Why is it in the news?
- During his recent visit to Bhutan, PM Modi announced India’s decision to double assistance to Bhutan, increasing it from ₹5,000 crore in 2019-2024 to ₹10,000 crore for the period till 2029.
Some of the key highlights of the visit
- PM Modi was awarded Bhutan’s highest civilian honour, the Order of the Druk Gyalpo, by the Bhutanese king.
- Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements were signed between India and Bhutan covering various sectors including petroleum, trade, digital connectivity, space, and agriculture.
- Initiatives were taken to establish rail links between Kokrajhar-Gelephu and Banarhat-Samtse, as well as waterway navigation on the Brahmaputra River.
- PM Modi expressed strong support for Bhutan’s initiatives, particularly the Gelephu Mindfulness City project:
1) The Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) is a planned carbon-neutral city spanning 1,000 square kilometres in Bhutan.
2) GMC will focus on eco-friendly industries such as IT, education, hotels, and hospitals.
