Kathmandu: In a recent development, Nepali nationals visiting India will easily obtain Indian SIM cards for use during their stay in the southern neighbor.
The Indian Ministry of Communications, issuing a statement, announced this change, saying that citizens of Nepal can access mobile connections in India upon providing valid proof of identity.
This privilege is also extended to Bhutanese nationals under similar conditions. The Ministry specified that documents such as a citizenship certificate, voter identification card, or a limited validity photo-identity certificate issued by the embassy of the respective countries would be accepted as valid proof.
However, if Nepali or Bhutanese nationals enter India from a country other than their origin, they are required to present a copy of their passport with a valid visa.
The Ministry stressed that the validity of mobile connections for citizens of Nepal and Bhutan shall not exceed the maximum duration permitted for their stay in India or the validity of their visa. Even if the duration permitted exceeds three months, the validity of such connections will not surpass three months at a time.
Nepali Ambassador to India, Shankar Prasad Sharma, expressed appreciation for the Indian government’s decision, describing it as “great news.” He said that Nepali citizens were previously unable to obtain SIM cards in India due to technical reasons. Sharma credited the swift processing of Nepal’s request to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Communications of India.
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