Submit your Article

Nepal is rich in biodiversity represented by 118 ecosystem types. In a span of 800 km by 200 km, diverse arrays of wildlife species have been recorded. However, many of these components of biodiversity are facing existential crises, most of them due to anthropogenic influences. Amphibians are one such group of species, which are experiencing such threats. Some charismatic species such as tiger, rhino and snow leopard have received privileged treatment while the ‘non-charismatic’ species such as amphibians are shrouded in shadow.

All three types of amphibians are found in Nepal, namely frogs, salamanders and caecilians. There are six families of frogs in Nepal that includes 57 species. However, lack of studies about amphibians means scant information is available about their distribution. 

Environmental conditions like temperature, soil moisture and rainfall determine the occurrence of amphibians and the richness of their habitats. Amphibians prefer agricultural land, grassland, forestland and wetlands. 

Besides, amphibians play significant roles in the ecosystem by acting as both prey and predator. They keep pests like mosquitoes under control, help maintain the quality of water, contribute to crop yields and public health. 

Despite such an important role, these ‘non-charismatic’ species are not the focus of our conservation efforts.

Frogs are on the decline, due mainly to habitat degradation, conversion of wetlands to wasteland and a belief that they have certain medical values, a reason behind their consumption. Unplanned urbanization has become a major cause in developing countries like Nepal behind a shrinking habitat. 

A study has shown a significant relation between the roads and the occurrence of frog species in the Kathmandu Valley. Enhancing developmental activities like construction of road and other infrastructure could result in biodiversity loss, pushing the amphibian species on the verge of extinction. Furthermore, it is not a good practice to encourage students to use thousands of species killed annually for the purpose of dissecting frogs as a sample in practical courses.

To draw attention toward the poor status of frogs, Environment Protection and Study Center (ENPROSC) and Companions for Amphibians and Reptile for Nepal (CARON) initiated a program titled crocking monsoon in 2013, followed in 2019 by a citizen science-based approach with Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN), which has again highlighted a poor status of these creatures. 

Notably, this program started frog surveys across the country during the Covid pandemic with the aim of raising public awareness on the species, conducting research and identifying the species. 

This program mobilized volunteers across all seven provinces and 51 districts as citizen scientists, who, as district representatives, collected information (photos, videos) about frogs that used to be found in their respective localities. 

The year 2020 saw the submission of 1300 individual submissions of frog species using kobo collect application, followed by 1000 submissions in 2021. 

There’s a dominant mindset that only larger species deserve conservation, meaning that even governments across the world, including in Nepal, think that ‘non-charismatic’ species are not worthy of conservation. 

This program dedicated to ‘non-charismatic’ species, like several such conservation programs around the world, is in crisis for want of economic support. 

In this context, March 20 is an important date to remind the whole world of the need to conserve ‘non-charismatic’ species like frogs. Different stakeholders, including NGOs, organize awareness programs at different schools on the World Frog Day to raise awareness on the importance of frogs with a hope that those behind the decimation of the species will transform themselves into conservationists one day.

Summing up, tailored conservation approaches are necessary for sustainable conservation of amphibians. In our context, how about changing the syllabi suggesting amphibian species for dissection and exploring other alternatives?

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Nepal has launched the Insurance and Risk Finance Initiative for Nepal.

It is part of UNDP's global initiative, the Insurance and Risk Finance Facility (IRFF), which is being implemented in over thirty countries. This initiative seeks to prioritize financial resilience by tapping into the benefits of insurance and risk financing mechanisms, the UNDP Nepal stated in a press release.

During the launching event held on March19, the Country Diagnostic Report was unveiled by Dr Ram Prasad Ghimire, Revenue Secretary of the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Anil Pokhrel, Chief Executive Officer of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), and UNDP's Resident Representative, Ms. Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labé.

The Report states that Nepal's disaster landscape is impacted by earthquakes, floods, landslides, and droughts, which collectively have caused almost USD 7 billion in damages from 1980 to 2020. These disasters have affected the country's capacity to build financial resilience in the face of looming disasters.

The Government of Nepal has spent Rs 50 billion (0.4 billion USD) between 2012 and 2020 in disaster response and recovery. The expenditure data indicates that this is not financially sustainable in the long run, which demands the development of risk transfer solutions.

The diagnostic highlighted that Nepal is one of the top 10 countries most affected by climate change and is highly vulnerable to floods, landslides, earthquakes, and droughts. The report also showcases that the Government of Nepal is committed to fostering the insurance industry's ability to provide accessible and affordable insurance products, as evidenced by recent legal updates such as the Insurance Act 2079, which contains several microinsurance provisions.

While credit-life microinsurance and agriculture insurance offer financial protection to low-income and vulnerable Nepali households, the overall inclusive insurance market is still lagging due to low awareness about insurance and data gaps that prevent insurance companies from offering products that meet the needs of customers.

Dr Ram Prasad Ghimire, Revenue Secretary at MoF, reiterated the government's commitment to delivering risk finance solutions, mentioning that the government has already initiated the development of a Risk Management Framework.

Anil Pokharel, CEO of NDRRMA, highlighted the importance of collaboration between the government, development partners, and the private sector to address increasingly frequent and complex climate and disaster risks.

Meanwhile, Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labé, UNDP Resident Representative, stated, "Insurance and risk financing are among the solutions that can contribute to strengthening a comprehensive risk management approach for any country and community. We need to tap into the insurance market opportunities, leaving no one behind."

The Initiative will work closely with government partners such as the Ministry of Finance, Nepal Insurance Authority and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority to improve the legal and regulatory environment for insurance to be better incorporated in risk management priorities and actions.

It will also work with the insurance industry to identify the financial protection, needs of vulnerable groups such as women, farmers and businesses and facilitate the offer of customer-centric insurance products. UNDP will work more broadly with other development actors also pushing for financial resilience to further advocate and make the case for insurance as a key ingredient in managing shocks and fast-tracking recovery.

