Who & what the
headlines are about.

गगन थापा

President of Nepali Congress (elected January 2026, youngest ever); former Minister of Health. Resigned after NC's poor showing in March 2026 elections, though SC validated his NC leadership on 18 April 2026.

बालेन्द्र शाह

Prime Minister of Nepal (since 27 March 2026); former Mayor of Kathmandu (2022–2026). Rapper, structural engineer, independent politician who joined RSP in Jan 2026 and led the party to a majority.

शेरबहादुर देउवा

Five-time former Prime Minister; former President of Nepali Congress (until Jan 2026). Did not contest the 2026 election; faces money-laundering arrest warrant (April 2026).

केपी शर्मा ओली

Chairperson of CPN-UML; former Prime Minister of Nepal (multiple terms). Lost his seat in the March 2026 elections and was briefly arrested (March–April 2026) over the Gen Z protest crackdown.

नारायण काजी श्रेष्ठ

Senior leader of CPN (Maoist Centre); former Deputy Prime Minister; known as Prakash.

रामचन्द्र पौडेल

President of Nepal (since 13 March 2023, term through 2028); Nepali Congress politician.

रवि लामिछाने

Chairperson of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP); former TV journalist. Re-elected MP in 2026; backed Balen Shah as PM candidate; faces ongoing cooperative fraud case.

पुष्पकमल दाहाल

Chairperson of CPN (Maoist Centre); former Prime Minister (served 2022–2024); known as Prachanda. Now a backbench MP from Eastern Rukum after his party won only 17 seats in the 2026 election.

उपेन्द्र यादव

Chairman of Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP-Nepal); former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Resigned from government in May 2024.

सुदन गुरुङ

Home Minister of Nepal in Balen Shah's government (2026–); politician from Gandaki Province.

राजेन्द्र लिङ्देन

Chairperson of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP); proponent of Hindu state restoration.

शशांक पोखरेल

Minister of Education of Nepal in Balen Shah's government (2026–).

स्वर्णिम वाग्ले

Finance Minister of Nepal in Balen Shah's government (2026–); former National Planning Commission vice-chair; economist.

सुनिता डंगोल

Acting Mayor of Kathmandu (2026–); Newar heritage conservationist and language activist. Deputy mayor under Balen Shah from 2022.

हर्क सम्पाङ

Former Independent Mayor of Dharan Sub-metropolitan City (2022–2026); known for grassroots governance reforms. Founder and chairman of Shram Sanskriti Party (2025–).

महाबीर पुन

Tech activist and Ramon Magsaysay Award laureate; founder of National Innovation Center Nepal; champion of rural connectivity. Served as Education Minister (Sept 2025–early 2026), then won Myagdi-1 in the 2026 election; now MP.

विजयकुमार गच्छदार

Veteran Madhesi rights advocate and former Deputy Prime Minister; leader of Loktantrik Samajwadi Party. Did not contest 2022 elections; faces Lalita Niwas land scam charges; largely retired from active politics.

सीपी मैनाली

General Secretary of CPN (ML); veteran Communist politician.

माधवकुमार नेपाल

Former Chairperson of CPN (Unified Socialist), which merged into the new Nepali Communist Party (NCP) in November 2025; he serves as NCP joint coordinator. Former Prime Minister (2009–2011).

काठमाडौं

Capital and largest city of Nepal.

संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका

Country; significant Nepali diaspora.

भारत

Nepal's southern neighbour; largest trading partner and major source of foreign influence.

गण्डकी प्रदेश

Province 4; includes Pokhara.

बागमती प्रदेश

Province 3; includes Kathmandu Valley.

चीन

Nepal's northern neighbour; major infrastructure and investment partner via BRI.

कोशी प्रदेश

Province 1; eastern Nepal including Biratnagar.

पोखरा

Second-largest city of Nepal; Gandaki Province.

लुम्बिनी प्रदेश

Province 5; western Terai, birthplace of Buddha at Lumbini.

विराटनगर

Metropolitan city in Koshi Province; second-most populous city in Nepal.

कर्णाली प्रदेश

Province 6; mountainous mid-west region; least populous province.

भक्तपुर

Historic city in Kathmandu Valley; UNESCO World Heritage Site for its medieval Newari architecture.

