In Kathmandu, the air is thick with anticipation and a cautious sense of hope. Just over a month since the dramatic Gen-Z uprising swept away the old guard, Nepal’s new leaders are racing to chart a steady path forward—amid promises of good governance, transparency, and a return to normalcy following the country’s bloodiest unrest in nearly two decades.
On October 18, 2025, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagdish Kharel stood before reporters, resolute in his message: "The government will advance through all the state mechanisms in a lawful, legal, and practical manner. There should be no confusion about this. The first and foremost priority of this government is to uphold good governance." According to the Rising Nepal, Kharel, acting as government spokesperson, doubled down on the administration’s commitment to the rule of law, vowing that every action would be anchored in legal norms and procedures.
Kharel’s remarks came as the government made a flurry of consequential decisions, signaling a new era of policy priorities and international engagement. Among the most notable was the acceptance of a USD 10 million grant from the World Bank-managed Multi-Donor Trust Fund for the Public Finance Management Project. This move, as reported by Rising Nepal, is aimed at strengthening the country’s financial governance—a clear nod to the Gen-Z protestors’ demands for greater accountability and an end to entrenched corruption.
But the government’s ambitions don’t stop with fiscal reforms. On October 16, the cabinet designated a suite of power generation, transmission, and distribution initiatives as national priority projects, publishing their notice in the Nepal Gazette. Two major joint ventures—between the Nepal Electricity Authority and India’s Power Grid Corporation—will see the construction of 400 kV inland transmission lines at Inaruwa (Purniya) and Dodhara (Bareli), with equity investments of Rs. 1 billion and Rs. 2 billion, respectively. These infrastructure projects, according to Kharel, are designed to boost Nepal’s energy security and foster cross-border cooperation with India.
Diplomatic relations are also in flux. In a sweeping move, the cabinet decided to recall resident ambassadors from eleven countries, including China, Germany, Israel, Malaysia, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the US, the UK, and Japan. The government’s decision to recalibrate its diplomatic corps comes at a time when Nepal is seeking to redefine its international posture after months of domestic upheaval.
Meanwhile, on October 17, Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki convened a high-level diplomatic briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marking her first such engagement since assuming office. According to ANI, Karki assured diplomats that Nepal is "steadily returning to normalcy as the government intensifies efforts to restore stability, promote transparency, and combat corruption." She urged foreign governments and missions to share this positive message with the broader international community, underscoring the administration’s desire for external support and understanding during this turbulent transition.
Karki was candid about the challenges that lie ahead. With the parliament dissolved and elections to the House of Representatives scheduled for March 5, 2026, Nepal faces a period of political uncertainty. The interim government, led by Karki and her eight-member cabinet, is tasked with overseeing the successful commission of the upcoming election—a responsibility she has described as her primary aim before stepping aside for the newly elected lower house.
The context for these rapid changes is nothing short of extraordinary. The Gen-Z revolution, which erupted in September and toppled communist leader KP Sharma Oli, was driven by a groundswell of young protestors demanding political accountability, an end to corruption, and the reversal of a controversial social media ban. The demonstrations quickly escalated, with at least 75 people killed over several days—the deadliest period since the 2006 pro-democracy movement. On September 8 alone, 21 protestors, most of them students under 30, lost their lives. The following day saw 39 more deaths, including 15 from severe burns, and an additional 14 fatalities were recorded in the subsequent ten days.
As the dust settles, both Kharel and Karki have repeatedly emphasized the government’s legitimacy and broad-based support. Kharel, in particular, described the current administration as a "Gen-Z government," formed with the backing of all political parties—a rare feat in Nepal’s fractious political landscape. This unity, at least for now, provides a fragile foundation for the country’s ongoing transition.
Beyond the headline-grabbing moves on governance and diplomacy, the cabinet has pressed ahead with a variety of domestic initiatives. The master plan for the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground project in Kirtipur was approved and declared a national priority, with bids invited for the remaining work—a move likely to delight sports enthusiasts and signal a return to normal civic life. The government also endorsed Minister Kharel’s upcoming visit to South Korea, where he will participate in the 11th Global ICT Leadership Forum in Seoul on November 12, 2025, further highlighting Nepal’s intent to engage with global partners in technology and innovation.
In the realm of public administration, a series of promotions and appointments were announced. Jitendra Babu Thapaliya was promoted to Secretary of the Judicial Council, while Uddhav Prasad Pudasaini became Secretary of the Commission for Investigation into Enforced Disappearances. Justice Chandra Bahadur Saru was named Chair of the Valley Development Authority’s Development Committee. The military also saw significant movement, with the transfer of one Lieutenant General, the promotion of a Major General, and the reassignment of five Brigadier Generals and 25 Colonels. Additionally, AIG Siddhi Bikram Shah was approved to visit India for the Passing Out Parade ceremony, and eleven temporary contract vacancies were created for the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizen for the fiscal year 2025/26.
Amidst all these changes, the government has signaled a renewed focus on international legal cooperation. The Council of Ministers approved an agreement on the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between Nepal and India on criminal matters and authorized similar proposals with other countries. This step, as outlined by Kharel, is intended to bolster Nepal’s capacity to combat transnational crime and strengthen the rule of law—another core demand of the Gen-Z protestors.
Still, the path ahead is anything but straightforward. With the memory of September’s violence still raw and the stakes of the upcoming election high, the interim government’s every move is under scrutiny. As Karki told diplomats, "The situation in Nepal is gradually returning to normalcy. As a testament to the resilience of our people. We would greatly appreciate your support in sharing this positive message with the wider international community." The world, it seems, is watching closely—waiting to see if Nepal’s experiment with Gen-Z-led governance can deliver on its lofty promises.
For now, the country stands at a crossroads, balancing the urgent need for stability with the restless energy of a new generation determined to reshape Nepal’s future.
