Himalayas, the Sivalik Hills, and then the Gangetic plain, initially overland and then using the Sharda River. To the east of Majhola, it turns to the south-east and continues in that direction overland, seldomly utilising various rivers and hill crests. To the North-west of Islampur, the Indo-Nepal border deviates to the northeast and continues overland to the eastern Chinese tripoint.

Which States of India Share Boundaries With Nepal?

The above table lists the Indian states bordering Nepal are the major border crossings that Indian Integrated Check Posts (ICP) use for processing cargo customs and migration entry for citizens of third countries. These crossings stretch from west to east. However, there are several small and unofficial border crossings that are called Chhoti Bansar or (Minor Customs)  in a Nepali language and they originate from west to east.

Indo-Nepal Border Security: 

The India–Nepal border is comparatively serene. Indian and Nepali nationals do not need passports or visas to embark on each other's lands. Every day, tens of thousands of people cross the border for tourism and commerce.

Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), along with local police, regulates the border from the Indian side, while the Nepali side of the border is supervised by the Armed Police Force (APF) along with the local Nepal police branch. Alongside, SSB (India) and APF (Nepal) perform joint patrolling exercises on the border as well.

On the basic level, Indian and Nepali district officials interact routinely to discuss security challenges and related issues on their respective border areas. Such meetings are usually attended by DMs (District Magistrates), local SSB representatives, customs chiefs from India such as the Chief District Officer (CDO), local APF, Police, and customs chiefs from Nepal.

Indo-Nepal Relationship: A Cordial Long-Term Relationship 

• India-Nepal relations are the bilateral relationships between India and Nepal. The two nations started their relationship with the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship and going with secret letters that characterised security relations between the two nations, and an arrangement overseeing both bilateral exchange a lot travelling. The 1950 settlement and letters traded between the then GOI and Rana leaders of Nepal expressed that "neither one of the administrations will endure any danger to the security of the other by an unfamiliar attacker" and committed the two sides "to educate each other of any serious friction or misunderstanding with any adjoining state liable to cause any break in the cordial relations remaining alive between the two governments." These agreements cemented an "uncommon relationship" between India and Nepal.

• The settlement additionally conceded Nepalese similar monetary and instructive freedoms as Indian residents in India while representing special treatment to Indian residents and organisations contrasted with different identities in Nepal. The Indo-Nepal line is open; Nepalese and Indian nationals might move unrestrictedly across the line without international IDs or visas and may live and work in one or the other country. It has been observed that Indians are not allowed to claim lands/properties or work in government offices in Nepal, while Nepalese nationals in India are permitted to work in some Indian government foundations (besides in certain states and some thoughtful administrations (the IFS, IAS, and IPS) notably the Indian military. 

• An expected 32,000 Nepalese residents are employed as well-trained troopers in the Indian armed force and further 1 million Nepali-transient (720,892 out of 2011) workers are accepted to be spread all through India while the Indian embassy in Nepal has detailed that 600,000 Indian residents in Nepal have enlisted their administrative work with the Indian consulate in Kathmandu as of 2021. The count of Indian foreigners who haven’t enrolled in their administrative work with the Indian embassy in Kathmandu isn't known starting at 2021, notwithstanding, the Government of Nepal has declared that all individuals living inside the limits of Nepal will be included in the impending registration of 2021.

• Going through a long-term disappointment by the Nepalese government, India in 2014, granted to reexamine and change the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship to mirror the ground realities. However, the methodology of change hasn't been clarified by one or the other side. The Nepali side is accounted for to have presented an EPG report to the PM of Nepal (Sher Bahadur Deuba since 13th July 2021) while the Indian unfamiliar service hasn't made any declarations with respect to the accommodation of a similar EPG report to the Indian PM (Shri. Narendra Modi since 2014).

• Regardless of the nearby linguistic, martial, cultural, and religious ties at individuals to-individuals level among Indians and Nepalese, since late 2015, policy-driven issues and Kalapani question have prompted semi-stressed relations between the two nations with disdain developing among the public authority and individuals of Nepal.

Indian Road To Himalayas Led to Sour Indo-Pak Relations 2021:

On 8th May 2021, India’s defence minister, Shri Rajnath Singh, virtually inaugurated a new 80 km-long road in the Himalayas, tethering to the border with China, at the Lipulekh pass. Following this development, the Nepali government protested promptly and accused India of changing the status quo without diplomatic consultations on constructing the road crosses territory that Nepal claims.

Among the many quickening moves since then, Nepal deployed police forces to the area, summoned the Indian ambassador in Kathmandu, and proceeded with a constitutional amendment to formalise and broaden its territorial claims over around 400 sq km. India, on the other hand, has expressed its fairness to dialogue. However, it does not appear to share Nepal’s sense of urgency: its initial statement agreed to a dialogue that too after the pandemic COVID-19 crisis. One month later, the bilateral predicament was still found to be stuck in a stalemate, a stressful trend in previously friendly India-Nepal relations.

Why has the Border Dispute Between India and Nepal become Politically Charged?

In accordance with democratisation and competitive nationalism, Nepal’s foreign policy is becoming exponentially politicised. The dispute with India has been prolonged, and Delhi’s diplomatic development and Nepal observers were well aware that the issue between the two nations could blow up anytime. However, in order to move ahead and repair, revise and revive the bilateral relationship, the reason behind the sour relationship must be understood along with the why’s and how’s of this dispute that recently flared up because of the road construction. 

However, it may be irresistible to start on a clean slate because future visions will remain void if both parties don’t agree to resolve all their issues.

Indo-Nepal Border Interesting Facts:

• India is Nepal's biggest trading associate and also the biggest source of foreign investments, other than providing transit to practically the whole third-country exchange of Nepal. 

• India represents more than 66% of Nepal's merchandise exchange, around 33% of exchange administrations, 33% of foreign direct investments, practically 100% of petrol supplies, and a critical portion of inward remittances by virtue of account of pensioners, experts, and labourers working in India In the year 2017–2018, 

• Nepal's overall exchange with India was about US$8.2 billion; Nepal's fares to India were about US＄ 446.5 million, and imports from India were about US＄ 7.7 billion.

• Free trade with India: Free Trade Agreement India-Nepal comes under the Treaty of Trade Ministry of  Commerce Industry Government of India (GOI), New Delhi Treaty of Trade between the GOI and the Majesty's Government of Nepal and shall be spontaneously extended for further periods of five years at a time.

• India has become the largest trading partner of Nepal. Total bilateral trade in FY 2018-19 reached INR 57,858 cr or US$ 8.27 billion.

In the financial year, 2018-19, Nepal's exports to India rose to INR 3558 cr (US＄ 508 million), while India's exports to Nepal rose to INR 54,300 cr (US＄7.76 bn).