Nepal's Constitution Amendment: A Call for Consensus and Inclusivity

Nepal's Constitution of 2072 is not merely a legal document, but a national political consensus forged through decades of political struggle, people's movements, armed conflict, Madhesh movements, inclusivity, and the journey towards a federal democratic republic. For this reason, the issue of constitutional amendment is not confined to the government's administrative or parliamentary agenda; it is directly linked to the state's political legitimacy, historical agreements, democratic trust, and public expectations.

After a decade of experience in implementing the constitution, voices from the government, opposition, and the streets have been calling for timely amendments to some of its provisions. However, concrete and institutional initiatives for this have not been forthcoming. In this context, the formation of a 'Task Force to Prepare a Constitutional Amendment Discussion Paper' by the newly formed government through a cabinet meeting on Chaitra 16 has initiated formal interaction among political parties regarding constitutional amendment.