India sends 2 more aircraft with relief material to Nepal to support relief and rescue efforts in flood-affected areas

India's dispatch of two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft carrying 21.5 tonnes of humanitarian relief material to flood-ravaged Nepal in late September 2024 exemplifies the operationalization of India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy — a cornerstone of its foreign policy since 2014. The floods, triggered by incessant monsoon rains since late June 2024, have claimed over 200 lives, displaced thousands, and devastated infrastructure across Nepal's Terai and hilly regions. India's rapid response — within 48 hours of Nepal's formal request — underscores its growing capacity as a net security provider and first responder in the Indian Ocean Region. The C-130J, a tactical airlifter operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF), is ideally suited for short, unprepared runways, making it indispensable for Himalayan disaster relief. This mission follows India's 2015 Operation Maitri after the Gorkha earthquake, where 16 aircraft delivered 1,100 tonnes of aid, and the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake relief under Operation Dost. Constitutionally, such humanitarian assistance aligns with Article 51(c) of the Directive Principles of State Policy, which mandates fostering respect for international law and treaty obligations, and Article 253, empowering Parliament to implement international agreements. The Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP), 2019, provide the domestic legal framework for overseas humanitarian assistance, coordinated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Key stakeholders include the MEA's Development Partnership Administration (DPA), the IAF's Transport Squadrons, Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Nepal Army, which leads domestic rescue operations. The handover to Nepal's Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mahabir Pun — a noted technocrat — signals a shift toward tech-enabled disaster resilience. Strategically, this aid counters China's expanding influence in Nepal through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), reinforcing India's role as a reliable development partner. Economically, it protects cross-border trade worth $8 billion annually and safeguards Indian investments in Nepal's hydropower sector. Socially, it strengthens people-to-people ties rooted in shared culture, open borders, and the 1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Future implications include deeper institutionalization of India-Nepal disaster management cooperation, potential joint early-warning systems for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and enhanced interoperability between NDRF and Nepal's Armed Police Force. For aspirants, this case study integrates International Relations (GS-II), Disaster Management (GS-III), and Internal Security — a classic UPSC intersection.