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A new civic technology initiative, Janamat, has launched in Nepal, aiming to integrate blockchain technology into the country’s democratic processes. Developed by Superteam Nepal, a regional collective within the global Solana ecosystem, the platform is positioned as a ‘digital public square’ designed to facilitate transparent interaction between citizens and their elected officials.

The launch follows the March 2026 general elections, which saw a significant shift in the national political landscape and a heightened public demand for government accountability.

Janamat utilizes the ‘Solana blockchain’ to provide an immutable record of public sentiment. Unlike traditional social media platforms, the application’s core features are designed to prevent the alteration or deletion of data by central authorities.

The platform’s core functionality centers on four primary pillars designed to digitize civic participation. It features a verified petition system that enables citizens to elevate grassroots issues through a blockchain-backed trail of support, alongside dedicated policy debate forums where users can review, rate, and propose specific amendments to active legislative bills. 

To enhance oversight, the app integrates politician accountability profiles that maintain comprehensive track records of Members of Parliament, including a ‘Transparency Score’ derived from public feedback and their responsiveness to constituent needs. Furthermore, Janamat provides a formal channel for diaspora engagement, allowing the millions of Nepalis residing abroad to contribute to policy discussions and monitor the progress of community projects in real-time.

The introduction of Janamat comes at a critical juncture for Nepal's digital policy, as the newly formed government initiates a 100-day action plan to digitize public services like passports and driving licenses through the Nagarik App. 

However, this push for modernization faces a complex regulatory environment, with blockchain and cryptocurrency still subject to restrictive policies enforced by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). Proponents of the Janamat platform argue that utilizing blockchain technology can effectively reduce corruption in public works by ensuring fund allocations and project milestones remain transparently visible to all citizens. This argument gained significant traction during the 2026 election cycle, when the app’s pilot polling features correctly anticipated several high-profile outcomes, including the landslide victory observed in the Jhapa-5 constituency.

Superteam Nepal has indicated that the platform's primary objective is to foster a ‘continuous civic reflex’, moving public engagement beyond periodic election cycles. By recording votes and opinions on-chain, the platform seeks to provide a data-driven metric for public trust that is observable by both the government and the electorate.

Scientists, policymakers, and development partners gathered at the 14th National Groundwater Symposium on Thursday to address the escalating water crisis in Madhes Province. The event, held at Hotel Mithila Yatri Niwas, comes as the region faces its first-ever officially declared drought disaster.

The symposium, themed ‘Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development and Management of Groundwater in Nepal’, featured 149 participants from federal and provincial governments, academia, and international organizations. The event was led by the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) and the provincial Ministry of Irrigation, Energy and Water Supply (MoEIWS), with technical coordination by the Center of Research for Environment, Energy and Water (CREEW).

Experts at the forum highlighted the severity of the current water shortage. Sanjeeb Baral, Executive Director of WECS, noted that the 2025 crisis was triggered by a monsoon that delivered only 46 percent of normal rainfall, leading to the drying of wells and boreholes across the province. “This is not merely a one-year anomaly,” Baral warned. “It is part of a larger climate change trend that reveals Madhesh’s deep vulnerability to shifting weather patterns.”

Data presented by Raj Kumar Singh, Vice-chairman of the Provincial Policy and Planning Commission, underscored the depletion: while water was once accessible at 100–200 feet, drillers now frequently must reach depths of 450–600 feet to find viable sources.

To combat the water shortage, the provincial government has outlined a three-pillar strategy centered on structural and environmental reform. This approach begins with legal reform through the drafting of dedicated provincial groundwater legislation to provide a clear regulatory framework. It further emphasizes institutional realignment to clarify the specific responsibilities of federal, provincial, and local governments, ensuring a more coordinated response. Finally, the strategy focuses on nature-based implementation, which includes restoring traditional ponds and protecting the critical Chure-Bhabar recharge zones from the impacts of unregulated mining.

Laxmi Pant of MoEIWS also advocated for the completion of the Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Project, which aims to irrigate 122,000 hectares across six districts. Meanwhile, Manohara Khadka of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) emphasized the need for ‘water diplomacy’ regarding transboundary aquifers shared with India.

The symposium highlighted significant gaps in current water management. Vishnu Prasad Pandey of Tribhuvan University noted a lack of geospatial maps and integrated databases, while Arinita Maskey Shrestha of UNICEF Nepal pointed to ‘systemic failures’, including low community awareness and a tendency for local governments to manage crises reactively rather than through advance planning.

In his closing remarks, Ram Kumar Khang, Acting Secretary of MoEIWS, committed to extending these technical dialogues to the district and local levels to ensure accountability.

Forum of Neplease Journalist  has decided to confer the Shri Umakant Paudel Memorial Journalism Award on senior journalist Shiromani Dawadi. The decision was taken at a meeting held on Saturday at Lakuri Bhanjyang, Lalitpur. The Forum honored Dawadi in recognition of his nearly three decades of active contribution to various media outlets.

The award was established in memory of late Umakant Paudel, father of former General Secretary of Forum of Neplease Journalist, Ram Paudel. The award selection committee, formed under the coordination of Vice President Bimal Thapa, selected Dawadi for this year’s honor.

According to Forum President Yubaraj Bidrohi, the award will be formally presented to Dawadi during a special ceremony on Chaitra 30 on the occasion of the establishment day of Nepal Journalists Forum.

Meanwhile, the meeting also announced the establishment of the Shri Indraprasad–Yanakumari Acharya Memorial Educational Journalism Award, instituted in memory of the late parents of educationist Narayan Acharya—Yanakumari Acharya and Indraprasad Acharya. The award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 11,111, will be presented annually to one journalist who has made a significant contribution in the field of educational journalism.

The Forum expressed gratitude to the Paudel and Acharya families for instituting the awards and stated that Forum of Neplease Journalist has been honoring journalists with awards in 10 different categories every year in recognition of their contributions to journalism.

The US Embassy in Nepal has launched Creator’s Mela 2026: Vision to Venture, an initiative aimed at strengthening Nepal’s digital creator ecosystem by encouraging the transition from content creation to sustainable business development.

The program began on Saturday at Hotel Siraichuli in Chitwan, marking the start of a multi-city series. According to the organizers, the 2026 edition places greater emphasis on professional growth, entrepreneurship, and long-term career building for digital creators.

More than 800 young and emerging creators participated in the Chitwan event, which featured parallel sessions including panel discussions, spotlight conversations, workshops, live performances, and the Pitch to Success platform. Speakers and performers included Priyanka Karki, Ayushman Joshi, Cabinet Shrestha, Anand Bagaria, and Sandhya KC, along with digital creators such as 2B Gamer, Eva Giri, Shrishes Manandhar, Ekata Tandukar, Nepal 8th Wonder, and The K-OS. The event concluded with a live music performance by Yabesh Thapa.

Creator’s Mela 2026 will continue in Nepalgunj on Jan 24, followed by a two-day finale in Kathmandu on Jan 30 and 31. The Kathmandu program will include the Pitch to Success segment, where selected creators will present their business ideas to a panel of corporate executives for feedback and mentorship.

The theme Vision to Venture focuses on connecting digital creativity with enterprise development. The program integrates sessions on technology use, platform monetization, and digital business skills to support creators in building sustainable ventures.

Mike Harker, Public Affairs Chief at the US Embassy Nepal, said the initiative aims to support entrepreneurship and job creation by expanding skills and networks among creators across the country, while also linking Nepali creators to international opportunities.