Federal Parliament of Nepal

History

Legislatures of Kingdom of Nepal

Main article: Legislatures of Kingdom of Nepal

The former Parliament of Nepal was dissolved by King Gyanendra in 2002, on the grounds that it was incapable of handling the Maoist rebels. The country's five main political parties had staged protests against the king, arguing that he must either call fresh elections or reinstate the elected legislature. In 2004, the king announced that parliamentary elections would be held within twelve months; in April 2006, in response to major pro-democratic protests, it was announced that Parliament would be reestablished.

Interim Legislature of Nepal

Main article: Interim legislature of Nepal, 1st Nepalese Constituent Assembly

After the success of the April 2006 people's movement on 15 January 2007 the old parliament was dissolved and replaced by a 330-member interim legislature of Nepal. The legislature drafted an interim constitution and a constituent assembly election was held in April 2008. The 601-member assembly on 28 May 2008 abolished the 238-year-old monarchy and declared the country a republic. The constituent assembly, which was initially given two years to draft a new constitution, was dissolved on 27 May 2012 after its failure to draft a new constitution due to differences over restructuring the state.

Legislature Parliament of Nepal

Main article: Legislature Parliament of Nepal

The second Nepalese Constituent Assembly was converted into a legislative parliament of Nepal after the promulgation of the constitution on 20 September 2015. The second Nepalese Constituent Assembly was formed after the failure of the first Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution. The Legislature Parliament of Nepal was dissolved on 21 January 2018 (7 Magh 2074 BS).

Composition

According to the Constitution of Nepal 2015, Nepal has a two-chamber parliament (), consisting of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly, with the President of Nepal acting as their head.

President of Nepal

Main article: President of Nepal

The President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal () is the head of state of Nepal and commander in chief of the Nepalese Armed Forces. The office was created in May 2008 after the country was declared as a republic. The first President of Nepal was Ram Baran Yadav. The current president is Ram Chandra Poudel. He is the third president of the country.

House of Representatives

Main article: House of Representatives (Nepal)

The House of Representatives () has 275 members. 165 members are elected from single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting and 110 elected through proportional electoral system where voters vote for political parties, considering the whole country as a single election constituency. The members of the house hold their seats for five years or until the body is dissolved by the President on the advice of the council of ministers.

National Assembly

Main article: National Assembly (Nepal)

The National Assembly () has 59 members. Eight members are elected from each of the seven provinces by an electoral college of each province, and three are appointed by the President on recommendation of the government. They must include at least three women, one Dalit, and one member from disabled groups. Members serve staggered six year terms such that the term of one-third members expires every two years.

Parliamentary committees

There are 16 thematic committees in the federal parliament: ten in the House of Representatives, four in the National Assembly and two joint committees.

House of Representatives

• Finance
• International Relations
• Industry, Commerce, Labour and Consumer Interest
• Law, Justice, and Human Rights
• Agriculture, Cooperative and Natural Resources
• Women and Social
• State Affairs
• Development and Technology
• Education and Health
• Public Account

National Assembly

• Sustainable Development and Good Governance
• Legislative Management
• Delegated Legislation and Government Assurances
• National Interest and coordination among members

Joint

• Parliamentary Hearing
• State Direction, Principle Rules and Responsibility

Women's representation

Main article: Women's representation in the Parliament of Nepal

The constitution of Nepal guarantees a 33% reservation for women in all public offices including the federal parliament. On 16 March 2018, Dr. Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe was elected as the deputy speaker of the house. Women's representation in the parliament has increased since the Constituent Assembly, which eventually guaranteed provisions for women's representation on the constitution.

Parliament House

Main article: International Convention Centre, Nepal

Until September 2025, both houses of the federal parliament met at the International Convention Centre in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. A new parliament building is being constructed within the premises of the Singha Durbar complex, which houses most government offices.

On 9 September 2025, anti-government demonstrators stormed the convention centre as part of the Gen Z protests. The building was vandalised and subsequently set alight. Demonstrators also stormed the nearby Singha Durbar government complex and razed the main building, which houses the offices of the prime minister and other government ministers.

Explanatory notes

References

References

1. (April 25, 2006). "Nepal: King ends direct rule, reinstates parliament".
2. "Nepal's Political Development: Nepal Constituent Assembly Portal". Nepalcaportal.org.
3. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld {{!}} Freedom in the World 2008 – Nepal".
4. (May 28, 2008). "Nepal abolishes monarchy, declares republic".
5. (May 27, 2012). "Legislature in Nepal Disbands in Failure".
6. (16 October 2015). "Nepal elects first woman speaker of parliament – Times of India".
7. "संविधानसभा प्रथम".
8. "Archived copy".
9. "All parliamentary committees in place".
10. (16 March 2018). "CPN-UML leader Tumbahamphe elected to Deputy Speaker of HoR".
11. "New building for federal parliament to cost Rs5 billion rupees".
12. (9 September 2025). "Nepal's parliament set on fire after PM resigns over anti-corruption protests". BBC News.
13. (9 September 2025). "सिंहदरबारमा दन्कियो आगो (तस्वीरहरू)". Online Khabar.