On 2 May, President Ramchandra Paudel promulgated an ordinance removing 1,594 officeholders from over 100 public bodies, including universities, regulatory agencies, state-owned enterprises and other public institutions. According to media reports, the ordinance applied to politically appointed officeholders in covered public bodies appointed under previous administrations before 26 March. The measure created leadership vacancies across numerous bodies - disrupting decision-making and delaying administrative processes, public services and appointments in sectors such as education and healthcare - while replacements remained pending. The government stated that the measure was intended to depoliticize public institutions and facilitate appointments based on professional qualifications and merit.  The measure is being challenged before the Supreme Court, where legal experts have questioned the legality of removing fixed-term officeholders through a retroactive ordinance. Although the ordinance requires parliamentary approval to remain in force, the removals would likely remain valid even if it lapses. 

Sources: My Republica, The Kathmandu Post, Nepal News (1), Nepal News (2)

On 5 May, President Ram Chandra Paudel promulgated an ordinance amending the procedures of the Constitutional Council, a body responsible for recommending appointments to the Chief Justice and members of Nepal’s constitutional commissions, after nearly a year of delays in filling key positions. The ordinance lowered the quorum from five to four members and allows decisions to be made by a majority of those present. The government argued the changes would help fill vacancies and restore the functioning of oversight institutions. However, opposition parties and legal experts warned that reducing consensus requirements could increase executive influence over appointments to constitutional bodies. Concerns grew further following the appointment of a new Chief Justice later in May, with critics alleging established seniority norms were bypassed. The ordinance must be approved by Parliament within 60 days of the next parliamentary session, or it will lapse, although legal experts argue that actions already completed under it are unlikely to be reversed.

Sources: International Commission of Jurists, The Kathmandu Post

On 9 September, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and several key officials resigned amid outrage over the government’s violent response to mass protests. The ‘Gen-Z’ protests were triggered by a nationwide ban on 26 social media platforms, but quickly evolved into a broader movement through which youth expressed their dissatisfaction with governance, corruption, nepotism and political instability. Rights experts condemned the government’s excessive use of force, which included live ammunition, resulting in at least 73 deaths and thousands of injuries, marking the deadliest unrest in decades. The government claimed that some demonstrations were infiltrated by external groups, accusing specific protestors of arson and vandalism of state buildings and public records. On 9 September, prior to Oli’s resignation, the government lifted the social media ban.

Sources: Crisis Group, BBC News, Tech Policy Press,  The Kathmandu Post, International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2), International IDEA (3)

On 12 September, President Ram Chandra Poudel appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim prime minister, becoming Nepal’s first female head of government. Karki’s appointment follows anti-corruption protests earlier in the month, which led to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's resignation. Karki emerged as the frontrunner candidate among Nepal’s ‘Gen Z’ protesters. While Nepal’s Constitution prohibits former Supreme Court judges from holding public office, the President appointed Karki under Article 61, invoking exceptional powers to ensure political stability. Upon Karki’s recommendation, President Ram Chandra Poudel  dissolved parliament and scheduled parliamentary elections for 5 March 2026. Several cases have been brought before the Supreme Court contesting the constitutionality of the dissolution of Parliament. 

Sources: BBC News, The Kathmandu Post, Online Khabar, Financial Times, My Republica

On 18 July, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority instructed internet providers to restrict access to the platform Telegram, citing online fraud and money laundering concerns. The ban follows a previous move to block TikTok in 2023, which was later lifted in 2024, and occurs against the backdrop of the controversial Social Media Act Bill being considered in parliament which would strictly regulate social media platforms. Digital rights experts have criticized the ban, calling it an ’illegal and disproportionate measure’ that undermines freedom of expression and digital privacy. They argue that the decision to block the app is discriminatory and lacks transparency. 

Sources: Access Now, The Kathmandu Post, Channel News Asia

In June, Nepali police attempted to arrest prominent journalist Dil Bhushan Pathak for reporting on a government official's family business dealings overseas on his YouTube channel. The Kathmandu District Court issued an arrest warrant on 11 June under the Electronic Transaction Act, which is intended to regulate online transactions and combat money laundering. However, it has often been used to suppress online dissent. Although the Patan High Court blocked the arrest on 16 June, the police ignored the order and summoned Pathak the following day. On the same day the arrest warrant was issued, the Kathmandu District Court ordered two news outlets to remove content related to separate business dealings from another official under the same Act. Press freedom advocates warn that this situation illustrates a growing pattern of legal harassment and the misuse of laws to silence dissent.

Sources: IFJ, Human Rights Watch, Nepali Times, The Kathmandu Post (1) The Kathmandu Post (2)