40 results for "reform"
The government has opened festival-focused fair-price shops at 61 locations across 42 districts, offering consumers access to essential goods at subsidized prices during the major festival season.
Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle has arrived in Washington, DC, where he is scheduled to meet US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and World Bank Group President Ajay Banga to discuss Nepal’s economic cooperation, reconstruction and reforms.
Gagan Thapa Led Nepali Congress Begins 15th General Convention Today With Over 7,000 Expected Representatives Amid Continuing Dispute With Deuba Faction
Australia Changes Student Visa Rules, With Many Current Student Visa Holders Now Required To Leave Australia, Apply From Overseas And Remain Outside Australia Until Their New Subclass 500 Student Visa Is Granted
Nepal’s government has proposed new restrictions on civil servants’ social media activities under the Federal Civil Service Bill, 2083, including limits on political comments and personal promotion of official government work. The bill also proposes restrictions on public statements that contradict government policy or harm relations between different levels of government, the public or foreign countries.
The Government of Nepal has introduced the Federal Civil Service Bill, 2083, proposing menstrual leave for female civil servants as part of broader reforms to government employment. The bill provides for nine categories of employee leave, although the exact duration, eligibility requirements and payment conditions for menstrual leave have not yet been confirmed.
Lawmakers have demanded that the government consider banning Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, arguing that the move could help bring hidden wealth into the banking system and control illegal money.
The Government of Nepal has approved several key decisions from the Cabinet meeting, including accepting USD 20.7 million in US government health assistance, allowing national forest land use for major infrastructure and security projects, and forwarding three important amendment bills to the Federal Parliament. The meeting also approved senior civil service promotions and announced plans to strengthen sports infrastructure and restart domestic leagues.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s government has completed six months in office, after beginning its term with a 100-point governance reform agenda covering administration, corruption control, public services, laws and the economy. At its first 100-day review, the government claimed 87.2% overall progress and said 70 of the 100 agenda items had been implemented, but six months into the term, several promised legal and institutional reforms remain unfinished.
The 81st United Nations General Assembly brought together world leaders who used the global platform to address climate change, peace, sovereignty, inequality and international cooperation. From Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s call for climate justice to leaders highlighting conflicts and global reforms, their speeches reflected the major challenges facing the world today.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah used his address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly to present Nepal’s Bhotekoshi–Trishuli disaster as a warning about the growing impact of climate change on Himalayan communities. He called for stronger global climate cooperation, a Nepal–India–China Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism, fair climate finance and a global system where vulnerable countries have a stronger voice.
Teen pornography exposure is rising in Nepal despite the country’s 2018 ban. Studies suggest more than half of Nepali adolescents and young people have viewed porn, while a smaller group show signs of problematic use. Experts and research point to early exposure, weak sexuality education, limited parent-child conversations, and growing online risks such as sextortion and image abuse.
Australia has announced new migration reforms that will stop most international students from bringing partners and children while studying. The changes will also tighten backpacker and visitor visa rules as the government moves to reduce temporary migration.
Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel Cuts Short Speech And Leaves With Security After Being Booed And Heckled At Curriculum Consultation In Siraha
Nepal will observe five consecutive significant days from September 4 to 8, beginning with Krishna Janmashtami and Gaura Parva, followed by the regular weekend, a national mourning day for Rasuwa flood victims, and Gen Z Martyrs’ Day. September 7 is a national mourning day, not a public holiday, while September 8 has been declared a nationwide public holiday.
Nepal cannot simply introduce the death penalty because Article 16(2) of the Constitution prohibits capital punishment. Nepal is also bound by the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, which commits the country to abolition. However, Nepal can still pursue stronger laws, better investigations, victim protection, prevention, and greater accountability within its legal framework.
Law Minister Sobita Gautam says Nepal cannot introduce the death penalty under its current constitutional and international legal framework, despite growing public demands following the Garima Chaudhary case. Instead, the government, following talks involving Home Minister Sudan Gurung, Gautam and Garima's parents, reached a three-point agreement that includes a seven-day review of laws and punishments for heinous crimes.
Nepal’s Cabinet has approved the Software Development and Operation Committee Formation Order, 2083, clearing the institutional path for a government mechanism intended to develop, operate and maintain software used by public agencies while strengthening state control over digital systems. The government sees the initiative as a way to improve security, ownership and digital independence, while parts of Nepal’s private IT industry have questioned whether the state should become a software developer instead of working with domestic technology companies.
