New coin, new message? Nepal removes disputed Kalapani-Lipulekh map from Re 1 coin
Nepal has decided to remove a controversial map depicting disputed territories from its one-rupee coin, replacing it with an image of an ancient monastery. The two-rupee coin will retain the map, and the move has sparked internal political debate regarding territorial integrity.
Why it matters
This adjustment signals a potential shift in diplomatic signaling between Nepal and India regarding long-standing border disputes.
The Nepal government has approved the minting of a newly designed one-rupee coin, replacing the country's controversial map that included the disputed areas of Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani with the image of an ancient monastery.The decision comes years after Nepal's then KP Sharma Oli-led government introduced a new political map in 2020 showing the three disputed territories as part of Nepal, triggering a diplomatic row with India. Nepal claims Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as its territory, while India maintains that the areas belong to it.According to cabinet sources, Nepal's Council of Ministers approved the Nepal Rastra Bank's proposal on Thursday to mint redesigned one-rupee and two-rupee coins, PTI reported.As part of the redesign, the controversial political map will be removed from the one-rupee coin and replaced with the image of the Lo Ghyakar Monastery, located in Marang village in Mustang district.
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