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The KP Sharma Oli-led government has completed one year in office, delivering a mixed record on its promises. Two major parties came together pledging to ensure political stability, especially after the CPN (Maoist Center), the third-largest party, had repeatedly shifted alliances—often playing the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML against each other.

One notable outcome over the past year is a degree of government stability, if not full political stability. The current NC-UML coalition appears relatively stable and is unlikely to collapse in the near future, though questions about its longevity persist.

Despite the coalition’s stability, the government has failed to curb the frequent transfers of high-level bureaucrats, which has severely disrupted the functioning of government agencies. At the provincial level, however, there is now more stability, ending the earlier pattern of frequent changes in chief ministers and governors.

When the coalition was formed, both parties had agreed to amend the constitution. However, there has been no progress on that front, drawing criticism from opposition parties and the general public. The parties seem uncertain whether to first assess the constitution’s implementation or proceed directly with amendments. “The slow progress clearly shows that NC and UML raised the amendment issue without a well-thought-out plan,” says political analyst Chandra Dev Bhatta. “It’s a complex issue that requires delicate handling.”

While the NC and Madhes-based parties have discussed constitutional amendment internally, there has been no broader cross-party effort. Parties remain deeply divided on the matter, with each inclined to revive their core agendas from the constitution-drafting process.

The 2015 constitution was a compromise among parties with competing priorities. Reviving the amendment issue risks hardening those old positions, making any changes unlikely. Prime Minister Oli himself has repeatedly said that constitutional amendments are unlikely before 2027. Within the NC, the faction led by senior leader Shekhar Koirala has criticized the government for its inaction on this front.

On the economic front, there have been signs of modest recovery. To recommend reform measures, the government formed a high-level panel led by Rameshwor Khanal, which has already submitted its report. It remains to be seen how the government will act on its recommendations.

Though the economy underperformed over the past year, some recovery has been observed. According to the Asian Development Bank, Nepal’s economy is expected to grow by 4.4 percent in the current fiscal year, up from an estimated 3.9 percent in FY 2023/24. Consumer inflation has also declined to 2.72 percent, down from four percent last year.

However, with just days left in the 2024/25 fiscal year, more than half of the development budget remains unspent. According to the Financial Comptroller General Office (FCGO), only 46.59 percent of the capital budget had been utilized as of July. Of the Rs 352.35bn allocated, just Rs 164.15bn has been spent.

On the external front, Prime Minister Oli paid an official visit to China, where he signed a long-pending framework agreement. While this caused some unease within the Nepali Congress, it has not led to significant rifts between the coalition partners. Projects selected under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework have yet to show any real progress. The Prime Minister has also made other bilateral visits, and preparations are underway for his upcoming visit to India, which is expected to take place soon.

The heat is becoming unbearable, so much so that fans won’t just cut it. The sales of coolers and air conditioners have shot up. Kathmandu has never felt so hot and oppressing. Even the random rains, and there have been plenty, don’t do much to bring down the temperature. Many people the ApEx spoke to confessed of taking multiple showers in a day or having the cooler or AC on all day which dries out their skin. According to experts, the hot weather is only set to get worse so it’s best to be prepared. Here, we have a list of things you can do to summer proof your home that have been tried and approved by our readers. 

Don’t underestimate the power of cross ventilation 

Cross breeze can really cool at home, but most of us underestimate its power and don’t open enough or the right windows. In the morning, open the curtains and the windows, making sure windows that are opposite each other aren’t shut. This helps bring fresh air in and push stale air out. Cross ventilation can significantly cool a room and reduce the need of fans or air conditioning. The only thing to keep in mind is that the outlet opening should be equal in size or larger than the inlet opening. This facilitates efficient airflow.

Strategically close the curtains

Most of us open the curtains after we wake up in the morning and close them when it gets dark at night. But did you know that closing the south facing and the west facing curtains during the hottest part of the day can help keep the heat out? You can also install blinds in the windows in these directions to keep sunlight out during hot afternoons. Close your curtains or blinds from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. If you are going out, close the curtains to keep the rooms from heating up. This simple trick can help you lower your electricity bills. 

Use natural and light fabrics

Have you ever sat on the leather sofa during the summer? Do you recall how sticky and uncomfortable the experience was? Materials like leather, suede, silk, and polyester tend to trap heat thus making for uncomfortable summer upholstery. We’re not suggesting that you change your couch if you have a leather or a PU one. You can simply put a throw, one that is made of linen or cotton, over it. Switch out your cushion covers from thick velvet ones to those made from hemp, linen, or cotton. Light fabrics are more breathable and allow for better airflow. Experience better sleep during the summer simply by switching to lighter bedsheets and pillow covers. 