Nepali leaders frequently express concern about the perils to Nepali democracy from unidentified sources, yet none have explicitly articulated the basis for their apprehension. The political maneuvers diverge from reality, and Nepali people are sick and tired of the leaders from all the political parties, who are still imposing conspiracy theories regarding democracy in Nepal. These leaders persist in imposing outdated notions of political stunts, despite a transformative shift marked by the overthrow of Narayanhiti Palace and the establishment of a new democratic order. The question remains: Why do these self-proclaimed democratic leaders persistently ‘invoke’ threats to our democracy and the rule of law?

These leaders have failed to steer the country with democratic norms and values. Despite Nepal officially discarding the monarchical and autocratic political system and enacting a new constitution in 2015, political leaders have not rekindled their commitment to democratic principles, remaining out of sync with them. Huq and Ginsburg argue that democracy devoid of democrats poses a distinct ethical dilemma, where unelected actors must decide between honoring the preferences of current voters or enabling future voters to make a meaningful democratic choice (2020). Nepal is a stark illustration, with rejected political leaders continuing to influence decision-making processes and governing bodies. The recent appointment of Krishna Prasad Situala to the upper house reflects a non-democratic trend and disregard for the people's mandate. The government appears more focused on retaining power than fortifying democratic institutions and principles, leading to power imbalances among coalition partners and neglect of the voters' mandate.

Nepali voters still grapple with illiteracy, facing challenges in comprehending democratic values and institutional development. Rather than safeguarding democracy, political parties and their leaders exploit this situation as an opportunity to seize power. These self-centric leaders neglect investing resources and efforts in voter education, opting instead to manipulate power through intimidation and vote buying. Presence of corrupt and unethical leaders poses a significant threat to the progress of democratic institutions and the empowerment of the people. Additionally, leaders across the political spectrum resort to deploying various political tactics to attract voters, often falling short of transparency and honesty. For instance, Nepal’s social welfare program, aiming to provide financial support to the elderly, has drawn criticism from experts. This initiative was implemented without sufficient public discourse and research on its potential outcomes and sustainability.

The prevalence of financial and policy-level corruption in Nepal is alarmingly high. Political parties and their supporters engage in substantial financial expenditures during elections, emerging as a primary catalyst for political corruption. Parties and their leaders frequently misappropriate development budgets intended for societal progress to fund costly election campaigns and appease their constituents. Moreover, a disturbing trend in corruption cases implicates high-ranking political figures. Examples include Nepali Congress leader and former minister Bal Krishna Khad, CPN-UML leader Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara, and former finance minister Janardhan Sharma, all directly implicated in various corruption-related incidents. This poses a significant threat to Nepali democracy, the rule of law, and the moral fabric of society.

In his book “The End of History and the Last Man,” Francis Fukuyama posits that liberal democracy, characterized by a focus on human rights, regular and free elections, and adherence to the rule of law, represents the ultimate stage in the evolution of human history. According to Fukuyama, the path to success for underdeveloped countries involves embracing freer markets and globalization. However, Nepal lacks the foundational tenets of democracy, such as freedom, human rights, and the rule of law.

The 2022 index from Freedom House reveals that Nepal is classified as partly free, scoring 57 out of 100 on the global freedom index. 

Nepal performs poorly in preventing corruption, government transparency, ensuring due process in civil and criminal matters, implementing equal treatment policies, safeguarding individual rights to equal opportunity, and preserving freedom. The government has fallen short of upholding democratic norms and principles for its people. In the light of these shortcomings, the question arises: Why do leaders persistently claim that democracy is under threat, even when they are in power?

The straightforward explanation lies in their apprehension of facing repercussions from the public due to their inability to govern with integrity and uphold the rule of law. Their anxiety is also fueled by the deceptive pledges they have made. Although Nepal theoretically operates as a democratic republic, its leaders often resort to autocratic practices, posing a more significant threat to democracy and the rule of law than external factors. Shifting blame toward foreign entities and passive political interest groups won’t contribute to political stability. It is the responsibility of political parties to fortify democratic institutions and principles, fostering peace and prosperity in Nepal. The primary threat to democracy originates from within the political parties, and their ineffective governance should not be attributed to unidentified elements.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s sole responsibility and do not reflect the views of any organization with which the author is professionally affiliated

Embracing the theme ‘Close the Care Gap’, humanity marked World Cancer Day on Feb 4, sending a grim reminder to Nepal, which finds itself at a critical juncture in the fight against cancer. Cancer stands as a main cause of mortality worldwide, contributing to almost 10m deaths in the year 2020, equating to nearly one in six fatalities. The latest statistics reveal a sobering reality, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness, improved healthcare infrastructure and collaborative efforts to combat this stubborn disease.

Nepal’s cancer landscape

Nepal, which has a population of around 30m, reported 22,008 new cancer cases in 2022. Among these, 9,792 cases affected males, while 12,216 cases impacted females. This alarming figure highlights the widespread impact of cancer on individuals and communities. The age-standardized incidence rate of 81.6 underscores the urgency of addressing the factors contributing to the rising incidence of cancer.

Top cancers and their impact

The top three leading cancers in Nepal, categorized by gender, reveal distinct patterns in the prevalence of the disease. Among males, lung cancer takes the forefront, followed by stomach and lip, oral cavity cancers. In contrast, females grapple predominantly with breast cancer, followed by cervix uteri and lung cancers. When considering both sexes collectively, lung cancer maintains its prominence, with breast and cervix uteri cancers following closely. These statistics highlight the need for gender-specific awareness campaigns, early detection initiatives and targeted healthcare interventions to address the unique challenges posed by different types of cancer in both men and women. These cancers not only affect the physical well-being of individuals but also carry a substantial emotional and economic burden for individual families and the society.

