Submit your Article

A few days ago, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) had announced plans to breach the restricted zone near the federal parliament, calling for a protest on Sunday to demand the reinstatement of the monarchy and the release of its detained leaders.

However, the protest failed to gather significant mass support. While the turnout on the streets was minimal, RPP lawmakers managed to stage a symbolic protest inside Singhadurbar, the federal government’s administrative complex. After a meeting at the party’s Parliamentary Party Office, they displayed handwritten pamphlets bearing various slogans.

Police detained RPP Chairperson Rajendra Lingden, Vice-chairperson Buddhiman Tamang, and Chief Whip Gyanendra Shahi from inside Singhadurbar. All three were released later in the evening.

Anticipating unrest following the party’s announcement to enter restricted areas, authorities had tightened security in Kathmandu. A large number of security personnel were deployed around designated restricted zones, including the area surrounding New Baneshwar.

Traffic in Kathmandu was severely disrupted after police barred vehicle movement in and around New Baneshwar. However, once the protest failed to gain traction, normal traffic resumed. The ongoing teachers’ protest, now in its second week, further exacerbated the traffic chaos.

Last week, during an executive committee meeting, Party Chair Lingden accused the government of curbing citizens’ fundamental rights by arbitrarily declaring areas as off-limits. “We are being pushed into a corner. That’s why we’ve decided to protest in restricted zones,” he said.

The RPP has also vowed to launch both legal and political campaigns demanding the unconditional release of party leaders Rabindra Mishra and Dhawal Shumsher Rana, who were arrested for allegedly inciting deadly violence on March 28. That incident claimed two lives and left over 100 injured, as arson and vandalism broke out in different parts of the capital.

In response to RPP’s threat to breach restricted areas, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a stern warning on Saturday night. “Legal action will be taken against anyone violating the law or inciting public disorder,” the ministry stated, adding that any activity promoting anarchy or undermining the constitution would not be tolerated. The ministry also urged the public to refrain from any “anarchic, provocative or illegal acts” that could lead to violence.

The government has declared the area surrounding the federal parliament in New Baneshwar—and several other locations across Kathmandu—as restricted zones.

Earlier, on April 8, RPP staged a protest assembly in Balkhu, a site designated by the government, reiterating its demand for a constitutional monarchy and the declaration of Nepal as a Hindu state.

The Nepal Teachers' Federation continued its protest in Kathmandu on Monday also demanding immediate enactment of the School Education Bill.

The teachers under the leadership of the Federation staged a demonstration in the Maitighar-Baneshwor area demanding the endorsement of the School Education Bill pronto.

As a result, traffic went haywire in various places of Kathmandu including Baneshwor, Thapagaun and Anamnagar, causing inconveniences to school, college students and office workers who commute daily.

The teachers said that they would continue the protests until their demands are met.  

Due to the teachers’ protest, teaching and learning activities across the country have been affected.

They have been staging protests in Kathmandu for the past 20 days.

Israeli forces kill 31 people in Gaza and two others in Lebanon, as US forces bomb a popular market in Yemen, killing at least 12 people.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) rejects the findings of an Israeli military investigation into the deaths of 15 emergency workers last month, calling for an independent UN inquiry, Al Jazeera reported.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, Israel's war on Gaza has killed at least 51,201 Palestinians and injured 116,869 others since it began 18 months ago.

The Gaza Government Media Office raised the death toll to nearly 61,700, stating thousands of individuals missing under the rubble are assumed dead. At least 1,139 individuals were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led strikes on October 7, 2023, and more than 200 were taken captive.

The price of gold has reached an all-time high in the domestic market on Monday, setting a new historical record.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Traders, the price of gold has increased by Rs 400 per tola to reach Rs 191, 000 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 190, 600 per tola on Tuesday.

The price of silver, however, remained stable and is being traded at Rs 1, 960 per tola.

Nepali media personality and model Bibhusha Basnet has been appointed the brand ambassador of Nepal Kabaddi for a year, as the country prepares to host its first-ever Women’s Kabaddi Test Series. Taking on the role with pride, Basnet expressed her commitment to promoting the sport: “I hope to play a meaningful role in the development and promotion of kabaddi in Nepal. This is an exciting opportunity to support a sport that is rapidly growing and achieving great things.”

The All Nepal Kabaddi Association (ANKA) announced a five-day bilateral test series between Nepal and Bangladesh will take place from April 20 to 26 at the Taekwondo Covered Hall in Satdobato, Lalitpur. This marks the first time Nepal’s national women’s team will compete in an international kabaddi test series.

