Nepal has released new ₹100 currency notes that include a revised political map showing the Indian territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura as part of Nepal, according to a report by PTI. The notes were issued by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) and bear the signature of former Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari, with the date of issue listed as 2081 BS, corresponding to 2024.

A spokesperson for NRB clarified that the map had appeared on the previous ₹100 note and has now been revised in accordance with government decisions. Among Nepal’s various banknote denominations—₹10, ₹50, ₹500, and ₹1,000—only the ₹100 note features the country’s map.

Background of the Disputed Territories

The Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura areas have been a longstanding point of contention between India and Nepal. In May 2020, the government led by former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli unveiled a new political map of Nepal, including these territories as part of Nepal. This map was subsequently endorsed by the Nepalese Parliament.

India, however, has consistently maintained that these regions are Indian territories, describing Nepal’s move as a “unilateral act” and an “artificial enlargement”. In 2024, when Nepal announced the printing of a new ₹100 note, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized that the depiction on the currency would not change the ground reality. “Our position is very clear. With Nepal, we are having discussions about our boundary matters through an established platform. In the middle of that, they unilaterally took some measures on their side,” he said.

Geopolitical Context

The India-Nepal border spans over 1,850 km, connecting five Indian states: Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The issue of territorial claims has periodically strained relations between the two countries, with India urging resolution through bilateral dialogue and established boundary platforms.

Nepal’s release of the new note with the disputed map comes amid ongoing diplomatic discussions and reflects the persistent sensitivity surrounding border demarcation between the two neighbouring countries. While the map reflects Nepal’s official stance, India continues to assert its sovereignty over the regions of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura.

The development is likely to be closely monitored by both governments as well as by international observers, given the strategic significance of these territories in the Himalayan region and their proximity to China and Uttarakhand.