Nepal: Nepal on Thursday began circulating newly redesigned 100-rupee banknotes featuring the disputed border regions of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura — areas claimed by both Nepal and India, according to local reports.
This marks the first time the revised national map, formally updated five years ago, has appeared on currency. The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) placed the new map at the center of the note, showcasing the territories Nepal asserts as its own.
NRB spokesperson Guru Prasad Paudel said the change follows the government’s directive. He confirmed that 300 million pieces of the updated 100-rupee notes were supplied by China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation before being released into circulation.
Nepal updated its political map in 2020 in response to India issuing a new map showing the same regions under its control. The move, pushed by then–Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, also included a constitutional amendment to enshrine the claim — further straining relations between the neighbouring countries.
The disputed area lies along the northwestern frontier bordering India’s Uttarakhand state. Despite numerous discussions, the boundary issue remains unresolved and continues to affect bilateral ties.
Nepal issues banknotes in denominations of NPR 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000. Among them, only the 100-rupee note features a national map, which has now been updated solely on this denomination, the Central Bank noted.
Other design elements remain unchanged. The note includes Mount Everest on the left and a rhododendron watermark on the right. At the center is the Ashoka Pillar with the inscription “LUMBINI, THE BIRTHPLACE OF LORD BUDDHA”. A tactile mark has been added near the pillar to aid visually impaired users, and an image of Maya Devi appears within a silver metallic oval on the left side.