At a press conference in Kathmandu, ANKA General Secretary Arvind Kumar Jha highlighted that the event is part of a broader collaboration with the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation, under which the two nations will host three test series annually. “This initiative aims to bring test-format kabaddi to the international stage,” Jha said, adding that Bangladesh’s women’s team is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu on Saturday.

Nepal’s women’s kabaddi team, currently ranked third in the world, is also gearing up for the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup to be held in India from June 1 to 13. The team won a bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou and has been in closed training at Mulpani for the past two years, alongside the men’s team.

Singers Shirish Devkota and Samikshya Adhikari have come together for a new folk duet titled Goli Baruda, which was officially released Saturday. The song’s music video premiered on Devkota’s official YouTube channel. With lyrics and music composed by Devkota himself, the song is arranged by Sunil Pariyar. Recording was handled by Suman and Khuman Rana, while Kumar Rana took care of the mixing and mastering.

The music video stars Shirish Devkota alongside Geeta Dhungana in lead roles, with direction and choreography by Jerry Bhandari.

Following the enforcement of the National Education System in 1971, education gained immense importance in Nepali society. Higher education became a marker of success, and parents began prioritizing their children’s schooling, viewing it as a means to “kindle light in the darkness.” However, the rise of educated unemployment, the migration of skilled youth abroad, and the declining value of degrees have raised serious concerns about Nepal’s education quality.

As Chaitanya Mishra highlights in his article ‘Education Institutions and Educational Politics’, Nepali education remains rigidly formal, disconnected from individual lives and societal needs. When education is reduced to mere certificates, it fails to unlock human potential or empower people to live meaningful lives.

There are countless examples of individuals without formal education outperforming their degreed peers financially. This begs the question: Does formal education truly matter? Nepal’s education system often neglects practicality, focusing on academic credentials rather than life skills essential for career success.

Education is the state’s most crucial responsibility toward its citizens. While Nepal’s Constitution guarantees free primary education, over 75 percent of families still pay (directly or indirectly), widening the gap between private and public institutions. Accessibility alone is not enough—education must also be practical, adaptable, and high-quality.

The curriculum is designed as if students must master everything at once, leaving no room for exploration beyond textbooks. There’s also a misconception that educated individuals must hold “high-level” jobs, when education should instead cultivate better attitudes and understanding. This mindset restricts career freedom. Politicization and privatization further plague the system. Student and teacher unions should advocate for better education quality, but instead, they’ve become tools for political power struggles. Meanwhile, privatization has commercialized education, turning it into a certificate race rather than a means of real learning. Unsurprisingly, the value of the SEE (Secondary Education Examination) has plummeted over the past decade.

Manish Lamichhane

BA LLB, 8th Semester

Nepal Law Campus

Digital literacy is the ability to use digital technologies meaningfully, which includes accessing, evaluating, and navigating online information. According to one scholar, being digitally literate means knowing how to use technology responsibly.

Today’s interconnected world allows us to communicate with anyone, anywhere, using digital devices. Individuals can access vast amounts of information from the comfort of their homes in seconds. This connectivity and ease of access have also contributed to career advancement.

Despite its undeniable advantages, digital literacy comes with pitfalls. For instance, not all the information we consume daily is accurate—fake news and dis/misinformation have become major global challenges. Cybersecurity and data privacy risks are also growing concerns.

One prevalent example is social media. Researchers have found that excessive social media use among young people can hinder their holistic development. From early morning until late at night, many spend most of their time on their phones. In a study conducted at St. Xavier’s College, a lecturer asked students to track their digital usage. The results revealed that some students spent up to nine or ten hours daily on digital tools, with some admitting to gaming until 3 AM and sleeping only four hours or less—a clear sign of lacking digital awareness.

Similarly, a World Health Organization study found that over one in ten adolescents (11 percent) exhibit problematic social media behavior. Surprisingly, girls were more affected (13 percent) than boys (nine percent).

Mental health issues, educational distractions, and physical health concerns are other rising problems linked to digital overuse. Therefore, digital literacy is essential—it empowers individuals to use technology consciously and effectively, protecting them from misuse or overuse. This is a call for digital awareness: it’s not just about having digital skills but recognizing the urgent need to use them wisely.

Shelina Bal 

St Xavier’s College, Maitighar