Nepal's Foreign Minister begins three-day India visit

📌 Summary:

• Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal arrived in India on Friday for a three-day official visit — the first by a minister of Nepal's new government led by PM Balendra Shah.
• He will hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday and depart Sunday.
• The visit follows the recent India trip of Rastriya Swatantra Party chairman Rabi Lamichhane.
• Agenda priorities: development partnership, economic assistance and cooperation in the power (hydropower) sector.
• Significance: reaffirms India's "Neighbourhood First" policy and efforts to stabilise ties with a new political dispensation in Kathmandu.

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 (India and its neighbourhood; Neighbourhood First policy; India-Nepal cooperation, especially hydropower and connectivity).

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Nepal's Foreign Minister: Shisir Khanal; new Nepal PM: Balendra Shah.
• Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is part of Nepal's ruling arrangement; chairman Rabi Lamichhane.
• Power-sector (hydropower) cooperation is a key pillar of India-Nepal economic ties.

🔑 Key Term: Neighbourhood First Policy — India's diplomatic approach prioritising friendly, mutually beneficial relations with immediate neighbours.