Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hosted a delegation of Nepali parliamentarians at Varsha Bungalow, the official CM residence in Mumbai, on Monday, 27 July 2026, in a meeting focused on deepening bilateral ties between India and Nepal.

Context

The visiting delegation included Nepal MP Sandeep Rana, Lumbini Province MP Nima Giri, and former Constituent Assembly member Amar Singh Pun. Fadnavis described the meeting as an opportunity to 'welcome' the delegation and underscored the 'deep-rooted bond of friendship, built on shared history, culture, and mutual trust' that binds the two nations.

The discussions, according to Fadnavis, centred on 'opportunities to further strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation for the shared progress and prosperity of our two nations.' The meeting was accompanied by photographs shared from the official residence.

Policy Backdrop

India-Nepal relations are anchored in the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which established the framework for open borders and close bilateral cooperation. The treaty remains the foundational document governing the two countries' special relationship, covering free movement of people and goods across a shared open border.

Since the mid-2010s, sub-national engagement between Indian states and Nepali provinces has grown steadily, complementing New Delhi's central-level diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to Nepal in 2014 and 2015 gave fresh momentum to cooperation in trade, connectivity and culture, and state-level meetings have since become a recognised channel for advancing neighbourhood outreach.

Maharashtra, as one of India's largest economic states, holds particular relevance for Nepal given trade flows, remittances, and the significant Nepali diaspora present in Indian cities.

Stakeholders and Impact

The meeting brought together elected representatives from Nepal's federal parliament and Lumbini Province — a region of deep cultural and religious significance to both countries as the birthplace of Gautama Buddha. The presence of a former Constituent Assembly member signals continuity in Nepal's political engagement with Indian state governments across different political cycles.

For Maharashtra, hosting Nepali MPs at the CM's official residence elevates the engagement beyond a courtesy call and signals the state's intent to participate actively in India's neighbourhood-first diplomacy. Trade facilitation, people-to-people contacts, and potential connectivity cooperation are areas likely to benefit from such interactions.

What's Next

The meeting is expected to lay groundwork for further state-level dialogue on trade facilitation and connectivity between Maharashtra and Nepal. Analysts tracking India-Nepal relations will watch for any follow-up institutional mechanisms or delegations that may emerge from the 27 July discussions. With bilateral cooperation increasingly operating at the sub-national level, Maharashtra's engagement with Nepali provincial and federal lawmakers fits a broader pattern of Indian states taking an active role in neighbourhood diplomacy alongside the central government.