Losses and lessons: 14,704 lives lost

Tragically, 14,704 lives were lost to cancer in 2022, with lung cancer claiming the top spot. The breakdown by gender reveals that 6,936 males and 7,768 females succumbed to the devastating impact of cancer. Among males, lung cancer stands as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, accounting for a significant 15.6 percent of the mortality rate, whereas lung cancer holds the third position among females, contributing to 7.4 percent of cancer-related deaths. The age-standardized mortality rate of 55.3 signals the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to improve cancer care, early detection and treatment outcomes.

A complex tapestry

The risk factors for cancer and other non-communicable diseases encompass tobacco use, alcohol consumption, an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and exposure to air pollution. A study on the burden and risk factors of cancer suggests that roughly 50 percent of global cancer deaths can potentially be prevented. It is crucial to distinguish risk factors such as smoking and alcohol use from others. Various research studies indicate that a significant 90 percent of lung cancers worldwide are attributable to smoking and tobacco consumption. Cigarette and tobacco smoke emit over seven thousand chemicals, including nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, lead, benzopyrene, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia and nitrosamines. Among these compounds, a minimum of 250 are identified as harmful, with at least 69 of them having the potential to cause cancer. Studies have shown that smoking as well as smokeless tobacco causes mouth, lip, throat, lung and esophagus cancer apart from more than 25 fatal diseases like heart disease, chronic respiratory obstruction and asthma. Research has shown that tobacco causes 20 types of cancer. Smoking can cause cancer in any part of the body. Tobacco use causes cancer of the mouth and throat, esophagus, stomach, bowel, rectum, liver, pancreas, voicebox (throat), trachea, bronchus, kidney, bladder and uterus.

A cancer-free future

In the pursuit of a cancer-free future for Nepal, a multifaceted approach is essential, encompassing key initiatives that address prevention, early detection, treatment, and palliative care forming integral components. Acknowledging that 30-50 percent of cancers are preventable, emphasis is placed on lifestyle choices, including avoiding tobacco and alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, regular physical activity and a balanced diet. Vaccination against viruses such as HPV and hepatitis B, especially for high-risk groups, adds a crucial layer to preventive measures. 

Early detection, facilitated through awareness, clinical evaluation and timely referrals, significantly enhances the chances of successful treatment and lower morbidity. Screening programs, though effective, require substantial resources. Tailored treatment incorporating surgery, radiotherapy and systemic therapy is pivotal in achieving therapeutic goals, including cure and prolonged life. However, the global availability of comprehensive treatment remains uneven, with disparities between high- and low-income countries. In advanced stages, palliative care becomes essential, emphasizing community-based strategies for pain relief. Access to oral morphine is emphasized to address moderate to severe cancer pain, impacting over 80 percent of terminal-phase patients. The integration of vaccination into this comprehensive framework underscores its role in reducing cancer risk, particularly for virus-related cancers.

As we observe World Cancer Day, the global community must heed Nepal’s call to action. Beyond the statistics lie human stories, families affected, and communities in need. It is imperative to unite in the fight against cancer, offering support, resources and expertise to strengthen Nepal’s healthcare system.

Fifty years ago, our countries embarked on a journey of friendship, understanding, and collaboration. Today, as we reflect on the past five decades, we can take pride in the progress we have achieved together. The journey of the last 50 years is a story of shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to building a better future for our people.

The emblem is a symbol of the enduring friendship between our nations as well as collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Nepal and our Embassy in shaping a meaningful representation of this significant milestone. Today, as we unveil the result of cooperation between the Ministry and the Embassy, we can witness the strong bonds that have flourished over the past five decades. 

This book stands not only as a testament to their individual journeys but also as a powerful symbol of the fruitful outcomes of bilateral employment cooperation. The 26 businessmen featured in this book are living proof that the exchange of skills and experiences can yield personal growth and substantial contribution to the economic landscape of Nepal. These 26 business owners are heroes to create jobs in Nepal and to inspire other returnees to have a dream. Each success of 26 heroes also started from their dream. Their stories exemplify the spirit of bilateral employment cooperation, demonstrating that collaboration between Korea and Nepal can be a powerful catalyst for personal and economic development. Thanks for your contribution for this book and joining today here.

As we celebrate this golden anniversary, we must also look ahead to the future. Our diplomatic ties have weathered the test of time. Now, more than ever, it is crucial for us to strengthen our cooperation for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The global landscape is ever-changing, and by deepening our collaboration, we can navigate together these changes with resilience and solidity.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the leaders and people of both Korea and Nepal for reaching this historic milestone. It is a testament to the dedication and commitment of countless individuals who have worked tirelessly to build bridges, foster understanding, and promote cooperation between our nations.

As we stand at the threshold of the next 50 years, let us envision a future where our nations continue to grow and prosper together. May the spirit of friendship and cooperation that has characterized the last five decades guide us in creating a world of shared prosperity, peace, and mutual understanding. May the next 50 years be filled with even greater achievements and closer collaboration between Korea and Nepal. 

Statement delivered at the launching ceremony of commemorative log and book on success stories under EPS program

Nepal has been ranked 108th position in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report launched by the Transparency International (TI), showing a slight improvement than in 2022.

In 2022, it was ranked in the 110th position with 34 scores. 

In the assessment of 180 countries in the world, Denmark is in the first position with 90 scores indicating the lowest corruption followed by Finland in the second position, New Zealand in the third, Norway in the fourth and Singapore in the fifth. The consecutive rankings are held by Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg. 

Somalia is in the 180th rank indicating the highest corruption problems while Venezuela, Syria, South Sudan and Yemen. Nepal's two closest neighbors India ranked 93 with 39 scores and China in 76 with 42 scores.

