Kathmandu: In a significant diplomatic move, Nepal has awarded the contract for printing its updated Rs 100 currency notes to China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation, a state-owned entity. Nepal Rastra Bank, the country’s central bank, confirmed that the new notes will incorporate Nepal’s updated political map, which controversially includes the areas of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani territories also claimed by India. This move underscores Nepal’s commitment to asserting its territorial stance, despite India’s strong objections.
The new map, approved on June 18, 2020, through an amendment to Nepal’s Constitution, marks a historical shift. This update reflects a longstanding territorial claim by Nepal over the regions of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura, which are located along the western Nepal-India border. India, however, has rejected these claims, calling the inclusion of these areas on Nepal’s map an “artificial expansion” that threatens regional stability.
In a recent decision by the Nepalese Cabinet, the Rs 100 note redesign has been officially sanctioned to feature this updated map, highlighting the country’s assertion of sovereignty over the three disputed territories. According to Republica, a prominent English daily in Nepal, China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation won the contract after a competitive bidding process, demonstrating the country’s shifting alliances.
The contract outlines the production of 300 million Rs 100 notes, with an estimated cost of $8.99 million USD. These notes are expected to be fully designed, printed, supplied, and distributed by the Chinese company, positioning China as a pivotal partner in Nepal’s strategic efforts. Nepal Rastra Bank, however, has not issued a public statement in response to queries about the project’s timeline or design specifics, which have been kept under wraps.
India has consistently opposed Nepal’s revised map, asserting that Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura have historically been part of Indian territory. Despite diplomatic efforts, both nations have yet to reach a resolution on the issue, with Nepal’s latest move likely to add new dimensions to the ongoing border dispute. The new Rs 100 note thus not only symbolizes a shift in Nepal’s monetary design but also represents a geopolitical message underscoring Nepal’s stance on its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
