- Saturday, 17 January 2026
Kathmandu, Dec 19: Minister for Communications and Information Technology and Government Spokesperson Jagadish Kharel has said that the country has moved from uncertainty towards stability and a positive direction.
Speaking jointly to the Nepal Television and the RSS on the occasion of the completion of 100 days of the incumbent government, Minister Kharel stated that the government has succeeded in normalizing the situation following the September 8–9 Gen Z movement. He said the government brought the situation under control after the movement, which resulted in the deaths of 76 people and physical damages estimated at over Rs 84 billion.
According to the Minister, the formation of the current government was based on the mandate from the Gen Z movement, which had called for the conduct of the House of Representatives election on March 5, 2026, the establishment of good governance, and control of corruption.
“The conduct of the election has been guaranteed,” he said, urging all concerned not to doubt it. He said the Election Commission (EC) has already begun preparations for the March 5 election. Political parties are actively engaged in election-related activities, and citizens are showing enthusiasm for the polls. More than 800,000 new voters have been added to the voter list, while the management of required financial and human resources has been ensured.
Minister Kharel reiterated that the government is fully committed to holding the election within the announced timeline and has already allocated the required budget for the Election Commission and security agencies. Regarding good governance, he said the government is focused on austerity measures and has cut budgets for unnecessary projects. Efforts are on to improve the effectiveness of public service delivery.
The Minister added that no pressure or influence has been exerted on state bodies involved in corruption investigations. An independent environment has been ensured for the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), resulting in the registration of over 30 major corruption cases within the first 100 days of the government.
Similarly, the Central Investigation Bureau and the National Vigilance Centre are working independently and professionally, he claimed. The Minister said a significant agreement has been reached with Gen Z groups to address the issues raised during the movement. He stated that Gen Z has officially been recognized as a people’s movement, dispelling confusion over whether it was a revolt or a movement. This recognition has already been published in the Nepal Gazette.
He further stated that the Commission has been formed to investigate the loss of lives and property during the movement. The Commission is functioning independently and in accordance with law and procedure. The government has no authority to interfere in its work.
According to the Spokesperson, over 99 percent of political parties have agreed to participate in the upcoming election. Parties have begun recommending candidates, including discussions on potential proportional representation lists, and have launched election campaigns from rural to urban areas. Some parties have already elected new leadership through general conventions ahead of the election. While a few parties have raised concerns regarding election security citing confiscated weapons and the prisoners who fled during the movement but none have said they will boycott the election.
The government has acknowledged the concerns raised by political parties regarding the need for a fear-free election environment, Minister Kharel said. “The government is committed to conducting the election in a completely impartial, independent, and confident atmosphere,” he assured.
He added that most prisoners who left prisons during the movement have already returned, and efforts are underway to ensure the return of other remaining ones before the election. The Home Administration is actively working toward this goal.
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20- MBMC IdeaX-2025 launched
Kathmandu, Dec 19: The third edition of the MBMC IdeaX-2025 Hackathon began on Friday.
Organized by Madan Bhandari Memorial College, the initiative aims to encourage Nepalese students to move beyond theoretical learning and develop functional prototypes with the potential to grow into sustainable startups by addressing contemporary challenges.
According to the college, this year’s competition focuses on six key sectors crucial to Nepal’s economic and social development, including tourism, technology, health services and accessibility, fintech, cultural identity, and an open category.
Bachelor-level students from IT and those interested in IT studies are taking part in the 48-hour onsite hackathon. A total of 138 teams, comprising 423 individuals, initially registered for the event. Following a rigorous online presentation round, 32 finalist teams with 118 participants were selected, said college Chief Dr Baburam Adhikari.
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22- Making private sector first target in protest unfortunate: FNCCI
Triveni (Nawalparasi), Dec 19: President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Chandra Prakash Dhakal, has said it is unfortunate that the private sector becomes the first target during any movement.
While inaugurating the 11th annual general meeting and the 6th convention of the Nawalpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday, he stated that looting and vandalism are often carried out by targeting private sector structures, which undermines the confidence of the business community. “The same trend was seen again during the September movement,” he said, calling for investigations into such incidents in accordance with the law.
