Nepal–India Border Dispute: Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh

Category

Territorial Dispute

Details

Nepal–India Border Dispute

The territorial dispute between Nepal and India centers on the Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, and Lipulekh region, located at the far-northwest trijunction bordering China (Tibet).

Treaty of Sugauli (1816) Basis

The Boundary: Under the Treaty of Sugauli (signed between Nepal and the British East India Company on March 4, 1816), the Kali (Mahakali) River was designated as Nepal's western boundary.
Nepal's Claim: Nepal asserts that the Kali River originates at Limpiyadhura (from the Kuthi Yankti stream), making the entire territory east of this river—including Kalapani and Lipulekh—part of Nepal.
India's Claim: India maintains that the Kali River originates from a smaller spring further east at Kalapani, or that the ridge line serves as the boundary, placing the disputed area under Indian administration. India has stationed military forces in Kalapani since the 1962 Sino-Indian War.

2020 Escalation & New Map

Roadway Inauguration: In May $2020$, India inaugurated an $80\text{ km}$ link road through the Lipulekh Pass to facilitate pilgrimage to Mansarovar (Tibet), triggering diplomatic protests from Nepal.
Official Map Publication: On May 20, 2020 ($7\text{ Jestha } 2077\text{ BS}$), the Government of Nepal officially published a revised political and administrative map incorporating Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, and Lipulekh (totaling approximately $372\text{ sq km}$). This map was then enshrined in the national emblem.
Constitutional Amendment: On June 13, 2020 ($31\text{ Jestha } 2077\text{ BS}$), the Parliament of Nepal unanimously passed the Second Constitutional Amendment to update the national coat of arms in Schedule 3 of the Constitution, cementing the new map.