Key Takeaways
- Nepal introduces new 100-rupee notes featuring disputed border territories with India
- This marks the first currency issuance since Nepal’s 2020 constitutional amendment
- The move follows years of unresolved border talks between the two nations
Nepal’s Central Bank has officially released new 100-rupee currency notes displaying the contested border regions of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura. The notes entered circulation on Thursday, five years after Nepal revised its political map to include these areas claimed by both countries.
Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) spokesperson Guru Prasad Paudel confirmed the map on the 100-rupee note was updated following government directives. “After 300 million pieces of 100-rupee notes containing these areas were delivered by China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation, we brought them into circulation,” he stated.
Background of the Border Dispute
The currency update follows India’s 2020 map that included the same disputed regions. Nepal responded by issuing its own map and amending its Constitution under then-Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli to formally declare the territories as Nepalese. This escalation further strained already tense bilateral relations.
The contested region lies along Nepal’s northwestern border with India’s Uttarakhand state. Multiple diplomatic discussions have failed to resolve the boundary issue, which continues to challenge India-Nepal relations.
Note Design and Features
While the 100-rupee note now carries the updated map, its color and dimensions remain unchanged. The design includes:
- Mount Everest image on the left side
- Rhododendron watermark on the right
- Ashoka Pillar at center with “LUMBINI, THE BIRTHPLACE OF LORD BUDDHA” inscription
- Black tactile mark for visually impaired identification
- Oval-shaped silver metallic ink image of Maya Devi, mother of Gautam Buddha
Among Nepal’s currency denominations (5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 rupees), only the 100-rupee note features the country’s map, which has now been exclusively updated on this denomination.
