How to send money to Nepal from India?

The blog post below was written as a response/comment to this blog:
https://blogs.worldbank.org/peoplemove/india-to-nepal-remittance-service-launched#comment-925

As a comment itself is like a post and I feel is worthy of reading as a post. I have provided some links also in the bottom to know the ways to remit money in Nepal from India.
I have a strong deploring words for services and people of Punjab National Bank (‘PNB’) in India and those – services and people – of Everest Bank Limited (‘EBL’) in Nepal, I will comment about them in some of my posts later in future. For the time being, you may read about how to send money from India to Nepal. Till the time, I posted this blog, the blogger in World Bank has not moderated and published my comment, but I hope that he does approve.

Here it goes about how to send money to Nepal from India:
“

Since I am a Nepali National and sending money regularly to Nepal from India, I would like to point out some of the issues here. The first is not many bank employees know that they can send money to Nepal. In south India, some of them are completely unaware of anything about Nepal and do not get surprised if they say to do a net banking, which is funny as net banking is allowed only between domestic banks.

Most of the time, they may tell you to get the contact number of their forex/expat or foreign currency remittance department and contact there, and if you contact them, they will flatly answer you that you cannot send money to Nepal. Then, what is the way out?

This time I went to an ICICI Bank Branch in India in Hyderabad. I met Bank Manager who was not at all aware of any money transfer facility to Nepal. He ringed up two three places including his head office in Bombay and received response that they cannot transfer money to Nepal. He answered me a straight no. But, it’s great that at least he tried to find out and did his best as it was a private Bank.

If you are in a same situation before Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Bank or Nationalized Government Bank, or a bank which says that it is an undertaking of Government of India, it may likely happen that you will be ignored, or just get answer No and no further help barring few exceptions in some bank branch because of some cooperating employees.

Most of the Bank Employees including Bank Branch Head, who is called Manager, will not be aware of anything what the blogger has discussed in his page. It’s because there is not much transactions happening or India is too large to care about Poor Nepalese, or ignorance is just bliss! So that they can take little nap post lunch rather than processing few thousands rupees of poor Nepalese fellow!

Still, if you try there is a way if there is a will. The blog aptly describes the first method on which I will not be dwelling much. Rest of the two methods that I have employed will be discussed below:

1. I am not sure if this process still works or not but I have reason to believe that The State Bank of India (‘SBI’) still has this process in Place. First of all, go to any big branch (only big branch dear!) of SBI in your city like in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh India, you can go to Koti/Abids Branch of SBI. There will be foreign remittance department. Deposit there INR 10,000/- or less amount than that and service fee of 50/INR way back in 2006-07. They will issue a cheque drawn in favour of the recipient’s name and addressed to SBI Bank Nepal Limited (which is a Joint Venture of State Bank of India in Nepal. I forgot the details as I had done this transaction way back in 2006-07 but I believe it was not account payee that means the recipient need not have any account with SBI Bank Nepal Limited. Sender can send that cheque through courier (will be risky if it is not account payee) or through some person, or if you are going to Nepal but do not want to carry cash then, carry with yourself. Present the cheque in any branch of SBI Bank Nepal Limited (this is also little doubtful as I forgot if there was any specific bank branch was written or not) and show your identity proof as a recipient (in case it is not account payee) and collect cash. If the cheque is account payee, deposit in the recipient’s account and withdraw money in Nepal by drawing cheque. The service charge is already paid in India. So, the recipient will get full amount of INR 10,000 which is equivalent to NR 16,000. The exchange rate was fixed before I was born and still is the same. Caveat: I forgot most of the details and exact way but I am sure that you get a general idea from above post. For more contact biggest branch of SBI in your city. Needless to say here that do not go to small branch, they have no damn clue about this, believe me!

2. Second way and which is the best way, and sorry for making you wait about best way but patience pays guys!

In India, there are many PSU and one of them is Punjab National Bank (PNB) which has a joint venture (JV) in Nepal called Everest Bank Limited (EBL). EBL has a current account with PNB New Delhi and the Account Number is 2254002100011923. You can deposit your money in Indian Currency from any PNB Branch in India (Yes, any! small branch, large branch does not matter but it is likely that they may not be aware with this. Just you have to do is to do give enough respect to bank employees, and explain them in polite words, make them aware of this facility) and direct EBL from there itself to credit this amount to your relatives or whoever recipient’s account maintained in EBL Nepal any branch. So, the recipient of money in Nepal should have bank account with EBL in Nepal or you must provide someone’s bank account in EBL in Nepal whom you can trust as money will be first credited to bank account and only then, the recipient will get/withdraw money. PNB itself has customized software that all the details will be entered at the time you deposit money in PNB Branch. So, there is no different direction required from your side to EBL. For example, if you have to send 20000 INR to Nepal, you deposit the amount in Account No. 2254002100011923 and then, say, your dad’s account in Nepal is 01100111100111, New Baneshwor Branch, Kathmandu, Nepal and Account Holder’s Name is Mr. ABC XYZ (Some fictitious account number or may be of someone’s also by coincidence, do not try to remit to this number, you may lose the money), then, instruct from the branch where you deposit amount that the money should be credited to your dad’s account number in Nepal. The Bank employees feed data/instructions and the money should reach there within 4-5 days maximum.

