NEW DELHI: India announced on Saturday that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will resume in June this year with 750 pilgrims expected to visit the religious site. The resumption of the pilgrimage in the summer of 2025, along with trans-border river cooperation, topped the Indian wish list in the people-centric steps India and China announced in Jan this year for rebuilding ties, following the resolution of the border standoff in eastern Ladakh last year in October.
The yatra organised by ministry of external affairs, which had been suspended by the Chinese govt in 2020 because of Covid-19, is set to take place during June to Aug 2025, said the Indian govt. The development is expected to pave the way for resumption of more people-centric services like direct flights to which India and China had agreed in principle in Jan, and also interactions between media and think-tanks.
Beijing also wants India to give visas to more Chinese nationals and resume exchange of "resident-journalists". While ties between the two nations have improved, India wants to resume dialogue mechanisms step by step and use it to address each other's concerns and priorities. India is also seeking more transparency and predictability on trade and economic issues.
"This year, five batches, each consisting of 50 yatris, and 10 batches, each consisting of 50 yatris, are scheduled to travel through Uttarakhand crossing over at Lipulekh Pass , and through Sikkim crossing over at Nathu La Pass , respectively. The website at kmy.gov.in has been opened for acceptance of applications. The yatris will be selected from among applicants through a fair, computer-generated, random and gender-balanced selection process," said the MEA in its announcement.
"Since 2015, the entire process commencing with on-line application till selection of yatris is a fully computerised process. Therefore, applicants do not need to send letters or fax to seek information. The feedback options on the website can be used for obtaining information, registering observations or making suggestions for improvement," it added.
The yatra organised by ministry of external affairs, which had been suspended by the Chinese govt in 2020 because of Covid-19, is set to take place during June to Aug 2025, said the Indian govt. The development is expected to pave the way for resumption of more people-centric services like direct flights to which India and China had agreed in principle in Jan, and also interactions between media and think-tanks.
Beijing also wants India to give visas to more Chinese nationals and resume exchange of "resident-journalists". While ties between the two nations have improved, India wants to resume dialogue mechanisms step by step and use it to address each other's concerns and priorities. India is also seeking more transparency and predictability on trade and economic issues.
"This year, five batches, each consisting of 50 yatris, and 10 batches, each consisting of 50 yatris, are scheduled to travel through Uttarakhand crossing over at Lipulekh Pass , and through Sikkim crossing over at Nathu La Pass , respectively. The website at kmy.gov.in has been opened for acceptance of applications. The yatris will be selected from among applicants through a fair, computer-generated, random and gender-balanced selection process," said the MEA in its announcement.
"Since 2015, the entire process commencing with on-line application till selection of yatris is a fully computerised process. Therefore, applicants do not need to send letters or fax to seek information. The feedback options on the website can be used for obtaining information, registering observations or making suggestions for improvement," it added.
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