The chief contestants were the Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (DPT) led by Jigme Thinley and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) led by Sangay Ngedup. [64][65] A variant Assamese macaque has also been recorded, which is regarded by some authorities as a new species, Macaca munzala. During the chaos that followed, the Tibetans unsuccessfully attacked Bhutan in 1714.[48]. He was leader of the opposition in the National Assembly from March 2008 to April 2013. Their culture is closely related to that of Tibet. The King of Bhutan is the head of state.The executive power is exercised by the Lhengye Zhungtshog, or council of ministers, headed by the Prime Minister. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Bhutan Government 2020 information contained here. Bhutan's democratic transition in 2008 is seen as an evolution of its social contract with the monarchy since 1907. Historians have theorized that the state of Lhomon (literally, "southern darkness"), or Monyul ("Dark Land", a reference to the Monpa, an ethnic group in Bhutan & Arunachal Pradesh) may have existed between 500 BC and AD 600. In 1965, he set up a Royal Advisory Council, and in 1968 he formed a Cabinet. People present at protests were labeled “anti-national terrorists”. Because the country gets most of its energy from hydroelectric power, it does not emit significant greenhouse gases for energy production. Each family was required to present census workers with a tax receipt from the year 1958—no earlier, no later—or with a certificate of origin, which had to be obtained from one’s place of birth, to prove that they were indeed Bhutanese citizens. Tshering Tobgay is the Prime Minister of Bhutan. The southern Duars has moderately fertile soil, heavy savanna grass, dense, mixed jungle, and freshwater springs. By the 10th century, Bhutan's political development was heavily influenced by its religious history. To strengthen Bhutan's identity as an independent country, Bhutanese law requires all Bhutanese government employees to wear the national dress at work and all citizens to wear the national dress while visiting schools and other government offices though many citizens, particularly adults, choose to wear the customary dress as formal attire. He is president of the People's Democratic Party. Before the 1980s, the Lhotshampa (Nepali-speaking community), mainly based in southern Bhutan, constituted approximately 30% of the population. It lies between latitudes 26°N and 29°N, and longitudes 88°E and 93°E. The current Prime Minister of Bhutan is Lotay Tshering, leader of the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa Party. [153][154] The industry employs 21,000 people and accounts for 1.8% of GDP. While dependent on the Indian military, Bhutan maintains its own military units. In the vast majority of constituencies, rural geog (village blocks) are administered by bodies called the Geog Tshogde. Bhutan currency (BTN). The high volume of imported materials to build hydropower plants has expanded Bhutan's trade and current account deficits. Ethnologue lists 24 languages currently spoken in Bhutan, all of them in the Tibeto-Burman family, except Nepali, an Indo-Aryan language.[112]. It currently has net negative[73] greenhouse gas emissions because the small amount of pollution it creates is absorbed by the forests that cover most of the country. From his power base in central Bhutan, Ugyen Wangchuck defeated his political enemies and united the country following several civil wars and rebellions during 1882–85. Win Myint was born in Nyaung Chaung Village, Danubyu, Ayeyarwady Region, Burma to parents Tun Kyin and Daw Than… [51] A central plank of the Bhutanese government's policy since the late 1980s has been to strengthen the role and status of Dzongkha in national life. The population of Bhutan had been estimated based on the reported figure of about 1 million in the 1970s when the country had joined the United Nations and precise statistics were lacking. Although uncommon, polygamy is accepted, often being a device to keep property in a contained family unit rather than dispersing it. by Baillie, Luiza Maria. The current king, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, wed Jetsun Pema, 21, a commoner and daughter of a pilot, on 13 October 2011. [148], Bhutan's largest export is hydroelectricity. [202] The University of Texas at El Paso in the United States has adopted Bhutanese architecture for its buildings on campus, as have the nearby Hilton Garden Inn and other buildings in the city of El Paso.[203]. Bhutan also elected its first female Dzongda, equivalent to a District Attorney, in 2012, and its first female minister in 2013. [92] A 2014 joint statement by the prime ministers of both countries announced cooperation in areas of hydropower, river management and climate change mitigation. [149] Power is supplied to various states in India. Royal Government of Bhutan. [30] Others include Lho Mon ("Dark Southland"), Lho Tsendenjong ("Southland of the Cypress"), Lhomen Khazhi ("Southland of the Four Approaches") and Lho Menjong ("Southland of the Herbs"). Rice (red rice), buckwheat, and increasingly maize, are the staples of Bhutanese cuisine. The Bhutanese newspaper Kuensel said that China might use the roads to further Chinese claims along the border.[100]. Fungi form a key part of Bhutanese ecosystems, with mycorrhizal species providing forest trees with mineral nutrients necessary for growth, and with wood decay and litter decomposing species playing an important role in natural recycling. The reigning monarch is Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Minorities are increasingly represented in Bhutan's government since 2008, including in the cabinet, parliament and local government.