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China has expressed its commitment to work with Nepal’s new government in the country’s journey toward economic transformation and development. 

Beijing has also expressed confidence that a stable government to be formed for the next five years will fulfill the long-standing aspirations of the Nepali people for prosperity and good governance. 

It has further stated that Nepal’s development ambitions can be realized by enhancing cooperation and partnerships in tourism, investment, infrastructure, and green development.

While briefing selected journalists from mainstream media at his office on Tuesday evening about the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress of China, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming said that China stands ready to work with Nepal’s new government to further strengthen bilateral relations, RSS reported. 

He stated that China, which has long been a development partner of Nepal, will continue to extend support in line with the aspirations of the Nepali people, prioritize Nepal’s socio-economic development, and implement agreements reached during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Nepal. 

He also reiterated China’s continued support for safeguarding Nepal’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Highlighting the immense potential in the tourism sector, Ambassador Zhang said that improving tourism-related infrastructure could attract a larger number of Chinese tourists to Nepal. 

He also noted that while Chinese investors are interested in investing in Nepal’s hotel and restaurant sectors, they face challenges related to investment security, policy clarity, and bureaucratic hurdles.

According to RSS, he emphasized that prioritizing tourism as a key driver of economic growth and enhancing bilateral cooperation in this sector could significantly accelerate Nepal’s development in a short period. 

He also pointed out that tea processing, packaging, and branding could emerge as another important avenue for Nepal’s economic progress, with potential for Chinese cooperation.

Stating that Nepal could benefit from China’s technological advancements, he stressed the importance of promoting green development and related industries. 

He added that a one-stop policy framework for trade and investment could attract more Chinese investors.

Reaffirming his commitment to further strengthening the centuries-old Nepal–China relationship, Ambassador Zhang said China is ready to work closely with Nepal’s new government on shared agendas of development and prosperity. 

He expressed confidence that a stable government over the next five years would guide Nepal toward development and reiterated China’s support in helping Nepal graduate from the group of Least Developed Countries, RSS stated. 

He also noted that with only two neighboring countries, Nepal would not face difficulty in implementing a balanced foreign policy. 

He expressed confidence that the new government would formulate policies and programs in line with public aspirations to improve living standards and fulfill development goals.

In this context, Ambassador Zhang stated that China stands ready to work with all members of the international community to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. 

He added that China is prepared to participate in the reform and development of the global governance system and make the international order more just and equitable.

Regarding Kalapani, he clarified that it is a bilateral issue between Nepal and India and should be resolved through dialogue and consultation. "It is a dispute between Nepal and China. China attaches great importance to Nepal and we understand Nepal's position", he said. 

He suggested that the Nepal–India mechanism at the level of foreign secretaries could be activated to find a solution.

Expressing confidence that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) would support Nepal’s economic development, he said cooperation could be expanded in agriculture, improving living standards, infrastructure development, and investment. 

He also emphasized the need to fully utilize the tariff concessions provided by China and expressed readiness to support the export of a wider range of Nepali products beyond agricultural goods. 

He noted that there is ample potential for expanding trade and that he has been working with a focus on strengthening bilateral partnership, according to RSS. 

Nepal–China diplomatic and economic relations have grown stronger in recent years. 

Established in 1955, the relationship is based on mutual respect, sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and the principles of peaceful coexistence. 

Nepal regards China as a reliable development partner and a true friend, and China’s continued support in various sectors has made the relationship more practical and result-oriented. Nepal also remains firmly committed to the “One China Principle,” which China highly appreciates.

Bilateral relations have increasingly moved toward multi-dimensional cooperation, particularly under the concept of the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, which aims to transform Nepal from a landlocked country to a land-linked country. 

Key projects include the proposed Kerung–Kathmandu railway, upgrading of the Kodari–Zhangmu road, and expansion of north–south economic corridors.

Efforts are also underway to enhance cross-border trade through the upgrading of Tatopani–Zhangmu and Rasuwagadhi points, expansion of dry ports, and improvement of air connectivity. 

Increased flights via Pokhara and Gautam Buddha International Airports are expected to boost tourism and people-to-people ties. 

Cooperation is also expanding in digital, energy, and telecommunications sectors.

Since Nepal joined the BRI in 2017, collaboration in infrastructure, trade, and connectivity has further strengthened. 

During President Xi Jinping’s visit to Nepal in 2019, more than 20 agreements were signed, upgrading bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership of Cooperation.

This cooperation has had positive impacts in energy, hydropower, health, education, green development, and cultural sectors. 

Coordination has also been strengthened in border management, security cooperation, and control of illegal activities.

The growing strategic importance of Nepal–China relations is expected to contribute significantly to trade expansion, economic transformation, and diversification of transit routes, reducing dependence on a single transit system.

World Tuberculosis Day is being marked across the country today by organizing various awareness programs  under the theme 'Yes! We Can End TB: National Campaign, Our Contribution'.  

Director at the National Tuberculosis Centre, Dr Bhuwan Poudel said that this Day is being observed with the commitment of fulfilling responsibilities by all from their respective fields with an objective of ending tuberculosis by 2035 and making the country tuberculosis-free by 2050.

Stating that 42 percent TB patients are still out of treatment in the country, he mentioned that problems have surfaced as most of the patients do not openly talk about their disease as well as inability to use technology.

