A Kathmandu-based legal firm and think tank advancing digital governance, rights-based advocacy, and access to justice across Nepal and South Asia.
"The rule of law in the digital age must be built by those who understand both."
Digital Law and Policy Centre Pvt. Ltd. is a Kathmandu-based legal services and research organisation incorporated under the laws of Nepal. We sit at the intersection of traditional legal practice and emerging digital governance — bringing rigour to questions of law, rights, and public policy.
We work with individuals, civil society organisations, and government bodies to advance legal literacy, provide expert counsel, and conduct research that shapes policy across Nepal and South Asia.
Our work spans court representation, legal documentation, investor facilitation, public interest advocacy, and the growing field of digital rights — grounded in Nepal's domestic legal framework and international human rights standards.
Making Nepali law accessible to everyone — through TikTok explainers and YouTube deep-dives on constitutional rights, court processes, digital law, and public policy.
Regulatory Intelligence · Updated 2025
A living monitor of Nepal's digital governance laws. Flip any card to understand your rights under that law in plain language.
Click Know Your Rights on any card to flip it and see what that law means for you as a citizen in Nepal.
Bills under parliamentary consideration that will significantly shape Nepal's digital future.
Critical areas where Nepal has no law or existing law is inadequate — leaving citizens legally unprotected.
Free Public Resource · Nepal Law Commission
Key legislation in force in Nepal — searchable by category. Each entry links to the official Nepal Law Commission database.
A curated reference of the most publicly relevant acts. Full alphabetical index at lawcommission.gov.np.
| Act | Year | Category | Status | Summary | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Constitution of Nepal नेपालको संविधान | 2015 | Constitutional | ● In Force | Supreme law. Establishes federal democratic republic, fundamental rights, and separation of powers. | |
National Penal Code मुलुकी अपराध संहिता, २०७४ | 2017 | Criminal | ● In Force | Comprehensive criminal code covering offences, penalties, and rights of the accused. | |
National Criminal Procedure Code मुलुकी फौजदारी कार्यविधि संहिता, २०७४ | 2017 | Criminal | ● In Force | Governs arrest, investigation, prosecution, trial, and sentencing procedure. | |
Prevention of Corruption Act भ्रष्टाचार निवारण ऐन, २०५९ | 2002 | Anti-corruption | ● In Force | Defines and penalises corruption and abuse of authority. Enforced by CIAA. | |
National Civil Code मुलुकी देवानी संहिता, २०७४ | 2017 | Civil | ● In Force | Consolidated civil law on property, contract, family, and inheritance. | |
Evidence Act प्रमाण ऐन, २०३१ | 1974 | Civil / Criminal | ● In Force | Rules governing admissibility and weight of evidence in court proceedings. | |
Arbitration Act मध्यस्थता ऐन, २०५५ | 1999 | Civil / ADR | ● In Force | Framework for arbitration and enforcement of arbitral awards. | |
Electronic Transactions Act विद्युतीय कारोबार सम्बन्धी ऐन, २०६३ | 2008 | Digital / Cyber | ● In Force | Nepal's foundational digital law. Governs electronic records, digital signatures, and cybercrime. | |
Individual Privacy Act वैयक्तिक गोपनियता सम्बन्धी ऐन, २०७५ | 2018 | Privacy / Digital | ● In Force | Nepal's primary privacy legislation. Protects personal data and requires consent for collection and use. | |
Social Media Directive (DMSM) सामाजिक सञ्जाल निर्देशिका, २०८० | 2023 | Digital / Platform | ● In Force | Requires platforms to register with MoCIT and appoint local representatives. Basis for Sept 2025 ban. | |
Social Media Act Bill 2081 सामाजिक सञ्जाल विधेयक, २०८१ | 2025 | Digital / Platform | ◐ Pending | Pending parliament. Proposes mandatory licensing and content mandates. Criticised by UNESCO. | |
Right to Information Act सूचनाको हक सम्बन्धी ऐन, २०६४ | 2007 | Digital / Media | ● In Force | Guarantees citizens the right to access information held by public bodies. | |
Copyright Act प्रतिलिपि अधिकार ऐन, २०५९ | 2002 | IP / Digital | ● In Force | Protects intellectual property in literary, artistic, and digital works. | |
Telecommunications Act दूर सञ्चार ऐन, २०५३ | 1997 | Telecom | ● In Force | Governs telecommunications licensing, spectrum management, and the NTA. | |
Labour Act श्रम ऐन, २०७४ | 2017 | Labour | ● In Force | Governs employment relationships, wages, leave, workplace safety, and dispute resolution. | |
Foreign Employment Act वैदेशिक रोजगार ऐन, २०६४ | 2007 | Labour / Migration | ● In Force | Regulates Nepal's migrant workforce, recruitment agencies, worker protections, and welfare fund. | |
Social Security Act सामाजिक सुरक्षा ऐन, २०७५ | 2018 | Labour / Social | ● In Force | Contributory social security fund covering medical, maternity, accident, and old-age benefits. | |
Companies Act कम्पनी ऐन, २०६३ | 2006 | Corporate | ● In Force | Governs incorporation, management, and dissolution of companies in Nepal. | |
Foreign Investment & Technology Transfer Act विदेशी लगानी तथा प्रविधि हस्तान्तरण ऐन, २०७५ | 2019 | Investment | ● In Force | Governs FDI in Nepal — permitted sectors, repatriation of profits, and technology transfer. | |