ललितपुर

Metropolitan city in Kathmandu Valley; historically known as Patan.

सगरमाथा

World's highest mountain (8,849 m); located on Nepal–Tibet border; known in Nepali as Sagarmatha.

चितवन

District in Bagmati Province; home to Chitwan National Park. Bharatpur is the headquarters.

बुटवल

Sub-metropolitan city in Lumbini Province; major commercial hub.

जनकपुर

Sub-metropolitan city; capital of Madhesh Province. Religious and cultural centre associated with Sita.

बेलायत

Country; historic Nepal ties via Gurkha regiments and diaspora.

धनगढी

Metropolitan city; capital of Sudurpashchim Province.

दक्षिण कोरिया

Country; popular destination for Nepali workers under the EPS (Employment Permit System) program.

वीरगञ्ज

Metropolitan city in Parsa District, Madhesh Province; main Nepal–India border crossing.

हेटौंडा

Sub-metropolitan city; capital of Bagmati Province.

अष्ट्रेलिया

Country; significant Nepali diaspora.

धरान

Sub-metropolitan city in Koshi Province; known for Harka Sampang's governance model.

संयुक्त अरब इमिरेट्स

Gulf state; major destination for Nepali migrant workers.

सुदूरपश्चिम प्रदेश

Province 7; far-western Nepal; capital Dhangadhi.

मधेश प्रदेश

Province 2; Terai lowlands, large Madhesi population.

जापान

Country; rising destination for Nepali students and workers under visa programs.

हिमालय

Mountain range spanning Nepal's northern border; home to eight of the world's fourteen 8000m peaks including Mount Everest.

कतार

Gulf state; one of the largest destinations for Nepali migrant workers.

क्यानडा

Country; significant Nepali diaspora.

भरतपुर

Metropolitan city; capital of Bagmati Province; headquarters of Chitwan District.

जर्मनी

Country; growing destination for Nepali students and skilled workers.

नेपालगञ्ज

Sub-metropolitan city in Banke District, Lumbini Province; major southwestern commercial hub.

साउदी अरेबिया

Gulf state; significant destination for Nepali migrant workers.

जाजरकोट

District in Karnali Province; epicentre of the 2023 earthquake.

रारा ताल

Nepal's largest lake located in Mugu District, Karnali Province; popular eco-tourism destination.

लुम्बिनी

Birthplace of Gautama Buddha; UNESCO World Heritage Site in Rupandehi District.

नेपाली कांग्रेस

Centre-left political party; historically one of Nepal's two largest. Won 38 seats in the 2026 election; leadership contested after Gagan Thapa resigned as president, though SC validated his faction on 18 April 2026.

नेकपा (एमाले)

Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist). Chairperson remains KP Sharma Oli.

राष्ट्रिय स्वतन्त्र पार्टी

Centrist political party founded 2022 by Rabi Lamichhane.

राष्ट्रिय प्रजातन्त्र पार्टी

Right-wing royalist party; advocates restoration of Hindu state and constitutional monarchy. Reunified with RPP-Nepal on 31 December 2025; current chair is Rajendra Lingden.

श्रम संस्कृति पार्टी

Nepali political party focused on labour rights and cultural identity.

नेकपा (माओवादी केन्द्र)

Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre).

नेकपा (एकीकृत समाजवादी)

Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist); led by Madhav Kumar Nepal; split from CPN-UML in 2021.

जनजाति समाजवादी पार्टी

Party representing indigenous nationalities (Janajati); formerly Sanghiya Samajwadi Forum.

जनमत पार्टी

Political party founded by C K Raut; primarily representing Madhesh region interests including self-determination.

लोकतान्त्रिक समाजवादी पार्टी

Madhesi-based party led by Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar.

नेपालको प्रधानमन्त्री

Head of government of Nepal.

नेपालको राष्ट्रपति

Ceremonial head of state of Nepal.

प्रतिनिधिसभा सभामुख

Presiding officer of the House of Representatives.

गृहमन्त्री

Head of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

परराष्ट्रमन्त्री

Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

अर्थमन्त्री

Head of the Ministry of Finance.

काठमाडौं महानगरका मेयर

Executive head of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

शिक्षामन्त्री

Head of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

प्रधान न्यायाधीश

Head of the Supreme Court and judiciary of Nepal.

