KATHMANDU, JANUARY 27
The Embassy of India in Kathmandu marked the 76th Republic Day of India with a series of celebrations attended by members of the Indian diaspora and dignitaries, on Sunday.
The event began with the Ambassador of India to Nepal unfurling the Indian national flag, followed by the telecast of the address to the nation by Indian President, Droupadi Murmu. A large number of attendees from the Indian community joined the celebrations.
During the program the Ambassador honoured the widows and next of kin of deceased Indian Armed Forces personnel by disbursing dues amounting to Rs 5 crore. In addition, Rs 23.29 crore was distributed to the families of 219 deceased soldiers under the under the Army Group Insurance (AGI) programme, including death-in-service benefits, extended insurance benefits, and AGI maturity payments in the year 2024, according to the press release issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.
The occasion also saw the unveiling of the "Bhu Puu - 2025" magazine, which highlights the Government of India's welfare initiatives for ex-servicemen living in Nepal.
As part of its educational outreach, the Embassy donated books worth Rs 23.5 lakh to 29 educational institutions across six provinces in Nepal. This initiative aims to provide educational resources to students in remote areas, the release further states.
Additionally, the top 50 scorers from Nepal in the "Bharat Ko Janiye" (BKJ) Quiz, held between November 11 and December 11, 2024, were felicitated with Certificates of Achievement. Among the winners, Nikhil Kumar Das from Nepal had the privilege of joining the two-week "BKJ Yatra" to India earlier this month, along with other global participants, the embassy added.
A video highlighting the progress made in India-Nepal relations over the years was showcased during the event.
The celebrations also featured cultural performances by students from the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre and Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kathmandu. The entire event was live-streamed on the Embassy's social media platforms.
