India Rejects Nepal's Territorial Claims on New Currency: Diplomatic Tensions Escalate

India has condemned Nepal's revised map featured on their new currency, describing it as a 'unilateral act' that "does not change ground reality."

On Thursday, Nepal introduced a new 100-rupee banknote displaying an updated national map that includes the disputed territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura - areas that India firmly considers its own territory.

The External Affairs Ministry has strongly criticized this cartographic representation, maintaining that such unilateral actions do not alter the factual territorial situation.

This map controversy has persisted for approximately a year, with India previously warning Nepal that such "artificial enlargement" of territorial claims would not be accepted.

The newly issued note bears former Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari's signature and is dated 2081 BS, corresponding to 2024 in the Gregorian calendar.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal has previously stated that this issue remains under bilateral discussion, noting that "dialogues between Nepal and India regarding boundary, border areas, are ongoing within that framework."

The spokesperson further emphasized, "On territorial claims, our position remains that such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Any unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable."

New Delhi has consistently maintained its openness to "constructive interaction" with Kathmandu to resolve boundary disputes through "dialogue and diplomacy."

A Nepal Rastra Bank representative explained that the map was already featured on the previous 100-rupee note and has been revised according to government directives.

The currency displays a faint green-colored map of Nepal prominently in the center background. Near the map is a printed Ashoka pillar with the inscription, "Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha."

The reverse side features an image of a horned rhino. For security and accessibility, the banknote includes a security thread and an embossed black dot to assist visually impaired users in identifying it.

Nepal's decision to switch from printing its currency in India to China was partly cost-driven but also addressed the political sensitivity for India in printing notes containing disputed territorial representations.