[84]. In February 2007 the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty was substantially revised. [29], Names similar to Bhutan—including Bohtan, Buhtan, Bottanthis, Bottan and Bottanter—began to appear in Europe around the 1580s. [67], More than 770 species of bird have been recorded in Bhutan. Another popular sport is basketball. As a result, Bhutan is running a biocapacity reserve.[139]. Education programs were given a boost in 1990, when the Asian Development Bank (see Glossary) granted a US$7.13 million loan for staff training and development, specialist services, equipment and furniture purchases, salaries and other recurrent costs, and facility rehabilitation and construction at Royal Bhutan Polytechnic. [109][110] The government enforced uniformity in religion, dress, and language to enforce preeminence of Drukpa culture as the national culture of the country. [196] Bhutan received 37,482 visitor arrivals in 2011, of which 25% were for meetings, incentives, conferencing, and exhibitions.[197]. Tibet, Bhutan, Sikkim and parts of Nepal became the vestiges of the Mahayana schools amid the decline of Buddhism in India. [74] The government aims to promote conservation as part of its plan to target Gross National Happiness. Bhutan has a life expectancy of 70.2 years (69.9 for males and 70.5 for females) according to the latest data for 2016 from the World Bank. [149] Hydropower has been the primary focus for the country's five-year plans. ... President-elect Joe Biden is expected to sign 15 executive actions upon taking office Wednesday, immediately reversing key Trump administration policies. It differs from Olympic standards in technical details such as the placement of the targets and atmosphere. The forests of the central Bhutan mountains consist of Eastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests in higher elevations and Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests in lower elevations. At these events, dancers depict heroes, demons, dæmons, death heads, animals, gods, and caricatures of common people by wearing colorful wooden or composition face masks and stylized costumes. [85] The political system grants universal suffrage. He has projected himself as a … Bhutan also came under the influence of the Tibetan Empire. It became a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 1985. [51] In 1988 Bhutan conducted a census in southern Bhutan. President – Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of Algeria (1999–2019) Prime Minister – Abdelmalek Sellal, Prime Minister of Algeria (2012–2014) Angola President – José Eduardo dos Santos, President of Angola (1979–2017) Benin President – Thomas Boni Yayi, President of Benin (2006–2016) Prime Minister – Pascal Koupaki, Prime Minister of Benin (2011–2013) With the adoption of the Driglam Namzhag (Bhutanese code of etiquette) and its expansion into the idea of strengthening the role of Dzongkha, Nepali was dropped from the curriculum. Bhutan has made steps toward gender equality by enrolling more girls in school as well as creating the "National Commission for Women and Children" (NCWC) in 2004. After Bhutan lost the war, the Treaty of Sinchula was signed between British India and Bhutan. Gangkhar Puensum is Bhutan's highest peak and may also be the highest unclimbed mountain in the world. Abdul Hamid is the current President in the country. The president is formally addressed as "The Right Honourable" (Nepali: सम्माननीय, romanized: Sam'mānanīya CHINA is a Semi-presidential system - President Chen Shui-bian - Vice President Annette Lu - Premier Chang Chun-hsiung . Since ancient times, the dzongs have served as the religious and secular administrative centers for their respective districts. Notable settlements that the Lateral Road runs through directly are Wangdue Phodrang and Trongsa. Dzongkha is partially intelligible with Sikkimese and spoken natively by 25% of the population. Track Ngultrum forex rate changes, track Ngultrum historical changes. An accompaniment to the kira is a long-sleeved blouse, the "wonju," which is worn underneath the kira. The dress element of this code required all citizens to wear the gho (a knee-length robe for men) and the kira (an ankle-length dress for women). [170][171][172], Since 2014, road widening has been a priority across Bhutan, in particular for the north-east–west highway from Trashigang to Dochula. With improvements in transportation, by the early 21st The earliest Western record of Bhutan, the 1627 Relação of the Portuguese Jesuits Estêvão Cacella and João Cabral,[43] records its name variously as Cambirasi (among the Koch Biharis[44]), Potente, and Mon (an endonym for southern Tibet). [104], Women in Bhutan tend to be less active in politics than men due to customs and aspects of Bhutan's culture that dictate a woman's role in the household. She is the mother of the current Bhutanese king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. [77], Bhutan has a number of progressive environmental policies that have caused the head of the UNFCCC to call it an "inspiration and role model for the world on how economies and different countries can address climate change while at the same time improving the life of the citizen. River Survey Report 2020. Venugopal as the Attorney General for India. A man is expected to make his own way in the world and often moves to his wife's home. Bhutan: 851 | Global Covid-19 Cases Confirmed cases: 96,857,654 | Recovered: 52,722,335 | Deaths: 2,074,617 [81], Bhutan has enforced a plastic ban rule from 1 April 2019, where plastic bags were replaced by alternative bags made of jute and other biodegradable material. Yugal from Bhutan emphasizes the importance of respect for gender equality. [156][157], The country currently has no UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but it has eight declared tentative sites for UNESCO inclusion since 2012. [141] In May 2012, "Thimphu TechPark" was launched in the capital. It is bordered by China to the north and