Panchayat System in Nepal (2017 to 2046 BS): Royal Takeover, Features, Referendum and Fall

For thirty years, from 2017 to 2046 BS, Nepal was ruled under the partyless Panchayat system led by the king. Lok Sewa asks about how it began, its structure, main reforms, the referendum of 2037 BS and how it ended with the People’s Movement of 2046 BS. This note covers each stage in order.

1. Beginning of the Panchayat system

• Nepal’s first general election was held in 2015 BS; the Nepali Congress won and B. P. Koirala became the first elected Prime Minister.
• On 1 Poush 2017 BS (15 December 1960), King Mahendra dismissed the elected government, arrested B. P. Koirala and other leaders, and took power.
• Political parties were banned soon after, and the partyless Panchayat system was introduced.
• The Constitution of Nepal 2019 was promulgated on 1 Poush 2019 BS, giving the system a legal base.

2. Structure and features

• The king had final authority; there were no political parties.
• Class organisations for peasants, youth, women, workers and ex-servicemen were set up under the system.
• Nepal was divided into 14 zones (anchal) and 75 districts, and later into five development regions.

3. Main reforms and campaigns

• New Muluki Ain (2020 BS): replaced Jung Bahadur’s code and legally ended caste-based discrimination.
• Land Reform Act (2021 BS): set land ceilings and protected tenants.
• Back to the Village National Campaign (Gaun Farka Rashtriya Abhiyan, 2024 BS): sent officials to villages to promote the system and development.
• Expansion of roads, schools and the New Education System Plan (2028 BS).
• King Mahendra died in 2028 BS; King Birendra continued the system.

4. Referendum of 2037 BS

• After the student movement of 2036 BS, King Birendra announced a national referendum.
• The referendum was held on 20 Baisakh 2037 BS (2 May 1980) to choose between a reformed Panchayat system and a multiparty system.
• The reformed Panchayat side won about 54.8%; the multiparty side got about 45.2%.
• After the referendum, the third amendment of the 2019 Constitution allowed direct election of the Rashtriya Panchayat by adult franchise, but parties stayed banned.

5. End of the Panchayat system

• The People’s Movement of 2046 BS began on 7 Falgun 2046 BS (18 February 1990), led jointly by the Nepali Congress and the United Left Front.
• Ganesh Man Singh was the supreme leader of the movement.
• On 26 Chaitra 2046 BS (8 April 1990), King Birendra lifted the ban on political parties, ending the Panchayat system.
• An interim government led by Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was formed, and the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 2047 was promulgated on 23 Kartik 2047 BS.

6. Timeline of the Panchayat era

7. Features of the Panchayat system

• Partyless system with the King at the top.
• Four tiers: village or town, district, zone and national Panchayat.
• Class organisations for peasants, workers, youth, women and ex-servicemen.
• Development works such as the East–West Highway and land reform (2021) began.

8. How this topic is asked in the exam

Objective items ask the dates of the royal takeover, the referendum and the end of the Panchayat. Subjective questions ask about the features and the fall of the Panchayat system.