India-Nepal Boundary: Key States, Disputed Territories, and Historical Issues

The India-Nepal border, a crucial line of demarcation, spans a significant stretch, engaging five key Indian states and featuring a highly porous nature. Understanding the geographical boundary and the historical context of disputed territories like Kalapani and Susta is paramount for students preparing for geography and international relations sections of competitive exams, offering vital insights into South Asian geopolitics and the foundational Treaty of Sugauli (1816).

Geographical Boundary, Bordering States, and Disputed Territories Between India and Nepal

• The extensive boundary shared by India and Nepal is a dynamic geographical feature, historically defined and strategically important.

  The shared border, stretching over a substantial distance, facilitates unique socio-economic and security arrangements between the two nations, primarily running along the Himalayan foothills.

  

  • (i) The border is characterized by its porous nature, allowing for the virtually unrestricted movement of both goods and people, a unique feature of the Indo-Nepalese relationship.
  • (ii) Five Indian states form this crucial frontier: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim.
  • (iii) The major segment of the Indo-Nepalese international border follows an east-west trajectory, situated primarily along the foothills of the Shiwalik Range.

• Historical and Geographical Flashpoints: Key Border Disputes (Kalapani and Susta)

  Despite the generally amicable and porous nature of the boundary, two primary regions—Kalapani and Susta—remain points of contention, rooted in colonial-era treaties and river course changes.

  • The Kalapani Region Territorial Claim and the Kali River Boundary

    The Kalapani valley represents a critical territorial dispute, located along a crucial route and historically tied to the demarcation of Nepal's western boundary. India currently administers this region, but Nepal has continuously asserted its claim, particularly following recent political map reiterations.

    • (i) The valley is administered by India as part of Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand, positioned strategically on the route to Kailash Mansarovar.
    • (ii) India maintains that the historic area is an integral part of Uttarakhand, a stance recently reinforced by official political maps.
    • (iii) The core of the conflict lies in the definition of the boundary, which is fundamentally demarcated by the Kali River in the Kalapani region.
    • (iv) The Treaty of Sugauli, signed in 1816 after the Anglo-Nepalese War, designated the Kali River as the boundary for Nepal's western border with British India. However, discrepancies in identifying the river's true source led to the current dispute, with both nations maintaining maps supporting their own claims.

    

  • The Susta Region: Boundary Shifts Due to the Gandak River's Course

    The dispute over the Susta area, located along a major river, is a prime example of how natural geographical changes—specifically river course deviation—can complicate and challenge international boundary agreements, leading to persistent tensions.

    • (a) Susta is one of the disputed territories situated between India (specifically Uttar Pradesh) and Nepal.
    • (b) It is strategically located on the banks of the Gandak River, which is locally known as the Narayani River in Nepal.
    • (c) The primary cause of the long-standing disagreement in the Susta area is the change in the course of the Gandak River over time.
    • (d) Based on the stipulations of the Sugauli Treaty (1816), the Gandak River was established as the international boundary, with the western bank belonging to Nepal and the eastern bank to India.
    • (e) Originally, at the time of the treaty signing, Susta village was positioned west of the river. However, the subsequent shifting of the Gandak River’s course placed the village on the eastern side, effectively moving it to the **Indian side of the river**, thereby generating the current territorial disagreement.

    

• Conclusion: Geopolitical Importance of the India-Nepal Border for Students and UPSC Exams

  The India-Nepal border, defined by the proximity of five Indian states—Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim—is far more than a simple line on a map; it is a critical geopolitical corridor. Understanding the foundation provided by the Treaty of Sugauli (1816) and the intricacies of the Kalapani and Susta disputes, driven by riverine geography (Kali River and Gandak River), is essential knowledge for students, especially for those preparing for competitive exams like UPSC, which frequently test knowledge of India's international boundaries and associated foreign policy challenges.