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Nepal’s first general election in 1959 was conducted without any international assistance or foreign observers. The country managed the polls independently, relying solely on domestic institutions for logistics, administration and oversight.

International involvement in Nepal’s elections began to take shape four decades later. A significant turning point came during the 1999 House of Representatives election, when around 100 international observers from the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Japan, the Netherlands and the United States monitored the voting process. The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) also deployed observers, marking one of the earliest instances of structured international monitoring in Nepal.

During the same period, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) supported voter education initiatives. Voter awareness booklets and election information materials were prepared and distributed through District Election Offices, and Radio Nepal aired 20 short voter education dramas. A British-supported organization, Election Awareness Campaign, printed 250,000 posters carrying voter awareness messages for the House of Representatives election scheduled for 1999, which was later postponed.

Following the People’s Movement of 2006 and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Seven-Party Alliance and the Maoists, Nepal formally sought United Nations assistance for the peace process and the planned Constituent Assembly elections. In 2008 Constituent Assembly (CA) elections, United Mission to Nepal (UNMIN) set up an election office. UNMIN supported the drafting of election-related laws, preparation of election management plans, voter registration, voter education, political party registration, media and campaign regulation, and training. Initially, 12 advisers were deployed; the mission later expanded to include up to 230 national and international personnel to assist with preparations for the election.

Nepal also received approximately Rs 1.9bn worth of election materials and equipment from various countries and donor agencies. Assistance included heavy printers, laptops, desktop computers, servers, mobile phones, vehicles, digital and video cameras, generators, solar systems, plastic ballot boxes and security seals. Major contributors included China, India, Australia, Denmark and Japan. Support also came from international organizations such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and National Democratic Institute. 

The Constituent Assembly, however, failed to draft a new constitution and was dissolved in 2012.

In 2013,  a second Constituent Assembly election was held and this time too, international assistance continued. A Media Center was established within the Election Commission with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under its Electoral Support Project (ESP). Japan provided election materials worth approximately JPY 14.9m through a project focused on capacity development and technical assistance. China supplied stationery and polling materials, including pens, markers, staplers, scissors, calculators and stamp pads. India provided 48 vehicles, including Mahindra double-cab pickups, Mahindra Scorpio jeeps and Tata mini trucks, to support logistics.

International monitoring also remained active. Organizations such as The Carter Center and ANFREL observed the polls. Assistance and observation support were also provided by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and the Asia Foundation.

The 2017 federal and provincial elections—the first held under the 2015 Constitution—also saw extensive international observation. The Carter Center, ANFREL and the European Union Election Observation Mission deployed observers across the country. UNDP’s Electoral Support Project, funded by the European Union, UKAID, Norway and Denmark, continued to strengthen the Election Commission’s institutional capacity, voter registration systems and operational planning.

In 2022, during the local, provincial and federal elections, international and domestic observation missions again monitored the process. ANFREL observed the polls, while domestic civil society groups such as Democracy Resource Center Nepal—supported by the Asia Foundation—conducted technical observation of electoral preparations, polling and counting. The UNDP’s Electoral Support Project continued providing technical assistance, including support for voter roll management, training and election planning.

International assistance has continued in the lead-up to the 2026 House of Representatives general election. The government of Japan allocated Rs 397.5m from counterpart funds under its Food Assistance Projects to support election management software updates, training of officials and voter education. China provided a grant of $4m to assist with election preparations but there are reports that China has imposed strict conditions for the expenditure of the money.

India has delivered election-related assistance in three tranches in early 2026. The third tranche included more than 270 vehicles, including 50 trucks for the Nepali Army, along with other supplies. The first two tranches, handed over in January 2026, included over 310 vehicles and additional materials. The assistance was formally handed over by the Indian Ambassador to Nepal’s Home Minister in Kathmandu. For the March 5 elections, the Carter Center, Asian Network for Free Elections, International Republican Institute and Multidisciplinary Institute of Training and Learning are observing the elections.

Nearly seven decades on, Nepal’s elections have evolved from a purely domestic exercise to a process regularly supported and monitored by international partners. While the 1959 election was conducted without foreign involvement, international logistical, technical, financial and monitoring support has become a consistent feature of Nepal’s electoral landscape since the late 1990s, particularly following the 2006 peace process and the country’s transition to a federal democratic republic.

Voter education program conducted by the Election Commission across the country with the objective of educating the importance of elections and the voting process and reducing invalid votes has been completed.

The Commission had conducted the voter education program in all 6,743 wards across the country. 

The voter education program which began on February 15 was completed on Sunday in all wards of 753 local levels across the country. 

Voter education volunteers were mobilized in every ward for the voter education program.

Election Commissioner Dr Janaki Kumari Tuladhar said that the program was completed through volunteers reaching out to voters at their doorsteps. 

She also praised the contribution of female community health volunteers, who made the targeted program successful.

Health volunteers have been given the responsibility to provide voter education since the 2079 BS general elections. 

For the purpose of the voter education program, the commission had also appointed the focal points at the local level, who served as monitors of the election voter education program and conducted orientation.

The government of Nepal has expressed deep concern over the evolving situation in the Middle East, saying that it is closely monitoring the developments. 

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, Nepal called on all sides to exercise maximum restraint amid rising regional tensions. 

The government emphasized that differences should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue rather than military action.

Furthermore, Nepal stressed that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected in line with the UN Charter and international law. 

