Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke on telephone with His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan on 19 September 2020. Both leaders spoke about the unique ties of trust and affection that bind India and Bhutan as neighbours and friends. Prime Minister expressed his thanks for the guiding role that the Kings of Bhutan have played in nurturing this special friendship.

“Transport Bubbles” or “Air Travel Arrangements” are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. India and Bhutan have agreed on an Air Transport Bubble through exchange of Notes on 18 September 2020. The first flight of the India-Bhutan Air Bubble took off on 1 October 2020 on the route Paro-Bagdogra-Paro. The next two flights are scheduled on the Paro-Kolkata-Paro and the Paro-Delhi-Paro on 16 October 2020 and 19 October 2020 respectively.

On the request of the Royal Government of Bhutan following the visit of Indian Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry to Bhutan in February 2020, the Government of India has decided to establish a Plant Quarantine Centre at Jaigaon on the India-Bhutan border, which will be operational shortly. This is expected to greatly facilitate the export of Bhutanese agri-products to India.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, India has spearheaded a “science diplomacy” initiative by launching a programme to strengthen the capacity of clinical trial research of vaccines in neighbouring countries. The first online orientation to this training programme was conducted by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India on 22 September 2020, attended by representatives from Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Afghanistan.

Two young Bhutanese diplomats shared their training experiences at the Sushma Swaraj Foreign Service Institute with Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, after completing their core training with their IFS batchmates

Ambassador welcomed the new Government colleagues both commencing their tenures in the post of Director(Finance) at the Punasangchhu-I & II hydro projects.

HICDPs are short gestation and community-oriented projects primarily aimed at infrastructure development in rural areas of Bhutan. HICDPs are aimed to effect a high-level of community impact especially in the areas of livelihood and income generation, health, education, gender and child empowerment, sports and sustainable development. Two such projects recently completed were the (i) black topping of access road from Laya Junction to Gasa BHU I and the (ii) construction of a bridge at Tandingachu, Bumthang.

A 5-member panel of the Royal Civil Service Commission of Bhutan, including a representative from the Embassy of India, selected three Civil Service Officers of the Royal Government of Bhutan for the IAS Programme/Foundation Course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie.

Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India addressed the High Level meeting of United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations on 22 September 2020. He said "The vision that created the UN 75 years back reflected India’s philosophy of ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’ which sees all creation as one family."

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said, "Reforms in @UN are the need of the hour. 130 crore Indians have great respect for the UN but they have also been waiting since long for the reform process in the UN to reach its logical end. Till when can a nation like India be kept away from UN’s decision making structures?"

Prime Minister of India launched 'Mission Karmayogi': A National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building that was approved by the Cabinet and will radically improve the Human Resource management practices in the Government. It will use scale and state of the art infrastructure to augment the capacity of Civil Servants.

#PMGraminGrihPravesh: A Mission launched by Prime Minister of India to provide everyone a 'Home Sweet Home'! #PMAYGramin focuses on women empowerment as out of total 1.14 crore houses completed, approx 67% houses are either owned by women beneficiaries or under joint (wife and husband) ownership.

The recently passed #FarmBills will bring in long awaited reforms in the agriculture sector that will empower farmers and provide them with new avenues to sell their produce & increase their profits.

On behalf of the Prime Minister of India, Shri R.K. Singh President of the International Solar Alliance Assembly and Minister of Power, New & Renewable Energy, and Skill Development read out Prime Minister Modi’s message at the inaugural session of the First World Solar Technology Summit on 8 September 2020. India has enhanced its installed renewable capacity by 2.5 times and solar installed capacity by more than 13 times. Globally, India now ranks 4th in terms of renewable power.

On 3 September 2020, India’s Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shri Parshottam Rupala presented India’s address at the 35th Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific hosted virtually and chaired by Bhutan. He highlighted India’s progressive agricultural reforms to empower small farmers as well as measures taken to control transboundary pests such as locusts.

Wishing all my Bhutanese friends A Blessed Rainy Day!

Today, it is believed that the waters and rains of Bhutan cleanse and bless its people for a prosperous future. Thruebab Tashi Delek to all!

Ambassador interacted with Indian Teachers resident in Bhutan on 5 September, Teachers' Day through a special Webinar on Google Meet.

Presenting snapshots of the #HindiDiwas programme on 14 September 2020 at the India House Auditorium, Thimphu. Ambassador distributed the prizes to the winners of the essay, debate and poetry oration competitions held to celebrate Hindi Diwas.

An online audio visual lecture presentation on Mahatma Gandhi was hosted by the Embassy of India on 30 September 2020 by Mr. Birad Rajaram Yajnik, renowned Gandhi scholar and Curator of the Mahatma Gandhi Digital Museums in Hyderabad, Delhi, Johannesburg and Pietermaritzburg . In case you missed the unique audio visual discourse by Mr. Yajnik, you can access it here.

Ambassador talks about the novel 'Siddhartha' by Herman Hesse as her recommended book to the 'Lockdown Reads' Initiative of the Drukyul Literature Festival

In collaboration with the National Institute for Zorig Chusum of Bhutan, Embassy of India launched an art competition inviting Bhutanese nationals (18-26 years) to showcase the linkage between Gandhiji and United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals in a painting, traditional art, sculpture or 3D art.

Former Education Minister of Bhutan, Lyonpo Thakur Singh Powdyel recalled his association with the Nehru Wangchuck Cultural Centre of the Embassy of India, Thimphu on the 10th anniversary of its Foundation Day.

Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom is a film shot location by Pawo Choyning Dorji shot in the world's most remote school has been submitted as Bhutan's entry for the 2021 Academy Awards. We wish the entire film crew the best of luck for fulfilling their ambition of securing Bhutan's maiden Academy Award!