NE NEWS SERVICE
THIMPHU/NEW DELHI, NOV 12
In a significant reaffirmation of India-Bhutan friendship, Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a historic two-day State Visit to Bhutan on November 12, marking deepening cooperation across energy, connectivity, health, and technology sectors — alongside shared spiritual and cultural celebrations.
Speaking in Thimphu, Bhutan. Watch. https://t.co/nLu0f5q5WY
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 11, 2025
— King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (@king_jigme) November 12, 2025
At the invitation of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Prime Minister Modi participated as the Guest of Honour in the 70th Birth Anniversary celebrations of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo at Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu, on November 11, 2025. The event coincided with the Global Peace Prayer Festival, where Prime Minister Modi joined Their Majesties and Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay at the Kalachakra initiation ceremony presided over by His Holiness the Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot of Bhutan.
- PM Modi joins Bhutan’s 70th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Fourth King
- Punatsangchhu-II Hydropower Project Inaugurated; INR 40 Billion Credit Line for Energy Sector Announced
- New Pacts on Renewable Energy, Health, and Mental Health Cement Future Cooperation
Landmark Energy Cooperation
Fuelling development, deepening friendship and driving sustainability!
Energy cooperation remains a key pillar of the India-Bhutan partnership. Today, we inaugurated the Punatsangchhu-II Hydropower Project. This is an enduring symbol of friendship between our countries. pic.twitter.com/amYDqzxD1Q
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 11, 2025
My visit to Bhutan has taken place when the people of this nation are marking various landmark programmes. It is the 70th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, the Global Peace Prayer Festival is ongoing and special Buddha relics from India are here.
The… pic.twitter.com/QJ667OAS05
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 12, 2025
The visit witnessed the joint inauguration of the 1,020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project, symbolising five decades of hydropower collaboration between the two nations. The project will begin exporting electricity to India immediately, further strengthening the region’s clean energy corridor.
Both sides welcomed the resumption of work on the main dam of the 1,200 MW Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project, set to become the largest bilateral hydropower venture upon completion.
Prime Minister Modi also announced a concessional Line of Credit worth INR 40 billion to finance new and ongoing energy projects in Bhutan. The two sides expressed satisfaction over the implementation of the Joint Vision on Energy Partnership (2024), reinforcing India’s position as Bhutan’s trusted energy partner.
New Connectivity, Trade and Technology Links
In a major move to enhance regional mobility and commerce, India will establish a new Immigration Check Post at Hatisar, Assam, to facilitate investor and tourist movement to Bhutan’s upcoming Gelephu Mindfulness City, a flagship initiative envisioned by His Majesty The King.
Both leaders also welcomed the operationalisation of the Darranga Check Post and the Jogigopha Multimodal Logistics Park, alongside MoUs for two new cross-border rail links—Gelephu–Kokrajhar and Samtse–Banarhat—signed in September 2025.
To strengthen digital and financial integration, the leaders reviewed the Phase II of the UPI project, enabling Bhutanese visitors to India to make payments using domestic apps by scanning QR codes.
Expanding Cooperation in Health, Education, and Space
The visit marked the signing of three key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs):
- Cooperation in Renewable Energy between India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Bhutan’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources;
- Collaboration in Health and Medicine between the Ministries of Health of both nations; and
- Institutional linkages between The PEMA Secretariat and India’s NIMHANS for advancing mental health care.
The two sides expressed satisfaction over growing partnerships in STEM, Fintech, and Space technology, including progress under the Joint Plan of Action on Space Cooperation. Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the contributions of Indian teachers and nurses in advancing Bhutan’s education and healthcare systems.
Shared Spiritual Bonds and Humanitarian Support
Prime Minister Modi’s participation in the Global Peace Prayer Festival underscored the shared Buddhist heritage and spiritual kinship between the two nations. His Majesty The King expressed gratitude for India’s gesture of sending the Holy Piprahwa Relics of Lord Buddha for public veneration during the festival.
The Bhutanese side also conveyed heartfelt condolences for the victims of the recent Delhi explosion and offered prayers for their recovery — a gesture reciprocated by the Indian side with appreciation for Bhutan’s solidarity.
Sustainable Growth and People-to-People Ties
Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s steadfast support for Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan and Economic Stimulus Programme, committing to help Bhutan achieve sustainable, inclusive development. Both nations welcomed the arrival of the first consignment of fertilisers from India under a new supply arrangement ensuring uninterrupted essential trade.
They also noted Bhutan’s expanding industrial base and its integration into regional economic frameworks, anchored in people-centric policies and youth-driven innovation.
The visit culminated with His Majesty and Prime Minister Modi reaffirming that the India–Bhutan partnership is built on “deep trust, mutual respect, and shared vision for peace and prosperity in the Himalayas.”