Nepal underscored the need to uphold the rules-based international order and the responsibility to maintain global peace and security. 

Dust, mud and frequent traffic congestion have made daily travel along the Suryabinayak–Sanga road section increasingly difficult for commuters. Rohit Shrestha, 26 was travelling with his grandmother in a scooter when the tire slipped and they fell in the muddy road at Sanga. He said that the road has been in a very poor state for some time, but he hopes to see it being constructed soon. In the same way, local shopkeepers say dust has affected business and have caused health issues too due to dust, while commuters complain about traffic jams during peak hours.

Ranjana Siwakoti, a regular public bus commuter, says the ongoing road construction has made daily travel exhausting. She said it now takes around 15 to 20 minutes to reach Suryabinayak from Jagati—a short stretch that previously required far less time. According to her, traffic congestion, dusty conditions and uneven road surfaces have made the journey increasingly difficult for passengers.

These commuting challenges are largely due to the ongoing expansion of the 16-kilometer Suryabinayak–Dhulikhel section of the Araniko Highway, which began in January 2023. The project aims to widen the road into six lanes and has been divided into two sections—Suryabinayak–Sanga and Sanga–Dhulikhel. Progress in the Sanga–Dhulikhel stretch has been faster compared to the Suryabinayak–Sanga section.

Engineers say delays in the Suryabinayak–Sanga section were mainly due to house demolitions, relocation of utilities, intersection management and the dismantling of structures built against road setback rules.

Officials explained that a provision requiring space to be left while constructing houses was introduced in 1975 during the construction of the Araniko Highway. Houses built without following the protocol had to be removed, and since many were on private property, coordination with owners and authorities took additional time. Some structures still remain, requiring further coordination at different government levels. Authorities, however, say the project can meet its deadline if work continues at the current pace and resources are mobilized smoothly.

Currently, in the Suryabinayak–Sanga section, one lane is being layered with Cement Treated Base, which will be followed by a crack relief layer, Dense Bituminous Macadam and finally asphalt. According to Pradeep Tamang, engineer at the Department of Roads, work on the left lane has also been started from Suryabinayak. He added that currently, the project employs 110 human resources.

Tamang said there had been some budget-related issues in the past, but authorities are now providing additional funds. Rs 60m had been allocated for the current fiscal year, which was considered insufficient. The project has now requested an additional Rs 4bn to continue the work smoothly. He expressed hope that similar financial support will continue in the coming days to ensure steady progress of the project. He also acknowledged that local residents have faced several difficulties due to the construction work and said efforts are being made to complete the project smoothly and at a faster pace with the support of local authorities. He added that preparations are underway for the rainy season, noting that there are only three to four effective working months left for fiscal year 2025/26, and planning is being done accordingly.

According to Anju Pariyar, information officer at the Department of Roads, the Suryabinayak–Sanga section of the project was originally contracted on 8 March 2023, with a deadline of 7 March 2026, which was later extended to 13 March 2027 to accommodate delays. Similarly, the Sanga–Dhulikhel section, initially scheduled to be completed by 12 Dec 2025, was extended to Dec 2026 to allow for ongoing construction challenges.

Tamang said the team is prioritizing measures to reduce dust and mud, especially during the monsoon. Roads are being blacktopped as quickly as possible, and in sections where black topping cannot be completed on time, gravel will be laid to minimize dust and mud without damaging the existing pavement.

Pariyar said that bridges along the route will also be upgraded. “Three existing bridges within the 8-kilometer stretch—at Jagati, Mahadev Khola and Punya Mata Khola—will be redeveloped as part of the expansion,” she said. The work has been awarded under a separate contract to the Hindu Focus–Ramjanaki JV, following a design-and-build modality. Surveying and preparatory work are currently underway.

The 15.8-kilometer road expansion is being carried out under two separate contracts. Of the total stretch, the Suryabinayak–Sanga section has recorded partial progress, while the Sanga–Dhulikhel segment has achieved relatively higher physical progress. Lama Construction Company has been awarded the contract for the Sanga–Dhulikhel section of the road expansion project. Meanwhile, the Suryabinayak–Sanga section has been contracted to the Ashish–Kumar Shrestha–Bandan Bhagawati JV.

The project involves widening the 16-kilometer Suryabinayak–Dhulikhel section of the Araniko Highway into a six-lane road. The 7.5 kilometer Suryabinayak–Sanga stretch was awarded at a contract cost of Rs 3.8bn, while the 8.5 kilometre Sanga–Dhulikhel section was contracted for Rs 4.5bn. Despite financial constraints that caused delays, key infrastructure works such as retaining walls, drainage systems and culverts have already been completed.

Once the highway expansion is completed, the travel time from Kathmandu to Dhulikhel is expected to be reduced to approximately 30 minutes in total, significantly improving connectivity and easing traffic flow. Construction activities are currently ongoing in both sections. Meanwhile, 95 percent of retaining wall and drain construction has been completed. About two kilometres of the Sanga–Dhulikhel section has already been paved.

Overall, the Suryabinayak–Dhulikhel road expansion project has achieved around 45 percent physical development, with the Sanga–Dhulikhel section progressing faster than the Suryabinayak–Sanga stretch. Authorities say that, if work continues at the current pace and resources are mobilized effectively, the project can meet its target completion by deadline. If completed on time, the six-lane highway is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion, reduce travel time and improve safety for thousands of daily commuters.