The BRICS TimesNepal has issued a new 100-rupee banknote. The note displays Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura within Nepali borders. This move is likely to reignite the border dispute with India.
The Central Bank of Nepal has released a new 100 rupee banknote. This release has brought a long-standing dispute back into focus. The map printed on the new banknote claims Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura. These regions have historically been part of Uttarakhand in India. Kathmandu’s action is seen as creating fresh tension in India-Nepal relations.
Bank Officials Detail the Change
Nepali National Bank officials confirmed the change. Previously, the 100 rupee note featured Nepal’s map. However, the map is now updated. It aligns with the political map from 2020. That map included the three areas within Nepal’s territory. Other denominations do not feature a map. Therefore, the change is limited to the 100 rupee note.
Features of the New Note
The front of the new banknote features Mount Everest on the left. On the right, it has a watermark of Nepal’s national flower. The extended map of Nepal is in the center. It has a light green background. An Ashoka Pillar is also printed nearby. It mentions Lumbini, which is Buddha’s birthplace. The reverse side of the note shows a one-horned rhinoceros.
Origin of the Territorial Dispute
The dispute began in 2020. Nepal’s government at that time issued a new political map. It claimed Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura. The claim was based on the Mahakali River’s source region. Nepal’s parliament approved that map. India rejected this action. New Delhi stated it contradicted historical facts and administrative reality. The use of the same map on the new currency has now escalated the issue.
Basis of the India-Nepal Border
The border between India and Nepal is approximately 1,850 kilometers long. It passes through five Indian states. The 1816 Sugauli Treaty is the basis for the border demarcation. The dispute arises from different interpretations of the Mahakali River’s main course. India considers one stream as the main river. Nepal, however, calls it a tributary. This difference creates confusion and conflict over the border line.
Akshay Didwaniya
Mayur Mohta
