What happened:
On November 11, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Thimphu for a two-day state visit to Bhutan and was warmly received by his counterpart, Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. During the visit, PM Modi will attend the 70th birthday celebrations of Bhutan’s Fourth King and participate in the Global Peace Prayer Festival, which features the exposition of the Sacred Piprahwa Relics of Lord Buddha from India. The visit will also see the inauguration of the Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project, a major milestone in the India-Bhutan energy partnership.
Why it matters to India:
The visit underscores India’s enduring ties with Bhutan, rooted in mutual trust, goodwill, and spiritual affinity. It highlights India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and reinforces cooperation in key areas such as hydropower, cultural heritage, and regional stability. By deepening energy and people-to-people partnerships, the visit reaffirms India’s role as Bhutan’s closest development partner and a key pillar of South Asian regional cooperation.