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Dhawal Shamsher Rana, who recently split from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), and Durga Prasai, coordinator of the Nation, Nationality, Religion-Culture, and Citizens Protection Campaign, have officially signed an 11-point agreement to form a new political party. The two leaders finalized the deal on Friday, stating that the new democratic and nationalist political force is essential to launch a powerful movement for reinstating a constitutional monarchy in Nepal.

Guided by a nationalist philosophy rooted in the historical teachings (Divya Upadesh) of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the party intends to establish a nationalist front that restores a Hindu kingdom while fully integrating Vedic Sanatan, Kirat, and Buddhist traditions.

The agreement also outlines a shared commitment to several key policy shifts, most notably a push for reform-oriented federalism and a "Once a Nepali, Always a Nepali" stance that advocates for dual citizenship rights for non-resident Nepalis. Additionally, the new alliance plans to address pressing socio-economic grievances, including the issues faced by landless individuals and victims impacted by cooperatives, microfinances, and banks.

Moving forward, Rana and Prasai have stated they will actively collaborate with other like-minded political parties, grassroots movements, organizations, and independent public figures to officially launch and announce the name and structure of the new political party in the near future.

In a historic shift from traditional political patronage, nearly 3,000 individuals have applied for ambassadorial positions after the government opened the appointment process to public competition for the first time. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) called for applications between May 28 and June 5, receiving a massive volume of submissions via online portals, email, and physical drop-offs.

The openings arose after the previous administration under Sushila Karki recalled ambassadors from 10 countries, and the subsequent government led by Balendra Shah officially dismissed remaining political appointees. Nepal maintains 34 embassies worldwide—split equally between career diplomats and political appointees—and 17 of these posts are currently vacant. The government explicitly specified 13 of these countries for the competitive process while allowing applicants to list other preferences.

According to Ministry sources, the initial count appears high due to duplicate submissions and third-party recommendations, meaning the official number of unique candidates will be finalized after thorough data verification. Moving forward, MoFA will screen applicants based on strict criteria set by the 'Guidelines Related to the Appointment of Ambassadors, 2018'. To qualify, candidates must be Nepali citizens aged 35 or older, hold at least a bachelor's degree, and possess a clean criminal record with no foreign residency status like a PR or Green Card. They must also demonstrate expertise in foreign policy or international relations and maintain an excellent command of English.

Qualified shortlists will be forwarded to the Cabinet, and selected individuals will undergo a mandatory parliamentary hearing. Upon receiving the formal presidential appointment, the new ambassadors must sign a strict performance agreement with MoFA before departing for their overseas missions.

Senior advocate Jagadish Dahal, a member of the Supreme Court Bar with nearly three decades of experience in corporate law, says the recent appointment of the Chief Justice, despite bypassing the traditional seniority line, remains constitutionally valid and legally sound. In this interview with ApEx, Dahal discusses the constitutional basis of the appointment, the debate surrounding judicial seniority, speculation over possible resignations by senior justices, concerns about political influence in the judiciary, and the challenges facing the new Chief Justice in leading judicial reform and restoring public trust. Excerpts:

What is your view on the recent Chief Justice appointment, where the seniority line was bypassed?

If we look at the past—particularly before 1990, during the monarchy—the state followed a “pick-and-choose” approach. The King could appoint any Supreme Court justice deemed suitable for the position of Chief Justice. However, after the restoration of democracy and the promulgation of the 1990 Constitution, the seniority system was strictly followed. Until now, no lower-ranked justice had been appointed by bypassing more senior judges. That is precisely why this decision has generated so much debate, scrutiny, and mixed reaction in the media.

If we examine the Constitution and the law, the Judicial Council may recommend any eligible permanent Supreme Court justice who has completed at least three years of service. From a purely constitutional standpoint, the newly appointed Chief Justice fulfilled these requirements.

The Judicial Council, chaired by the sitting or acting Chief Justice, forwarded a list of eligible candidates to the Constitutional Council. The Constitutional Council then assessed those candidates based on experience, competence, decision-making ability, and professional integrity. It selected the individual it believed was best suited to lead the judiciary for the designated term. Since the recommendation was unanimously endorsed by the Parliamentary Hearing Committee and formally appointed by the President, any continuing public debate over “who should or should not have been chosen” no longer holds practical relevance. We should now move forward with optimism, extend our congratulations, and hope the new leadership guides the judiciary in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution.

Has this happened before since 1990? What precedent does it set?

No. Since 1990, there has been no precedent for intentionally bypassing the seniority roll in the appointment of a Chief Justice. There have been rare instances in which a senior justice passed away, allowing someone lower in the order to assume the role earlier than expected. However, deliberately altering the sequence while senior justices were still serving has not occurred in our democratic history.

That said, once the Judicial Council submits a list of eligible sitting justices to the Constitutional Council, the latter has the authority to select the most suitable candidate from among them. Therefore, claiming that this appointment is unconstitutional, illegal, or invalid simply because the seniority order was altered is baseless. The process complied with constitutional procedures, followed the law, and was carried out through proper institutional channels.