The report was based on analysis of data from the World Bank, World Economic Forum and other organizations.

The index is calculated using data from 13 external sources.

According to TI, its 29th annual corruption perceptions assess how countries have responded to corruption over time, reviewing progress and failures over the last decade and beyond. It is specifically focused on how weakening justice systems contribute to a lack of accountability of public officials, thereby allowing corruption to thrive.      

The report stated that over two-third countries' scores are below 50 out of 100, strongly indicating that they have serious corruption problems.

Authorities in Nepal deported a total of 458 foreign nationals, including 209 Chinese nationals, in 2023 for offenses, ranging from visa overstay and drug trafficking to possession of fake passports and illegal transactions of foreign currency.  

The majority of deported individuals (412) were found to have overstayed their visas, with Chinese nationals topping the list. As per the records of the Immigration Department, 190 Chinese citizens were deported for overstaying their visas.   

Ten foreigners were expelled for drug-related crimes, five for possession of fake passports, 10 for illegal transactions of foreign currency and four for fraud charges. One foreign individual was deported in relation to a kidnapping case, six for organized crime, one for polygamy and five for sexual crime.

Immigration officials say while the number of deportees have been fluctuating in a more or less predictable fashion over the years, it is a matter of concern and investigation that an increasing number of Chinese citizens are getting deported.

Out of the total deported foreign citizens last year, 46 percent were Chinese. One hundred ninety Chinese nationals faced expulsion for overstaying their visas, eight for illegal transactions of foreign currency, four for drug related crimes, three for involvement in organized crimes, two for financial crime, one for kidnapping and one for fraud. 

In 2022, authorities had deported a total of 570 foreign nationals; 191 of them were Chinese nationals.

In 2023, authorities deported 37 Americans, 19 Uzbekistanis, 19 Bangladeshis, 18 British, 11 Sri Lankans, 10 Swedish nationals and 10 Pakistani for various offenses.

Nine Afghanistanis, eight Germans, seven South Koreans and seven Canadians were also expelled from Nepal. 

The Department of Immigration also deported six French nationals, five Italians, five Nigerians, five Russians, five Yemenis, four Australians, four Iranians and four Japanese citizens.  

The other foreign nationalities who faced deportation are from Bhutan, Cameroon, the Philippines, Portugal, Thailand, Belgium, Denmark, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania, Sudan, Ukraine, Vietnam, Cambodia, Comoros, Czech Republic, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Swaziland, Tajikistan and Uganda.

Political and constitutional changes have been a long-drawn-out affair, in the case of Nepal. 

For instance, the Constituent Assembly (CA) materialized 55 long years (in 2008) after its germination as an idea in 1951 following the advent of democracy. This delay can be attributed to manipulation on the part of our political parties.

One school of thought, though, assumes that the historic charter (the Constitution of 2015) promulgated through a CA does not have much to do with popular aspirations of Nepali citizens, whereas the other argues that it does. 

Sovereign Nepali citizens and their representatives—leaders of political parties—presumably have a central role in determining the kind of political systems they want and the roadmap for the future, with the Constitution acting as a point of reference. 

But our political parties are not acting in line with their very own manifestos and ideologies, giving rise to a state of impunity. First and foremost, these forces need to become clean, clear and accountable toward their political manifestos and ideologies. If this happens, we will have a drastic transformation in our views and visions. 

The derivatives

We encounter a lot of confusion while trying to trace the roots of our parliamentary democracy. Discourses tend to show that external diplomatic influences played a pivotal role in the establishment of democracy in Nepal rather than the domestic forces. This couriers a miserable deal with our preamble of sovereign state and somehow paves a depraved way out. 

What shall we do in such a scenario? Opt for a diplomatic transformation?

Amid all this, the to and fro of the former king has political parties, the old guard in particular, panicked along with the Hindutva factor. However, the new forces are quite upbeat and have already begun preparing for 2027, when general elections will take place. 

Hindutva does not necessarily mean an absolute religious rule. Rather, it can lay the foundation for good governance. Caught in a crossroads, Nepal has a gigantic opportunity to put its development agenda on the front-burner by going for collective bargaining with external forces like India, China, the US and the UK instead of focusing on the trivial issues.  

Parliamentary democracy constitutes a robust foundation in the countries with a laissez-faire governing system, where power is vested in the public or citizens. However, laissez-faire may result in despotism in the long run. This very idea of political shift may lead to an imbalance of power between the government bodies as seen now in Nepal between federal and local governments. A clear example of this imbalance is the relation between Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the federal government of Nepal. Potential tyranny, lack of trust between coalition partners and tyranny by majority can also be a clumsy manner for political derivation maintained through parliamentary democracy.

The way forward

The literacy rate has gone up in Nepal, as indicated by the 2021 census, possibly pointing toward rising public awareness, among others. Thanks to growing factionalism within their ranks, political forces are losing their cadres and followers, prompting new generations to seek alternatives of the old guard. 

All this is likely to deal the status-quoists a huge blow in the next general elections, with the scholar and well-versed political marcher possibly fielding their candidacies. 

To minimize the damage, the old guard needs to minimize social, developmental and inclusive gaps via politically collaborative foundations. Their focus should be on maintaining the rule of law, ending impunity, striving for economic reforms through diplomatic dialogues, and development of politically collaborative environments.

A university is a center for brainstorming, exploration and processing of knowledge. Data from around the world have confirmed that quality university education plays a major role in laying the foundation for the development of economic and strategic might of countries. 

Of late, Nepal's higher education and universities have emerged as a topic for a discourse, thanks to a declining state of these institutions and a subsequent surge in the number of students heading abroad for higher education.

