India-Bhutan Relations

Context- Bhutan’s fourth King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck recently arrived in India. 

India-Bhutan Relations

• Overview 

• • • India and Bhutan partake in unique and exemplary bilateral relations, which are grounded on  collective trust, goodwill and understanding.  
    • Formal political relations between India and Bhutan were established in 1968.  
    • The  introductory frame of India Bhutan relations is the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation inked in 1949 between the two countries, which was renewed in February 2007. 
  • High- position Exchanges 
    • The traditionally unique bilateral ties characterized by collective trust and understanding, have been advanced by regular high-position exchanges between the two countries.  
    • PM Shri Narendra Modi visited Bhutan in August 2019. 
    • During the visit, four major bilateral  systems including the 720 MW Mangdechhu Hydro project, the Ground Earth Station of ISRO for application of the South Asian Satellite, RuPay Card and the extension of connection between the National Knowledge Network of India and Bhutan’s Research and Education Network were launched. 

• Trade and Economic Ties 

• • • The India- Bhutan Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Conveyance – which was first  inked in 1972 and revised most  lately for the fifth time in 2016 – establishes a free trade governance between the two countries.  
    • The Agreement also provides for duty free conveyance of Bhutanese exports to third countries.  
    • India is Bhutan’s top trade partner both as an import source and as an import destination  India is the leading source of investments in Bhutan, comprising 50% of the country’s total FDI.  

• Development Partnership 

• • • India has been extending  profitable  backing to Bhutan’s socio- profitable development since the early 1960s when Bhutan launched Five Time Plans.  
    • For the 12th Five Time Plan, India’s donation of Rs. 4500 cr. constitutes 73 of Bhutan’s total external entitlement element.  
    • Hydropower Cooperation Mutually salutary hydro- power cooperation with Bhutan is a crucial pillar of bilateral profitable cooperation  
    • Four hydro- electric power (HEPs) totaling 2136 MW are  formerly functional in Bhutan and are supplying electricity to India.  
    • The 720 MW Mangdechhu was commissioned in August 2019 and handed over to Bhutan in December 2022. 
    • Two HEPs videlicet, 1200 MW Punatsangchhu- I, 1020 MW Punatsangchhu- II inInter-Governmental mode are under colorful stages of  perpetration.  
  • Educational, Cultural Cooperation, and People- to- People Exchanges 
    • There’s close bilateral cooperation in the educational and artistic fields between India and Bhutan.  
    • Over 950 literacy programs are being handed annually by GoI for Bhutanese  scholars to study in India in a wide range of disciplines including drug, engineering,etc.  
    • Cultural and Buddhist Links A number of Bhutanese pilgrims travel to Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Sikkim, Udayagiri, and other Buddhist spots in India.  
    • New Areas of Cooperation piecemeal from hydro- power cooperation and development cooperation has moved into new and arising areas with full interoperability of the flagship digital  design RuPay, which has been successfully completed.  
    • Bhutan came to the alternate country to launch the BHIM app,  further  heightening the  fiscal  liaison between our two countries. 
    • Space cooperation is a new and promising area of bilateral cooperation COVID-19 backing 
    • In line with India- Bhutan unique and special relations, GoI assured  nonstop  force of trade and essential  particulars to Bhutan, despite COVID- 19 affiliated cinch- campo  

• Indians Working in Bhutan 

• • About 50,000 Indian citizens are working in Bhutan, substantially in the construction sector, education and specialized advisers involved in structure  systems.  

Challenges for India   

• Concluding the 25th round of border accommodations, Bhutan and China are drawing  near to ending the decades-old territorial disagreement.  
• China has continued to blackjack and assuage Bhutan at different times.  
• Bhutan’s normalisation of political relations with China, India will face a new set of challenges.  

Conclusion and Way head   

• India’s backing with hydropower systems and Bhutan’s hydropower exports form a significant  element of this palm- palm relationship. 
• The new phase of cordial political relations between Bhutan and China call for the establishment of fresh redlines between India and Bhutan. 
• India will continue to watch as both Beijing and Thimphu move from disagreement  concession to border discrimination. 
• With sensitive sectors like Doklam being undetermined and new claims in the Sakteng region, India will be  conservative of Beijing’s capability and intention to alter the status quo Bhutan’s station on trilateral engagement over Doklam further reassures its  perception towards India. 

Source: Indian Express

Practice question:

Q. Why is New Delhi concerned as Bhutan’s King visits India while Beijing and Thimphu accelerate their border negotiations?

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