We federalised the State: But we forgot to federalise the universities

We federalised the State: But we forgot to federalise the universities

Ten years ago Nepal tore up a centralised state and rebuilt itself as a federation –seven new provinces, each with real say over planning, budgets, service delivery.

Ten years ago Nepal tore up a centralised state and rebuilt itself as a federation –seven new provinces, each with real say over planning, budgets, service delivery.

Opinion 1d ago

One goat at a time: Rethinking livelihood programmes for poor people

One goat at a time: Rethinking livelihood programmes for poor people

A little over 10 years ago, after the 2015 earthquake, I met a woman in Rasuwa, one of the hardest-hit districts, supported by a post-earthquake livelihood programme, who had built a small herd of goats.

A little over 10 years ago, after the 2015 earthquake, I met a woman in Rasuwa, one of the hardest-hit districts, supported by a post-earthquake livelihood programme, who had built a small herd of goats.

Opinion 1d ago

The Chief Justice: Guardian of Justice

The Chief Justice: Guardian of Justice

The Constitution, the judiciary and the law together shape the path of justice, its interpretation and its precedents. Debate about Nepal’s judiciary is not only legitimate; it is essential to a healthy democracy.

The Constitution, the judiciary and the law together shape the path of justice, its interpretation and its precedents. Debate about Nepal’s judiciary is not only legitimate; it is essential to a healthy democracy.

Opinion 2d ago

Deuba's return to Nepal: Its possible political implications

Deuba's return to Nepal: Its possible political implications

The return of Sher Bahadur Deuba, former prime minister of Nepal and president of the Nepali Congress (NC), last week has become not only the talk of the town but also a subject of national interest.

The return of Sher Bahadur Deuba, former prime minister of Nepal and president of the Nepali Congress (NC), last week has become not only the talk of the town but also a subject of national interest.

Opinion 2d ago

Kathmandu once knew how to live with rain: Can it learn again?

Kathmandu once knew how to live with rain: Can it learn again?

Urban flooding has been the story of every monsoon in Kathmandu. Flood arrives following a rainfall, and every commuter struggles with severe waterlogging.

Urban flooding has been the story of every monsoon in Kathmandu. Flood arrives following a rainfall, and every commuter struggles with severe waterlogging.

Opinion 18 Aug, 2026

Good governance: The cure Nepal's health sector needs

Good governance: The cure Nepal's health sector needs

Nepal has demonstrated it can overcome difficult public health challenges. Child deaths have declined, life expectancy has improved, and the country has made major gains towards health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

Nepal has demonstrated it can overcome difficult public health challenges. Child deaths have declined, life expectancy has improved, and the country has made major gains towards health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

Opinion 17 Aug, 2026

Democracy's cruel paradox: The systematic triumph of takers over those who serve

Democracy's cruel paradox: The systematic triumph of takers over those who serve

Democracy is often discussed as a political ideal—a system of elections, representation, constitutional rights and popular sovereignty.

Democracy is often discussed as a political ideal—a system of elections, representation, constitutional rights and popular sovereignty.

Opinion 16 Aug, 2026

Sunsari episode: From political warning to national-security signal

Sunsari episode: From political warning to national-security signal

The political responses to the Sunsari episode point to a broader and more consequential question: what happens when a localised communal incident begins to acquire wider political meaning?

The political responses to the Sunsari episode point to a broader and more consequential question: what happens when a localised communal incident begins to acquire wider political meaning?

Opinion 14 Aug, 2026

Hope is a useful antidote: More so in a chaotic world

Hope is a useful antidote: More so in a chaotic world

It goes without saying that history, or war, is not a thing of the past. The reason is simple. We haven’t turned up yet at the enchanted T-junction, the assured land-dwelling of joy, or tuneful co-habitation, as divined by space-age mavens, or up-to-the-minute mystics.

It goes without saying that history, or war, is not a thing of the past. The reason is simple. We haven’t turned up yet at the enchanted T-junction, the assured land-dwelling of joy, or tuneful co-habitation, as divined by space-age mavens, or up-to-the-minute mystics.

Opinion 13 Aug, 2026

SC's decision to review the NC dispute: How can it help in its unity?

SC's decision to review the NC dispute: How can it help in its unity?

The Supreme Court’s recent decision to review the Nepali Congress (NC) dispute involving Gagan Thapa and Sher Bahadur Deuba groups has created strong ripples in the political arena.

The Supreme Court’s recent decision to review the Nepali Congress (NC) dispute involving Gagan Thapa and Sher Bahadur Deuba groups has created strong ripples in the political arena.

Opinion 12 Aug, 2026

The distant dream: How administrative negligence jeopardises Nepali football

The distant dream: How administrative negligence jeopardises Nepali football

Another FIFA World Cup came to a close, demonstrating the absolute pinnacle of international football.

