Nepal–India Treaty of Peace and Friendship (1950)

Category

Nepal–India Relations

Details

Nepal–India Treaty of Peace and Friendship (1950)

Signed on July 31, 1950 ($15\text{ Shrawan } 2007\text{ BS}$), this bilateral treaty governs the foundational security, economic, and residency relationship between Nepal and India.

Key Information

Signatories: Prime Minister Mohan Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana (Nepal) and Ambassador Chandeshwar Prasad Narain Singh (India).
Context: Signed during the final days of the Rana regime, amid security concerns regarding China's control over Tibet.

Major Provisions

Sovereignty: Recognition of each other's complete sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity (Article 1).
Security & Consultations: Agreement to inform each other of any serious friction or misunderstanding with any neighboring State likely to cause a breach in friendly relations (Article 2).
Defense Imports: Nepal has the right to import arms, ammunition, or military equipment from or through Indian territory, subject to consultation/assistance with India (Article 5).
National Treatment: Reciprocal rights to citizens of both nations regarding residence, ownership of property, participation in trade/commerce, and movement (Articles 6 and 7). This underpins the open border system.

Key Controversies & Demands

Inequality: Critics argue the treaty is unequal as it was signed by a Rana Prime Minister seeking self-preservation and an Indian Ambassador (rather than by officials of equal political ranks).
Sovereignty Constraints: Provisions regarding security consultations and arms imports are perceived as restrictive to Nepal's strategic autonomy.
Revision Efforts: Nepal has consistently demanded revision. The Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India Relations was formed in $2016$ to review bilateral treaties, completing its joint report in $2018$. However, it has not been formally received by the Indian government.