Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in Nepal: Facts, Disputes, and the US-China Contest

In the past two months, Nepal’s political space had been marred by upheavals and doubts over the future of the ruling alliance between the Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center)/Maoist Party, and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) [CPN-US], over ratification of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) which is USD 500 million grant offered by the United States (US) to Nepal for a period of five years. The MCC agreement had been awaiting its ratification by the Parliament of Nepal since 2017. Finally, it was ratified on February 27, 2022.

April 19, 2022 Issue Brief

Book Discussion on India’s Economic Miracle and Nepal

On the 23rd of March, the Vivekananda International Foundation organized a virtual book discussion on “India’s Economic Miracle and Nepal”. The session began with a series of introductory remarks by Mr. Prakash Man Singh, Member of Parliament and Senior Leader of Nepali Congress, and Professor Hari Bansh Jha, author and executive director Center for Economic and Technical Studies, Nepal. These remarks were then followed by comments on the nature of India-Nepal relations by Ambassador Deep Kumar Upadhyay, Ambassador Ranji Rae, Mr. Atul K Thakur and Mr. Ganesh Kumar Mandal.

April 01, 2022 Event Report

Report on the Virtual Book Discussion “The Janajatis of Nepal”

On 21st February 2022 Vivekananda International Foundation organised a virtual book discussion on “The Janajatis of Nepal” authored by Professor Hari Bansh Jha. The welcome address was delivered Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, Vivekananda International Foundation. The speakers included Mr. Rajendra Mahato, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of Loktantrik Samajbadi Party, Nepal, Professor Hari Bansh Jha, Executive Director, Centre for Economic and Technical Studies, Kathmandu, Nepal.

March 24, 2022 Event Report

Sri Lanka Integrated Country Strategy

On 27th January 2022, Vivekananda International Foundation organised a discussion on Integrated Country Strategy: From Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions in India (2021/2023). In the last few months, India-Sri Lanka Relations have seen significant developments.

February 28, 2022 Event Report

VIF Virtual Book Discussion on “Kathmandu Dilemma: Resetting India-Nepal Ties” by Ambassador Ranjit Rae

The Vivekananda International Foundation organised a book discussion on “Kathmandu Dilemma: Resetting India-Nepal Ties”on November 05, 2021. The event was chaired by Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF. Author of the book Ambassador Ranjit Rae delivered a talk on the book followed by a discussion of the book by Prof. Sangeeta Thapliyal, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Lt Gen Shokin Chauhan (Ret.), 11th Gorkha Rifles, Indian Army.

November 23, 2021 Event Report

VIF Interactive Session with Sunil Bahadur Thapa and Bishow Parajuli

The Vivekananda International Foundation organized an interactive session with Shri Sunil Bahadur Thapa, Joint General Secretary, Nepali Congress, and Member of Constituent Assembly on 08 November 2021. Shri Thapa was joined by Brishaw Parajuli, Representative and Country Director, United Nations World Food Programme, Nepal. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, chaired the session and delivered introductory remarks on India-Nepal bilateral relations and the impact of the domestic politics of Nepal. The other participants included Ambassador Jayanta Prasad, Professor Sangeeta Thapliyal, Dr.

November 10, 2021 Event Report

“Kathmandu Dilemma: Resetting India-Nepal Ties” by Ranjit Rae, Vintage Books, New Delhi, pp. 224, 2021, ₹ 499

Dr Rishi Gupta

As one completes the immigration and security checks at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and passes through the boarding gates, one gets amused on why is there another set of security checks, just next to the runway, before boarding an Air India flight to Delhi? The two feet tall ladder is fixed to a wheeled iron chamber where one gets their hand/cabin bags checked. The practice had begun after Indian Airline flight IC 814 enroute from TIA Kathmandu to IGIA, New Delhi was hijacked by Pakistan backed terrorists.

September 23, 2021 Books/Book Review

India Nepal Economic Dialogue: Unleashing Potentials

In the ongoing VIF series on India and Its Neighbours, an interaction programme was organised on “India-Nepal Economic Dialogue: Unleashing Potentials” on 9 September 2021 in association with the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies (AIDIA), Kathmandu. The session was chaired by Dr. Sreeradha Datta and Welcome Address was delivered by Dr Arvind Gupta, Director, Vivekananda International Foundation. The eminent speakers in the session included Mr. Sunil KC, Director, AIDIA; Amb Ranjit Rae, Former Ambassador of India to Nepal; H.E.

September 17, 2021 Event Report

India’s Engagement with Nepal and Bhutan: What can India do More?

Amidst rising tensions along India’s northern border, does India’s engagement with Nepal and Bhutan meet its strategic requirements, and what else can India do more? To discuss these questions, a webinar was organised on “India’s Engagement with Nepal and Bhutan: What can India do more?” on 03 August 2021. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director, Vivekananda International Foundation, welcomed speakers- Amb. Ranjeet Rae, Amb. Manjeev Puri, Amb P Haran, Prof. Rajesh S Khara and Dr Smruti Patnaik. The session was moderated by Dr Sreeradha Datta. Nepal

August 12, 2021 Event Report

Politics of Geo-politics: Continuity and Change in India-Nepal Relations; Edited by Lok Raj Baral (2018); 256p; price: 799 ISBN-10: 81-8363-138-9; Publisher Adarsh Books, New Delhi

Dr Cchavi Vasisht, Research Associate, VIF

The edited volume includes multiple perspectives of former diplomats and academicians from India and Nepal. It theorises India-Nepal relations, focussing broadly on economic, security and geopolitical relations. The book was published in 2018, and written with a perspective to highlight the importance of India-Nepal relations in the changing times.

April 28, 2021 Books/Book Review