India–Nepal Boundary Dispute: Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura for UPSC

Context: Nepal PM Sparks Row Over India–Nepal Boundary Issue
Nepal PM Balendra Shah stated that Nepal too has encroached upon Indian territory, reviving the Kalapani–Lipulekh–Limpiyadhura dispute.

India–Nepal Boundary Dispute

Disputed Areas:

• Kalapani
• Lipulekh
• Limpiyadhura

Core Issue:
Different interpretations of the Treaty of Sugauli, 1816, and the source of the Kali / Mahakali / Sharda River.

Lipulekh Pass:

• India–Nepal–China tri-junction.
• Route for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

India–Nepal Connectivity

• Mechi Bridge: Panitanki, West Bengal — Kakarbhitta, Nepal.
• Jaynagar–Kurtha Railway.
• Motihari–Amlekhgunj Petroleum Pipeline — South Asia’s first cross-border petroleum pipeline.
• Raxaul–Kathmandu Railway — proposed.

Neighbourhood Connectivity

• Maitri Setu: India–Bangladesh, over Feni River.
• Kaladan Project: India–Myanmar.
• India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway: India–ASEAN connectivity.

Quick Facts

• Border length: 1,751 km.
• Border States: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim.
• Open border allows free movement of citizens.
• Key rivers: Mahakali / Sharda, Kosi and Gandak.

Significance

Despite disputes over Kalapani–Lipulekh–Limpiyadhura, connectivity, trade, energy cooperation and people-to-people ties remain the foundation of India–Nepal relations.