Emblem of Nepal

The updated design incorporates a revised political map of Nepal, published by the Government of Nepal on 20 May 2020, which includes the Kalapani territory, Lipulekh Pass, and Limpiyadhura as Nepali territory. The Nepalese parliament endorsed a constitutional amendment to incorporate the revised map into the national emblem on 13 June 2020. The amendment was passed unanimously by both houses of parliament.

India rejected the revised map, calling it an "artificial enlargement of territorial claims" that was not based on historical facts or evidence. The territories depicted in the revised map are administered by India as part of Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand, where Indian border forces have maintained posts since the 1950s. The boundary question underlying the dispute dates to 1817, when the Nepali governor Bam Shah claimed that the western branch of the Kali River headwaters should be considered the main stream, a claim rejected by the British Governor-General Lord Moira.

The modification of the emblem drew criticism both internationally and within Nepal. Critics noted that it was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the government of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was facing widespread domestic criticism for its handling of the crisis.

The emblem features Mount Everest, green hills symbolizing the hilly regions, and the yellow background representing the fertile Terai plains. It also includes the hands of a man and a woman joined together, symbolizing gender equality, with a wreath of rhododendron—the national flower—around it.

An alternative version of the emblem, used in some instances, presents slight stylistic differences, especially in the depiction of the map and the national flower.

Features

It contains the flag of Nepal, Mount Everest, green hills symbolising the hilly regions of Nepal and yellow colour symbolising the fertile Terai region, a man's and a woman's hands joining to symbolise gender equality, and a garland of Rhododendron (the national flower) also called Lali Guransh (लाली गुराँश). Atop this is a white silhouette in the shape of Nepal.

Motto

At the base of the design a red scroll carries the national motto in Sanskrit: जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपी गरीयसी (Jananī Janmabhūmiśca svargādapi garīyasī), which translates as 'Mother and Motherland are greater than Heaven.'

The phrase below was quoted by Rama when his brother Lakshmana expresses desire to stay back in Lanka.