Dhakal also said that large-scale projects could be implemented within the country through the mobilization of domestic capital. He added that the FNCCI remains committed to promoting a favourable investment and industrial environment in Nepal.
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23- Election must be held on March 5: Leader Koirala
Biratnagar, Dec 19: Central member of the Nepali Congress, Dr Shekhar Koirala, has stressed that the election to the House of Representatives (HoR) must be held on the announced date- March 5, 2026.
He said this during his meeting with the party leaders and cadres at Sundar Haraicha municipality-4 under the Morang constituency-6 on Friday. Urging the party people to get prepared for the election, he said the election is the foundation of democracy and the NC is eager to be part of it.
“The sole means to protect the Constitution and address the crisis in the nation is the election,” he said, adding that the party awaits the election date, but the preparations from the government have provided a room for casting doubt on the conduct of the election.
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25- WHO Director-General pays courtesy call on Health Minister Dr Gautam
Kathmandu, Dec 19: Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr Teedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has paid a courtesy call on Minister for Health and Population Dr. Sudha Gautam.
During the meeting held in the capital city of India, New Delhi, today, Minister Gautam had presented Nepal’s status on improvement of mental health service, reproductive health and migrant workers’ health.
According to the Minister Gautam’s Secretariat, they had widely discussed about the measures the Government of Nepal has taken so far for bringing reforms in health insurance and drug procurement as well as management system.
On the occasion, Director-General Ghebreyesus lauded the Nepal government’s higher level of commitment and priorities for health sector improvement.
The Director-General assured Nepal of extending continued technical and strategic cooperation on behalf of the WHO towards attaining the goals set and further improving the health system of the country.
Health Minister Gautam is now in New Delhi to attend the ‘WHO Summit on Traditional Medicines’.
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26- Journalists injured during Gen Z uprising feted
Kathmandu, Dec 19: The government has honoured journalists who were injured during the Gen Z uprising.
The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology honoured the journalists wounded while reporting the September Gen Z protests.
At a programme organized at the ministry on Friday, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel feted four injured journalists. On the occasion, independent journalist Shambhu Dangal was honoured with cash Rs 100, 000 and a letter of appreciation, and Shyam Shrestha (Kantipur Television), Umesh Karki (Nepal Press) and Deependra Dhungana (Naya Patrika) with Rs 25,000 each.
Speaking at the programme, Minister Kharel said the journalists who performed their duties risking own life in favour of the country and the people were honoured in recognition of their contributions. He highlighted the need of shared responsibility of the government, agitating side or host and media houses for the safety of the journalists who are always at forefront in several protest programmes.
Saying that the State would bear the costs involved in the treatment of journalists injured during the protests, Minister Kharel urged the wounded journalists to keep in touch regularly.
The Minister further said that the loss amounting to Rs 780 million was incurred in the media sector during the Gen Z protests and shared his worry how to work for its reconstruction.
Informing that the government has initiated associating journalists of the Gorkhapatra Corporation with the social security scheme since Thursday, he pledged to include the journalists working with Radio Nepal, Nepal Television and Rastriya Samachar Samiti in the scheme.
Minister Kharel urged the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) to initiate a campaign to include the journalists working with private media in the social security scheme and demonstrate activism to arrange employment opportunities for unemployed, injured journalists.
Among the honoured, journalist Shanbhu Dangal called for the government to make policy arrangement for safety of journalists mobilized in the forefront, promote journalist safety fund and associate journalists with social security scheme.
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27- Minister Ghising inspects construction works of Bharatpur City Hall
Kathmandu, Dec 19: Minister for Urban Development Kulman Ghising on Friday made an inspection visit to the under-construction Bharatpur City Hall.
According to Minister Ghising’s Secretariat, Minister Ghising visited the site as the project, which was supposed to have completed some three years ago has achieved just 60 per cent of the total physical progress and is delayed in the construction works.
Construction of the city hall was stalled for nearly one and a half years due to some issues in the design of the property’s roof. Currently, the construction works have advanced after the approval of the revised design of the roof. Likewise, the construction tenure of the city hall is extended until June 25, 2026.
