What a 1,400-kilometre walk through the Himalayas revealed about climate decision-making

What a 1,400-kilometre walk through the Himalayas revealed about climate...

After walking 1,400 kilometres across the Great Himalaya Trail and speaking with communities living alongside retreating glaciers and growing climate risks, I found that the challenge was no longer whether local people were being heard, but whether their knowledge was shaping the decisions made about their future.

After walking 1,400 kilometres across the Great Himalaya Trail and speaking with communities living alongside retreating glaciers and growing climate risks, I found that the challenge was no longer whether local people were being heard, but whether their knowledge was shaping the decisions made about their future.

Opinion 14 Jun, 2026

An energy budget with bigger ambitions: The real test lies in execution

An energy budget with bigger ambitions: The real test lies in execution

Nepal’s latest federal budget offers an important opportunity to reposition the country’s development trajectory.

Nepal’s latest federal budget offers an important opportunity to reposition the country’s development trajectory.

Opinion 13 Jun, 2026

Moral dilemmas: In the age of hope and fear

Moral dilemmas: In the age of hope and fear

We are today, perhaps, much more than any time before, struggling with moral questions.

We are today, perhaps, much more than any time before, struggling with moral questions.

Opinion 12 Jun, 2026

Balen's statement about Indo-Nepal border: An unwarranted outburst

Balen's statement about Indo-Nepal border: An unwarranted outburst

The Parliament was virtually up in flames when Prime Minister Balen Shah said that it was not only India but also Nepal that has encroached neighbouring territory in response to a question by Aaren Rai, a parliamentarian representing the Shrama Sanskriti Party.

The Parliament was virtually up in flames when Prime Minister Balen Shah said that it was not only India but also Nepal that has encroached neighbouring territory in response to a question by Aaren Rai, a parliamentarian representing the Shrama Sanskriti Party.

Opinion 10 Jun, 2026

Commercialisation alone will not transform agriculture: The participation of smallholder families is important

Commercialisation alone will not transform agriculture: The participation of...

Having grown up in a smallholder farming family in rural Nepal and spent my career studying smallholder agriculture across Asia and Africa, I read this year’s agricultural budget with mixed feelings.

Having grown up in a smallholder farming family in rural Nepal and spent my career studying smallholder agriculture across Asia and Africa, I read this year’s agricultural budget with mixed feelings.

Opinion 09 Jun, 2026

Redefining schooling and classroom learning in Nepal: Moving beyond memorisation towards independent thinking

Redefining schooling and classroom learning in Nepal: Moving beyond memorisation...

As the school year here in Massachusetts comes to an end, parents have already begun preparing for the next one.

As the school year here in Massachusetts comes to an end, parents have already begun preparing for the next one.

Opinion 08 Jun, 2026

Post Gen Z movement budget: Overambitious, little realistic

Post Gen Z movement budget: Overambitious, little realistic

The much-awaited budget has finally come to the fore. Expectations were high among the people partly because it was the one being presented by the Gen Z supported government.

The much-awaited budget has finally come to the fore. Expectations were high among the people partly because it was the one being presented by the Gen Z supported government.

Opinion 06 Jun, 2026

When the monsoon returns, so do preventable diseases: The fight begins before the outbreak

When the monsoon returns, so do preventable diseases: The fight begins before the...

Every year, Nepal welcomes the monsoon with hope. Rain revives fields, replenishes springs and softens months of heat and dust. But the same season reopens an old public health wound.

Every year, Nepal welcomes the monsoon with hope. Rain revives fields, replenishes springs and softens months of heat and dust. But the same season reopens an old public health wound.

Opinion 05 Jun, 2026

Diplomacy is not surrender: Balen's border remarks are strategic

Diplomacy is not surrender: Balen's border remarks are strategic

Few issues evoke stronger emotions in Nepal than questions of sovereignty and territory.

Few issues evoke stronger emotions in Nepal than questions of sovereignty and territory.

Opinion 04 Jun, 2026

Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Nepal: The inevitable shift

Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Nepal: The inevitable shift

Indigenous Peoples in Nepal have long faced discrimination. Despite the constitutional provisions of Nepal’s rich cultural diversity, indigenous communities have faced socio-economic inequality, land tenure insecurity, and political exclusion for centuries.

Indigenous Peoples in Nepal have long faced discrimination. Despite the constitutional provisions of Nepal’s rich cultural diversity, indigenous communities have faced socio-economic inequality, land tenure insecurity, and political exclusion for centuries.