Nepal's proposed National Supply Policy 2083 seeks tighter controls over the way essential food products such as rice, lentils and other grains reach consumers, alongside stronger quality testing, packaging, labeling and market monitoring measures. The wider draft also proposes reforms aimed at controlling artificial shortages, syndicates and unusual price increases, but the policy remains a draft and has not yet taken effect.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah signed performance agreements with ministers at Singha Durbar on August 19, setting key work and expected results for the current fiscal year around good governance, social justice and prosperity. The move puts ministers under clearer performance commitments as the government seeks more measurable results and stronger accountability.
Kathmandu Valley commuters can now use the KTM Public Transport app to see GPS-enabled buses in real time and estimate when they may reach their stop, with around 1,200 public vehicles reportedly connected to the system. The wider plan goes beyond tracking buses, with authorities also working toward GPS information displays at major stops, clearer pick-up/drop-off points, expanded night services and a future cashless fare system.
New Fair Work Commission Rules Give Food And Grocery Delivery Workers Stronger Pay And Safety Guarantees While Maintaining Gig Work Flexibility
Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle says Nepal must increase domestic revenue, expand the tax base and reduce dependence on loans under the Rs 2.124 trillion budget.
Nepali Congress faces a fresh leadership crisis as Gagan Thapa leads the Central Committee in Sanepa while Sher Bahadur Deuba returns to Nepal and is welcomed as president in Chundevi.
Nepal’s government has approved new guidelines requiring government offices and public bodies to standardize application formats, replacing the confusing system where citizens often need different styles of applications for different offices. The guidelines also require forms to be designed for digital use, including websites, QR codes, electronic forms and downloadable PDFs, while offices must provide free help to service seekers.
Nepal is preparing to introduce intraday trading and short selling, which could make NEPSE faster and more flexible. The reforms may create new opportunities, but also bring higher risks and bigger potential losses. For now, the systems are planned, not fully operational, and current NEPSE rules still apply.
Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police chief SSP Suresh Prasad Kafle has called for wider adoption of a technology-driven “faceless traffic” system, arguing that road deaths cannot be reduced through conventional roadside policing alone. He says Nepal needs to combine technology with better road engineering, traffic education and effective enforcement as reckless driving continues to put both offenders and rule-following road users at risk.
Nepal is preparing to purchase drone-supported and other non-lethal crowd-control equipment after four people were killed by police gunfire during recent tensions involving communities in Koshi and Madhesh provinces. Home Minister Sudhan Gurung says the planned system could use drones for tear-gas deployment, surveillance and public announcements, while command centres monitor developing situations and authorities strengthen barricades to reduce risks to people and critical infrastructure.
Infrastructure Development Committee Chairman Ashish Gajurel has instructed traffic police to improve the way they speak to and treat citizens while maintaining strict financial discipline, following complaints that some officers allegedly take money from traffic violators instead of issuing official tickets. He also stressed better technology, nationwide traffic awareness and stronger enforcement, while clarifying that proposed fines of Rs 100,000 to Rs 150,000 are only under discussion and have not been implemented.
House of Representatives Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal is moving to tighten parliamentary discipline, with lawmakers expected to follow formal or culturally appropriate dress standards, display the official parliamentary emblem and avoid unnecessarily leaving the chamber while meetings are underway. A further reported proposal would restrict dark sunglasses inside the chamber without a medical justification, as Parliament seeks to make proceedings more disciplined and professional.
Nurse Activist Jyoti Ranabhat Ends Hunger Strike After 19 Point Agreement With Government, Task Force To Set Pay And Benefits For Health Workers Within Six Months
Parliament Receives Long-Awaited Bill to Strengthen Passenger Rights, Airline Accountability, and Insurance Coverage
The Nepal Electricity Authority has established a high-level investigation committee to examine complaints surrounding transformer procurement, project implementation and other procurement decisions, with purchases made during the leadership of former Executive Directors Kulman Ghising and Hitendra Dev Shakya set to be reviewed.
As social media becomes a bigger part of everyday life, Nepal faces the challenge of protecting free expression while addressing cybercrime. This article examines how laws on hacking, online fraud, defamation, and privacy are applied through real cases and what they mean for ordinary internet users.
The Nepal government has proposed extending paid maternity leave from the current 98 days to six months through amendments to the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act. If approved by Parliament, the new provision would apply to women working in government, private and non-government sectors, with the proposal now open for public feedback before the legislative process moves forward.
Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has assured industrialists that the government is ready to review taxes and customs duties on raw materials and finished goods as part of a wider economic reform push.
Dhangadhi Mayor Gopal Hamal has warned that he is prepared to join a hunger strike and lead a wider movement if the government fails to begin MBBS classes and operate a 300-bed hospital at Geta during the current academic session.
Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle has assured Nepalis living abroad that the government remains committed to protecting their connection with Nepal. He invited the diaspora to contribute knowledge, capital and international networks to the country’s economic development.