To be built at Rs 878.8 million, the city hall will have a main hall with a capacity of 2,000 seats and seven units with a separate mini hall with the capacity of 300 seats. After the inspection of the project, Minister Ghising directed the stakeholders to complete the construction works without further delay.
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28- Nobel laureate Japanese Prof Takaaki Kajita to attend TU convocation
Kathmandu, Dec 19: The 51st convocation of Tribhuvan University (TU) is to be held at the presence of Nobel laureate Japanese Prof Takaaki Kajita as the chief guest.
Organizing a news conference, the TU officials confirmed that the Nobel Laureate Japanese Professor will attend the TU convocation which will be held at the Dasharath Stadium on December 25. Prof Takaaki Kajita was awarded the Novel Prize in Physics in 2015.
TU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Dipak Aryal said that pride of the university in the international arena will increase thanks to the participation of the Novel laureate.
It is said that more than 16,300 students and their parents are expected to participate in the convocation ceremony. Prime Minister and Chancellor of TU Sushila Karki, Education Minister and Pro Chancellor of TU Mahabir Pun and 52 senate members of the TU are scheduled to attend the convocation ceremony.
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29- ICT helped minimize disaster impact, claims Minister Kharel
Patan (Lalitpur), Dec 19: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagadish Kharel, has claimed the proper use of information and communication technology helped minimize the impact of disasters- floods and landslides- this time.
Minister Kharel, who is also the government spokesperson, said it during a programme organized by the ICT Foundation here Friday.
“I remember the Gen Z youths who got martyrdom on September 8. The digital Nepal and good governance were envisioned by the youths. Government is with the youths who are committed to innovation,” Minister Kharel said, adding that the government would also consult the ICT award winners of this year.
He suggested the programme organizers to pick the candidate for awards who would inspire for making the coming March 5 election technology friendly. According to him, ICT can be utilized for progress in health, education, employment and public service.
On the occasion, Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Dr Prakash Kumar Shrestha, reminded that the 16th periodic plan had aimed at increasing production and productivity by leveraging ICT.
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30- Nepal-India relationship is historic, Finance Minister says
Kathmandu, Dec 19: Finance Minister Rameshwore Khanal has said that Nepal-India relationship is robust and historic.
At a programme organized on 31st annual general meeting of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday, Minister Khanal said that the bilateral relations were rooted with history, geography and shared cultures.
“India is a big market for import and export of Nepal. India’s contribution to Nepal’s economy is immense,” according to Minister Khanal. Likewise, Minister Khanal appraised the roles played by Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry to establish the robust economic ties between Nepal and India.
Saying that India is Nepal’s major trading partner, Minister Khanal stated Nepal’s partnership with India on energy, infrastructure development and other sectors.
President of the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sunil KC, said that the Chamber was working to promote trade, business and investment between Nepal and India.
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31- Madhes CM Yadav secures vote of confidence
Janakpurdham, Dec 19: Chief Minister of Madhes Province, Krishna Prasad Yadav, has secured a vote of confidence.
In a meeting of the Provincial Assembly held on Friday, the Chief Minister obtained the support of 92 Assembly members, declared Deputy Speaker Babita Raut Ishar.
The seven-party alliance led by the Nepali Congress which includes the People’s Socialist Party, the Janamat Party, the CPN (Maoist Centre), the Democratic Socialist Party, the CPN (Unified Socialist), and the Nagarik Unmukti (People’s Freedom) Party. He also received support from the RPP Nepal and the Nepal Sanghiya Samajbadi Party, each of which holds one seat in the Assembly.
The main opposition party, CPN-UML, opposed Chief Minister Yadav, who was appointed to the post on December 5 with the backing of the seven-party alliance. In the 105-member Provincial Assembly, a minimum of 54 votes are required to secure a vote of confidence.
The current Assembly composition includes 24 members from the UML, 22 from the Nepali Congress, 18 from the People’s Socialist Party, 13 from the Janamat Party, nine from the Maoist Centre, eight from the Democratic Socialist Party, seven from the Unified Socialist Party, and one member each from the RPP Nepal, the Nagarik Unmukti Party, and the Nepal Sanghiya Samajbadi Party.
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