Use fans efficiently

Fans help cool a space by moving air around but most of us use it to cool down by blowing it directly on our faces and bodies when we feel hot. This usually dries out our nasal passages, throats, and skin as well. It’s a good idea to set up fans in places where air seems to be stagnant or use them to draw outside air to warm areas of the house by placing them in the direction of the breeze. Make sure the blades run in counterclockwise direction. You must also use exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms to keep hot air from mixing with indoor air and leading to overheating. Turn them on without fail when cooking or taking showers. 

Treat your roof

One of our readers used large tarps to cover the rooftop of our house. This, she says, made the bedrooms at least a few degrees cooler. You can opt for a UV reflective paint that can help bring the temperature down of the entire house. There are many options available in the market these days. Roof guard coatings help reflect harmful UV rays and limit heat absorption. Alternatively, you can also set up large umbrellas to cover major areas or install shades to keep sunlight from directly shining on the roof. Choose your options considering your budget but term solutions are usually one-time investments. 

Avoid heat-producing appliances whenever possible

If your house is feeling impossibly warm during the summers, try giving your heat producing appliances a miss whenever possible. The stove, oven, and even the clothes dryer generate a lot of heat when used. Go back to the traditional way of hanging your clothes to dry in the sunlight. Try to have simple meals that don’t require much cooking. Limit the use of the oven. You can even opt to use an outdoor grill to barbecue meat and vegetables. Switch up your cooking routine by choosing meals that don’t require heating like salads and sandwiches. Avoid extended uses of small appliances like toasters, sandwich presses, and even microwaves. 

Outdoor changes for indoor cooling

We tend to focus on cooling our houses from the inside, but we forget that there are a few important things we can do to keep the heat from coming in. One of the easiest ways to prevent outdoor heat from moving indoors is to plant trees and large shrubs in your garden or in large planters by your windows and doors. Consider planting trees and shrubs in the south and west directions of your home. If you have a cemented patio or an outdoor area, consider updating it with some porous material as this will allow rainwater to absorb into the ground and lower temperature through evaporative cooling effect. Install an awning or pergola to shield the west windows from hot afternoon rays. 

Private schools exemplify excellence in education, fostering an innovative learning environment. Yet behind their achievement is a tricky issue that seems overlooked: succession planning for future leaders. It is an essential part of the procedure to maintain competent leadership that can sustain the school’s legacy. This entails identification and development of future leaders in private schools to ensure that operations continue unhindered when key personnel leave.

Private schools flourished in Nepal After the restoration of democracy in 1990. They provided good education compared to government-run schools. Today, the majority of private schools are still under the ownership of individuals who founded them. They are yet to relinquish power to the next generation. 

With the increase in private school numbers it is important to caution the owners on the issues they are likely to encounter in case they fail to plan ahead. The problem was raised during an international conference in Kathmandu, where many school owners shared that they were considering selling their institutions due to a lack of succession planning. This scenario raises questions about institutional stability and the  well-being of its staff in case the leadership transition is mishandled.

The barriers to effective succession planning are deeply rooted. Many school leaders lack awareness of its long-term importance, while cultural norms and family dynamics often obstruct smooth leadership transitions. Compounding the problem, immediate operational demands frequently overshadow strategic planning, leaving institutions without clear pathways for future leadership. The absence of an organizational culture that prioritizes talent development further exacerbates the issue, creating a vacuum when experienced leaders step down.

The consequences of neglecting succession planning are severe and far-reaching. Sudden leadership gaps breed uncertainty, eroding staff morale and institutional performance. Perhaps most critically, the departure of seasoned leaders results in the irreversible loss of institutional knowledge—the accumulated wisdom, relationships, and expertise that define a school’s identity and competitive edge. Without proper succession mechanisms, schools risk losing not only their direction but their very ability to adapt in an increasingly complex educational environment.

At its core, succession planning is about safeguarding institutional futures. It transcends mere replacement, serving instead as a strategic process to identify, nurture, and prepare the next generation of leaders. When done effectively, it ensures continuity of mission, preserves organizational memory, and provides stability through periods of transition. For Nepal’s private schools, this process is not a theoretical exercise but an existential imperative—one that determines whether institutions will flourish or fade in the coming decades.

The solution lies in treating leadership development as an ongoing institutional priority rather than a reactive measure. Schools must cultivate leadership pipelines by identifying high-potential candidates early, providing them with progressive responsibilities, and embedding mentorship into the organizational culture. This requires shifting from short-term thinking to long-term investment in human capital, ensuring that every leadership transition strengthens rather than weakens the institution.

For Nepal’s private education sector to thrive amid rapid societal changes, succession planning must move from periphery to priority. By confronting this challenge head-on—through awareness-building, cultural adaptation, and strategic foresight—schools can transform a looming crisis into an opportunity for renewal. The stakes extend beyond individual institutions; the quality of Nepal’s future education system hinges on today’s decisions about tomorrow’s leaders. Those who recognize this imperative and act decisively will not only secure their legacies but elevate the entire educational ecosystem for generations to come.

