Overview
- The Council of Ministers approved the redesign on July 20, 2026, authorising Nepal Rastra Bank to mint smaller one-rupee and two-rupee coins with new images.
- The one-rupee coin will drop the 2020 map that included Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani and will feature the Lo Ghyakar Monastery while the two-rupee coin will continue to carry the map.
- Nepal Rastra Bank says the change responds to technical and cost reasons: both coins will be lighter and made of steel, with the one-rupee falling from 4 g to 3.2 g and the two-rupee from 5 g to 3.8 g.
- Senior opposition leader Bhim Rawal criticised the move as a threat to territorial integrity and demanded clarification from the government, signalling heightened domestic political debate.
- The 2020 map provoked a diplomatic row with India when it added the three disputed areas and the coin change could affect symbolism in bilateral ties even though no new Indian response has been reported.