Nepal and India share a 1,751-kilometre-long border. Nepal shares its border with India’s Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim, and West Bengal. Along with this, trade flows freely between the two countries, and citizens can travel across the border without a visa. Have you ever thought, how this is possible? This large-scale, unrestricted movement of people and goods was made possible under the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, signed in 1950. Even after 75 years, this agreement continues to play a key role in maintaining peace between Nepal and India.
India-Nepal Treaty
India and Nepal signed the Peace and Friendship Treaty on July 31, 1950. This agreement laid the foundation of relations between the two countries. It promised peace, friendship, and respect for each other’s sovereignty, while also committing to non-interference in one another’s internal affairs.
The two nations have shared religious, cultural, and family ties for centuries. Nepal relies heavily on India for trade and employment, with thousands of Nepalese working in India, while many Indians also do business in Nepal. For India, Nepal serves as a buffer state — a friendly neighbour between India and China.
Under the treaty, Nepal must consult India before importing weapons from any other country. The agreement also grants both nations the right to “national treatment,” meaning equal treatment in matters of industrial and economic development.
According to this treaty, Citizens of both countries have the right to property, business, residence and movement in India and Nepal. A Nepali citizen can buy property in India, while an Indian citizen can do the same in Nepal. Moreover, an Indian citizen can live anywhere in Nepal and a Nepali citizen also has the right to live in India. Most importantly, as per the treaty, Indian citizens can enter and exit Nepal without a visa and vice versa. However, if both countries agree, they can legally amend the treaty at any time.