University education started in Nepal in 1959 with the establishment of the Tribhuvan University (TU). Sixty-five years later, we continue to lag behind in almost all sectors because of our inability to utilize our universities in the interest of the country, an inability which has a role in rendering the state dysfunctional. This article mainly seeks to explore the reasons behind a sorry state of affairs in our universities by looking into the advent of university education in brief.  

The legacy

Modern university education dates back to the 11th century. At the end of the 11th century, the University of Bologna ‘Studium’ took shape in Italy, followed by the University of Paris in France (1150) and a number of universities across European countries. These centers of higher learning began focusing on scientific research, heralding a new dawn in the development of science and technology and strengthening as well as expanding the state. Through the technological prowess that flowed through these universities that propagated university education globally, Europe established its empires around the world over the centuries. 

Western varsity in Asia 

The Western model university came into being in Asia with the establishment of the University of Calcutta in 1857 under British rule. In its early days, the varsity showed a lot of promise, producing world-renowned scientists and economists such as CV Raman, Chandrasekhar, Ramakrishnan, Hargobind Khorana and Amartya Sen. But the varsity failed to pave the way for diversified research, a predicament no different from that of the TU.

However, Japan, another country in Asia, started its educational cooperation with Europe in 1877 with the establishment of the Tokyo University. Japan has not only become an economic superpower in a short period of time on the strength of new science and technological development, but is also competing with the West in the field of creative intelligence and producing dozens of Nobel Prize winners. 

This university has established itself as an institute capable of solving problems of a fast-changing world. Interestingly, Nepal was under the rule of Jung Bahadur at the time of establishment of universities in Calcutta and Tokyo. The Rana ruler had a cordial relationship with the British Empire, but did not bother to use this leverage for introducing university education in Nepal. Thanks to this myopia, university education got delayed in Nepal by about a century. 

A decisive push for reforms

A review of world history shows a number of countries shifting focus on university reforms after overcoming internal/external conflict and achieving a level of national prosperity. 

In the case of Nepal, even decades after the establishment of its first university and several other universities, no meaningful effort has been made to transform them into centers of knowledge and innovation. Political interference, measly investments from the state, weak standards for faculty selection and incentives are mainly to blame for this. 

Unchecked political interference has been taking a toll on university education for decades and institutionalizing mismanagement. Here, professors accused of serious academic charges like intellectual theft get appointed as vice-chancellors, thanks to their political clout and a chauvinist professor gets beaten by chauvinist students on the university premises! It’s obvious that those who landed leadership roles through political connections do not count. Our universities need to undergo reforms for which they need a non-political academic leadership with a credible ground action plan. The state should immediately take concrete steps toward this end by keeping politics away from universities.

International airports have a direct correlation with national security as they are the gateway to a country. Airports are globally considered sensitive infrastructure and every airport has their unique security challenges requiring adequate security provisions and installation to maintain the highest level of trust globally. The international airport demands a robust security apparatus that not only includes security force personnel but also civil service officers responsible for a smooth operation of the airport. It is paramount to have demarcated jurisdictions and clearly-spelled mandates among the stakeholders to avoid duplicity of functions and lapses in security.

Nepal, being a landlocked country and practically having only one functional international airport, faces its own challenges in combating illegal activities. In recent years, Nepali airports are combating the movement of gold and foreign currency, smuggling of illegal items and illicit drugs, and becoming a conduit for human trafficking. These challenges are compounded by issues such as lack of coordination between the stakeholders of the airport operation, outdated security mechanisms and inadequately mandated deployment of Nepal Police in airport security.

An international airport is considered an international border point and Nepal has been deploying APF, as the primary border protection force of Nepal to other border points of the nation. However, the government took almost 10 years to deploy APF to the airport, that also in a very small number—31 APF personnel under the command of an APF Inspector to support the function of the customs office and address smuggling challenges.

Nepal Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Nepal, not only having bilateral and multilateral relations with various countries and their law enforcement agencies, but also in terms of access to the international crime database maintained by the Interpol. Nepal Police is the only agency which has comprehensive crime prevention, detection and investigation capabilities. Yet, it has no major involvement in the airport security operation and no role at all in the arrival area of the airport in Nepal, which is impacting the overall security structure.

The Department of Immigration is responsible for border control and regulating the immigrants’ movement. Currently, civil immigration officers are deputed in the airport for immigration and immigration control. Experiences show that the department of immigration lacks the capability to enforce border control protocols and does not have appropriate access to the crime and criminal database to effectively screen the travelers in order to prevent the access of criminals and smugglers to the country.  Whereas, the customs officers are stationed to regulate and control the flow of goods through the airport and collect duty and taxes.

Lack of information sharing between various civil and security stakeholders involved in the operation and maintenance of the airport and the absence of proper coordination among these civil and security mechanisms is hindering effective responses to apparent security threats.

To address these challenges, a comprehensive re-engagement of airport security is necessary, including changes at the policy and operational levels. The immigration department should take the leadership and supervisory roles in policy formulation and implementation. It should regulate, observe and provide appropriate policy instructions to the airport operation for immigrant movement control. Nepal Police, with its expertise in crime control and law enforcement; having connections with Interpol and access to the national and international crime and criminal data, should be given the operational leadership of airport security. Other government agencies and bureaucratic offices should play a role in providing necessary policy and documentation support according to their area of speciality for specific security procedures through the department of immigration.

Learning from the practice of Transportation Security Agency (TSA) of the USA and Industrial Security Force (ISF) of India, it is time for Nepal to create an independent and dedicated Immigration Police Bureau within Nepal Police with a different dress code for separate identification, clear mandate to control immigrant and immigration while also enforcing the laws for border control, stopping smuggling and crime prevention and investigation. In the past, Nepal Police used to deploy for immigration and immigrant control and they used to be more effective as they have access to national and international criminal records and databases, which is not the case with civilian officers deputed from the immigration department. Such Immigration Police Bureau should be equipped with smart technology and advanced technical resources for enhanced screening and monitoring in order to implement timely, effective and successful security systems. Surveillance capabilities and infrastructure of Nepali security forces, including the civil and military intelligence, should be mobilized to collect, combine and analyze any and all incidents. Those findings should be shared with the Bureau in real time and coordinate effectively for actions to create a more secure airport.

