The laws of Nepal, in plain language

नेपालको संविधान · 2072 BS (2015)

The supreme law. Declares Nepal a federal democratic republic, creates the three tiers of government, and guarantees 31 fundamental rights. Every other law must conform to it.

सूचनाको हक सम्बन्धी ऐन · 2064 BS (2007)

Gives every citizen the right to demand information held by public bodies, and sets the process and timelines for a request. The legal backbone of holding government to account.

वैयक्तिक गोपनीयता सम्बन्धी ऐन · 2075 BS (2018)

Protects personal data and private life. Collecting a person’s data needs their consent, a stated purpose, and notice. This is the law that makes hoarding citizens’ records unlawful.

बालबालिका सम्बन्धी ऐन · 2075 BS (2018)

Nepal’s child-rights law: defines a child as under 18, bans child marriage and child labour in hazardous work, and sets child-protection and juvenile-justice duties.

मुलुकी देवानी संहिता · 2074 BS (2017)

The unified civil law — contracts, property, marriage, inheritance, family. Effective from 2075 (2018), it replaced the old Muluki Ain that had governed civil life since 1963.

मुलुकी अपराध संहिता · 2074 BS (2017)

The unified criminal law: defines offences and punishments, from theft and assault to corruption, defamation and cybercrime. Replaced the criminal provisions of the old Muluki Ain.

मुलुकी देवानी कार्यविधि संहिता · 2074 BS (2017)

How a civil case runs — filing, evidence, hearing and appeal in the civil courts.

मुलुकी फौजदारी कार्यविधि संहिता · 2074 BS (2017)

How a criminal case runs — arrest, investigation, charge, trial and the rights of the accused.

घरेलु हिंसा (कसुर र सजाय) ऐन · 2066 BS (2009)

Makes domestic violence — physical, mental, sexual and economic — a punishable offence, and lets a victim seek protection and compensation.

स्थानीय सरकार सञ्चालन ऐन · 2074 BS (2017)

Gives the 753 local governments their powers, duties and revenue — the operating manual for federalism at the palika level.

अख्तियार दुरुपयोग अनुसन्धान आयोग ऐन · 2048 BS (1991)

Establishes the CIAA, the constitutional anti-corruption body, and its powers to investigate and prosecute abuse of public office.

भ्रष्टाचार निवारण ऐन · 2059 BS (2002)

Defines corruption offences — bribery, illicit wealth, misuse of authority — and their punishments for public officials.

सार्वजनिक खरिद ऐन · 2063 BS (2007)

Rules for how the state buys goods, works and services — tendering, competition and transparency. The law behind every government contract.

निजामती सेवा ऐन · 2049 BS (1993)

Governs the permanent bureaucracy — recruitment, promotion, conduct and the terms of the civil service.

निर्वाचन आयोग ऐन · 2073 BS (2017)

Powers and duties of the independent Election Commission — voter registration, conduct of elections, and election-related offences.

कम्पनी ऐन · 2063 BS (2006)

How companies are formed, run and wound up — directors’ duties, shareholders’ rights and public disclosure.

श्रम ऐन · 2074 BS (2017)

Workers’ rights and employers’ duties — hours, minimum wage, safety, social security and the end of “no work, no pay” exploitation.

आयकर ऐन · 2058 BS (2002)

The main tax law — who pays income tax, at what rates, and how it is assessed and collected.

नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंक ऐन · 2058 BS (2002)

Establishes the central bank and its mandate over monetary policy, the rupee, and supervision of banks.

बैंक तथा वित्तीय संस्था सम्बन्धी ऐन · 2073 BS (2017)

Licenses and regulates banks and financial institutions — capital, governance and depositor protection.

उपभोक्ता संरक्षण ऐन · 2075 BS (2018)

Protects buyers from unsafe goods, false claims and price-gouging, and creates a route to complain and be compensated.

करार ऐन · 2056 BS (2000)

The law of agreements — offer, acceptance, breach and remedy. Now largely absorbed into the National Civil Code (2074).

जनस्वास्थ्य सेवा ऐन · 2075 BS (2018)

Guarantees basic health services as a right, and sets the state’s duties for public health, emergencies and quality of care.

योगदानमा आधारित सामाजिक सुरक्षा ऐन · 2075 BS (2018)

Creates the contribution-based social-security scheme — pensions, medical, accident and maternity protection for workers.

जातीय भेदभाव तथा छुवाछूत (कसुर र सजाय) ऐन · 2068 BS (2011)

Makes caste discrimination and untouchability a punishable crime, in any public or private place.

शिक्षा ऐन · 2028 BS (1971)

The framework for schools — public and private, teacher management and school governance. Heavily amended; a new federal education act is in the pipeline.

वातावरण संरक्षण ऐन · 2076 BS (2019)

Requires environmental impact assessment for projects, controls pollution, and sets penalties for environmental harm.

वन ऐन · 2076 BS (2019)

Governs national and community forests — protection, use rights and the community-forestry system Nepal is known for.