Poudel shared that 39,151 new patients were detected in fiscal year 2024/25. Of them, 39 percent were women, 61 percent men and 5.6 percent children below 15 years. 

The government has been running tuberculosis treatment service in 6,241 health institutions to control the disease, he said, adding 785 health institutions have been providing specified microscopy service while 142 health institutions are providing rapid testing service free of cost. 

He added that 31 centers and 98 sub-centres are providing treatment for drug resistant tuberculosis as well as the 'Tuberculosis-free Nepal Campaign' has been expanded in 149 local levels and nine AI-assisted digital X-ray machines are being used to test tuberculosis. 

Poudel underlined that 10.7 million active tuberculosis are detected in the world every year. Of them more than 1.2 million people lost their lives.

As the globe observes the International Day for Glaciers on March 21, the timing seems more like a warning than a celebration. From the peaks, the alarm is already beginning to trickle down. The UN's creation of this day in the second year of the Decadal Action for Cryospheric Science (2025-2034) represents a shift in our understanding of the high-altitude glaciers and snowpacks that support more than a billion people in South Asia. Our cryosphere is melting due to human-caused warming, making it a ticking time bomb rather than a static landscape. Temperatures in the Hindu Kush Himalayas are rising 0.3°C to 0.7°C more quickly than the global average. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), which pose a direct threat to the "Third Pole," are being fueled by this quick thaw. As we battle to save these crucial "water towers," Nepal's glacial landscapes must act as both a global laboratory for climate science and the front line for survival over the course of the next ten years.

Understanding the GLOF threat

Researchers at ICIMOD estimate that Nepal's glacier lakes currently make up a staggering 2.6% to 3.6% of the nation's total area, or about 3,252 unique lakes. However, they are the epicenters of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), not merely immobile masses of water. Thermal expansion causes glacial lakes to grow and press against their natural rock and ice as temperatures rise. The science underlying GLOF is that this produces a volatile mixture of hydro-meteorological elements that can cause a catastrophic eruption. The terrain is pushed to a critical threshold for a disastrous Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) by this pressure build-up and erratic weather patterns.

The moraine dams are weakened structurally by the freeze-thaw cycles, and these delicate structures are further destabilized by rising sediment loads. These loose rock "walls" that contain the water, are known as moraine dams. As "living laboratories," these summits record a significant change in the climate. Heavy sediment loads are gradually compromising the structural integrity of these moraine dams, posing a concern that needs immediate action and attention.

Crisis beyond the Peaks

The statistics from ICIMOD and the IPCC are staggering. The central and eastern Himalayas lost around 30% of their snow cover in just three decades, according to recent research, including findings published in The Cryosphere (2026). By the end of the century, up to 80% of the glacier volume may disappear if we continue to follow the same path. What we are witnessing is not just a transformation of the landscape, but a fundamental disruption of the lifelines for a quarter of the world's population because these glacial systems are the primary water source for more than two billion people downstream. Scientists now refer to GLOF events as "cascading hazards," in which a glacier's initial collapse triggers a series of environmental and societal disasters, from immediate floods to long-term water shortages for entire nations.

Why our old maps no longer work?

The latest disasters in Rasuwagadhi (2025) and Thame (2024) have essentially destroyed our conventional risk models. Analyst used historical data to forecast floods for many years, but the mountains are no longer adhering to the previous guidelines. With the frozen earth thawing by up to 23 centimeters annually, scientists now warn that permafrost degradation is undermining the Himalayas' basic foundations. This new reality is exemplified by the Thame Valley disaster of 2024. Over 450,000 cubic meters of debris-filled water were spilled when a rock avalanche struck the Thyanbo glacier lake. The 2025 surge in Rasuwagadhi, which occurred just a year later, demonstrated that these occurrences are no longer rare. These consecutive tragedies demonstrate that the frequency and magnitude of today's mountain calamities cannot be predicted by our outdated models. The peaks are getting more unpredictable, and a single crumbling slope can now cause a catastrophe, as evidenced by the Upper Mustang floods and the ISRO satellite data on the Dharali disaster.

People in the Shadow

As our old maps of the mountains fail, the social fabric of the communities living there is also being stretched to its limit. While technical teams from NDRRMA and ICIMOD have been on the ground in Thame to map physical hazards, the SathSathai Summiter’s Summit has revealed a parallel socioeconomic crisis. Through "witness accounts" from veteran climbers like Mingma David Sherpa and Sheikha Asma Al Thani, the dialogue is finally shifting from satellite imagery to the lived experiences of those whose lives depend on the ice.  They describe a landscape that is no longer recognizable, documenting measurable changes in ice formation and route stability that no map can fully capture. These testimonies are echoed by local elderly grandmothers like Chyoying Doma, who describe the "auditory and visual" shifts in the mountains, from the changing sounds of moving glaciers to the loss of traditional seasonal markers once used for agricultural planning.

  As our field surveys from April 2025 demonstrate, this catastrophe is also strongly gendered and very intimate. Due to shifting crop cycles, temperature and precipitation, people now suffer from climate-related health problems. Especially, women in the Thame Valley are now bearing an increased "multiple burden" from agricultural workloads to detrimental reproductive health. Community interviews also show that psychological trauma is on the rise, even beyond the physical work. The ongoing uncertainty of snowfall, economic instability, and the shadow of erratic moraine dams are all contributing factors to residents' elevated stress levels. We can get a complete picture of how climate change in the Himalayas is a fight for the existence and dignity of those on the front lines rather than merely an environmental study by combining the technical and social findings.

