India and Bhutan discuss Punatsangchhu projects, Sankosh and cross-border transmission till 2040
Bhutan's Energy Minister Lyonpo Gem Tshering met Union Power Minister Manohar Lal in New Delhi on 3 February 2026 to discuss Punatsangchhu-I and II, the Sankosh project and cross-border transmission links till 2040.
Summary
Bhutan's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Lyonpo Gem Tshering, met Union Power Minister Manohar Lal and Minister of State Shripad Naik in New Delhi on 3 February 2026. They discussed commercial optimisation of power from the 1,020 MW Punatsangchhu-II project, early commissioning of the 1,200 MW Punatsangchhu-I project, the way forward for the Sankosh hydropower project and cross-border transmission links till 2040. The Power Ministry noted that India–Bhutan hydropower cooperation began in 1961, and an agreement on hydroelectric power cooperation followed in 2006.
Key facts
- Meeting
- 3 February 2026, New Delhi
- Leaders
- Lyonpo Gem Tshering; Manohar Lal; Shripad Naik
- Projects
- Punatsangchhu-II (1,020 MW); Punatsangchhu-I (1,200 MW); Sankosh
- Transmission
- Cross-border links assessed till 2040
- History
- Hydropower cooperation since 1961; agreement in 2006
Practice MCQs 3 questions
What is the capacity of the Punatsangchhu-I hydroelectric project in Bhutan, whose early commissioning India and Bhutan discussed on 3 February 2026?
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Correct answer: C — 1,200 MW
Punatsangchhu-I is 1,200 MW; Punatsangchhu-II is 1,020 MW.
Up to which year did India and Bhutan assess cross-border transmission links in their February 2026 talks?
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Correct answer: C — 2040
The two sides assessed cross-border transmission links till 2040.
Consider the following, as stated by the Power Ministry in February 2026: 1. India–Bhutan hydropower cooperation began in 1961. 2. India and Bhutan signed an agreement on hydroelectric power cooperation in 2006. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct as per the Power Ministry release.