Opinion 02 Jun, 2026

Domestic and foreign remittances in Nepal: Contributions, disruptions, and policy implications

Domestic and foreign remittances in Nepal: Contributions, disruptions, and policy...

Remittances have become one of the most notable economic lifelines for Nepal. Remittances provide foreign exchange that strengthens the balance of payments, support consumption in households across the country, and help reduce poverty.

Remittances have become one of the most notable economic lifelines for Nepal. Remittances provide foreign exchange that strengthens the balance of payments, support consumption in households across the country, and help reduce poverty.

Opinion 01 Jun, 2026

Rethinking Balen Shah's silence in Parliament: It is not a weakness but a political skill

Rethinking Balen Shah's silence in Parliament: It is not a weakness but a political...

In recent weeks, Nepal’s political discourse has been dominated by a single, polarising question: Why is Prime Minister Balen Shah so silent in Parliament?

In recent weeks, Nepal’s political discourse has been dominated by a single, polarising question: Why is Prime Minister Balen Shah so silent in Parliament?

Opinion 29 May, 2026

Eastern Nepal's growing rainfall crisis: Foster quality infrastructure, timely warning

Eastern Nepal's growing rainfall crisis: Foster quality infrastructure, timely...

Rain has always been a part of life in Nepal’s eastern hills. For the farmers, it means planting, greenery, and hope. But in recent years, the same rain has increasingly become a source of fear.

Rain has always been a part of life in Nepal’s eastern hills. For the farmers, it means planting, greenery, and hope. But in recent years, the same rain has increasingly become a source of fear.

Opinion 28 May, 2026

New Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation: A step in the right direction

New Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation: A step in the right direction

The new government headed by Premier Balen Shah has been virtually carrying twin bags of appreciation and criticism at the same time. It has been criticised for engaging in an evacuation spree of encroached public land without making adequate preparation.

The new government headed by Premier Balen Shah has been virtually carrying twin bags of appreciation and criticism at the same time. It has been criticised for engaging in an evacuation spree of encroached public land without making adequate preparation.

Opinion 27 May, 2026

No reform without a motivated civil service: Implementation depends on capacity, morale, and commitment

No reform without a motivated civil service: Implementation depends on capacity,...

Following Nepal’s recent political transition, the current government has placed clean governance, corruption control, administrative reform, effective service delivery, and institutional efficiency at the centre of its reform agenda.

Following Nepal’s recent political transition, the current government has placed clean governance, corruption control, administrative reform, effective service delivery, and institutional efficiency at the centre of its reform agenda.

Opinion 26 May, 2026

Removing traditional exams up to Grade 5: It is counterproductive without changes in secondary level

Removing traditional exams up to Grade 5: It is counterproductive without changes in...

With the formation of the new government after the Gen-Z revolution, Nepal has been experiencing rapid policy changes.

With the formation of the new government after the Gen-Z revolution, Nepal has been experiencing rapid policy changes.

Opinion 25 May, 2026

She survived childbirth. The injury did not

She survived childbirth. The injury did not

Radhika was 11 years old when her labour began.

Radhika was 11 years old when her labour began.

Opinion 23 May, 2026

Nepal's conservation successes: What are the costs for the local communities?

Nepal's conservation successes: What are the costs for the local communities?

“Stepping outside in the evening is like gambling with your life,” says a local autorickshaw driver in the Khata Corridor of western Nepal. This observation sums up the everyday risk for people living in an area where farms and habitation lie in complex proximity with spaces used by tigers, rhinos, and elephants.

“Stepping outside in the evening is like gambling with your life,” says a local autorickshaw driver in the Khata Corridor of western Nepal. This observation sums up the everyday risk for people living in an area where farms and habitation lie in complex proximity with spaces used by tigers, rhinos, and elephants.

Opinion 22 May, 2026

Nepal's biggest export to India may be political creativity

Nepal's biggest export to India may be political creativity

Let us begin with a cockroach.

Let us begin with a cockroach.

Opinion 22 May, 2026

Wired revelation: The brain, IT, and gene therapy

Wired revelation: The brain, IT, and gene therapy

Information technology is nothing short of godsend from heaven. It has revolutionised our life, learning, and knowledge.

Information technology is nothing short of godsend from heaven. It has revolutionised our life, learning, and knowledge.

Opinion 21 May, 2026