The Gap between the Talk and the Truth

The 2025 summit may have stopped in rhetoric, despite the fact that high-level dialogues like the Sagarmatha Sambaad were intended to bridge mountain reality with global policy. Critics point out that the world is far from the promised climate justice because these debates often fail to provide systemic solutions. This leads to a serious environmental injustice, although Nepal contributes only 0.08% of the world's emissions, people suffer the consequences of a disaster that they did not cause. Even though the World Bank's $9.4 million payment in late 2025 was a welcome gesture of justice, it is still tiny in comparison to the rising human cost and the predatory power of unchecked mountain tourism.

This is not just an environmental study, but a cycle of increasing poverty for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, porters, and subsistence farmers. In valleys like Thame, women are left to shoulder a "multiple burden," managing collapsing agricultural cycles and worsening reproductive health issues under great stress, as men migrate for employment. This calamity is also deeply gendered. Those with the fewest resources and the greatest family duties become more helpless as the glaciers disappear, their traditional means of subsistence and physical well-being vanishing along with the ice.

​​​​​From monitoring to survival

Adaptation is made possible by current scientific monitoring, which uses ground-based data and satellite-based remote sensing to enable "non-structural" interventions like mobile-based early notifications. However, local action must take over as international diplomacy falters. If high-level meetings do not lead to immediate adaptation on the ground, they are worthless. Local Adaptation Plans (LAPA) must be prioritized in order to overcome administrative obstacles, even though ICIMOD's research provide the essential maps to forecast disasters.

This entails concentrating on the finance that instantly reaches communities, empowering the frontline by giving women and indigenous groups priority, and a clever defense that blends engineering, like the Tsho Rolpa spillways along with community-led warnings. In the end, "climate justice" is not a catchphrase, it rather refers to the financial and material resources that enable people who live under the shadow of the glaciers to protect their lives and dignity.

Connecting Data and People

The second year of the International Year of Glacier Preservation provides a crucial temporal framework for documenting the accelerating environmental and social shifts in Nepal's mountain regions. GLOF episodes are no longer isolated incidents. Scientific evidence confirms they are symptoms of a systemic collapse affecting water security and social stability across the Hindu Kush Himalayas. Nepal’s experience proves that research must lead to response, science alone cannot save a village without the equity of direct funding and local empowerment. As environmental changes surpass natural variability, the world must match Nepal’s frontline resilience with a radical commitment to lowering emissions and halting this cryospheric collapse.

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), in partnership with the Government of Germany, today inaugurated the groundbreaking ceremony for the Lekhnath–Damauli 220 kV Transmission Line Project at the Damauli Substation in Tanahun District.

NEA Managing Director Hitendra Dev Shakya,  German Ambassador to Nepal Udo Volz,  Director of KfW Development Bank for Bangladesh and Nepal Michael Sumser, as well as senior representatives from NEA, the German Embassy, KfW Development Bank, GIZ, local governments and other key stakeholders attended the ceremony. 

Co-financed by Germany through KfW Development Bank, the project includes the construction of a 45 km long 220 kV double-circuit transmission line and the development of modern gas-insulated substations in Lekhnath and Damauli, reads a statement issued by the German Embassy in Kathmandu. 

With a transmission capacity of around 1000 MW, the project will strengthen the regional electricity grid and enable efficient evacuation of electricity from hydropower plants in the region, including the Tanahun Hydropower Project.

“The expansion of reliable transmission infrastructure is essential for Nepal’s growing energy needs,” said Ambassador Udo Volz. “Germany is proud to partner with Nepal in strengthening its electricity grid and enabling the use of its vast renewable energy potential. Projects like this ensure that clean energy reaches homes, businesses and industries, contributing to sustainable economic growth.”. 

Germany has also supported renewable energy solutions ranging from household solar systems and solar irrigation to grid-connected solar installations, contributing to around 55 MW of solar photovoltaic capacity in Nepal.  

In Gandaki Province, German Technical Cooperation has supported Pokhara Metropolitan City in developing a five-year Municipal Energy Plan to guide efficient energy use and the adoption of clean energy technologies. 

German Technical Cooperation has also supported the establishment of two electric vehicle charging stations in Pokhara and Damauli and the integration of two micro-hydropower plants in Baglung into the national grid of the Nepal Electricity Authority.

Reliable transmission infrastructure such as the Lekhnath–Damauli line provides the foundation for greater use of clean electricity, including electric mobility and other low-carbon solutions, supporting Nepal’s ambition to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.

Last March, the author of this article was sitting at the Everest Cafe; in Kathmandu, talking to one of Nepal's very senior journalists, amidst subsequent waves of pro-monarchy protests that had engulfed the country in recent months. In casual conversation, the journalist mentioned the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and its dwindling fortunes under Oli’s Prime Ministerial regime.