The regulator should adopt a strike policy on access to the airport and its sensitive security areas. Misuse of authority is a major challenge to access control, thus creating insecurity and that can be enforced by clear regulation that makes individuals accountable for their action, which should be strictly monitored to prevent security mishaps and ensure integrity in airport operations. It is advisable to implement a policy of separation of arrival and departure areas to prevent passengers from meeting within the airport premises. Strictly regulating cargo and passenger routes by preventing unauthorized access and enhancing security measures will also help significantly to sanitize the sensitive security area. A redefined security approach is essential for Nepal’s international airports to effectively combat existing and emerging security challenges. The proposed changes at both policy and operational levels aim to strengthen security mechanisms, restore trust at the international level and ensure the overall safety and integrity of Nepal's airports. The collaborative efforts of various security forces, along with clear guidelines and strong policy implementations, will contribute to a more secure and reliable airport security environment.

Nepal and India held important discussions and agreed on eight various topics on the energy sector.

The 11th meeting of Nepal-India Energy Secretary Level Joint Steering Committee that concluded in Chitwan today has agreed on especially the topic of strengthening the electricity transmission system.

Nabin Raj Singh, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, said the meeting discussed various agenda prepared by the Joint-secretary level Joint Task Force.

Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Gopal Prasad Sigdel, and Secretary at India's Ministry of Energy, Pankaj Agrawal, co-chaired the meeting.

Before this, the 11th meeting of Nepal-India Energy Joint Task Force co-chaired by Joint-Secretary Singh and Joint-Secretary of India's Ministry of Power, Dr D Saibaba, held necessary discussions on the existing, under-construction and proposed inter-country power transmission lines, various projects having Indian investment and the related transmission line projects, among other topics. The taskforce meeting also made recommendations to the Secretary-level meeting on these topics after discussing them.

However, it is said that most of the topics agreed upon this time shall be finalized by the technical groups, as these agreements are concerned more with technical topics.

The meeting made a decision on principle only since most of the topics are more technical-related, according to the Nepali high officials participating in the meeting.

Both sides have agreed on expanding the capacity of the Dhalkebar-Mujaffarpur Inter-country Transmission Line to 1,000 megawatts. Required infrastructures would be constructed at Dhalkebar substation for this purpose. At present, the export and import of 800 megawatts electricity is taking place from this transmission line.

The Joint Technical Committee will study and make necessary decisions on the topic of utilizing this transmission line in its maximum capacity. Nepal has also been paying the transmission fees for utilizing the full capacity of this transmission line.

The high officials of the Ministry of Energy who attended the meeting said that an important agreement has been made regarding utilization of the maximum capacity of the first inter-country transmission line linking Nepal and India.

Similarly, the Joint Technical Committee shall also take the necessary decision regarding determining the capacity of electricity that can be transmitted via the Dhalkebar-Sitamadhi 400-kV transmission line being constructed by the Indian company, Satluj Vidhyut Nigam. The Indian company is constructing this transmission line for exporting electricity to be produced from the Arun III Hydropower Project. This company, which is constructing the Arun-III project, has also taken responsibility for constructing other projects as well. It will take long until these projects are completed.

Likewise, the meeting has agreed that the Joint Technical Committee will conduct a study on the feasibility of exporting power up to 200 megawatts through the 132 kV Tanakpur Mahendranagar transmission line or other high-voltage capacity transmission lines.

The meeting has approved the process and procedure on electricity export and import between Nepal and India during the monsoon via the existing transmission lines of 132 kV capacity or less by using the power transmission system of the neighbouring Indian states. These processes and procedures were prepared by the Central Electricity Authority of India in coordination with Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and other agencies of India.

The meeting has also given the responsibility to the Joint Working Group for construction of additional two transmission lines of higher capacity. The 400-kV Yanrupa-Purnia transmission line and the New Lamki (Dododhara)-Bareily transmission line will be constructed between Nepal and India. The objective is to construct these two transmission lines until 2028. The modality of these transmission lines will also be finalized by the Joint Working Group.

The taskforce led by the Joint-Secretary of the Energy Ministry of the two countries will prepare the necessary modality for this.

Discussions have also been held in principle on having soon a separate tripartite agreement, in accordance with the Power Import and Export Guidelines of India, among NEA, the NTPC Vidhyut Vyapar Nigam of India and the Power Development Board of Bangladesh for export of 40 megawatts electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh by using India's transmission system. 

Based on this discussion, the necessary mechanism would be established for the three-nation partnership. This mechanism will make the necessary decisions, it is said.

These agreements related to transmission line and energy sector were reached in the context of Minister of External Affairs of India Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar's visit to Nepal on January 4 and 5.

The Agreement Between the Government of Nepal and the Government of India on Long Term Power Trade was signed during the visit of the Minister of External Affairs of India, opening the door for the export of 10,000 megawatts of electricity to India from Nepal in 10 years.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal and the Minister of External Affairs of India remotely inaugurated the 132 kV cross-border transmission lines between Nepal and India, namely the second circuit of Raxaul- Parwanipur line, the second circuit of Kataiya- Kusaha line and the New Nautanwa-Mainhiya lines.

Nepal’s tea exports witnessed a decline in the first five months of the fiscal year 2023/24.

Data released by the Department of Customs shows that Nepal exported 7,181 tons of tea valued at Rs 1.87bn over the five months of 2023/24, in contrast to 10,065 tons worth Rs 2.23bn during the same period in the previous fiscal year.

