KATHMANDU: Constitution Day is being observed across Nepal today with various programmes and events, marking the promulgation of the Constitution through the Constituent Assembly on Asoj 3, 2072 (September 20, 2015).
The Constitution was promulgated through the Constituent Assembly in 2015, following a prolonged political transition and reflecting key aspirations of the Second People’s Movement, the Comprehensive Peace Accord and the broader peace process.
It is the country’s seventh constitution and formally institutionalized Nepal as a federal democratic republic, replacing the previous unitary system and ending the monarchy. The charter also envisions a socialist-oriented state while guaranteeing a broad range of political, economic, social and cultural rights to citizens.
The Constitution established a three-tier system of government comprising the federal government, seven provinces and 753 local levels. It provides for the distribution of powers among the three levels of government and seeks to strengthen inclusion, representation and participation in governance. The national charter consists of 35 parts, 308 articles and nine schedules.
Constitution Day is also being marked through awareness campaigns, discussions, seminars and public interactions across the country. Media outlets are publishing and broadcasting special programmes focusing on the Constitution, its implementation and the country’s political and governance system.
The day provides an occasion to reflect on the constitutional framework established after Nepal’s long political transition, as well as the progress and challenges involved in implementing its provisions.
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