Cut to the present times, Nepal has given one of the most historic mandates to the RSP since the inception of democracy in the country: for the first time in the hill country, any party has gotten an absolute majority in a very difficult representation system, and just two seats short of a two-thirds supermajority. The election has also been historic for the Prime Ministerial candidate from RSP, Balendra Shah, and Kathmandu’s ex-mayor, who became the first Madhesi person to sit in the Prime Minister's chair. 

Born out of chaos, post-Gen-Z protests occurred in September 2025, Nepal’s unelected government, led by former chief justice Sushila Karki, has also done an impressive job of delivering elections in the earlier decided timeline, unlike in Bangladesh.

In the volatile neighborhood, elections and the return of stable democracy are obviously a sigh of relief for New Delhi. Nevertheless, in Nepal, the winners are new to foreign policy and diplomacy, and their implications will be important to unpack from Delhi’s side. 

Since the inception of the democratic movement in Nepal with the establishment of the Nepal Congress in 1950, India has been supportive of it. At times, future prominent leaders of Nepal have studied in Indian Universities and then returned home with a strong democratic enthusiasm.

During the monarchy’s time, when these leaders faced persecution, they took shelter in India. During the civil war, India played a critical role in bringing the mainstream political parties and the Maoist rebels together, culminating in the 12-point understanding in Delhi (2005) and the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

After the end of the bloody civil war in Nepal and the agreement between all parties to abolish the monarchy, it pushed for an inclusive constitution that addressed the rights of the Madhesi people in the Terai region. 2015 marked a critical juncture in India-Nepal relations, when the Madhesi agitation over Nepal’s constitution drew India into the fray. Since then, India-Nepal relations have been driven more by a sectoral, compartmentalised approach than by a holistic one.

The situation has been complicated by political instability and the musical chairs of politics among three main political parties: Nepal Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (UML), and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). To even complicate matters, the head of CPN UML and 2015 Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s populist anti-India rhetoric surely helped him win the elections, but ruptured India-Nepal relations.

At the same time, Nepal's joining the Belt and Road Initiative also alerted India. Nevertheless, the political instability has undermined many good diplomatic efforts on both sides and fuelled each other’s insecurities time and again. It also needs to be mentioned here that to err is human, and humans run states and diplomacy.

So, between neighbours in the future as well, there will be issues that may feel contentious, but both sides need to understand that making a populist political rhetoric out of it will not help. Shishir Khanal in one interview has also clearly mentioned that his party will try to find diplomatic solutions to the contentious issues rather than making it an overt political confrontation, which is a very welcoming step. 

It is also critical here to mention that for Balendra and RSP, this is going to be a difficult time geopolitically beyond the neighborhood, given the war in West Asia, and a significant chunk of the diaspora of both India and Nepal works there in different sector will surely ask leaders to work together in the tough times. 

The mandate for the RSP is a sign of a generational change in Nepal's politics. It shows that the people want to move on from the cycles of instability and political rhetoric that have defined the country's recent past. India should see this change as less of a strategic puzzle and more of a chance to fix a relationship that has been strong in the past but has been strained by political mistakes on both sides. A leadership that is new to foreign policy may also be less rigid in its ideas about diplomacy, which could make it easier to deal with difficult issues in a more practical way. For Kathmandu, governing with such a strong mandate will also mean finding a balance between what people want and what is possible given the geography and the fact that the economy is linked to other countries. India is still Nepal's most important trading partner, and Nepal's political stability is just as important for India's own neighborhood policy. 

In this situation, the new government's success will depend in part on how well it can keep working with New Delhi while also working on its own reform agenda. If both sides stay away from populist language and focus on steady diplomatic talks instead, the current political change in Nepal could quietly mark the start of a more stable and mature phase in India–Nepal relations.

*Harsh Pandey is a PhD Candidate at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, He is also a Life member of Delhi Based International Centre for Peace Studies.

In a historic political shift, the newly formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and its prime ministerial candidate, rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah, swept the elections in Nepal and are set to form the government – dislodging the country’s old political institutions. While the mandate marks a pivotal moment in Nepal's political landscape following the Gen-Z protests that rocked the country last year, it also poses a significant strategic test for India in Kathmandu. 

Nepal occupies a key strategic place in India’s South Asian engagement strategy. India remains Nepal’s largest trading partner. Over the past decade, New Delhi has invested significantly in developmental assistance, strengthening cross-border connectivity projects and hydro and energy cooperation.

Initiatives such as amending the ‘Treaty of Transit’ to enhance trade flows via the Jogbani-Biratnagar rail link – enabling direct rail transport of containerised and bulk cargo to Nepal’s custom yard – and completion of the 34 km Jayanagar-Kutha rail link, similarly, integrated check posts have been operationalized to streamline customs procedures and reduce logistical delays – illustrate India’s effort in institutionalising supply chains that bind two economies closer together.

In the energy sector, India has invested heavily in several hydropower and electricity transmission projects. Multiple cross-border electricity transmission lines are already operational, while agreements have been signed for a new 400 kV transmission line linking Inaruwa to New Purnea and the Lamki-Dododhara corridor with Bareilly. Additionally, under a long-term power-purchase agreement, Nepal plans to export up to 10,000 MW of electricity to India over the next decade – reinforcing New Delhi’s ambition to position itself as the hub of a broader regional energy network. 

However, the smooth operationalization of these initiatives depends significantly on a cooperative and predictable political leadership in Kathmandu. It is precisely at this juncture that the landslide victory of the RSP carries profound significance. 

