A government-backed commission in Nepal has recommended bringing former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and senior officials to trial over the 2025 Gen-Z-led uprising that left at least 77 people dead. The protests began in September 2025 after a ban on social media and quickly expanded into demonstrations against economic hardship and corruption. Security forces killed 19 young protesters on the first day, prompting Oli’s resignation. The commission’s report, leaked to local media, was released as newly elected lawmakers took their oaths.

The report stated that then–Prime Minister Oli and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak failed to take effective measures to prevent the deaths, despite their responsibility for security and law enforcement. It found that 48 of 63 autopsies confirmed victims were shot, mostly in the chest or head, and that no effort was made to stop or control the firing. Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, who became interim prime minister after Oli’s ouster, had formed the commission, which interviewed over 200 people and submitted a 900-page report with extensive evidence.

The full official details of the report have not yet been released, though Karki’s office indicated plans to publish it soon.

Nepal held its first general election on March 5 following the Gen-Z-led uprising, marking a major generational shift in the country’s political leadership. According to results from 159 constituencies released by Sunday evening, 59 candidates under the age of 40 were elected to the federal legislature, representing 38 percent of the total. This marks a sharp rise from the 2022 parliament, where only 11 percent of members were under 40.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) played a key role in this transformation, with 51 of the 59 young lawmakers coming from the party. The remaining young representatives include four from the Nepali Congress, two from CPN-UML, and one from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party. Notable new entrants include Balendra Shah, 35, from Jhapa-5; Sobita Gautam, 30, from Chitwan-3; Sulav Kharel, 28, from Rupandehi-2; and Rubina Acharya, 31, from Morang-6.

Analysts suggest the rise of young leadership signals potential policy shifts in education, governance, climate, and employment, though challenges may arise in aligning with Nepal’s entrenched bureaucratic structures.

Nepal is set to announce the official results of its national election tomorrow, paving the way for a new government. However, the 265 newly elected members of parliament face a pressing question: where will they convene? The country currently has no usable parliament building after protesters set fire to it during nationwide demonstrations last year, causing extensive damage.

Following the destruction, Nepal’s interim government initiated the construction of a new parliamentary complex. According to local media reports citing the Urban Development Ministry, the new building is expected to be ready by mid-March. The project had originally been scheduled for completion last October but remains unfinished.

Until the new facility is completed, the incoming parliament may face logistical challenges in holding its sessions and conducting legislative business.

Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Raksu) General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar stated that the leaders who led Nepal’s recent mass uprising have now formed the government. He attributed this to the absence of what he called the Dhaka University or 'brotherhood' culture. Ammar made the remarks on Friday in a verified Facebook post.

In his post, Ammar reflected on his involvement in campus movements during the period when the 'pet quota' protest was active. He alleged that many national-level leaders were so preoccupied with internal matters that they failed to raise a strong voice from Dhaka University demanding the abolition of the quota. He also mentioned that while large cultural programs were held at Dhaka University, his efforts to organize similar events at Rajshahi University were ignored.

Wishing success to Nepal’s 'Gen-Z government', Ammar said any party formed by the uprising leaders would be his 'beloved organization'. He criticized the culture of favoritism and fan-based evaluation in politics, saying it had driven many activists away from their organizations.

Vote counting continues in Nepal following Thursday’s general election, with former rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah emerging as the early frontrunner. Shah, who served as Kathmandu’s mayor until January, is leading by a wide margin, positioning him as a potential next prime minister. His centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is ahead in more than two-thirds of the 165 directly elected seats, according to BBC Nepali. The Nepali Congress trails in second place, while the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) stands third. Final results may take several days due to Nepal’s slow counting process and the logistical challenges of collecting ballots from remote areas.

Shah, 35, trained as a civil engineer and was active in Nepal’s hip-hop scene before entering politics. His popularity surged during last year’s protests over social media restrictions, corruption, and unemployment, which led to the resignation of then-leader KP Sharma Oli. Shah’s tough stance as mayor drew both support and criticism, particularly from human rights groups. He is contesting from Jhapa-5, Oli’s traditional stronghold, and is currently leading there as well.

Analysts view this election as a generational shift, with many young voters seeking new leadership after decades of unstable coalition governments.