The decline in tea exports during this period is attributed to farmers holding onto their stock in anticipation of obtaining better prices, according to traders. Notably, exports of special tea varieties decreased in this period. Special tea varieties such as green tea, white tea, gold tea, and silver tea are known to command higher prices in the international market.

Although there is a high demand for Nepali tea in the international market, Nepali producers are facing challenges in sending their products abroad. Indian traders take advantage of this situation by purchasing Nepali tea and exporting it to international markets, say Nepali farmers.

Farmers claim that Indian traders offer them around Rs 550 per kg for tea but sell the same product to international buyers for as much as Rs 3,000 per kg.

Nepali farmers cultivate CTC (crush, tear, curl)  and orthodox varieties of tea. Tea farming is done across 20,237 hectares in 30 districts. Nepal has around 160 tea gardens and over 17,000 people are involved in tea farming. However, major production is concentrated in districts like Jhapa, Ilam, Panchthar, Terhathum and Dhankuta in eastern Nepal. Tea is also grown in districts such as Bhojpur, Khotang, Chitwan, Sindhuli, Parbat, Kavre, Gorkha, Dolakha, Lalitpur, Ramechhap, and Pyuthan, among others.

Nepal’s annual tea production capacity is approximately 26,300 tons. Of the total production, about 6,500 tons is orthodox tea, while green tea accounts for around 730 tons and the remaining is CTC tea.

Nepali tea is exported to various countries, including Australia, France, Canada, Denmark, China, Germany, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, the United States, Poland, Sweden, Thailand, Taiwan, and India.

Meanwhile, the government has begun branding exercises in a bid to enhance competitiveness and access of Nepali tea in the national market. The Nepal Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board has started preparation to establish a brand identity for Nepali tea. The board has invited designers to create and submit a logo for Nepali CTC tea with the slogan ‘Nepal Tea-Premium CTC’.

Nepal and India have inked a long-term agreement on electricity today.  Secretaries of both countries signed on the document in the presence of Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Shakti Bahadur Basnet.

With the signing of the agreement, the bilateral understanding to export 10,000 megawatts of electricity from Nepal to India in the next ten years has been materialized.

Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Gopal Sigdel and India's Energy Secretary Pankaj Agrawal signed on the agreement paper on behalf of their respective sides.

The bilateral understanding on electricity export was reached during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's visit to India from 31 May to 3 June 2023.

During the visit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed India's commitment to long-term electricity purchase from Nepal, and both nations reached a consensus on this matter.

The Federal Council of Ministers of India has already endorsed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard. The agreement was signed during the two-day visit of India's External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, which commenced today.

Following this agreement, various government and private entities in India will engage in power trade with Nepal through short-term, medium-term, and long-term contracts. Private sectors in Nepal can also participate in the import and export of electricity after completing the necessary procedures.

In a press conference organized in the course of Prime Minister Dahal's visit to India, prime ministers of both countries had commented that the issue of power export was historic and significant.

The government has already prepared an energy development strategy with an objective of producing 28,000 MW electricity in the next 12 years.

Of 28,000 MW power, a target has been set to export 15,000 MW electricity to different countries including India.

The private sector welcomed the agreement, citing doors for development of Nepal's energy sector would be opened after the agreement.

The government has set a target to bring quality change in the development of the energy sector by taking the private sector together.

Earlier, a delegation led by Indian Energy Secretary Agrawal paid a courtesy call on Energy Minister Basnet.

On the occasion, expressing happiness over the beginning of meaningful cooperation in the energy sector between the two countries, Energy Minister Basnet pointed out the need of taking it to further conclusion.

He shared that the agreement regarding exporting 10,000 MW electricity in next 10 years would take the relations between the two countries to a new height.

The energy minister urged to accelerate other projects and complete them on slated time, expecting Indian investment in large projects.

Pokhara, often referred to as the ‘Garden City of Lakes’ in Nepal, boasts a picturesque landscape adorned with nine lakes. Each of these lakes, including the renowned Fewa, holds significant ecological value, contributing to a well-balanced and diverse ecosystem within the valley. The Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley, which includes all nine lakes, have been designated as a Ramsar site, recognizing their global importance as wetland areas.

As a world-renowned wetland, the lakes in Pokhara host a rich array of aquatic plants and animals. Among these, fish play a pivotal role as indicators of the overall ecosystem health. However, recent trends indicate a diminishing importance of these lakes in sustaining connections with indigenous plants and insects. The decline in the number of local fish species within these lakes has been alarming. Notably, vital plants like Lotus are experiencing a sharp decline, contributing to the proliferation of polluted vegetation such as water hyacinth, which covers the lake's surface.

Compounding these ecological concerns is the shift in the economic activities of local communities. In the past, residents were engaged in the trade of indigenous and medicinally valued fishes like Baam, Bhittye, Fageta, and Shahar. However, this traditional practice is undergoing a transformation, with hybrid fish varieties like Nile Tilapia and Mahur replacing the high-value indigenous species.

“The significance of the fish in these lakes today has been reduced to merely a business,” said Birendra Dhakal, a local resident of Rupa Lake, expressing his concerns over the noticeable invasion of unnecessary plants and hybrid fishes in the lake.

Dhakal’s sentiments echo those of many residents around the lakes of Pokhara, all deeply troubled by the threat to the indigenous species of fish and medicinal plants and various other aquatic life in the lake’s watershed area. Rajan Jalari, a seasoned fisherman from Fewa Lake, highlighted the surprising surge in the number of hybrid fishes in the lake over recent years. Raja, who belongs to the Jalari community engaged in fisheries for generations, said he too has no option but to sell hybrid varieties like Nile Tilapia which don’t fetch good prices. “To break free from relying on selling hybrid varieties, I am contemplating setting up my own fish cage in the lake. This way, I hope to nurture local fish varieties,” he shared.