The RSP’s electoral triumph reflects the aspirations of a new generation shaped by the Gen-Z wave. For many Nepalis, the political mandate represents not merely a change in government but a generational reset in a political system long criticized for stagnation and persistent corruption. The anti-corruption sentiment that fuelled the September protests has now propelled a leadership that emphasises transparency, accountability, and institutional reforms while simultaneously articulating what many describe as a more “vocal sovereignty."

Within this emerging political cohort, relations with India may no longer be viewed through the lens of ‘historical obligation’. Sections of Nepal’s political discourse have historically accused India of excessive involvement in Nepal’s internal affairs and behaving as ‘big brother’ rather than engaging on equal terms. Whether justified or not, such perceptions have periodically strained bilateral ties in the past. The emergence of a political order committed to “strategic autonomy” and a “Nepal First” approach is therefore likely to scrutinize India’s role far more closely, particularly in negotiations concerning trade felicitation, customs procedures, and cross-border administrative arrangements. 

Consistent with this outlook, RSP under Shah’s leadership has pledged to reposition Nepal from a traditional “buffer state” between India and China into a “vibrant bridge” that facilitates trilateral economic partnerships. The RSP argues that Nepal must pragmatically maximize its sovereign interests with both neighbors through technical negotiations. 

China, meanwhile, is keen to steadily expand its economic and infrastructural footprint in Nepal. During K.P. Sharma Oli’s tenure, Kathmandu finalized several projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, deepening Chinese engagement in the country’s infrastructure sector. 

While Shah has expressed equal frustration with both India and China, it is very likely that the new government will seek to diversify Nepal’s external partnerships to reduce long-standing dependence on any single partner. Such balancing is common in South Asian diplomacy; yet, most of the party leadership’s relative lack of prior institutional experience in governing at the national level, coupled with a new political landscape, introduces an element of unpredictability regarding how these ambitions will translate into policy or whether the party’s “Nepal’s First” policy will slip into a “China First” reality – inevitably complicating India’s strategic calculations in the Himalayas.

Another sensitive dimension concerns unresolved territorial disputes. Shah and his party have taken a critical position on revisiting the India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship and have repeatedly called for a stronger Nepali stance on key territorial disputes, including Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura, insisting that no foreign activity should take place in these regions without Nepal’s consent. The issue has remained a sensitive flashpoint between the two since Nepal’s controversial map revision in 2020. Now, with a two-thirds parliamentary majority, the new leadership could possess the domestic political capital to pursue a harder line on such issues, considering Balen Shah’s earlier anti-India rhetoric as a mayor of Kathmandu – possibly sharpening bilateral tensions.

New Delhi’s diplomatic outreach towards Nepal was traditionally anchored in the long-established political entities, such as the Nepal Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal – Unified Marxist–Leninist (CPN-UML). The RSP’s landslide victory signals the erosion of this familiar political landscape and the emergence of a new generation of leaders whose governance approach remains largely untested. In a country witnessing a dramatic shift, its younger generation is more digitally connected than ever before and uncompromisingly aspirational. Nepal’s electoral earthquake has brought the RSP into the corridors of power – one that India’s regional diplomacy has not previously had to navigate in such a form.

Although the new mandate sends some optimism in New Delhi's strategic circles. Analysts view the emergence of RSP, compounded by Shah's technocratic priorities – its emphasis on improving infrastructure, digital connectivity, and boosting GDP – could also open new avenues for cooperation. RSP ambitiously wants to be vehicle of change of a new Nepal and the trajectory of India-Nepal relations will therefore depend on how India adapts to this evolving landscape, making the RSP’s rise not a just a domestic phenomenon but a critical strategic test for New Delhi’s regional diplomacy in Kathmandu. 

Ammu S. Anil is a Senior Research Fellow at the MMAJ Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and a Visiting Fellow at NIICE Nepal, Lalitpur.

Mahesh Ganguly, Teaching Assistant and Research Fellow, IIT Bombay. 

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Nepal has signed agreements with four organizations to implement development initiatives under its Small Grant Development Project 2026, with total funding of EUR 86,330 aimed at supporting marginalized communities across Nepal..

Anurodh Nepal in Lahan Municipality will implement one of the projects, “Empowering Marginalized Women through Eco-Craft Skills and Cooperative Enterprise.”

The initiative seeks to empower marginalized Madhesi and Dalit women by providing training in bamboo and banana-fiber eco-craft production, entrepreneurship, and cooperative management, reads a statement issued by the Embassy of Germany in Kathmandu. 

The initiative will also promote women’s economic independence, reduce gender-based violence through awareness, and foster a sustainable, women-led cooperative for long-term livelihood generation. 

The embassy will contribute up to EUR 13,860 to the project.

In Pokhara Metropolitan City, the Nucleus for Empowerment through Skill Transfer (NEST) Pokhara will implement a program aimed at economically empowering women who serve as caretakers for persons with disabilities, mental illness, and other vulnerable family members in marginalized settlements of Wards 2 and 8. 

The project will establish cooperative-managed livelihood enterprises and provide skills training along with small-scale production equipment such as sewing machines and beekeeping kits. 

The embassy is supporting the initiative with up to EUR 24,300.

