Prime Minister Modi Concludes Two-Day State Visit to Bhutan, Strengthening Bilateral Ties and Cooperation.
New Delhi/Thimphu:
At the invitation of His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, King of Bhutan, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi undertook a two-day State Visit to Bhutan from 11-12 November 2025, marking a significant milestone in the India-Bhutan friendship and cooperation.
During his visit, Prime Minister Modi joined the people of Bhutan in celebrating the 70th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo at Changlimithang on 11 November as the Guest of Honour. He also participated in the Global Peace Prayer Festival in Thimphu, which included the presence of the Holy Piprahwa Relics of Lord Buddha from India for public veneration, a gesture appreciated by His Majesty the King.
Prime Minister Modi held bilateral discussions with His Majesty the King, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, and Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, covering key areas of bilateral cooperation, regional, and global issues. During the meeting, His Majesty expressed condolences on the tragic Delhi explosion on 10 November and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured. The Indian side appreciated Bhutan’s message of support and solidarity.
Highlighting India’s commitment to Bhutan’s development, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed support for Bhutan’s 13th Five Year Plan, including the Economic Stimulus Programme, emphasizing India’s role in assisting Bhutan to achieve sustainable growth across sectors. The Bhutanese side acknowledged India’s support for ongoing projects under the Plan.
On the development front, Prime Minister Modi announced India’s support for Gelephu Mindfulness City, including the establishment of an Immigration Check Post at Hatisar, Assam, to facilitate smoother movement of investors and visitors. The King welcomed India’s assistance for the construction of Gyalsung Academies.
A key highlight of the visit was the joint inauguration of the 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project on 11 November, in the presence of the Holy Piprahwa Relics of Lord Buddha. The project underscores the strong India-Bhutan cooperation in hydropower and marked the commencement of electricity exports from Bhutan to India. Both sides also agreed on the resumption of work on the 1200 MW Punatsangchhu-I project, which, once completed, will be the largest jointly developed hydroelectric project between the two countries.
The leaders discussed cross-border connectivity, welcoming initiatives such as the Immigration Check Post at Darranga, the Inland Waterways Terminal and Multimodal Logistics Park at Jogighopa, and the cross-border rail links between Gelephu-Kokrajhar and Samtse-Banarhat, for which a Project Steering Committee has been established. The Bhutanese side appreciated India’s efforts in ensuring the uninterrupted supply of essential commodities and fertilisers.
The visit also emphasized cooperation in new areas such as STEM, Fintech, and Space, including Phase II of the UPI system for Bhutanese visitors and the implementation of the Joint Plan of Action on Space Cooperation. Indian teachers and nurses were acknowledged for their contributions to Bhutan’s education and healthcare sectors.
Prime Minister Modi and His Majesty the King welcomed the consecration of the Royal Bhutan Temple in Rajgir and India’s decision to grant land in Varanasi for a Bhutanese temple and guest house.
During the visit, three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed:
- Cooperation in Renewable Energy between the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Bhutan’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.
- Cooperation in Health and Medicine between the Ministries of Health of both countries.
- Institutional linkages between The PEMA Secretariat (Bhutan) and NIMHANS (India).
The visit reaffirmed the deep trust, warm friendship, and mutual respect between India and Bhutan, strengthening people-to-people ties, economic collaboration, and developmental cooperation, and underscored the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two nations.
