Burning Issues of Nepal: Poverty, Unemployment, Public Health, Food and Social Security, Energy and Social Media

Paper II asks short and long answers on Nepal’s burning (ज्वलन्त) issues. A good answer gives the meaning, the current situation with data, causes, effects, government efforts and suggestions. Figures change, so always check the latest survey before the exam.

1. Poverty (गरिबी)

• Absolute poverty: the Nepal Living Standards Survey (NLSS-IV, 2022/23) found about 20.27% of people below the poverty line.
• Multidimensional poverty (health, education, living standard): about 17.4% (MPI 2021, NPC).
• Poverty is higher in rural areas, Karnali and Madhesh provinces, and among marginalised groups.
• Causes: low productivity in agriculture, unemployment, inequality, poor access to education and health, disasters.
• Efforts: social security allowances, targeted programmes, employment schemes, poverty identity cards, cooperatives and microfinance.

2. Unemployment (बेरोजगारी)

• The Nepal Labour Force Survey (2017/18) found an unemployment rate of about 11.4%; underemployment and youth unemployment are high.
• Lakhs of young people go abroad for work every year; remittance is a large share of GDP.
• Causes: slow industrial growth, skills mismatch, seasonal farming.
• Efforts: Prime Minister Employment Programme, skill training (CTEVT), self-employment loans, start-up support.

3. Public health (जनस्वास्थ्य)

• Article 35: right to health, including free basic health services.
• Nepal faces a double burden: communicable diseases (TB, dengue, diarrhoea) and rising non-communicable diseases (heart disease, diabetes, cancer, kidney disease).
• Programmes: national immunisation, safe motherhood, health insurance (Health Insurance Act, 2074), free medicines at health posts.
• Challenges: shortage of doctors in rural areas, high out-of-pocket costs, weak emergency services.

4. Food security (खाद्य सुरक्षा)

• Food security means everyone always has access to enough safe and nutritious food.
• Article 36: right regarding food and food sovereignty; Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act, 2075.
• Problems: food imports, low farm productivity, climate shocks, malnutrition (stunting among children), food insecurity in remote districts.
• Efforts: food storage depots in remote areas (Food Management and Trading Company), subsidised fertiliser and seeds, nutrition programmes.

5. Social security (सामाजिक सुरक्षा)

• Article 43: right to social security for the poor, incapacitated, helpless, single women, persons with disabilities, children and senior citizens.
• Social Security Act, 2075; the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) for workers started in 2075 Mangsir (pension, medical, accident and maternity benefits).
• Non-contributory allowances: senior citizens, single women, persons with disabilities, endangered ethnic groups and children in some areas.
• Challenge: low coverage of informal-sector workers, rising cost of allowances.

6. Energy (ऊर्जा)

• Nepal ended long load-shedding in 2018 by better management and new projects.
• Now Nepal exports electricity to India in the wet season and has started exports to Bangladesh through India.
• But Nepal still imports almost all petroleum, which costs a large share of foreign exchange.
• Issues: winter shortage, transmission lines, rural access; solutions: storage projects, electric vehicles and cooking (electric stoves), renewable energy.

7. Information technology and social media

• Digital Nepal Framework (2019); Electronic Transactions Act, 2063; online government services and digital payments are growing fast.
• Benefits: information, e-commerce, e-governance, education and voice for citizens.
• Problems: misinformation and fake news, cybercrime, online fraud, hate speech, privacy and addiction.
• In September 2025 (Bhadra 2082), a government ban on unregistered social media platforms triggered large youth-led (“Gen Z”) protests; the ban was withdrawn and the government resigned. An interim government led by Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first woman Prime Minister, then held elections on 5 March 2026. The event shows both the power of social media and the need for balanced, rights-respecting regulation.

8. Writing tip for Paper II

Structure: introduction → current status (data) → causes → effects → government efforts → suggestions → conclusion.

Reference sources: National Statistics Office; National Planning Commission. Facts checked: 20 October 2026.