India Approves 18-Hour Power Supply to Nepal Amid Hydropower Losses

Gist The Union Ministry of Power has approved an early request from Nepal to import electricity to mitigate a severe domestic generation shortfall caused by recent flash floods. Crucially, India has restricted these exports to an 18-hour daytime window to align with its domestic solar surplus, halting supply before the evening peak when India faces its own severe power crunches. For aspirants, this event highlights the seasonal dynamics of South Asian cross-border energy trade, disaster diplomacy, and the practical grid-management challenges of India's growing renewable energy capacity. Background Cross-border electricity trade between India and Nepal is highly seasonal and historically symbiotic. Normally, Nepal exports its surplus hydropower to India during the monsoon season when its river flows are highest. Conversely, Nepal imports electricity from India during the dry winter months typically starting in October when domestic river-fed hydropower generation declines. The current situation represents an anomaly: unprecedented floods in August severely damaged Nepal's hydropower infrastructure, forcing the nation to seek emergency imports much earlier than the usual winter cycle. Key Pointers The export window is deliberately restricted from midnight to…