उपप्रधानमन्त्री

Deputy head of government of Nepal.

स्वास्थ्य

Health system, hospitals, public health policy and medical services in Nepal.

सडक पूर्वाधार

Road construction, highways, bridges and infrastructure development in Nepal.

शिक्षा

Education policy, schools, universities and literacy initiatives in Nepal.

कृषि

Farming, food security, agricultural policy and rural livelihoods in Nepal.

पर्यटन

Nepal's tourism industry including trekking, mountaineering and heritage tourism.

जलवायु र वातावरण

Climate change impacts on Nepal including glacial melt, flooding, and environmental policy.

भ्रष्टाचार

Corruption, anti-corruption investigations, abuse of authority and governance accountability in Nepal.

संघीयता

Nepal's federal system established by the 2015 Constitution; provincial and local governance issues.

संविधान

Nepal's 2015 Constitution; constitutional amendments and debates.

वैदेशिक रोजगारी

Nepali labour migration to Gulf countries, Malaysia, South Korea and beyond; policy and welfare issues.

जलविद्युत

Hydroelectric power generation; Nepal has among the world's highest per-capita potential; key export earner.

हवाई यात्रा

Civil aviation, airlines, airports and air transport policy in Nepal.

एमसीसी

Millennium Challenge Corporation compact; US$500m US infrastructure grant to Nepal; ratified 2022 after prolonged political debate.

रेमिट्यान्स

Foreign remittances from Nepali migrant workers; constitutes over 25% of GDP.

बेल्ट एण्ड रोड

China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI); Nepal signed the framework agreement in 2017; infrastructure projects and debt-diplomacy debates.

क्रिप्टोकरेन्सी

Digital currencies and blockchain technology; illegal in Nepal but frequently discussed in policy and enforcement contexts.

भूकम्प

Seismic events in Nepal; country sits in a high-risk zone including 2015 Gorkha and 2023 Jajarkot earthquakes.

गोर्खा सैनिक

Nepali soldiers serving in British and Indian armies; a major source of remittances and diplomatic engagement.

लोडसेडिङ

Scheduled electricity outages; a recurring issue in Nepal managed by NEA.

संघीय संसद

Bicameral legislature of Nepal comprising the House of Representatives and National Assembly.

सर्वोच्च अदालत

Nepal's highest court.

नेपाल प्रहरी

National civilian police force of Nepal.

नेपाली सेना

National army of Nepal.

त्रिभुवन विश्वविद्यालय

Nepal's largest and oldest university; established 1959.

अख्तियार दुरुपयोग अनुसन्धान आयोग

Nepal's constitutional anti-corruption body; investigates abuse of authority by public officials.

निर्वाचन आयोग

Constitutional body that conducts elections in Nepal.

नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंक

Central bank of Nepal.

संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ

International organization; Nepal is a member since 1955 and a significant troop contributor to UN peacekeeping.

सशस्त्र प्रहरी बल

Paramilitary police force of Nepal; handles border security and counter-terrorism.

अर्थ मन्त्रालय

Nepal's central ministry for fiscal policy and budget.

एसियाली विकास बैंक

Regional development bank; significant infrastructure funder in Nepal.

काठमाडौं विश्वविद्यालय

Autonomous technical university in Dhulikhel.

विश्व बैंक

International financial institution; major development lender to Nepal.

अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय मुद्रा कोष

International financial institution providing economic policy advice and financial assistance.

राष्ट्रिय अनुसन्धान केन्द्र

Government-affiliated innovation and technology centre co-founded by Mahabir Pun.

राष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग

Nepal's apex economic planning body; advises on development policy and national budgets.

नेपाल विद्युत प्राधिकरण

State-owned electricity utility; manages generation, transmission and distribution.

दक्षिण एसियाली क्षेत्रीय सहयोग संगठन

Regional intergovernmental organisation; headquartered in Kathmandu.

बिम्सटेक

Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation; Nepal is a member.

क्रिकेट

Bat-and-ball sport; Nepal is an ICC Associate Member.

फुटबल

Association football (soccer); Nepal's national team is governed by ANFA.

पर्वतारोहण

High-altitude climbing; Nepal hosts eight of the world's fourteen 8000m peaks; major tourism industry.