Kathmandu:
Nepal Rastra Bank, Nepal's central bank, has awarded a contract to a Chinese company to print new 100 rupee banknotes bearing the country's revised political map.
Nepal's Council of Ministers has approved the draft amendment for the 100 rupee note, which includes the three strategically important areas of Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani as part of Nepal.
The new political map was updated through a process on June 18, 2020, to include Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura by amending the constitution, something that India has already called “untenable” and the “artificial expansion” of Nepal's territorial claims.
India retains Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura — in western Nepal along the border — among them.
According to English daily Republica, China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation was awarded the contract following a competitive global tender process.
The NRB has asked the company to design, print, supply and deliver 300 million rupee 100 notes, with an estimated printing cost of around $8.99 million, the newspaper reported.
However, Nepal Rastra Bank spokesperson was not available when contacted for comment.
Ties between India and Nepal came under severe strain after Kathmandu published the new political map in 2020 showing three Indian territories – Limpiyadhura, Kalapani and Lipulekh – as part of Nepal.
India responded sharply, calling it a “unilateral act” and warning Kathmandu that such “artificial expansion” of territorial claims will not be acceptable to India.
Nepal shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states: Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)