Nepal's 'Gen Z Uprising': A Challenge to the Post-2015 Democratic Order
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: International Relations (India and its neighborhood - Nepal); World History (Democratic movements); Current events of national and international importance.
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (International Relations): India and its neighborhood- relations; Effect of policies and politics of developing and developing countries on India’s interests. This is a crucial case study of democratic evolution and instability in India's neighborhood.
Key Highlights from the News
In Nepal, youth-led protests (Gen Z uprising) against the government's ban on 26 social media platforms (social media ban) resulted in the Prime Minister's resignation and the dissolution of Parliament.
Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed as an interim Prime Minister, with new elections scheduled for March 2026.
This protest is different from Nepal's previous 'Jan Andolan' (Jan Andolan) movements. It was not led by traditional political parties, but by youth organized through social media.
Root Causes of the Protest: Long-term political instability (political instability), corruption, economic stagnation, and high unemployment.
Legal experts are concerned that the dissolution of Parliament may violate Nepal's 2015 Constitution (Nepal’s 2015 Constitution).
There are concerns that this crisis could lead to a regression in Nepal's democratic achievements (democratic regression) and create instability in India's neighborhood.
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