Nepal Removes Map From ₹1 Coin, Retains On ₹2 Coin

The Nepal government has approved the minting of newly designed one-rupee and two-rupee coins.

The Council of Ministers approved the proposal on Thursday following a recommendation by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).

The earlier design of the one-rupee coin featured Nepal's political map that included Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani, territories claimed by Nepal but regarded by India as part of its own territory.

Nepal's then KP Oli-led government had incorporated these areas into the country's official map in May 2020.

The redesigned one-rupee coin will instead carry the image of the Lo Ghyakar Monastery in Marang village of Mustang, one of Nepal's oldest monasteries.

The two-rupee coin will continue to feature the disputed map, according to Cabinet sources.

The reverse side of the two-rupee coin will carry an image of Janaki Temple.

NRB spokesperson Guru Prasad Paudel said that the redesigned coins were proposed to reduce their size and weight.

The new political map of Nepal cannot be accommodated on the one-rupee coin, which is smaller in size.

The one-rupee coin will weigh 3.2 grams instead of the earlier 4 grams, while the two-rupee coin will weigh 3.8 grams compared with 5 grams previously.

Both coins will be made of steel instead of mixed metal and will have a steel-white colour, replacing the earlier yellow finish.

Opposition leader Bhim Rawal criticised the government for removing the political map from the one-rupee coin and sought an explanation from both the government and the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party.

Rawal said that the decision will constitute another serious anti-national decision and a blow to Nepal’s territorial integrity.

The decision to remove the map from the one-rupee coin but retain it on the two-rupee coin has sparked controversy in Nepal.

The move is seen as a significant development in the country's ongoing territorial dispute with India.

The Nepal government's decision to redesign the coins is also driven by practical considerations, such as reducing the size and weight of the coins.

However, the retention of the disputed map on the two-rupee coin suggests that the issue remains a sensitive one in Nepal.

In conclusion, the Nepal government's decision to remove the controversial map from the one-rupee coin but retain it on the two-rupee coin reflects the complex and sensitive nature of the country's territorial dispute with India.

The move is likely to have significant implications for Nepal's relations with its neighbour and for the country's own sense of national identity.