According to local fishermen, nearly all the lakes in Pokhara and surrounding areas have seen proliferation of hybrid varieties, particularly Nile Tilapia. The presence of Tilapia has had a detrimental impact on the native fish species, creating competition for both food and habitat. The prolific breeding capacity of Nile Tilapia has affected indigenous varieties in lakes in Pokhara.

Jhalak Jalari, who leads the Begnas Fisheries Association, said Nile Tilapia now constitutes nearly half of the total fish population in the lakes. “This number might increase further in the days to come,” Jhalak added.

The concern over the decline in local fish populations is not only shared by the locals but is also substantiated by the Fisheries Research Station,Pokhara. According to the station, it has been hatching a high number of fish fries belonging to local species such as Rahu, Sahar and Naini, etc, and releasing them into the lakes every year. “However, the population of these local fish varieties is not growing as expected,” said Dr Akbal Husen, the Fishery Scientist and Chief of the Fishery Research Station, Pokhara.

Dr Husen attributed slow growth of local fish population to the lack of plankton in the water which serves as both food and a crucial habitat for the hatch of local fishes. “The presence of a large number of exotic fish, particularly Nile Tilapia, exacerbates the issue. As a hybrid fish, Nile Tilapia poses a threat by preying on small fishes, including fries, and competes for food with other fish species,” he said.

He said enhancing plankton levels in the water by maintaining a pollution-free environment and avoiding pesticide use in the watershed area is one of the solutions to mitigate this problem.

Foreign policy is a set of goals, policies and strategies aimed at promoting national interest through effective conduct of external relations. Most importantly, it has permanent and changeable features. According to Frederick H Hartmann, it is a ‘Systematic statement of deliberately selected national policies’. George Modelski defines foreign policy as the system of activities evolved by communities for changing the behavior of other states and for adjusting their own activities to the international environment. Hence, it is generally designed to protect and promote a country’s national interest, security, economic prosperity and independent international image.

Nepal aims to protect its core national interest and secure these interests through its foreign policy (Foreign Policy 2077). The policy, an attempt at clarifying Nepal’s policy to the internal and external audiences, highlights the country’s constitutional provisions, including directive principles, and tries to incorporate its fundamental objectives. Apart from guiding internal affairs of Nepal, the policy also helps development partners, neighboring countries, academicians, foreign policy experts, researchers and others get a clear picture of its objectives and goals.

Nepal’s foreign policy is characterized by continuity and change because it is guided not only by constitutional provisions but also by ages-old principles of peaceful co-existence (Panchasheel), non-alignment, world peace and international law.

For the promotion and protection of national interest, a foreign policy has to adjust to the changing political and economic contexts as well as the unexpected exigencies relating to new emergencies issues of health, ecology and technology, among others, by keeping the above-mentioned characteristics at the core. Foreign policy 2077 emphasizes soft power, multidimensional connections with other countries, revision of bilateral treaties, Nepali diaspora, resolution of border disputes, labor diplomacy, public diplomacy, track II diplomacy and climate change issues, making it a bit different from previous foreign policies.

Given contemporary international politics and our geostrategic location, the policy demands widespread and multidimensional cooperation involving government-to-government, people-to-people and business-to-business engagements with the international community. 

Our foreign policy also emphasizes multidimensional connectivity networks in this globalized world, including transnational roadways, railways, waterways, airways, optical fibers and electricity transmission lines. Such international networks can play a crucial role in the transformation of least developed countries (LDCs) to developing ones.

Although foreign policy 2077 is much more detailed than previous foreign policies, challenges remain when it comes to getting desired results through this instrument. Nepal needs to identify new areas of collaboration driven by shared interests to get benefits from technology transfers and strengthen diplomatic missions further.

Our unique geostrategic location between two Asian giants India and China means we need to maintain cordial, balanced, friendly and cooperative relations with both the neighbors to achieve the desired and set goals of foreign policy. 

We also need to know that conduct of foreign policy is not the exclusive domain of Foreign Ministry as the private sector, civil society, non-government organizations, professionals and state as well as non-state actors all have important roles to play. 

Most of the time, our foreign policy is punctuated by hyper-populism and often not dictated by principles due to political influence. This calls for an effective mechanism for the execution of foreign policy. Our political parties often pick individuals lacking even minimum standards and knowledge of diplomacy as ‘diplomats’, so the focus should be on improving professional skills and efficiencies of diplomats and officials working in Nepali missions abroad.

Nepal has struggled with many ups and downs and undergone various political translations. Time has come for the country to use economic diplomacy as a major aspect of foreign policy to achieve national prosperity and make every Nepali happy.

Formulation of a national consensus-based foreign policy and its full implementation is a must to realize this goal. 

Korala entry point at Nepal-China border will be opened from November 13.

With this, Korala border point, which has been closed for four years, will be opened from next Monday.

During his visit to China, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had urged the Chinese government to open the closed border points.

Following his request, preparations are being made to officially open the Nepal-China border on the northern side.

The Chinese side has invited local traders and the general public of Lomanthang and Loghekar Damodarkunda for the same, Loghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality Chairman Lopsang Chomphel Bista said.

He said that the people have been notified to bring citizenship certificates along with the border pass to enter China for the first time.

“The Chinese side has urged the people entering the border to bring citizenship certificates along with border passes to collect detailed information,” Bista said.

With the decision of the Chinese side to open the Korala border point, preparations are also being made for the inauguration program, Lomanthang Rural Municipality Chairman Tashi Nurbu Gurung said.

He said that high-ranking officials from the Chinese side will attend the inauguration program.

The Mustang administration had distributed border passes to 980 people in the first phase.

The border point had remained closed since the Covid-19 pandemic.