What happened
On September 29, 2025, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced a major new initiative to establish rail connectivity between India and Bhutan. The announcement came during a joint press conference in New Delhi with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The plan reflects the deepening bilateral partnership, with India already being Bhutan’s largest developmental partner and having committed ₹10,000 crore for Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan (2024–2029).
Why it matters to India
Rail connectivity will strengthen strategic, economic, and cultural ties with Bhutan, enhancing cross-border trade, connectivity, and regional integration. For India, it consolidates its role as Bhutan’s closest partner while advancing New Delhi’s wider infrastructure and connectivity agenda in South Asia.