Another FIFA World Cup came to a close, demonstrating the absolute pinnacle of international football.

Opinion 11 Aug, 2026

Policy roadmap for agriculture transformation: Marketability of farm products should be the focus

Policy roadmap for agriculture transformation: Marketability of farm products should...

Nepal’s geography spans an extraordinary range of climates – tropical, temperate, semi-temperate, and alpine – into a remarkably small territory.

Nepal’s geography spans an extraordinary range of climates – tropical, temperate, semi-temperate, and alpine – into a remarkably small territory.

Opinion 11 Aug, 2026

Every war has an address, but its consequences reach beyond borders

Every war has an address, but its consequences reach beyond borders

Every war begins in a particular place, for reasons such as political decisions, historical grievances, or strategic calculations. Yet its consequences rarely remain confined to the territory where the war took place.

Every war begins in a particular place, for reasons such as political decisions, historical grievances, or strategic calculations. Yet its consequences rarely remain confined to the territory where the war took place.

Opinion 10 Aug, 2026

Banking stability in Nepal: Lessons from the 1997 Asian financial crisis

Banking stability in Nepal: Lessons from the 1997 Asian financial crisis

In July 1997, a slow realisation spread across Bangkok that a financial crisis had begun. For years, Thailand’s economy had been celebrated as a premier model of rapid growth – a vibrant nation pulled by easy credit, skyrocketing real estate property, and widespread optimism. Yet, behind those impressive headline numbers, structural imbalances were building beneath the surface.

In July 1997, a slow realisation spread across Bangkok that a financial crisis had begun. For years, Thailand’s economy had been celebrated as a premier model of rapid growth – a vibrant nation pulled by easy credit, skyrocketing real estate property, and widespread optimism. Yet, behind those impressive headline numbers, structural imbalances were building beneath the surface.

Opinion 10 Aug, 2026

My Malaka Adversaries: You do not need meditation to awaken awareness

My Malaka Adversaries: You do not need meditation to awaken awareness

I do not believe awareness begins only with meditation. Meditation can quiet the mind, but life itself can become a far more demanding form of meditation.

I do not believe awareness begins only with meditation. Meditation can quiet the mind, but life itself can become a far more demanding form of meditation.

Opinion 09 Aug, 2026

Taxing power, wasting opportunity: Nepal should reward households for switching to clean energy

Taxing power, wasting opportunity: Nepal should reward households for switching to...

A country that curtails monsoon hydropower, spends nearly Rs 340 billion importing petroleum products, and records per-capita electricity demand barely one-tenth of the global average should not tax households for moving beyond basic lighting. The policy penalises progress and protects dependence on imported fuel.

A country that curtails monsoon hydropower, spends nearly Rs 340 billion importing petroleum products, and records per-capita electricity demand barely one-tenth of the global average should not tax households for moving beyond basic lighting. The policy penalises progress and protects dependence on imported fuel.

Opinion 07 Aug, 2026

Balochistan and the limits of force: Internationalisation of the conflict is inevitable

Balochistan and the limits of force: Internationalisation of the conflict is...

Balochistan’s story is not a footnote in South Asian history; it is the chronicle of a nation that began independent, was annexed by force, and has spent the better part of eight decades refusing to accept that fate.

Balochistan’s story is not a footnote in South Asian history; it is the chronicle of a nation that began independent, was annexed by force, and has spent the better part of eight decades refusing to accept that fate.

Opinion 06 Aug, 2026

Kaptanganj tragedy and its aftermath: Need of frequent political, religious dialogues

Kaptanganj tragedy and its aftermath: Need of frequent political, religious dialogues

Madhes Pradesh was virtually up in flames following a clash between two religious communities in Kaptanganj, Sunsari.

Madhes Pradesh was virtually up in flames following a clash between two religious communities in Kaptanganj, Sunsari.

Opinion 05 Aug, 2026

AI and the future of education: Is AI making high school pointless?

AI and the future of education: Is AI making high school pointless?

I am just beginning my high school but I am already surrounded by AI in school.

I am just beginning my high school but I am already surrounded by AI in school.

Opinion 05 Aug, 2026

Digital is not the destination: Nepal's next chapter of tourism is not algorithms, it's the people

Digital is not the destination: Nepal's next chapter of tourism is not algorithms,...

At a crossroads in Dapcha, a hill settlement east of Kathmandu, a foreign tourist checked his phone for the old mud houses he had read about.

At a crossroads in Dapcha, a hill settlement east of Kathmandu, a foreign tourist checked his phone for the old mud houses he had read about.

Opinion 04 Aug, 2026