Nepal began voting on Thursday in a parliamentary election that has drawn attention for its potential to reshape the country’s political alignment between India and China. The contest features key figures including former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli of the Communist Party (UML), former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa, and Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The Election Commission pledged to announce results within 24 hours of collecting ballots from 165 constituencies.

Observers doubt any party will secure a majority, citing Nepal’s long history of unstable governments since the monarchy’s fall in 1990. The 2025 Gen Z movement that forced Oli’s resignation continues to influence the political landscape, with Shah emerging as a prominent anti-establishment and India-critical figure. Analysts note that Oli’s UML remains China-leaning, while India has refrained from commenting directly on the election but continues to monitor developments closely.

Experts suggest that regardless of the outcome, Nepal’s next government will need to maintain cooperative ties with India to ensure economic stability and development.

Nepal began voting on Thursday, March 5, 2026, to elect a new parliament, marking the first national election since the government fell six months ago following a deadly anti-corruption uprising. The vote, running until 5 p.m. local time, is being described as one of the most competitive since the end of the civil war in 2006. Around 19 million registered voters are choosing representatives to replace the interim government that has ruled since the September 2025 protests.

The 2025 Gen Z–led movement began as opposition to a temporary social media ban but grew into a nationwide campaign against corruption and economic mismanagement, resulting in at least 77 deaths and the fall of former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli’s administration. Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki urged citizens to vote without fear, while thousands of security personnel were deployed to maintain order.

Over 3,400 candidates are contesting 165 directly elected seats in the 275-member lower house, with the remaining 110 to be allocated by party lists. Analysts expect no single party to win an outright majority, and preliminary results are expected within 24 hours.

Rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah, the 35-year-old mayor of Kathmandu, has become a leading contender for Nepal’s next prime minister ahead of the general election scheduled for March 5. Shah, popularly known as Balen, rose to prominence after a youth-led uprising in September last year toppled the government of then–Prime Minister K. P. Oli, an event in which 77 people were killed. Through a social media post, Shah urged young voters to prepare to lead the country, declaring that the time of their oppressors was over.

Constitutional law expert Bipin Adhikari noted Shah’s immense popularity, saying that buses entering Kathmandu often display stickers reading “Heading to Balen’s city.” Shah’s National Independent Party (RSP), a new centrist force, has pledged to maintain balanced foreign relations with Nepal’s two large neighbors. Reuters reported that Shah, who first entered politics as mayor in 2022, is now seen as the most likely candidate for prime minister.

As mayor, Shah earned praise for improving infrastructure, waste management, and health services in Kathmandu, though groups such as Human Rights Watch criticized him for using police to evict street vendors and the homeless. He resigned as mayor in January to contest the election.

At least 17 people were killed and 24 others injured when a passenger bus fell into the Trishuli River in Nepal’s Dhading district on Sunday. The bus was traveling from Pokhara to the capital, Kathmandu, when it lost control and plunged into the river, according to a report by TRT World. Police said a large number of security personnel joined the rescue operation, and efforts were underway to identify the victims. The injured passengers were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. The cause of the accident remains unclear.

The report noted that Nepal frequently experiences road accidents due to weak infrastructure, old vehicles, and the country’s challenging mountainous terrain. Authorities have not yet provided further details about the circumstances leading to the crash.

Rescue operations continued at the site as officials worked to recover bodies and assist survivors, highlighting ongoing safety concerns on Nepal’s hilly roads.

At least 17 people were killed and 24 others injured when a passenger bus fell into the Trishuli River in Nepal’s Dhading district on Sunday. The bus was traveling from Pokhara to the capital, Kathmandu, when it lost control and plunged into the river. According to police, a large number of security personnel joined the rescue operation at the site. The injured passengers were taken to nearby hospitals, and authorities are working to identify the deceased. The cause of the accident remains unclear.

Road accidents are frequent in Nepal, a mountainous country where weak infrastructure, old vehicles, and challenging terrain contribute to recurring transportation disasters. The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns on Nepal’s intercity routes, particularly those connecting major cities through hilly regions.

Authorities have not yet determined the specific reason for the crash, and investigations are underway to establish the cause and confirm the identities of the victims.

