The Indian Army has made a strategic move to fortify its ties with Nepal. The Indian Army on Monday said that it has handed over six indigenous target practice drones and ground support equipment to the Nepalese Army at a special ceremony conducted at an integrated check post in Sonauli.

In a post on the social media platform X, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG-PI) of the Indian Army posted, “India-Nepal Friendship, Brotherhood Beyond Borders”. “Indian Army handed over six indigenous target practice drones along with ground support equipment to Nepali Army at a special ceremony conducted at integrated check post, Sonauli.”

The social media post further added, “The Indian Army remains committed towards supporting the capability enhancement of the Nepal Army and fostering deeper bilateral defence cooperation.”

India-Nepal defence relations in 2025: What do they look like?

In the beginning of this year, armies of both countries conducted the 18th edition of Surya Kiran, a joint military exercise between India and Nepal, aiming to enhance interoperability and foster collaboration. The joint military exercise between India and Nepal was aimed at enhancing interoperability and fostering collaboration between the two nations’ armies.

In June 2025, both countries discussed issues relating to security and defence cooperation, such as equipment supplies, training, joint military exercises, disaster relief operations and military exchanges, under the India-Nepal Bilateral Consultative Group on Security Issues (INBCGSI), held in Pune.

In May, a joint team consisting of ten Nepal Army and five Indian Army personnel, conducted a joint expedition of Mt. Kanchenjunga in which Nepal’s Defence Minister Man Bir Rai was also with the team. The expedition was meant to exhibit the high levels of coordination and courage between the two armies.

Around 2 weeks back, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri formally presented light strike vehicles, advanced medical equipment for critical care, and military animals to Nepal’s Chief of Army Staff, Suprabal Janasewashree General Ashok Raj Sigdel, during a ceremonial event at the Nepali Army headquarters in Kathmandu.

In July, both countries signed an agreement to implement five “high-impact” development projects related to education and health in the Himalayan nation under an Indian grant assistance of Rs 39 crore.

In April 2025, India and Nepal signed 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for high-impact community development projects in the Himalayan nation, funded by Indian assistance amounting to NRs 625 million.