The First Meeting of the BIMSTEC Expert Group on Himalayan Science Council (1st EG-HSC) was hosted virtually by India, on 12 October 2021. Delegations from all BIMSTEC Member States and Officials of the BIMSTEC Secretariat attended the Meeting.

The Meeting was chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India, Dr. M. Ravichandran. The Secretary General of BIMSTEC, Tenzin Lekphell, in his remarks, flagged the urgency of expediting the setting up of the BIMSTEC Himalayan Science Council that would study the security impact of ecological and environmental degradation of the Himalayas and help alleviate disasters in the region.

The Meeting discussed and negotiated the draft text of the Concept Paper on the Proposal for the Himalayan Science Council (HSC) and agreed to prepare the Memorandum of Association (MoA) on the Establishment of the Council.