Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his State Visit to Bhutan on November 12, 2025, covering the visit dates of November 11-12, 2025. For exam preparation, the visit is useful for India-Bhutan relations, hydropower diplomacy, cross-border connectivity, the Neighbourhood First approach, and India’s role in Bhutan’s development priorities.
The central strategic and economic takeaway was hydropower cooperation. India and Bhutan welcomed the understanding to resume work on the main dam structure of the 1,200 MW Punatsangchhu-I hydroelectric project and agreed to work for its expeditious completion. Once completed, Punatsangchhu-I will be the largest hydroelectric project jointly developed by the two governments. During the visit, the 1,020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project was also jointly inaugurated, and both sides welcomed the start of electricity exports from it to India.
Connectivity was another major theme. The two sides welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding on cross-border rail links, specifically Gelephu-Kokrajhar and Samtse-Banarhat, and the subsequent Project Steering Committee for implementation. India also announced an Immigration Check Post at Hatisar, Assam, to facilitate movement of investors and visitors to Gelephu.
The signed MoUs covered renewable energy, health and medicine, and institutional linkages in mental health. Modi attended the 70th Birth Anniversary celebrations of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo in Changlimithang as Guest of Honour and participated in the Global Peace Prayer Festival in Thimphu. As static-GK linkage, this update connects India-Bhutan friendship with Himalayan neighbourhood policy, energy security, border infrastructure, and developmental diplomacy.