As Nepal marked a decade of its 2015 Constitution last week, the Gen Z uprising has forced the nation to grapple with questions over the constitution’s relevance and resilience.
Triggered by a controversial social media ban and the long-standing corruption in the country, the youth-led movement overthrew the KP Sharma Oli administration and called for new governance structures, accountability and anti-corruption measures.
While constitutional reform was not their primary demand, the protests have already altered the charter in practice.
Karki’s appointment
One such change is Sushila Karki’s appointment as prime minister.
Though constitutionally barred – she was not a lawmaker and she used to be a chief justice – Karki was named the interim leader by President Ramchandra Paudel under Article 61(4), which obliges the head of state to protect the constitution.
This makes her the country’s first female leader.
“The uprising prompted some decisions that went beyond the constitution,” Mohan Lal Acharya, a constitutional lawyer, told local newspaper The Kathmandu Post in an interview.
According to Acharya, even though the decision might have caused some damage to the constitution, Karki’s appointment is legitimate.
“The damage to the constitution can be repaired,” he said.
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Corruption watchdog, democratic elections
According to experts, the movement has also added two new demands: a strong corruption watchdog and an administration that is directly elected by the masses and not the parliament. Both require constitutional revision.
“Even if we don’t want to, the constitution stands at a critical juncture,” said senior advocate Purna Man Shakya. “It can be saved if its revision is done through a legitimate process: by elected representatives.”
Prime Minister Karki reiterated that point, emphasising that the youth uprising was caused by the shortcomings in governance.
“After a decade of the constitution’s implementation, we are now at a point where we must seriously reflect on what we have achieved, what we have failed to achieve, the shortcomings along the way, and the direction we need to take moving forward,” the interim prime minister said.
Karki has earlier announced that the country will undergo a general election on March 5, 2026.
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Geoffrey H. Latayan 
Vivien Bernardino