The project GreenRide to Prosperity by Lakshyadeep will focus on improving the livelihoods of marginalized households in Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City, Ward No. 15 (Padariya Tole), mostly from the Tharu, Risidev, Bishwakarma, Shah and other communities who struggle to meet basic needs. The project will train selected individuals in e-rickshaw driving, support them in obtaining driving licenses, and provide e-rickshaws to economically vulnerable families The German Embassy supports the project with up to EUR 24,270, according to the statement. 

Meanwhile, The Lutheran World Federation Nepal will implement a project to support newly arrived refugees by improving water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities while strengthening health services, psychosocial well-being, and livelihood resilience. The embassy is providing up to EUR 23,900 for this initiative.

“Germany and Nepal enjoy a strong partnership with many facets,” stated Ambassador Udo Eugen Volz. “These new small-scale grants are designed to complement our larger government-to-government collaborations by investing in smaller projects that are rooted in local communities and built for long-term impact. They specifically target support for marginalized groups across Nepal.”

The general election of 2026 marks a defining moment in Nepal’s democratic journey. While elections routinely change governments, they only occasionally signal a deeper shift in the nature of democratic politics itself. The verdict from the Nepali electorate seems to represent just such a transition, suggesting that Nepal is evolving from the politics of democratic transition to one focused on democratic performance—where citizens evaluate leaders less on their historical legacies and more on their capacity to provide effective governance, economic opportunities, and national advancement.

For the Nepali Congress (NC), this outcome demands sober introspection. As a party that once led Nepal’s democratic struggles, it must now reassess its role in a rapidly changing society. This process should transcend nostalgia for past glories or short-term electoral tactics, centering instead on a fundamental question: How can Nepal’s democratic institutions best support the nation’s next phase of development and prosperity? Such moments call for humility, broader perspective, and a forward-oriented sense of national duty.

Accepting the verdict with democratic grace

Elections embody the essence of democratic sovereignty. Through their votes, citizens not only select representatives but also convey their vision for the country’s future. This collective judgment merits unwavering respect. In this election, I sought renewed trust from voters in a constituency that had backed me before. The electorate has chosen another direction, and I accept that choice with humility and grace. I am profoundly grateful to those who offered their support and encouragement, especially against a sweeping national tide. Their faith remains a lasting source of inspiration and obligation.

It is fitting to extend congratulations to the Rastriya Swatantra Party’s leadership for their historic mandate. Victories of this magnitude bring both prestige and weighty duties. Voters have signaled a clear demand for renewal and better governance. We can hope—and must expect—that this new leadership meets the challenge with gravity and dedication, mindful that even robust mandates, like the 2017 left alliance, can stumble amid internal divisions and governance hurdles.

Defeat is a familiar facet of democratic life, serving as a gauge of institutional endurance. The NC has weathered far graver trials—eras of repression, exile, and sidelining—yet it has repeatedly revitalized itself by staying rooted in the people’s democratic hopes. There is strong cause to trust it will do so again, through candid self-examination of recent setbacks, including its own governance lapses and factional strains, to serve the nation with fresh resolve.

The historical arc of democratic politics in Nepal

Placing this moment in Nepal’s extended democratic narrative clarifies its importance. The NC emerged not just as a political entity but as a force for democratic change. In the mid-20th century, it was instrumental in dismantling the Rana oligarchy and ushering in constitutional governance. The 1959 election—Nepal’s inaugural nationwide parliamentary vote under a constitutional monarchy—captured public zeal for representation, yielding a resounding NC win, only for the 1960 royal coup to halt that nascent experiment. Three decades later, the 1990 people’s movement reinstated multiparty democracy after prolonged suppression, reaffirming that sovereignty lies with the people and power must be accountable. The ensuing Maoist insurgency laid bare profound societal inequities, compelling a reevaluation of the constitutional framework.

The 2006 popular uprising drove further transformation, culminating in the republican structure of the 2015 Constitution. Throughout these milestones, the NC stood as a key steward of democratic values, even as shifting public demands now require adaptation from all established (or some may prefer to call, legacy) parties. The 2017 election appeared to promise stability with a dominant left alliance majority, but fractures, fluid coalitions, and delivery shortfalls quickly eroded that promise. Nepal’s democratic triumphs have reshaped political rivalry. The liberties won through generations of activism have heightened citizen expectations for what democracy must achieve.

From democratic struggle to democratic performance

Nepal’s political system has entered a new stage of democratic development. For much of the twentieth century and the early twenty-first, the central challenge was securing democratic freedoms and building constitutional institutions. That struggle shaped the identity of political parties and the experiences of an entire generation of leaders. Today the challenge has shifted. Democratic freedoms are largely institutionalized, and citizens increasingly evaluate political leadership not by historical credentials alone but by governance performance, policy effectiveness, and economic outcomes—such as addressing employment limitations, administrative inefficiencies, and public accountability.

This transition is natural and healthy. Mature democracies gradually move from struggles over political rights toward debates about institutional capacity, economic opportunity, and policy delivery. The electoral shifts of 2026 should therefore be interpreted within this broader evolution. The electorate appears to be signaling a desire for faster progress, stronger institutions, and clearer pathways toward national prosperity, while acknowledging that structural constraints may temper the pace of change. For parties that played historic roles in democratic movements, this adaptation demands self-scrutiny and creativity, including frank reckoning with prior lapses in policy consistency and institutional strengthening.

