EXPLAINED

Nepal’s Crisis: Gen Z Protests, Army Intervention, and Lessons for UPSC

By Team Superb IAS | 🕓 September 11, 2025

The political turmoil unfolding in Nepal, marked by massive youth-led protests, a government collapse, and the unprecedented stepping-in of the army to mediate governance, provides rich fodder for both UPSC prelims and mains. Let’s decode the key developments, their causes, broader consequences, and the implications for India.

Syllabus Mapping

• Prelims: Current events of national and international importance.

• GS-II Mains: India and its neighbourhood – relations.

What’s the Ongoing Story?

• After days of violent, leaderless Gen Z protests driven by anti-corruption anger and triggered by a controversial social media ban, the K P Sharma Oli government in Nepal collapsed. Over 20 protesters lost their lives in police action.

• General Ashok Raj Sigdel, Nepal Army Chief, stepped in to restore order and mediate. In an unprecedented move, he persuaded Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first woman Chief Justice, to lead as interim Chief Executive, with consensus from both protest leaders and political players.

• The army—historically apolitical since Nepal’s monarchy ended in 2008—has now become central to holding the country together, aiming to broker a new political settlement and working on a new Constitution.

• Social media bans played a key role: Apps like Facebook and WhatsApp aren’t just for activism—they are vital daily connections for families separated by migration. With over 8% of Nepal’s population working abroad and remittances accounting for 33% of GDP, the ban had an outsized, deeply personal impact, stoking resentment and frustration.

Reasons Behind Nepal’s Gen Z Protests

• Immediate trigger: Blanket ban on 26 social media apps, perceived as a crackdown on free speech and a way to cover up corruption allegations.

• Deeper causes:

  • Persistent and rising unemployment, especially among youth (formal sector unemployment 12.6% in 2024; real rates likely much higher).

  • Widespread corruption and ostentatious displays of wealth by politicians and their families, fuelling public anger.

  • Economic stagnation and a remittance-dependent economy mean the majority of young Nepalese see migration as the only option for meaningful employment.

  • Social media also amplified frustrations, allowed real-time organizing, and exposed social inequities.

  • Rumours of a grand political coalition forming to shield leaders under investigation created further distrust.

Why Did the Social Media Ban Have Such Impact?

• Beyond free speech, social apps are essential for:

  • Keeping in touch with relatives working in Gulf nations, Malaysia, and India.

  • Supporting remittance flows vital to the country’s economy.

  • Promoting small businesses and tourism.

• The sudden ban hit migration families, small entrepreneurs, and youth hardest. It was widely perceived as “rubbing salt into wounds”.

Army Steps In: Why Is This Significant?

• Nepal’s Army has, since 2006, operated as a professional, apolitical force, even after monarchy abolition.

• Its intervention now signals:

  • Lost trust and legitimacy of elected leadership.

  • Need for a strong, credible mediator to prevent further violence and facilitate consensus-building.

  • Army's stated goals: Stop violence and anarchy, mediate dialogue, and oversee transition to a new Constitution (declared defunct by consensus).

• Sushila Karki’s appointment (first female Chief Justice and now interim executive) as a neutral leader with Army support is unprecedented in Nepal (and rare globally).

Regional Implications & Comparison with Bangladesh Crisis

• Similarities with Bangladesh:

  • Both experienced large-scale protests against government actions seen as curbing freedoms and failing the youth.

  • Both cases involved economic/fiscal fragility and anger over corruption, amplified by youth/civil society.

• Regional consequences:

  • Instability in Nepal may open space for interventions by neighbours or global actors.

  • Migration flows, cross-border crime, and drug trafficking risks could rise if the crisis deepens.

  • India’s concern: Disrupted trade, border management, the impact on development projects, and the need to balance non-interference with support for stability.

Impact on India–Nepal Relations

• Open borders: Social, economic, and demographic linkages mean Nepal’s turmoil directly affects India.

• Development agenda: Instability could stall India-backed infrastructure, hydropower, and health/education initiatives.

• Diplomatic opportunity: India can play a constructive, supportive role, emphasising democratic values and humanitarian assistance, with sensitivity to Nepal’s sovereignty.

Do You Know?

• Nepal’s unique crisis: jobs, especially for youth, are extremely scarce (actual unemployment is far higher than official figures due to underreporting in informal sectors).

• Remittance is a lifeline—more than 33% of GDP comes via citizens working abroad, ranking Nepal fourth globally for remittance dependency.

• Social media forms the backbone of both family bonds and activist organising.

UPSC Takeaways

• Prelims:

  • Name of Army Chief: General Ashok Raj Sigdel

  • First woman Chief Justice/interim executive: Sushila Karki

  • Remittance as % of GDP: 33%

• Mains Pointers:

  • Nepal’s evolving polity, the army’s institutional role, the impact of youth/civil society protests, comparisons with the region, and policy options for India.

  • Social media’s double role: as an economic lifeline and as a political/civic platform.

Conclusion

Nepal’s current churning is a case study in youth-led social change, fragile democracies, and the profound links between economic structure, migration, and political legitimacy. With the Army facilitating transition and a prominent woman jurist at the helm, Nepal stands at a crossroads—offering valuable lessons for UPSC aspirants on polity, regional affairs, and the role of institutions in crisis.

Stay tuned to Superb IAS for high-quality UPSC-centric current affairs analysis!