The author is  PhD Scholar at Symbiosis International University

Nepal’s financial system has disbursed loans totaling Rs 5.55trn to approximately 1.94m borrowers. Governor Biswo Poudel recently highlighted this trend while presenting new data on small borrowers—defined as those with loans under Rs 10m. On that occasion, the chief of the central bank, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), raised concerns about the concentration of large loans among a small group of individuals and whether such lending practices are contributing meaningfully to economic productivity.

Around 1.94m Nepali people have accessed loans from commercial banks, development banks and finance companies. Of these, approximately 1.869m small borrowers have taken loans totaling
Rs 1.99trn.

These small borrowers include lower-middle-class individuals who often borrow to start small businesses, send family members abroad for work or fund vocational training. Many also take loans to purchase land or vehicles, or to build homes. However, this group is financially vulnerable. According to NRB data, 28.8 percent—equivalent to Rs 549.85bn—of their loans have become non-performing, accounting for 4.34 percent of total lending.

Mid-level borrowers, defined as those with loans between Rs 10m and Rs 100m, are also under financial stress. This segment includes approximately 6,793 borrowers, holding Rs 1.254trn in loans. Roughly 11 percent of this amount is non-performing, indicating severe repayment challenges, especially post-covid, as many small and medium enterprises failed to recover.

At the other end of the spectrum are large borrowers—those with loans exceeding Rs 100m. This group consists of just 7,763 borrowers, who collectively hold Rs 2.39trn. Even more concentrated, 1,552 individuals manage over Rs 1.34trn in loans, highlighting a stark imbalance in credit distribution. Despite handling large sums, the rate of non-performing loans in this group is significantly lower.

The data indicate that the larger the loan, the lower the likelihood of it being classified as non-performing. Borrowers in the higher brackets often have the advantage of restructuring loans, accessing new credit to service old debt and leveraging networks within the banking system. This circular lending practice, often facilitated by banks themselves, poses systemic risks and raises ethical questions.

Loans in the Rs 10–500m range account for 95 percent of Rs 1.048trn in outstanding loans, with a non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of 22.14 percent (Rs 232bn). Notably, NPL ratios decrease as loan sizes increase. For loans between Rs 50–100m, the NPL rate drops to 4.83 percent, and for
Rs 100–200m, it falls to 3.01 percent, with the highest loan brackets seeing NPLs as low as 0.04 percent.

There is a stark contrast in Nepal’s loan distribution and associated credit risks across borrower categories. While small and mid-level borrowers (with loans below Rs 100m) collectively hold significant portions of the total loan portfolio—Rs 1.99trn and Rs 1.254trn, respectively—they also exhibit alarmingly high non-performing loan (NPL) ratios of 28.8 percent and 11 percent, indicating financial vulnerability and limited resilience. In contrast, large and very large borrowers (with loans above Rs 100m), though few in number, control disproportionately high volumes of credit—up to
Rs 2.39trn—with remarkably low NPL ratios (3.01 percent and 0.04 percent). This inverse relationship between loan size and credit risk reveals a systemic concentration of financial resources among a limited elite, raising concerns about financial equity and governance. The findings underscore the need for regulatory reforms to rebalance credit flows, safeguard small borrowers, and address emerging issues of financial inequality and systemic risk.

This disparity raises concerns over the governance and equitable distribution of financial resources. NRB data reveal that out of 1.94m borrowers, just 194 individuals—0.01 percent—have accessed loans exceeding Rs 2.25trn, or 3.9 percent of the total loan volume. On an average, each of these individuals has taken loans of over Rs 1.11bn. These statistics underscore a critical issue: a limited number of individuals control a disproportionate share of banking sector credit.

This concentration of financial power has drawn attention in parliamentary discussions. In a recent meeting of the Finance Committee of the House of Representatives, clause-by-clause deliberations on the amendment of the Banks and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA), 2073, are underway. The proposed amendments aim to address conflicts of interest, ensure fair loan distribution and introduce stricter governance measures to prevent the undue concentration of credit.

The ongoing legislative review seeks to establish clearer guidelines on eligibility for loans and address the structural weaknesses that allow such imbalances. Key concerns include whether bank directors and affiliated individuals are receiving favorable treatment and whether existing legal frameworks are sufficient to prevent misuse of financial resources.

As the debate continues, it has become evident that financial inequality is deepening. There is a pressing need for reforms to ensure that credit distribution contributes to inclusive growth, supports small and medium enterprises, and reflects principles of transparency and social justice.

The author is a senior fellow and program executive at SNG Solution