Introduction To Bhutan

Bhutan is a small landlocked country situated in the eastern Himalayas. It is bordered by India to the south, east and west, and China to the north. Bhutan is known for its unique approach towards measuring progress through the Gross National Happiness (GNH) index, rather than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The index measures happiness and well-being in areas such as community vitality, cultural diversity, environmental conservation, and good governance. Buddhism is the predominant religion in Bhutan, and it is deeply ingrained in the country's culture. The government has also placed emphasis on preserving the country's cultural heritage, and Bhutan is known for its architecture, art, dances, and festivals. Visitors to Bhutan can explore ancient dzongs (fortresses) and monasteries, hike the stunning Himalayan mountains, and experience unique cultural events such as the Paro Tsechu (festival). With its focus on sustainable development and preservation of its cultural heritage, Bhutan offers an unforgettable and enriching travel experience.

Bhutan is a small landlocked country situated in the eastern Himalayas. It is bordered by India to the south, east and west, and China to the north. Bhutan is known for its unique approach towards measuring progress through the Gross National Happiness (GNH) index, rather than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The index measures happiness and well-being in areas such as community vitality, cultural diversity, environmental conservation, and good governance. Buddhism is the predominant religion in Bhutan, and it is deeply ingrained in the country's culture. The government has also placed emphasis on preserving the country's cultural heritage, and Bhutan is known for its architecture, art, dances, and festivals. Visitors to Bhutan can explore ancient dzongs (fortresses) and monasteries, hike the stunning Himalayan mountains, and experience unique cultural events such as the Paro Tsechu (festival). With its focus on sustainable development and preservation of its cultural heritage, Bhutan offers an unforgettable and enriching travel experience.

The tiny Kingdom of Bhutan, at the eastern end of the Himalayas, nestles between the giant nation states of China and India. Often called the "Land of the Thunder Dragon," it remained secluded until recent times—the first ever "tourist" set foot in Bhutan in 1974 and was followed by the introduction of television and new technology at the turn of the 21st century. In 2008, Bhutan became the world's youngest democracy, moving from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy in a historic change initiated by the revered and much-loved Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. A sovereign country throughout the ages, Bhutan is now establishing its place on the world stage and demonstrating leadership on climate and environmental issues. It is determined to maintain its Buddhist culture and way of life as it evolves and adapts to political change and economic challenges. Its unique development policy of "Gross National Happiness," which measures progress not through material gain but on a happiness scale, is generating global interest. The abundant hospitality of the Bhutanese, the variety of Bhutan's ancient monasteries and colorful festivals, and its near-perfect ecosystem and natural beauty never fail to reward the traveler. Culture Smart! Bhutan will give you a deeper insight into the country's history, values, and customs, as well as practical guidance on how to develop a meaningful rapport with the Bhutanese.

As the country that inspires the world with ‘gross national happiness’ development philosophy, Bhutan is striving to pursue its economic growth while committing to its core values of inclusive and green development. Even with robust economic growth rates, Bhutan’s dependence on imports and hydropower revenues drives the country to search for self-reliant option to fuel the economy while further decarbonizing the economy. Electric vehicle is being explored as one of the key policies to introduce green mobility, reduce fossil fuel imports and put the country firmly on a green growth path. Globally, electric vehicles market and technology are still in the nascent stage but are developing rapidly. The automotive industry has adopted electrification as a pillar of future drive train technology. EV uptake is expected to increase significantly with ongoing improvements in technology and resulting cost decreases in the global market. This report aims to help Bhutan think through various technical and policy issues of introducing electric vehicles in its own context. It analyses a variety of factors that will impact adoption of electric vehicles from technical, market and financial feasibility to consumer awareness and stakeholders’ capacity. It also addresses several policy questions which are at the heart of public debate such as affordability of the government to undertake the program, economic costs and benefits, distributional impact, fiscal, and macroeconomic implications. Drawing from vast international experiences, the report examines in great technical details how global cutting-edge technology like electric vehicles could be pursued in the context of developing economies with different socio-economic characteristics and constraints compared to advanced economies. It will help readers better grasp the technical, financial, economic and social challenges as well as opportunities in initiating electric vehicles program and provide practical recommendations that will be useful for policy makers in designing their own EV initiative.

Bhutan is a country in the Himalayas with a relatively new education system and a unique governmental philosophy known as Gross National Happiness. This book explores the history, culture, challenges, and opportunities of schooling in Bhutan. It discusses topics including historical perspectives on Buddhist monastic education, the regional and international influence on educational development, traditional medical education, higher education, and the evolution of Bhutanese educational policy, to name but a few. It also investigates contemporary challenges to schooling in Bhutan such as adult education, inclusive education, early childhood education, rurality, and gender. Throughout the book, the developmental philosophy of Gross National Happiness is explored as a novel and culturally vital approach to education in Bhutan. The majority of the authors are prominent Bhutanese scholars and educational leaders, with select non-Bhutanese international scholars with strong links to Bhutan also contributing. This book is a valuable resource not only for those specifically interested in education in Bhutan, but for anyone with an interest in South Asian studies, general Asian studies, educational development, comparative education, Buddhist education, and the Gross National Happiness development philosophy.