Note of Caution:

1. I have done transactions through PNB and EBL route three times, twice the amount was around 600USD and I could send without any hassle. The money reached the destination within few days. The last time, on my third transaction, since the money was big amount (how big! I will not tell you), it took almost 12 days to reach the amount to Nepal. I was little horrified this time but nevertheless, money reached safely. About service fee, I am not aware as I had instructed the bank to deduct from deposit itself as I did not have any extra amount in my pocket. So, they deducted some fees and remitted the amount to my destination.

2. About the limit, how much you can send, I am not sure/no idea but from my practical experience, I can safely say that USD 10.000 is within the allowed limit.

3. Most Importantly, before you remit amount, consult with the bank in Nepal as well as in India and make sure that you write the bank account numbers correctly in deposit slip and get verified from bank employees that they have correctly filled in their software from where they feed data. In case, you lose your money because of one or multiple reasons, I SHALL bear no responsibility nor I will be there to express my sympathy! Please verify the account details from PNB in Delhi and EBL in Nepal.

Happy Remittance!

Thanking You

Rajib Dahal”

For further Reading, You can click here:

http://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/FAQView.aspx?Id=67

http://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/FAQView.aspx?Id=60

http://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/content/pdfs/84489.pdf

http://rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=18306

Energy Sector: Nepal India Co-operation

I have presented two news here. Both I have copied from a Indian Business News Paper THE BUSINESS LINE. One was published today and one seems to be bit old but very much related to the one which was published today. Let's see how far they can work together. From the interests of both countries, I see these projects as a path breaking events and if we can tap the India's economic boom by tieing friendly relations, then, I do not see why Nepal can not gain within short time. Hope that political rivalry and inconfidence does not hinder the economic ties.

Indian cos keen to tap Nepal's hydel potential'

Rahul Wadke

Nepal seeks a revival for the sector

Mumbai Feb. 18 Nepal has an estimated hydropower potential of 1,00,000 MW but practically nothing is harnessed. The sector remains untapped, as the Nepalese Government has limited resources. Recently, the sector was opened to private participation and a number of Indian companies have also shown keen interest in developing the hydropower sector, said Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, the Finance Minister of Nepal.

Dr Mahat was talking to Business Line on the sidelines of the Second SAARC Business Leaders Conclave. He said that the bids for Upper Karnali, Arun-III and Budhi Gandaki projects have already been called.

The bids would be opened in a few weeks. Companies like Reliance, GMR Group, Tata, L&T and the J P Group have shown interest in developing these projects, which have the capacity to generate 300 to 600 MW, he said.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/02/19/stories/2007021904360100.htm

India, Nepal to co-operate in hydropower sector

New Delhi, Nov. 8

India and Nepal have expressed their eagerness to cooperate in the development of Nepal's hydroelectric potential.

At a luncheon meeting in honour of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, Mr K.P. Sharma Oli, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), it emerged that several Indian companies are keen to invest in the development of Nepal's hydroelectric sector.

"Nepal hopes to forge synergistic partnerships with Indian companies, especially in developing its water resources, infrastructure, roads, and power and agri-business sectors. Hydro-power is of special interest to India to assist in its own development," said Mr Oli.

Peace is a prerequisite for attracting investment and Nepal has witnessed a decade-long insurgency, he said. "Now, we expect an end to the armed conflict very shortly. The Maoists are expected to surrender their arms. We expect this to improve the investment climate in Nepal even further," he said.

Underlining the importance of hydro-power development, the Ambassador of India to Nepal, Mr Shivashankar Mukherjee, said there was great interest by several Indian companies to enter this sector in Nepal at the Bilateral Power Summit held in Kathmandu in September. The two countries will shortly set up cross-border transmission highways that will spur a new trade in power.

"The renewal of the Indo-Nepal trade treaty in March 2007 will address non-tariff and para-tariff barriers to imports from Nepal, services, manufacturing, education, health, tourism and IT and ITES," Mr Mukherjee said. Since the agreement was signed in 1996, bilateral trade has grown to $2 billion and 40 per cent of the tourists who visit Nepal by air come from India. There has been a 40 per cent jump in investments from India into Nepal.

Source: http://www.blonnet.com/2006/11/09/stories/2006110904601000.htm