Federal Parliament of Nepal

The Federal Parliament of Nepal (संघीय संसद नेपाल, Saṅghīya Sansada Nēpāla) is the bicameral federal and supreme legislature of Nepal. It was established in 2018 (2074 BS) to help make important laws and decisions for the country. This Parliament has two main parts, or houses, that work together.

The upper house is called the National Assembly (राष्ट्रिय सभा, Rastriya Sabha). It has 59 members. Eight members come from each province, and three are chosen by the President based on the government's advice. The lower house is the House of Representatives (प्रतिनिधि सभा, Pratinidhi Sabha), with 275 members. Some are elected by people in local areas, while others are chosen based on the votes for political parties across the whole country.

History

Legislatures of Kingdom of Nepal

Main article: Legislatures of Kingdom of Nepal

The old group of leaders in Nepal was stopped by the King Gyanendra in 2002 because they could not deal with some rebel groups called the Maoist rebels. The five main political parties asked the king to either call new elections or bring back the elected group of leaders. In 2004, the king said elections would happen in twelve months. In April 2006, after many people protested for democracy, it was announced that the group of leaders would start again.

Interim Legislature of Nepal

Main articles: Interim legislature of Nepal and 1st Nepalese Constituent Assembly

After big protests in April 2006, on 15 January 2007, the old group of leaders was replaced by a new group with 330 members, called the interim legislature of Nepal. This group made an important set of rules and held an election in April 2008. The group formed in May 2008 ended the old system of kings and made Nepal a country led by its people. This group had two years to make new rules but could not agree, so it was stopped in May 2012.

Legislature Parliament of Nepal

Main article: Legislature Parliament of Nepal

The second group formed after the first group could not make new rules became the Legislature Parliament of Nepal on 20 September 2015. This happened when new rules for the country were announced. This group was stopped on 21 January 2018.

Parliament House

From the start of democracy in Nepal until 2008, all legislative activities happened in the Gallery Baithak. After the number of members in the House of Representatives grew to 601 following the election of the Constituent Assembly, the Parliament moved to the ICC in New Baneshwar.

Until September 2025, both houses of the federal parliament met at the International Convention Centre in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. In September 2025, demonstrators opposed to the government entered the convention centre during the Gen Z protests. The building was damaged and later burned. Demonstrators also entered the nearby Singha Durbar government complex and destroyed the main building, which holds the offices of the prime minister and other government ministers.

A new parliament building is now being built within the grounds of the Singha Durbar complex, where many government offices are located.

Composition

According to the Constitution of Nepal 2015, Nepal has a two-chamber parliament (संसद), consisting of the Pratinidhi Sabha and the Rastriya Sabha, with the President of Nepal acting as their head.

President of Nepal

Main article: President of Nepal

The President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (नेपालको राष्ट्रपति, Nēpālakō rāṣṭrapati) is the head of state of Nepal and commander in chief of the Nepalese Armed Forces. The office was created in May 2008 after the country was declared a republic. The first President of Nepal was Ram Baran Yadav. The current president is Ram Chandra Poudel. He is the third president of the country.

National Assembly

Main article: National Assembly (Nepal)

The National Assembly (राष्ट्रिय सभा, Rāṣṭriya Sabhā) has 59 members. Eight members are chosen from each of the seven provinces by an electoral college of each province, and three are appointed by the President on recommendation of the government. They must include at least three women, one Dalit, and one member from disabled groups. Members serve staggered six year terms such that the term of one-third members ends every two years.

House of Representatives

Main article: House of Representatives (Nepal)

The House of Representatives (प्रतिनिधि सभा, Pratinidhi Sabha) has 275 members. 165 members are chosen from single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting and 110 are chosen through proportional electoral system where voters choose political parties, considering the whole country as a single election area. The members of the house hold their seats for five years or until the house is dissolved by the President on the advice of the council of ministers.

Parliamentary committees

Main article: Parliamentary committees of Nepal

The Federal Parliament of Nepal has 16 committees that help it work on different topics. Ten of these are in the House of Representatives, four are in the National Assembly, and two are joint committees.

House of Representatives

• Finance
• International Relations and Tourism
• Industry, Commerce, Labour and Consumer Welfare
• Law, Justice and Human Rights
• Agriculture, Cooperative and Natural Resources
• Women And Social Affairs
• State Affairs and Good Governance
• Infrastructure Development
• Education, Health and Information Technology
• Public Account

National Assembly

• Development, Economic Affairs and Good Governance
• Legislation Management
• Public Policy and Delegated Legislation
• Federalism Enablement and National Concerns

Joint

• Parliamentary Hearing
• Monitoring and Evaluation of the Implementation of the Directive Principles, Policies and Obligations of the state

Women's representation

Main article: Women's representation in the Parliament of Nepal

The rules of Nepal make sure that women make up at least 33% of people in important jobs, including in the country's parliament. On March 16, 2018, Dr. Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe became the deputy speaker of the house. Since then, more women have been taking part in the parliament, thanks to rules that support their involvement.