This appointment certainly establishes a precedent that any sitting Supreme Court justice who meets the constitutional criteria may be recommended and appointed if the state and Parliament consider them the most capable candidate. We should not automatically view this as a negative precedent. It may instead reflect an adaptation to the demands of the time. Rather than anticipating adverse consequences, we should hope for a positive impact on the judiciary’s performance.

Should the bypassed senior justices quit?

I have seen media reports and heard speculation that the senior justices might resign. There are also rumors that the new Chief Justice may sideline them by withholding bench assignments, or that they are being targeted because they were appointed under different political circumstances.

I do not believe they will resign, nor do I think they should. There is no constitutional or legal mechanism that could compel them to resign. Furthermore, I do not expect the new Chief Justice to harbor any hostility toward them. He will assign them benches, seek their cooperation, and accord them the respect they deserve. A capable leader manages the judiciary by fostering collaboration and maintaining institutional harmony, and I believe the current Chief Justice has the acumen to preserve a dignified and cooperative environment among all justices.

Could a strong government influence CJ?

When the Constituent Assembly drafted and promulgated the 2015 Constitution, it designed the terms of Parliament, the Prime Minister, and the Chief Justice by drawing from global parliamentary practices while adapting them to Nepal’s unique context.

We should not prematurely assume that a majority government—even one approaching a two-thirds majority—will necessarily complete a full five-year term without disruption, or that a particular Prime Minister or party will remain politically unchallenged. Nepal’s parliamentary history, the instability of previous governments, and the influence of geopolitics on domestic affairs all remind us that politics can change unexpectedly.

While the Constitution envisions full institutional terms, and we naturally hope both the executive and judiciary complete their mandates without interruption, history shows that unforeseen crises can and do arise. We have seen Chief Justices resign under pressure, and majority governments dissolve Parliament and call snap elections.

When we consider the changing nature of society, the younger generation’s growing aspirations, and the political shifts that brought the current government to power, it is clear that citizens are impatient for change. Given Nepal’s limited resources and broader global economic pressures, maintaining complete stability is always difficult. Therefore, rather than speculating about political influence or guaranteed timelines, we should hope that every organ of the state fulfills its constitutional responsibilities independently and successfully completes its tenure.

Can the new Chief Justice build a fair and controversy-free judiciary?

It is still too early to fully assess the new Chief Justice’s leadership or predict the trajectory of his tenure. However, he is undoubtedly regarded as a highly scholarly, capable, and competent judge. Since his appointment to the Supreme Court, his performance has been strong and largely free from controversy. He distinguished himself through his work as a justice, which is precisely why the state selected him for this leadership role.

Leading the entire judiciary and overseeing appointments across the Supreme Court, high courts, and district courts is undoubtedly a monumental challenge. The judiciary has struggled for long with case backlogs, institutional inefficiencies, and political scrutiny. Nevertheless, given his clean record and legal expertise, it is entirely possible that he could steer the institution toward a more transparent and merit-based future.

If he maintains the same integrity he demonstrated as a justice and resists external political pressure, establishing a fairer and less controversial judiciary is well within reach. What is most important now is to give him the time and institutional support necessary to prove his leadership.

Embattled CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli has made a fiercely defiant public comeback, drawing a line in the sand against critics both inside and outside his party. Speaking at a program, Oli explicitly rejected any notion of stepping down, mockingly stating he did not take the job just to drop his bag and run away when the going got tough.
This defensive rhetoric is a direct response to a simmering, unprecedented debate inside the CPN-UML regarding leadership transition and accountability. While Oli has long maintained an absolute grip on the party machinery, recent political catastrophes have severely cracked that facade. In the wake of the party’s historic drubbing in the March 2026 general elections, younger leaders and reformist factions within the UML have quietly—and some overtly—begun demanding a generational shift.
These critics argue that the political landscape has permanently veered toward younger, anti-establishment forces, and they worry that retaining an old guard heavily associated with the status quo will relegate the UML to political irrelevance. To counter this, Oli is invoking his democratic mandate from the party's recent convention, framing any push for his resignation as political opportunism and signaling to internal rivals that the party’s lawful constitutional procedures will not be bypassed for a quick coup.
Oli further stated that he did not become the chairman to abandon the leadership during difficult circumstances.
“You chose me as the chairman in mid-December. It wasn’t meant for me to step forward eagerly to secure the Prime Minister’s post when things are easy and the environment is favorable, only to drop my bag and run away when difficult situations arise,” Oli said. Oli stated that he would only take his leave after leading the party to success.
Over the past few weeks, there is growing pressure on Oli to step down as prime minister. Senior party leaders except few are urging him to resign stating that the party cannot move ahead under his leadership.

Approximately 80,000 children across Nepal participated in a tree-planting initiative on World Environment Day under the nationwide campaign “One Child, One Tree.” The initiative was led by the World Vision International Nepal in collaboration with local governments, schools, and community stakeholders.

