Why is Nepal catching fire

Nepal is a country with unparalleled natural beauty, topped with glorious Sagarmatha, huge cultural richness and incredible human potential. Yet despite its talent, Nepal is still burning politically, economically and socially. The flame is not sudden or accidental; it has been driven for years by chronic political unrest, rampant corruption, economic stagnation and the rise of disillusionment with young people.

The time for Nepali Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli has come as his three ministers have already filed their resignation after a deadly protest against alleged government corruption. Get some tips from Bangladesh, when he resigned and demanded peace, Oli didn’t have any chance of breathing after the death of 19 protesters. Nepal is destined to change, why now?

Political instability: Nepal, world champion?

Nepal will be the champion of a ruler if there is competition for global political instability. The country has seen 14 different prime ministers over the past 15 years. Nepal almost every year the new prime minister laughs at and systematically fails in a country with 30 million inhabitants.

It’s not just a trivial fact—it’s a clear symptom of a damaged system in which governance is dominated by power struggles, factionism and self rather than public service or vision. The root of this instability lies in Nepal’s troubled political transition from the monarchy to the Federal Democratic Republic. The Civil War ended in 2006, and the abolition of the monarchy promise in 2008 would have a new starting point. Instead, it freed up the chaos of coalition government, constitutional impasse and opportunist coalition.

Nepal Communist Party (United Socialists) The Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Party Center)’s party cluster (Maoist Party Center) is more like an explosion chemical formula for Nepal youth. Nepal’s parliament has been in deep discomfort with an old hanger. No leader stays long enough to implement reforms; most people are too busy protecting their own position or overturning others’ positions.

Economic paralysis and youth unemployment

When politicians quarrel in Kathmandu, the economy has no direction to go. Nepal is a country with abundant water resources, tourism potential and a young workforce, but it remains one of the poorest countries in South Asia.

Nepal’s GDP growth has been unstable and depends to a lot on remittances, tourism and agriculture – all vulnerable sectors. Although post-cultivation growth has recovered briefly, structural problems remain: large-scale youth unemployment, low industrial productivity, poor infrastructure and political paralysis hinder investment
The debt story that is unfolding in Nepal is here. As of 2025, Nepal’s total debt exceeded about. $18 billion, or about 42-45% of its GDP, makes Nepal one of the poorest countries in South Asia.

Although this figure is still within an acceptable threshold set by the IMF (usually 70% of developing countries), the rate of debt rise has attracted attention as repayment capacity weakens rapidly, and incomes lag behind debt services and development expenditures.

Furthermore, the key factor is Nepal’s import-driven economy. The huge trade deficit prompted the government to borrow foreign currencies to maintain reserves.

Nepal’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) into China has also become clumsy. Although China’s share of total debt is about 4%, which is not that important, the large amount of fundraising under the BRI has attracted political institutions, especially the current government.
In fact, this further raises this point, such as the debt repayments owed to China by developing countries are expected to reach US$35 billion in 2025. Crucially, $22 billion of that will be paid by the world’s 75 poorest countries, putting health and education spending at risk in such countries.

These numbers tell a grim story. Youth unemployment and underemployed people are shocking – nearly 40% of the population is under 30 years old, and many have no jobs or proper income. result? Exodus on a large scale. Every day, thousands of young Nepali leave the country to work in the Gulf, Malaysia or India, not out of ambition, but hopelessness. Nepal’s economy now relies heavily on remittances, which account for nearly a quarter of its GDP.

Although remittances still contribute more than 23% of GDP, they can support families but create no jobs at home. Due to the lack of local opportunities, young people are moving to the Gulf and Malaysia in large numbers.
That’s not development-that’s survival.

At home, the job market is thin, private sector growth is stagnant, and foreign investment remains hesitant due to an unstable political climate and unreliable infrastructure. A few young people who stayed often turned to informal labor or entrepreneurial businesses, many of whom were crushed by bureaucratic traditional tape and corruption.

The Rise of Social Media and Its Danger

In this vacuum of leadership and opportunity, social media has become a new area of ​​hope and danger. Platforms like Tiktok, Facebook and YouTube are more than just entertainment; they have become a channel for anger, protest, identity and even income.
For many, social media is a tool of empowerment.

Young people use it to highlight injustice, tell the truth to power and build communities. However, the state doubts this freedom. In recent years, under vague excuses such as “social harmony” or “public decency”, there has been an increasing suppression of content creators and activists. This marks a shocking trend – an authoritarian instinct that controls the only space where the public still has voice.

Where does the fire burn the brightest?

Nepal is a major rural country. About 79% of the country lives in rural areas. As a result, there is a significant urban and rural divide in the country when it comes to health care. In villages where schools lack teachers and hospitals, doctors are lacking. In the city, educated young people are waiting for a table or driving a taxi on a taxi. In the hearts of young people, they dream of leaving Nepal is not for ambition but for survival. In Parliament, music chair games continue, ignoring the issue of burning outside.

What must be changed?

Nepal has no potential – lack of leadership. True development will remain out of reach until politicians stop seeing the government as a personal chessboard. This is what Nepal urgently needs:
Political stability through accountability: The country needs a governance system that values ​​stability rather than infighting political parties. Responsibility must be taken through elections, the media and dedicated civil society.

Economic Reform and Youth Investment: Nepal must create real opportunities at home. This means supporting entrepreneurship, inspiring the industry and prioritizing vocational education.
Protecting digital freedom: A state should interact with its digital citizens, not combat dissent. Social media is the new town square – silence, which only exacerbates more turmoil.

End corruption, authorized agencies: Nepali have seen enough hollow commitments. They want results, and that requires strong independent institutions – not partisan puppets.
Nepal is on fire – not because it lacks resources or spirit, but because it fails time and time again with its leaders.

Young people are losing faith. The economy is leaking talent. Democracy is being tested. But, in the smoke, there is still hope – in the voices online, voters demand change, and the resilience of people who have weathered much worse.
Whether the fire burns everything or illuminates the way forward – this is still the option for Nepal.

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