8 May 2026·The Hindu

Concerns mount over Nepal govt.’s use of ordinances and eviction drives

In this note

1. At a Glance

Nepal new PM Balendra Shah rule by ordinance, skip parliament debate despite huge majority [1].
Simultaneous eviction drive: riverbank squatters in Kathmandu razed, homes/schools gone [1].
Test case for democratic backsliding after mass protest-driven regime change. UPSC angle: comparative constitutionalism, executive overreach, South Asia neighborhood watch.

Shah sworn PM March 27, 2026, after RSP won 182 seats (March 2026 polls) — polls triggered by Gen Z protests, Sept 2025 [1].
Govt push ordinance after ordinance instead of convening Parliament, despite comfortable majority [1].
Parallel: security forces demolish riverbank settlements Kathmandu Valley, May 1, 2026, leave people homeless, kids without school [1].

Sept 2025: Gen Z protests erupt in Nepal, trigger political churn [1].
March 2026: elections held, RSP (Rastriya Swatantra Party) wins 182 seats, two short of two-thirds [1].
March 27, 2026: Balendra Shah (age 35) sworn in PM [1].
April-May 2026: govt bypasses Parliament, rules via ordinance route; parallel eviction drives along Kathmandu riverbanks [1].

Ordinance mechanism: Nepal Constitution requires govt recommend ordinance to President; President (ceremonial head of state) must issue it [1].
PM: Balendra Shah, RSP, age 35.
Party strength: 182 seats, 2 short of two-thirds majority.
Trigger event: Gen Z protests, Sept 2025.
Eviction site: riverbank "illegal" settlements, Kathmandu Valley.
Date of demolition reported: May 1, 2026.
Nepal polity: federal democratic republic, President = ceremonial head, PM = executive head (comparable structure to India for Mains comparative-constitution answers).

Legal/Constitutional

Ordinance route bypass normal legislative scrutiny — raises separation-of-powers, rule-of-law concerns [1].
President's role reduced to formal issuer, no real check per described process [1].

Governance/Ethical

Huge mandate (182/275-ish seats) used to concentrate power rather than build consensus — governance-by-decree risk.
Eviction without rehabilitation plan flagged as poor due-process, humanitarian oversight lapse [1].

Social

Landless squatters displaced, children lose school access — vulnerable group impact, urban poor housing rights [1].

Geopolitical/Strategic

Nepal political stability matters for India — border state, Himalayan buffer, hydropower/transit ties. Instability affects India's neighborhood-first policy.

Historical

Nepal has history of protest-driven political change (2006 movement, 2015 constitution); Gen Z 2025 protests part of that pattern.

Sept 2025: Gen Z protests roil Nepal [1].
March 2026: General elections, RSP landslide-near win [1].
March 27, 2026: Balendra Shah sworn PM [1].
April-May 2026: Ordinance-based governance criticized by analysts [1].
May 1, 2026: Kathmandu riverbank demolitions reported, AFP photo documented [1].

Nepal PM Balendra Shah took oath March 27, 2026.
RSP = Rastriya Swatantra Party, won 182 seats in March 2026 polls.
Trigger for 2026 Nepal elections: Gen Z protests of September 2025.
Nepal ordinance process: PM recommends → President issues (constitutional head).
Eviction drive location: riverbank settlements, Kathmandu Valley.
Demolition reported: May 1, 2026.
Balendra Shah age at swearing-in: 35.
RSP fell short of two-thirds majority by 2 seats.

GS-II: Polity — comparative constitutional mechanisms (ordinance-making power); Governance — transparency, accountability, executive overreach; International Relations — India-Nepal relations, neighborhood-first policy.
Sample question stems:
"Executive ordinances, meant as emergency legislative tools, risk becoming instruments of governance-by-decree. Discuss with reference to recent developments in Nepal and lessons for India." (GS-II)
"Discuss the constitutional and humanitarian dimensions of eviction drives against informal settlements, with reference to recent events in Kathmandu." (GS-II/GS-I)
"Political instability in neighbouring countries affects India's strategic and economic interests. Analyse with reference to recent developments in Nepal." (GS-II)

India's Ordinance-making power (Art. 123, 213) — direct comparative hook.
Nepal's 2015 Constitution & federal structure — background for any Nepal polity question.
India-Nepal relations (1950 Treaty, border issues, hydropower) — geopolitical linkage.
Gen Z protest movements globally (Bangladesh 2024, Sri Lanka 2022) — South Asia instability pattern.
Right to Shelter / eviction jurisprudence (Olga Tellis case, India) — comparative rights angle.
Neighbourhood First Policy of India — strategic frame.
Doctrine of separation of powers — theoretical base for ordinance-overreach discussion.

Don't confuse Nepal's PM (executive head) with President (ceremonial) — aspirants often misattribute ordinance power to President as discretionary.
Don't confuse RSP (Rastriya Swatantra Party) with other Nepali parties (Nepali Congress, UML, Maoist Centre).
Date confusion: Gen Z protests = Sept 2025; elections = March 2026; swearing-in = March 27, 2026 — keep sequence straight.
Don't overstate seat count as full two-thirds — RSP short by 2 seats, not supermajority.