The campaign was conducted across 46 municipalities in 17 districts, spanning various ecological regions including the hills, mountains, and the Terai plains. Participating districts included Udayapur, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Rautahat, Sindhuli, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Lamjung, Jumla, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Achham, Doti, Dailekh, Jajarkot, Banke, and Bajhang.

According to organizers, children planted thousands of saplings—including fruit-bearing and locally suitable species such as mango, litchi, guava, and orange—in schools, residential areas, communities, and ward offices. The initiative also recorded the participation of 573 children with disabilities.

The implementation of the campaign involved coordinated schedules throughout the day, supported by local governments, schools, community forest groups, families, and 27 local implementing partner organizations.

To support the survival and growth of the saplings, the organizers stated that they are working with families and local stakeholders to provide follow-up care, including the distribution of organic fertilizers.

Prakash Tiwari, Associate Director of Technical Programmes and Head of Resilience & Livelihoods at World Vision International Nepal, stated that the campaign aims to address environmental degradation and climate change by fostering environmental awareness and responsibility among youth. Roslyn Hanson Gabriel, National Director of World Vision International Nepal, concluded that the successful execution of the project highlights the impact of integrated planning and cross-community collaboration in addressing environmental challenges through youth engagement.

Local government representatives and educators noted both the environmental and educational aspects of the initiative.

Dip Narayan Mandal, Chairperson of Ekdara Rural Municipality, remarked that the distribution of fruit saplings like mango and litchi serves to promote conservation while supporting future food security and nutrition. Ram Ishwor Mandal, Principal of Rastriya Basic School in Baheda, added that providing fruit saplings integrates practical environmental education into the school system.

Similarly, Yagya Prashad Neupane, Ward Chair of Tikapur-7, highlighted that the activities encourage children to understand environmental protection from an early age.

Children and parents from various districts expressed their engagement with the program. Young participants, including Roshani Yadav (8), Gautam Sah (14), Vivisha Chaudhary, Astha RC, Shruti Bhandari, and Elisa, shared their intentions to care for the saplings they received and noted that the experience increased their interest in nature.

Basmati Budha, a 34-year-old parent from Jumla, observed that the hands-on event allowed children to gain practical environmental knowledge and take a leadership role in field activities.

The government is going to promote Nepal as a destination for 'wellness tourism' in the international tourism market.

Presenting the annual estimates (budget) of revenue and expenditure for the fiscal year 2026/27 in the joint house of the federal parliament today, Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle said that the government has given high priority to the development of the tourism sector.

Accordingly, financial incentives will be given for the construction of luxury resorts and hotels to promote tourism.

He also mentioned that the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal will be restructured within mid-January next year to improve Nepal's position in the European Union's aviation safety list. The CAAN will be divided into separate regulatory and licensing bodies.

The Finance Minister said that the Lumbini-Muktinath religious road, Shaligram road and meditation/yoga center will be developed. He mentioned that the government has set a goal to integrate yoga, meditation, spiritual practices as well as Buddhist and Vedic philosophy. This will help introduce the Himalayan cultural experience to the world.

The government has forwarded a plan to set up a sovereign wealth fund by utilizing foreign currency reserves.

Presenting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, 2026/27 in the joint meeting of the federal parliament today, Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle said that artificial intelligence (AI), clean energy, digital infrastructures and financial sector reform were in government priority. A strategic plan is afoot to develop Nepal as a regional technical hub, he shared.

The climate fund would be utilized to the extent possible while diaspora bond and clean energy bond shall be issued, he said, adding that establishment of an AI factory was another scheme.

In order to curb exchange risk associated with foreign loan or investment, a hedging service would be launched next year, according to him.

Utmost efforts would be made to lift Nepal out of the grey list; a favorable atmosphere would be created to improve credit sovereign credit rating.

Moreover, the government is for increasing government funds in Rastriya Banijya Bank under the reform of corporation/authorities, while Nepal Airlines would be transformed into a company and run in a partnership model.

As per the budget speech, the government issued shares of Rastriya Jeevan Bima Company and Bishal Bazar Company to the general public. Keeping 66 percent of its share to the government, remaining shares would be sold to the general public within mid-January next year. The amount generated from it would be spent to make Nepal a tech hub.

Foreign investment would be open for expansion of IT and a clear legal provision for remote work- from Nepal to the foreign companies. IT software to be used in government services will be purchased from the same agency, according to Minister Wagle.

The finance minister further announced that a fintech marketplace would be established under Nepal Rastra Bank's supervision as part of digital public infrastructures. Dozens of government services would be linked to Nagarik App.

The budget further mentioned the establishment of a sovereign AI compute center for the first time in Nepal. With this numerous AI industrialists and startups would be provided computing at a subsidized rate by purchasing thousands of AI processing units.

Dr Wagle also announced that at least 15 Nepali researchers working in internationally acclaimed AI companies would be provided fellowships in a bid to contribute to Nepal. 

AI-related education including mathematics is accorded utmost priority by the government as the Minister shared through budget speech.

The government is set to proceed with the restructuring of the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE).

Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle said so while presenting the budget for fiscal year 2083/ 84.