Public Procurement Act सार्वजनिक खरिद ऐन, २०६३ | 2007 | Procurement | ● In Force | Governs government procurement to ensure transparency and value for money. | |
Children's Act बालबालिका सम्बन्धी ऐन, २०७५ | 2018 | Child Rights | ● In Force | Protects children from exploitation and abuse. Aligns with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. | |
Domestic Violence Act घरेलु हिंसा (कसूर र सजाय) ऐन, २०६६ | 2009 | Gender / HR | ● In Force | Criminalises domestic violence and provides interim protection orders for victims. | |
Caste Discrimination & Untouchability Act जातीय छुवाछूत र भेदभाव ऐन, २०६८ | 2011 | Human Rights | ● In Force | Criminalises caste-based discrimination and untouchability in any form. | |
Legal Aid Act कानूनी सहायता सम्बन्धी ऐन, २०५४ | 1997 | Access to Justice | ● In Force | Provides free legal aid to economically disadvantaged persons in proceedings. | |
Nepal Rastra Bank Act नेपाल राष्ट्र बैङ्क ऐन, २०५८ | 2002 | Financial | ● In Force | Establishes NRB as central bank, governing monetary policy and financial stability. | |
Banks & Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA) बैङ्क तथा वित्तीय संस्था सम्बन्धी ऐन, २०७३ | 2017 | Banking | ● In Force | Regulates commercial banks, development banks, and finance companies in Nepal. | |
Environment Protection Act वातावरण संरक्षण ऐन, २०७६ | 2019 | Environment | ● In Force | Framework for environmental protection. Requires EIA for major projects. | |
Forests Act वन ऐन, २०७६ | 2019 | Environment | ● In Force | Governs national forests, community forestry, protected areas, and REDD+. |
Full Database
For all 200+ acts visit the Nepal Law Commission official database ↗
International Law · OHCHR · ILO NORMLEX
Nepal's ratification status on major international human rights, labour, trade, and digital governance treaties — with gaps and practical implications for citizens.
| Treaty | Adopted | Status | Ratified | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ICCPR — International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights | 1966 | ✓ Ratified | 1991 | Art 17 (privacy) and Art 19 (expression) directly relevant to Nepal's digital law debates. |
ICESCR — International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights | 1966 | ✓ Ratified | 1991 | Three periodic reports submitted. Relevant to education, health, and housing rights. |
CEDAW — Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women | 1979 | ✓ Ratified | 1991 | Optional Protocol not signed — individual complaints unavailable for Nepali women. |
CRC — Convention on the Rights of the Child | 1989 | ✓ Ratified | 1990 | OP on children in armed conflict ratified 2007. OP on sale of children ratified 2006. |
CAT — Convention Against Torture | 1984 | ✓ Ratified | 1991 | OPCAT (independent prison monitoring) not ratified. |
CRPD — Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities | 2006 | ✓ Ratified | 2010 | Domestic implementation: Persons with Disabilities Rights Act 2017. |
CED — Convention for Protection from Enforced Disappearance | 2006 | ✗ Not Ratified | — | Nepal had 17,000+ conflict-era disappearances (1996–2006). OHCHR has encouraged ratification. |
CMW — Convention on Rights of Migrant Workers | 1990 | ✗ Not Ratified | — | Over 3.5 million Nepalis work abroad. Ratification would strengthen bilateral worker protections. |
| Convention | No. | Status | Ratified | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Freedom of Association & Right to Organise | C087 | ✓ Ratified | 1996 | Rights limited in practice in Nepal's large informal sector. |
Right to Organise & Collective Bargaining | C098 | ✓ Ratified | 1996 | Operationalised through Labour Act 2017 and Trade Union Act 1992. |
Forced Labour Convention | C029 | ✓ Ratified | 2002 | Kamaiya bonded labour abolished 2002. Haliya debt bondage declared abolished 2008. |
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention | C182 | ✓ Ratified | 2002 | Operationalised through Children's Act 2018. |
Equal Remuneration Convention | C100 | ✓ Ratified | 1976 | Labour Act 2017 includes equal pay provisions. |
Discrimination (Employment) Convention | C111 | ✓ Ratified | 1976 | Enforcement through Caste Discrimination Act and Labour Act 2017. |
Domestic Workers Convention | C189 | ✗ Not Ratified | — | Hundreds of thousands of domestic workers — mostly women — have minimal legal protections. |
| Treaty | Adopted | Status | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Budapest Convention on Cybercrime Council of Europe | 2001 | ✗ Not Acceded | — | Only binding international cybercrime treaty. No cross-border MLA framework for cyber evidence exists for Nepal. |
WTO Agreement & Accession | 2004 | ✓ Member | 2004 | First LDC to accede through full working party process. Bound by TRIPS, GATS, and GATT. |
Paris Agreement on Climate Change | 2015 | ✓ Ratified | 2016 | Nepal submitted NDC. Actively engages in Loss and Damage discussions. |
UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) | 2003 | ✓ Ratified | 2011 | Implementation through Prevention of Corruption Act 2002 and the CIAA. |
Marrakesh Treaty — Access for Visually Impaired Persons WIPO | 2013 | ◑ Signed | — | Signed but not ratified. Relevant to digital access rights. |
Official Sources
OHCHR: Nepal ratification status ↗ · ILO NORMLEX: Nepal ILO conventions ↗