Nepal drops disputed India border map from Re 1 coin:Replaces it with Mustang monastery; know the strategic importance of Kalapani, Lipulekh

Nepal’s government has approved the minting of newly designed one-rupee and two-rupee coins, with the redesigned Re 1 coin replacing the country’s controversial political map with the image of the Lo Ghyakar Monastery, triggering criticism from opposition leaders over the country’s territorial claims. The redesign has reignited debate over Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani, territories claimed by Nepal but administered by India. Re 1 coin to feature monastery instead of disputed map Under the new design approved by the government, the Re 1 coin will no longer carry Nepal’s updated political map, which includes Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani. Instead, it will feature an image of the Lo Ghyakar Monastery. The Rs 2 coin, however, will continue to display the earlier map design. The government said the redesign is part of a broader effort to modernise Nepal’s coinage. Opposition questions government’s decision Senior Nepal Communist Party leader Bhim Rawal criticised the move, calling it a serious blow to Nepal’s territorial integrity. Rawal demanded an immediate clarification from the government, saying that removing the map depicting Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani from the Re 1 coin would amount to an “anti-national decision.” “If the government has indeed decided to remove the map of Nepal, including Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani, from the one-rupee coin and replace it with the image of the Lo Ghyakar Monastery, it will constitute another serious anti-national decision and a blow to Nepal’s territorial integrity,” he said. Central bank says redesign aims to reduce cost and weight Nepal Rastra Bank spokesperson Guru Prasad Paudel said the central bank had proposed the new coin designs primarily to reduce their size, weight and production costs. According to the central bank: The Re 1 coin will weigh 3.2 grams, down from 4 grams. The Rs 2 coin will weigh 3.8 grams, compared with the current 5 grams. Both coins will now be made of steel instead of mixed metal. Their colour will change from yellow to steel white. Paudel said the redesign is part of a technical upgrade rather than a political decision. Disputed territories remain at the centre of India-Nepal row The controversy centres on Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani, areas along the India-Nepal border that are claimed by both countries. In May 2020, the government led by then Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli unveiled a new official political map incorporating the three disputed regions into Nepal’s territory after India inaugurated a road linking Lipulekh Pass to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet. India rejected Nepal’s revised map, maintaining that the territories form part of Uttarakhand, while Nepal continues to assert its claim over the region. How does India justify its control over Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura? The territories have been under continuous Indian administration since independence, including military presence after the 1962 India-China war for strategic security. India points to decades of border trade, pilgrim routes like the Kailash Mansarovar route through Lipulekh, and administrative records as proof of sovereignty. India maintains that its maps, surveys, and governance practices establish legal and historical control over the disputed areas. Recent actions, such as road construction and reopening trade routes, are presented as exercises of sovereign rights, not territorial expansion. India rejects Nepal’s 2020 map and claims as unilateral and unjustified, citing evidence from historical maps and long-standing administration. What are Nepal’s legal and historical arguments for claiming the Lipulekh pass? Nepal claims Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura are east of the Mahakali River, which it considers the official western boundary of Nepal. It argues that historical maps and documents support its sovereignty over these areas. Nepal says India’s road construction and trade activities in Lipulekh violate its sovereign rights. In 2020, Nepal passed a constitutional amendment and released a new political map including these areas to formalise its claim. Nepal has also communicated its claim diplomatically to India and China, insisting the territory is an integral part of Nepal. The claim is tied to historical administration and traditional usage by local Nepali communities in the region. What is the border dispute between India and Nepal? The dispute centres on Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura, near the India-Nepal-China tri-junction. It traces back to the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli, which set the Kali River as Nepal’s western boundary, but the river’s source is disputed. Kalapani: Administered by India as part of Uttarakhand; Nepal claims it lies east of the Kali River. Lipulekh: India built a road for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage; Nepal says it passes through its territory without consent. Limpiyadhura: Nepal includes it in its official map as part of its territory. 2019: India released a new map showing Kalapani within Indian territory. 2020: Nepal released its own map including Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura, and amended its constitution. The areas have strategic importance (military vantage) and religious significance (Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage). Both countries have lodged protests, but India cites historical control and long-standing precedent. The dispute remains unresolved; dialogue and confidence-building measures are essential to maintain regional stability. Strategic importance of Kalapani and Lipulekh Kalapani, located in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district, is a strategically significant tri-junction between India, Nepal and China. From this location, India can effectively monitor Chinese military movements. India first deployed troops in the region during the Sino-Indian War. Today, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) remains stationed there. The Lipulekh Pass, situated in the same region, serves as a key route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Following the 1962 conflict, the pass was closed but was reopened in 2015 to facilitate trade with China and pilgrimage travel. In May 2020, India inaugurated an 80-kilometre road from Pithoragarh to Lipulekh Pass to improve connectivity for pilgrims. Nepal had expressed strong objections to this development. ​