India to the south. The Bhutan Duars is divided into two parts, the northern and southern Duars. Current FamilyMart President Takashi Sawada, 63, will become vice chairman. King Jigme Singye Wangchuck transferred most of his administrative powers to the Council of Cabinet Ministers and allowed for impeachment of the King by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly. Tibetan king Songtsän Gampo (reigned 627–649), a convert to Buddhism, ordered the construction of two Buddhist temples, at Bumthang in central Bhutan and at Kyichu Lhakhang (near Paro) in the Paro Valley. Bhutan has a gross domestic product of around US$5.855 billion (adjusted to purchasing power parity), making it the 158th-largest economy in the world. [117], The kingdom has a history of banning religious proselytizing,[118] which critics denounce as a violation of freedom of religion[119] and a policy of ethnic cleansing. [86] Jigme Thinley served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013. Government revenues total $407.1 million, though expenditures amount to $614 million. 4 out of 156 nations in the index of geopolitical gains and losses after energy transition (GeGaLo Index). It was the first country to recognize Bangladesh's independence in 1971. On 29th June 2020, the President of India has reappointed Senior Advocate K.K. The vice president of Bhutan is Mr. Philippe Le Houerou. Bhutan and neighboring Tibet experienced the spread of Buddhism which originated in the Indian subcontinent during the lifetime of Gautama Buddha. Namgyal became the first Zhabdrung Rinpoche and his successors acted as the spiritual leaders of Bhutan like the Dalai Lama in Tibet. Technically viable solar energy generation capacity is around 12,000 MW and wind around 760 MW. The government strictly enforced this law in Buddhist religious buildings, government offices, schools, official functions, and public ceremonies. The construction of the railway via Satali, Bharna Bari and Dalsingpara by Indian railways will be funded by India. During the 17th century, Bhutan controlled large parts of northeast India, Sikkim and Nepal; it also wielded significant influence in Cooch Behar State. The largest city in Bhutan is the capital Thimphu. It, as well as the title of Dasho, comes from the throne in recognition of an individual’s outstanding service to the nation. In the aftermath of the Chinese Communist Revolution, Bhutan signed a friendship treaty with the newly independent Dominion of India in 1949. [117] Careful scrutiny has been used to prevent their relatives from getting ID cards and voting rights. Dance dramas and masked dances such as the Cham dance are common traditional features at festivals, usually accompanied by traditional music. The political system grants universal suffrage. [215] There has also been an increase in contraceptive use from less than 1/3 in 2003 to 2/3 in 2010. To defend the country against intermittent Tibetan forays, Namgyal built a network of impregnable dzongs or fortresses, and promulgated the Tsa Yig, a code of law that helped to bring local lords under centralized control. [144][145] Bhutanese red rice is the country's most widely known agricultural export, enjoying a market in North America and Europe. This great geographical diversity combined with equally diverse climate conditions contributes to Bhutan's outstanding range of biodiversity and ecosystems.[2]. The dancers enjoy royal patronage, and preserve ancient folk and religious customs and perpetuate the ancient lore and art of mask-making. Get reminders for Winter Solstice – MarkTheDay.com", "Losar Festival Nepal : Tamu, Sherpa, Tibetan, Gyalpo Lhosar", "From Ngesem Ngesem to Khu Khu Khu ... Rigsar music woos local music fans", "Bhutan Wins Again! [note 1][143]. Bhutan experiences five distinct seasons: summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and spring. Protected wildlife has entered agricultural areas, trampling crops and killing livestock. Varicolored scarves, known as rachu for women and kabney for men, are important indicators of social standing, as Bhutan has traditionally been a feudal society; in particular, red is the most common color worn by women. … Bhutan had a population of 754,388 people in 2018. Bhutan does not have formal diplomatic ties with China, but exchanges of visits at various levels between them have significantly increased in recent times. The sleeves of the wonju and the tego are folded together at the cuffs, inside out. Entry is free for citizens of India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives, but all other foreigners are required to sign up with a Bhutanese tour operator and pay around US$250 per day that they stay in the country, though this fee covers most travel, lodging and meal expenses. This was followed by the first national parliamentary elections in December 2007 and March 2008. GDP (purchasing power parity): Paro Airport is the only international airport in Bhutan. The foothills descend into the subtropical Duars Plain, which is the eponymous gateway to strategic mountain passes (also known as dwars or dooars; literally, "doors" in Assamese, Bengali, Maithili, Bhojpuri, and Magahi languages.). Bhutan has no railways, though Indian Railways plans to link southern Bhutan to its vast network under an agreement signed in January 2005. King Wangchuck made his brother-in-law Jigme Palden Dorji (1919-64) prime minister and together they helped lead the modernization polices and reforms that the king wanted to install. [13] In the Bhutanese Himalayas, there are peaks higher than 7,000 meters (23,000 ft) above sea level. After the new Union of India gained independence from the United Kingdom on 15 August 1947, Bhutan became one of the first countries to recognize India's independence. The People's Democratic Party came to power in the 2013 elections. 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