Nepal, a country with breathtaking Himalayan landscapes and enormous potential, is at a critical crossroads. Its path to stability and prosperity is continually undermined by systemic corruption that has permeated every aspect of life, from the highest levels of government to the day-to-day interactions of citizens with the state. This is not a new problem, but a chronic illness rooted in a historical culture of patronage, nepotism and cronyism that flourished both under the monarchy and after the transition to multi-party democracy. In recent years, the issue has come to the fore with renewed vigor, triggering a nationwide crisis of confidence and calling into question the very viability of the country's democratic institutions.

The scale of the problem is illustrated by the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), published annually by Transparency International. Nepal has consistently ranked poorly over the years, reflecting deep-seated perceptions of public sector corruption. According to the 2023 report, Nepal ranked 108th out of 180 countries, with a score of 35 out of 100. Despite a slight improvement from previous years (110th in 2022 and 117th in 2021), the country remains firmly in the “rampant corruption” category. The 2024 data confirms this stagnation: the score has dropped to 34 points and the rank has changed to 107th place, indicating a lack of any real progress.