India approves export of up to 654 MW of power to flood-hit Nepal till December 2026
On 14 September 2026, the Ministry of Power announced approval for exporting electricity to the Nepal Electricity Authority for 18 hours a day from 13 September to 31 December 2026, after floods damaged Nepal's hydropower plants.
Summary
The Ministry of Power approved the export of up to 600 MW to Nepal through the Muzaffarpur–Dhalkebar 400 kV double-circuit line and up to 54 MW through the Tanakpur–Mahendranagar 132 kV single-circuit line. Power will flow for 18 hours a day, from midnight to 18:00, between 13 September and 31 December 2026, and the quantity from January 2027 will be reviewed in December. Recent floods damaged hydropower infrastructure in Nepal and cut its domestic generation. Muzaffarpur is in Bihar and Tanakpur in Uttarakhand. The Muzaffarpur–Dhalkebar line, India's first high-capacity cross-border link with Nepal, was commissioned on 19 February 2016 and dedicated by the Prime Ministers of India and Nepal on 20 February 2016.
Key facts
- Announced
- 14 Sep 2026, Ministry of Power
- Period
- 13 Sep – 31 Dec 2026; 18 hours a day (00:00–18:00)
- Route 1
- Up to 600 MW via Muzaffarpur (Bihar)–Dhalkebar 400 kV D/C line
- Route 2
- Up to 54 MW via Tanakpur (Uttarakhand)–Mahendranagar 132 kV S/C line
- Reason
- Floods damaged Nepal's hydropower infrastructure
- Background
- Muzaffarpur–Dhalkebar line commissioned 19 Feb 2016; dedicated by both PMs 20 Feb 2016
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Up to how much power can India export to Nepal through the Muzaffarpur–Dhalkebar line under the approval announced on 14 September 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 600 MW
Up to 600 MW can flow through the Muzaffarpur–Dhalkebar 400 kV line and up to 54 MW through the Tanakpur–Mahendranagar 132 kV line.
The Tanakpur–Mahendranagar line used for power exports to Nepal starts from which Indian State?
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Correct answer: C — Uttarakhand
Tanakpur is in Uttarakhand; up to 54 MW will flow through the Tanakpur–Mahendranagar 132 kV line.
Consider the following about the Muzaffarpur–Dhalkebar transmission line: 1. It is a 400 kV double-circuit line between Bihar and Nepal. 2. It was dedicated jointly by the Prime Ministers of India and Nepal in February 2016. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The 400 kV D/C Muzaffarpur–Dhalkebar line was commissioned on 19 February 2016 and dedicated by the two Prime Ministers on 20 February 2016.