Listening to the message of change

Every election carries lessons. The message emerging from this one appears to be that many citizens seek new approaches to governance and development. Issues like employment, economic expansion, administrative streamlining, and public oversight dominate discussions, mirroring the ambitions of a younger, better-educated, increasingly urban and interconnected populace. Nepal’s youth confront a stark irony: rising education and global exposure coexist with scant domestic prospects, driving many abroad for work. Remittances bolster families and the economy, yet enduring prosperity hinges on fostering homegrown opportunities, bolstered by targeted investments in education, skills, and entrepreneurship.

For the NC, this moment calls for attentive listening rather than defensiveness. Democratic renewal begins with recognizing that voter expectations evolve. Political institutions remain relevant when they respond constructively to those expectations, addressing both achievements and areas needing reform.

The responsibility of the incoming government

This election has yielded a decisive mandate for the incoming government, which commands a near-supermajority—a rarity in Nepal’s splintered politics. Such a mandate brings both opportunity and responsibility. A strong majority provides the stability necessary to pursue ambitious reforms, implement long-term policies, and address structural challenges requiring sustained commitment. At the same time, it raises expectations and risks if progress stalls due to administrative capacity issues or policy disruptions. When voters grant decisive authority, they expect visible progress in governance, economic development, and institutional reform.

The responsibility of the incoming government is therefore not merely to govern but to demonstrate that democratic institutions can deliver tangible national progress, building on existing sectors like agriculture, hydropower, and tourism. If the coming years bring improvements in governance, job creation, and development, they will strengthen public confidence not only in one administration but in Nepal’s democratic system itself. From opposition or wider civic roles, all democratic participants should aid this constructively, as national gains transcend partisan lines.

Reimagining Nepal’s development path

The central challenge facing Nepal today is the transformation of democratic stability into economic prosperity. Nepal possesses significant resources and opportunities. Its hydropower potential remains among the largest in South Asia. Its natural landscapes and cultural heritage offer exceptional prospects for tourism development. These sectors alone, if developed strategically with sustained investment and policy clarity, could become powerful drivers of growth and employment.

Still, development faces inherent structural limits—landlocked status inflating trade costs, a modest internal market, gradual industrial growth, and heavy remittance reliance. While these inflows aid households, they fall short of a varied, vibrant economy. Institutions have improved, yet administrative prowess and policy steadiness persist as challenges. Such constraints, however, do not define a country’s destiny. Nations facing similar limitations have overcome them through consistent policy direction, institutional strengthening, and political stability. A government with a strong parliamentary mandate therefore has a rare opportunity to pursue reforms with strategic focus and long-term continuity, while navigating risks like geographic vulnerabilities and economic dependencies.

Nestled between Asia’s economic giants, Nepal can tap connectivity, energy trade, and tourism flows. Realizing these opportunities will depend less on geography itself than on the quality of infrastructure, regulatory predictability, and balanced diplomacy. Agriculture remains pivotal and continues to be the primary source of livelihood for rural millions. Improving productivity, expanding agro-processing, and strengthening rural infrastructure are key to easing economic vulnerabilities. No less vital are ongoing commitments to education, skills, and innovation. Nepal’s youthful demographic is a prime resource, with long-term success tied to channeling it into domestic productivity. With political stability and strategic clarity, Nepal can gradually transform its economic base, turning democratic maturity into durable national prosperity, provided all stakeholders collaborate to address ongoing challenges.

Renewal within democratic institutions

The lessons of this election extend beyond any single political party. They highlight the importance of continuous renewal within democratic institutions. Political parties must remain open to generational change, policy innovation, and organizational reform. Public institutions must strengthen transparency, accountability, and professional competence. Democracy thrives by evolving with societal shifts while upholding constitutional essentials. For the NC, this means deliberate contemplation of its place in Nepal’s changing arena. Its historic role in the democratic movement provides a strong foundation, but its future relevance will depend on how effectively it engages with the aspirations of a new generation, including through self-critical evaluation.

Looking ahead

Moments of electoral disruption often appear dramatic in the immediate aftermath, yet they affirm democratic vigor, reminding us that power rests with the people and democratic systems remain capable of renewal. For those of us who have spent many years in public service, the appropriate response is reflection rather than resentment and commitment rather than retreat. The task now is to contribute—within whatever roles we occupy—to the strengthening of democratic institutions and the advancement of national development.

Nepal has already demonstrated remarkable resilience in its journey from monarchy to republic and from conflict to constitutional democracy. The next chapter must focus on translating democratic stability into broad-based prosperity. If the lessons of this election encourage both government and opposition to pursue that goal with seriousness and humility—acknowledging past disruptions and structural hurdles—the electoral transformation of 2026 could endure not as rupture but as the dawn of Nepal’s deepened democratic integration and national evolution.

The External Affairs Ministry of India has stated that India and Nepal have a unique and multifaceted partnership.

Responding to the query of a journalist at a weekly press briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the partnership between India and Nepal will continue to gain momentum in the coming days.

He said that the Indian government will work closely with the new government of Nepal.

Saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation with Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane and senior leader Balendra Shah, Jaiswal stated that India wants common peace, progress, and prosperity.

