Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah's long-pending visit to India is expected to occur "very soon," with both sides currently finalising the details, according to sources in Kathmandu.
Invitation Accepted, Dates Pending
Prime Minister Shah, popularly known as Balen, has accepted an invitation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit New Delhi. However, the specific dates have not been confirmed yet. "The visit will take place very soon. We are discussing all aspects of the visit, but nothing has been finalised so far," sources told ANI.
First Bilateral Trip Since Taking Office
This visit would mark Prime Minister Shah's first trip to India since assuming office in March 2026. Notably, he has not visited either India or China since taking office, breaking from the long-standing tradition of newly appointed Nepali prime ministers making one of the two neighbouring countries their first bilateral destination. Instead, Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has undertaken visits to both countries.
Foreign Minister's Recent Visit to India
Last month, Foreign Minister Khanal visited India at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. During the visit, the two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of India-Nepal relations, including development cooperation, connectivity, trade and transit, energy, and people-to-people ties.
Key Outcomes of Khanal's Visit
Among the key outcomes, India handed over 72 health facilities and 12 cultural heritage projects completed under its post-2015 Earthquake Reconstruction Assistance programme. The two sides also launched the cross-border linkage between India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Nepal's National Payments Interface (NPI) to facilitate personal remittances. Additionally, an MoU was signed between Digital India Bhashini and Kathmandu University for a voice-first language translation platform.
Agenda Still Under Discussion
When asked about the agenda for Prime Minister Shah's visit, the sources declined to comment, stating that discussions are still underway.
