Cartographic Assertions: Nepal’s New Currency and the India-Nepal Border Dispute

The Government of Nepal has recently approved the printing of new 100-rupee currency notes that feature a map including the territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura. This move follows Nepal's 2020 constitutional amendment that updated its national emblem to include these regions, which India maintains are part of its sovereign territory in Uttarakhand. The root of the dispute lies in the interpretation of the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli, signed between the British East India Company and the Kingdom of Nepal. The treaty established the Kali River as Nepal's western boundary with India. However, the two nations disagree on the river's source, leading to overlapping claims over the high-altitude territory. The strategic importance of the Lipulekh Pass, which serves as a vital link for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and a tri-junction between India, Nepal, and China, adds a layer of security concern to the cartographic dispute.