Nepal And ndia Set Three-Year Deadline to Map Cross-Border Land Occupation

Kathmandu, August 16, 2026 — Nepal and India have agreed to complete the mapping of cross-border land occupation within three years, marking a significant step toward addressing a long-running technical issue along their shared boundary.

The agreement was reached during the 13th meeting of the Survey Officials’ Committee (SOC), which concluded in Lucknow, India.

The two sides agreed to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to collect aerial imagery and determine the extent of land occupied or cultivated by citizens of one country on the other side of the border.

UAVs to Map the Affected Areas

Nepal's Deputy Director at the Department of Survey, Susheel Dangol, who led the Nepali delegation, said the aerial images will be analysed by both sides to establish a common understanding of the situation.

The joint survey is expected to begin around September or October, after the monsoon season ends.

The process will focus on determining the actual status and extent of cross-border occupation rather than making new territorial claims.

How the Survey Will Work

• UAVs will capture aerial images of affected border areas.

• Survey officials from both countries will analyse the imagery.

• The findings will help determine the extent of cross-border occupation.

• The technical findings will provide a basis for future decisions by the two governments.

• The two sides have also approved an annual plan and budget for the work.

What Is Cross-Border Occupation?

The issue is linked partly to the Fixed Boundary Principle used when parts of the Nepal-India border were delineated, particularly in riverine areas.

Over the years, the courses of hundreds of rivers have changed. As a result, some land that was previously on one side of the border is now geographically located on the other side.

This has resulted in situations where citizens of one country have cultivated or occupied land technically falling on the other country's side.

The issue was documented when Nepal and India signed 182 sets of strip maps in 2007. The maps identified hundreds of hectares where nationals of both countries were cultivating or residing on land belonging to citizens of the other country.

The Issue Came Into Focus After PM Balen's Remarks

The matter gained renewed public attention after Prime Minister Balendra Shah told Parliament in May that he had learned that not only had India encroached on Nepali land, but that Nepal had also occupied Indian land in several places.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs later clarified that the Prime Minister was referring to cross-border occupation and use of land, rather than Nepal making territorial claims over Indian territory.

A Larger Border Management Challenge

Nepal and India share a 1,880-kilometre border across 27 districts.

According to Nepal's Department of Survey:

• 8,554 boundary pillars have been installed.

• 1,325 pillars are missing.

• 1,956 pillars are partially or completely damaged.

The Survey Officials' Committee works under the Boundary Working Group (BWG), which oversees technical aspects of border management.

The BWG is responsible for tasks including repairing and constructing boundary pillars, updating records and addressing other technical boundary issues.

Previous Deadlines Have Been Missed

The three-year target is not the first deadline set by Nepal and India for completing technical border work.

The two countries initially set a three-year deadline in 2015. After that target was missed, they renewed it in 2017, with the aim of completing the work by 2022.

Several factors contributed to delays, including:

• Funding constraints

• The Covid-19 pandemic

• Recurring boundary disputes

• Difficult climatic conditions

The current agreement therefore puts renewed emphasis on technology, particularly UAV-based surveying, to speed up the mapping process.

Susta and Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh Remain Outside the Technical Agreement

The broader technical boundary work agreed under the BWG does not include the Susta and Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh areas.

These areas remain among the most sensitive and politically significant boundary issues between Nepal and India.

The latest agreement instead focuses on documenting and mapping cross-border occupation, providing technical information that can later support government-level decisions.