“We have welcomed the successful conclusion of the elections in Nepal. Our Prime Minister has also congratulated the Rastriya Swatantra Party for its remarkable success in the elections through telephone,” he said, adding, “The Prime Minister has stated that India, as a close friend and neighbor, is always committed to working with the people and the new government of Nepal.”

Nepal joined fellow countries today in reaffirming its strong support for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and emphasized the need to ensure the safety and security of UN peacekeepers serving in Lebanon under challenging circumstances, according to Nepal's Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

Nepal stated that peacekeepers must never be the target of attack. 

The government strongly condemned attacks against UN personnel, wished the injured peacekeepers a speedy and full recovery. 

It has also called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, respect international law, and fully implement the relevant Security Council resolutions.

Pakistan congratulated Nepal on the successful completion of its elections.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar extended his heartiest congratulations to the people and the leadership of Nepal, according to the Embassy of Pakistan in Kathmandu.

In his message, the Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister said Pakistan deeply values its fraternal relations with Nepal and expressed hope that the two countries would continue to strengthen their longstanding friendship.

Dar also said he looks forward to working closely with his counterpart and the new government of Nepal to further enhance bilateral cooperation, explore new avenues of partnership, and promote regional peace and prosperity.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the people and Government of Nepal on the successful and peaceful conduct of elections. 

Taking to X, Modi said, “It is heartening to see my Nepali sisters and brothers exercise their democratic rights so vibrantly. This historic milestone is a proud moment in Nepal’s democratic journey.”

As a close friend and neighbour, India remains steadfast in its commitment to working closely with the people of Nepal and their new Government to scale new heights of shared peace, progress and prosperity, said the Indian Prime Minister. 

The European Union has welcomed the holding of elections in Nepal

The EU congratulates the interim government and the electoral and security authorities for the peaceful and orderly manner in which they took place, EU said in a press statement. 

The EU looks forward to further deepening our longstanding partnership with Nepal and to advancing our shared priorities, the statement says. 

India has welcomed the successful conduct of elections and the exercise of their democratic mandate by the citizens of Nepal, which have seen enthusiastic participation.

We congratulate Prime Minister Sushila Karki, the Government and the people of Nepal, as well as various stakeholders, for successfully holding these polls, which took place against the backdrop of exceptional circumstances last year, India said in a press statement.

India has consistently supported peace, progress, and stability in Nepal and, in keeping with our commitment, provided logistical supplies as per the request from the Government of Nepal for these elections, the statement says. We look forward to working with the new Government of Nepal to further build on the robust multifaceted ties between our two countries and peoples for mutual benefit. 

Nepal and India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on biodiversity conservation. 

The MoU to this effect was signed in the presence of Minister for Forests and Environment of Nepal, Madhav Prasad Chaualgain, and Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India, Bhupendra Yadav, in New Delhi on Wednesday. 

The MoU was signed by Nepal's Ambassador to India Dr Shankar Prasad Sharma, on behalf of Nepal, and by Tanmay Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, on behalf of India.

Dr Maheshwor Dhakal, spokesperson at the Ministry of Forests said that senior officials from the governments of Nepal and India were present on the occasion. 

Both Nepal and India are signatories to various international treaties on environmental conservation, including biodiversity, under the United Nations.

There are protected areas and biological corridors in the bordering areas of both nations, providing habitat to many wild animals, including elephants, rhinos, and tigers. These wild animals cross the borders freely without hindrances. 

The MoU, therefore, is expected to play a role in enabling both countries to coordinate and cooperate in the protected areas, biodiversity, and wildlife crime control, adopt a shared strategy related to biodiversity, and develop the capacities of personnel working in the field.

Additionally, Minister Chaulagain said that the MoU will support controlling and regulating poaching and illegal trade of wildlife in cross-border areas, conducting research, studies, and monitoring of wildlife, and raising awareness and building capacity at the local level.

The implementation of the MoU is expected to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity in both countries by conducting regular patrols and meetings in the border areas, exchanging experiences and knowledge, developing and expanding good practices, and sharing immediate information related to wildlife and illegal trade.

The MoU states that both countries can exchange wildlife crime-related information with the South Asia Wildlife Law Enforcement Network (SAWEN) to control and regulate international wildlife crimes.

The Ministry and its subordinate Department of Forests and Soil Conservation and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation at the central level, and the relevant provincial Ministry of Forests and Environment, protected areas, and divisional forest offices will coordinate and collaborate at the local level, to implement the said understanding on behalf of Nepal.

The MoU  stipulates that the agreement will be automatically renewed every five years unless a nation provides written information through diplomatic means, and it will be reviewed every three years.

The MoU states that any problems arising during the implementation will be resolved through mutual understanding.

The Chinese government is to provide USD four million to Nepal for the elections to the House of Representatives scheduled for March 5. 

A Cabinet meeting held today decided to accept the amount to be received as the grant. 

Government Spokesperson and Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal also took the decision to approve the investment model for Budhigandaki Project as mentioned in current fiscal year's budget and programme.  

Similarly, Chief Judge of Kathmandu District Court, Diwakar Bhatta, has been appointed Chairperson of Consumer Court Kathmandu with the responsibility of overseeing the functions of Kathmandu District Court as well.  

The meeting also declared the public holidays for 2083 BS as well as to form Gen Z Council, he added.