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PM Modi will visit Bhutan today on a two-day visit. This is his fourth visit to Bhutan.
PM Modi is reaching Bhutan today on a two-day visit. This is his fourth visit to Bhutan. The purpose of this tour is to further strengthen the friendship and partnership between India and Bhutan.
During the visit, Modi and Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck will jointly inaugurate the 1,020 MW Punatsangchu-2 Hydro Power Project.
PM Modi will give assistance of Rs 1000 crore to Bhutan. Along with this, he will also attend the 70th birthday celebrations of Bhutan’s fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck.
PM Modi will also participate in the ongoing Global Peace Prayer Festival in Bhutan. In this programme, the sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha have been brought from India to Bhutan. Modi will visit these remains and also pray for peace.
Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck had met Modi in December 2024.
PM Modi’s schedule on Bhutan tour
First day (11 November)
- Bhutan’s King Jigme to meet Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
- Will inaugurate the 1,020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydro Project.
- Bhutan’s fourth king Jigme Singye will attend Wangchuck’s 70th birthday celebrations.
- Will visit the holy relics of Lord Buddha by participating in the Global Peace Prayer Festival.
Second day (12 November)
- Will meet Prime Minister of Bhutan Tsering Tobgay.
- Will discuss energy, rail, road connectivity and development projects.
- India will provide assistance of Rs 10,000 crore.
- There will also be discussions on cooperation in Bhutan’s 13th Five Year Plan.
Modi received Bhutan’s highest civilian honor
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honored with the country’s highest civilian honour, the Order of the Druk Gyalpo, by the King of Bhutan on March 22, 2024. In this way he became the first non-Bhutanese to receive this honour.
The honor was given during Modi’s two-day state visit to Bhutan, when he was present at a public function in Tendrelthang, Thimphu.
This honor was given to Prime Minister Modi for strengthening India-Bhutan relations and his contribution towards the Bhutanese people. It is the top award in Bhutan’s honors system, awarded for lifetime achievement.
The King announced the honor during Bhutan’s 114th National Day celebrations on 17 December 2021. Dedicating it to 14 crore Indians, PM Modi said that it is a proof of the special bond between the two countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the country’s highest civilian honor by the King of Bhutan on March 22, 2024.
Bhutan is special for India for 5 reasons
Bhutan, situated in the north-east of India, has special importance for India for strategic, economic and cultural reasons. Bhutan’s population is only around 7.5 lakh, but it acts as a buffer zone between two big countries like India and China, which further increases its importance.
- It is adjacent to China- Bhutan’s northern border is with China. If China’s influence increases in Bhutan, India’s Chicken Neck (Siliguri Corridor) may be in danger. This is the narrow corridor that connects the north-east of India with the rest of the country.
- India’s buffer zone- Bhutan is like a protective shield between India and China. India does not want China to increase its army or influence here. When China tried to build a road in Doklam, Bhutan in 2017, India stopped it by sending its army. The armies of both the countries remained face to face for 73 days, finally China retreated.
- Economic cooperation- 75% of Bhutan’s electricity comes from hydropower (hydro power projects). India built projects like Punatsangchhu, Mangdechhu, Tala here. Bhutan sells electricity to India. This accounts for 80% of Bhutan’s foreign earnings.
- Cultural and historical relationship- Both countries are associated with Buddhism. The remains of Lord Buddha (Piparahwa Relics) have been sent to Bhutan from India. Bhutanese people like Indian TV, films, food, clothes. Indians can visit Bhutan without passport and visa.
- Global Support- Bhutan supports India’s permanent seat in the UN Security Council (UNSC). At the same time, India provides international aid to Bhutan through the World Bank and Asia Development Bank (ADB).
Preparation to start rail service between India and Bhutan
For the first time, rail service is being started between India and Bhutan. The Government of India had announced the laying of two railway lines for this in September.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had told that these railway lines will be laid from Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan and from Banerhat in West Bengal to Samtse in Bhutan.
Currently there was a train till Hasimara in West Bengal, now it will go directly to Gelephu in Bhutan. These two 89 km long rail projects will cost ₹4,033 crore.
It will connect Bhutan with India’s 1.5 lakh km rail network, which will ease trade (most of Bhutan’s export-import goes through India). Construction is expected to be completed over the next 3 years, although 2026 was previously targeted.
Railway Ministry will bear the expenses of the railway line on the Indian side
Misri said that both these projects are part of the first set of rail connectivity projects between India and Bhutan. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for these projects was signed during PM Modi’s visit to Bhutan last year.
According to the agreement, the Government of India will provide full assistance in both these railway projects. The Railway Ministry will bear the expenses of the Indian side railway line. The part on the Bhutan side will be built with the help of the Government of India under Bhutan’s 5-year plan. There is no interference from any third country in this.
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