The 14th Monthly Coordination Meeting between Embassy of India, Thimphu (EoI) and Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) for Bhutan’s 13th Five Year Plan was held today. The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Chief of Mission, EoI and Director General, Department of Macro-Fiscal and Development Finance (DMDF), Ministry of Finance, RGoB. Officials from various RGoB ministries, agencies, and EoI participated in the meeting.
- Deputy Chief of Mission, EoI handed over cheques amounting to INR/Nu. 2.15 billion (215 crores) to Ministry of Finance, RGoB in fulfillment of GoI’s commitment to RGoB for the 13th Five Year Plan period for the following projects:
(i) INR/Nu. 1.35 billion (135 crores) for the project “Development of Central Schools”: This project will cover a total of 37 schools, including 20 Central Schools and 17 cluster schools, focusing on infrastructure development and improvement, technological upgrades, green energy initiatives, safety and security aspects, and improvement of sporting facilities. The total project cost is INR/Nu. 6 billion (600 crores).
(ii) INR/Nu. 250 million (25 crores) for the project “Infrastructure Development for Royal Bhutan Police (RBP)”: This project has three components namely (a) Infrastructure Development (offices, police stations, housing etc.); (b) Human Resource Development (training courses in India and Bhutan); and (c) Procurement of Firefighting and Rescue Vehicles. The total project cost is INR/Nu. 900 million (90 crores).
(iii) INR/Nu. 239 million (23.9 crores) for the project “Improvement of Samtse-Norbugang Primary National Highway (PNH)”: This project will enhance connectivity in the southwestern part of Bhutan through improvement of the primary national highway connecting Samtse and Norbugang by increasing road width and enhancing ride quality and safety. The total project cost is INR/Nu. 478 million (47.8 crores).
(iv) INR/Nu. 165 million (16.5 crores) for the project “Infrastructure Development for Legal Education and Research”: Government of India had supported construction of Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law (JSW Law) in the 12th Five Year Plan. In the 13th Five Year Plan, Government of India is supporting Phase-II construction at JSW Law to accommodate new programmes and increase in student and faculty strengths. Through this project, key infrastructure projects, such as academic infrastructure, office space, student and staff residences, security, and indoor recreational facilities are being developed. JSW Law will also strengthen institutional linkages with Indian institutions through academic exchange programmes. The total project cost is INR/Nu. 548 million (54.8 crores).
(v) INR/Nu. 146 million (14.6 crores) for the project “Digital Technology for Teaching-Learning at Royal University of Bhutan (RUB)”: Through this project, RUB will develop in eight of its constituent colleges digital infrastructure that enhance the core activities of the colleges i.e. teaching-learning, research and service delivery. This includes adoption of edutech tools, digital library and Information Management System (IMS). The total project cost is INR/Nu. 331 million (33.1 crores).
- Both sides also reviewed progress and addressed key implementation issues of the following projects supported by Government of India in the 13th Five Year Plan period:
(i) Multi-Disciplinary Super Speciality Hospital, Thimphu (MDSSH): MDSSH will be established as a new center of excellence at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH). It will house a 250-bedded National Cancer Centre alongside a 400-bedded Inpatient Department (IPD). It will enhance quality and scope of tertiary healthcare services within Bhutan and strengthen capacities for specialized care in fields such as oncology, nephrology, cardiology, neurology, and critical care.
(ii) Infrastructure Development and Exchange Programme for MBBS Program: The project involves construction of a new campus for Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences (KGUMSB) for their MBBS programme and an exchange programme with All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), India for pedagogy training, continuous professional development, and faculty and student exchange.
(iii) Implementation of Joint Plan of Action on Space Cooperation (JPoA): The project involves capacity building of Bhutanese officials and students in space science and technology at Indian institutions, provision of high-resolution data to Bhutan by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for developing applications across sectors, and construction of a new Space Technology and Innovation Facility (STIF) in Thimphu for building and testing satellites.
(iv) Strengthening Good Governance and Research: The project seeks to strengthen institutional capacity of government institutions and empower civil society organizations to deliver on socio-economic objectives of the government. Main components of this project are (a) Support to Civil Society Organizations (CSO), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) and Civil Society Organization Authority (CSOA) and (b) Exchange programme for public agencies, CSOs and Think Tanks with Indian institutions.
(v) Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation: The project involves hiring project managers for enhanced monitoring and coordination of projects, their capacity building and placement, and development of a web portal towards GoI-supported projects.
(vi) Establishment of National Weather and Flood Warning Centre (NWFWC) and Scientific Facilities, Thimphu: The headquarters of National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) will be relocated to a new campus in Yusipang, Thimphu. A new NWFWC, the main supervisory and command centre for NCHM for real-time monitoring of hydromet extremes to provide early warning services, will also be constructed.
(vii) Construction of Waste Material Recovery Facility and Incinerator: A total of 5 Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) and 10 incinerators to manage hazardous waste will be procured and installed in various Thromdes/Dzongkhags.
(viii) Digital Skilling Programme: The objective of this project is to support Digital Drukyul by creating digitally literate citizens through basic and intermediate digital literacy training programmes. Around 3,00,00 citizens across all Gewogs will be trained in partnership with local partners identified by GovTech.
(ix) Strengthening Public Service Delivery and Systems: The project is a continuation of the 12th Five Year Plan project for enhancing access of Bhutanese citizens to essential public services by strengthening digital governance, particularly the service centres. In the 13th Five Year Plan, remaining key public services will be brought online on the common platform. In June 2025, the Integrated Service Center (ISC) and the enhanced 1199 Public Service Contact Center (PSCC) were established to bring public services closer to the people in an integrated manner.
(x) Accelerate e-mobility uptake in Bhutan: The objective of the project is to steer Bhutan's transition to electric mobility. The scope of the project involves Development of EV Strategy for Bhutan; procurement and deployment of 45 e-buses alongwith 30 charging stations for urban inter-district transport; procurement of 100 EVs (light vehicle) for government use; and capacity building of engineers, technicians and transport officers.
(xi) Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP): Status of implementation of Concessional Credit Line under ESP.
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12 January 2026
Thimphu