Former Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who resigned in 2025 amid violent anti-corruption protests, has re-entered active politics ahead of the March 5 parliamentary election. The 73-year-old communist leader, who has served four terms as prime minister, is campaigning to regain a parliamentary majority through his Communist Party of Nepal–Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML). His campaign officially begins Monday, with Oli portraying the election as a contest between forces of destruction and those of nation-building.

Oli faces a strong challenge in his constituency from 35-year-old rapper-turned-mayor Balendra Shah, who presents himself as a symbol of youth aspirations. The former leader’s resignation followed deadly unrest in September 2025 that left at least 77 people dead after protesters set fire to government buildings. Oli later denied ordering police to open fire, blaming “anarchist forces” for the violence.

Analysts describe Oli’s leadership style as authoritarian and personality-driven. His political future now hinges on whether he can overcome rising young leadership and return to power in a strategically vital nation between India and China.

Nepal’s oldest political party, the Nepali Congress, has split ahead of the country’s general election scheduled for March. The rebel faction unanimously elected Gagan Thapa as its new president, deepening the political uncertainty that has gripped the nation. The division follows months of unrest after last September’s protests over corruption, governance failures, and demands for political reform, which led to the previous government’s ouster.

Thapa, 49, a prominent figure among the party’s younger generation and former general secretary, pledged not to disappoint supporters after his election. The Election Commission has yet to decide which faction will be recognized as legitimate and allowed to use the party’s traditional tree symbol and flag in the March 5 vote. Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had led the party since 2016 but failed to reach a compromise with dissenting leaders before their expulsion.

The split reflects a generational shift and growing calls for accountability in Nepal’s politics. Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, appointed after the fall of KP Sharma Oli’s government, has promised a fair and fear-free election environment.

Nepal has decided to cancel the 'deposit scheme' introduced to keep Mount Everest free from pollution. The government made the decision after 11 years of implementation, citing a lack of expected results. Under the scheme, climbers were required to deposit a certain amount of money before their ascent, refundable only if they brought down at least eight kilograms of waste. Despite most climbers reclaiming their deposits, the overall pollution level on Everest showed little improvement, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

Himala Gautam, Director of Nepal’s Tourism Department, said the project failed to play an effective role in environmental protection and instead created administrative complications. Climbers often collected waste from lower camps, leaving the higher camps neglected. Shering Sherpa, Chief Executive of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, noted that the most severe pollution persists in the upper camps, where tents, plastic cans, food packets, and used oxygen cylinders are still abandoned.

Experts pointed out that each climber generates about 12 kilograms of waste per expedition, while the rule required only eight kilograms to be brought down. They emphasized the need for more practical and effective policies to protect Everest’s environment.

Nepal’s Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a large-scale corruption case involving the Pokhara International Airport project, accusing 55 individuals and one company of inflating project costs and engaging in illicit financial transactions. The accused include five former ministers, ten former secretaries, and senior officials linked to the Chinese-funded infrastructure project. The case, lodged on Sunday, alleges that approximately USD 74.3 million (NPR 8.36 billion) was misappropriated through manipulated cost estimates and irregular tendering processes.

According to the CIAA, the project’s approved budget was deliberately revised with “malicious intent,” while Chinese firm China CAMC Engineering is accused of securing undue advantages through secret agreements and flawed feasibility studies. The project, initiated decades ago, has long faced controversy over transparency, political interference, and contract favoritism.

This is reportedly the largest corruption case ever submitted to Nepal’s Special Court. Analysts say the case could reshape public trust in foreign-funded infrastructure projects and intensify scrutiny of Chinese involvement in Nepal’s development sector.

At least 39 people have died in floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains in Nepal since Friday, according to the Nepal Police Headquarters. The Koshi Province has been the worst affected, recording 36 deaths, while Madhesh Province reported three fatalities. In Ilam district alone, 27 people died in landslides, with five still missing. Other casualties include two deaths in Udayapur, one in Khotang from lightning, and injuries in Bhojpur and Makwanpur. Six people were also killed in a road accident in Panchthar. Additional deaths occurred in Bara, Rasuwa, Kathmandu, and Ranihat of Madhesh due to floods or lightning strikes. Authorities fear the toll may rise as continuous rainfall hampers rescue and relief operations. The government has urged residents in high-risk areas to remain cautious amid forecasts of further heavy downpours.