The federal era — and the Gen Z resetसंघीय युग
Three-party musical chairs, a youth uprising, and the 2026 landslide
Nepal's first federal governments cycled the same three leaders (Oli, Dahal, Deuba) through revolving coalitions. In September 2025 a social-media ban ignited the Gen Z uprising: parliament burned, K.P. Oli resigned, and Sushila Karki became the first woman PM of an interim government. The 5 March 2026 election swept Balendra Shah's Rastriya Swatantra Party to power with 182 of 275 seats.
First federal election
26 Nov & 7 Dec 2017
Gen Z uprising
8–13 September 2025 — 76 dead, parliament burned
First woman PM
Sushila Karki, sworn in 12 September 2025
2026 election
5 March 2026 — RSP 182/275 seats (47.8% PR vote)
Current PM
Balendra Shah, sworn in 27 March 2026
What happened
The first federal elections (Nov–Dec 2017) handed a near two-thirds majority to the UML–Maoist left alliance under K.P. Sharma Oli. The merged Nepal Communist Party then split over Oli's two attempts to dissolve parliament; the Supreme Court reinstated the House and, in July 2021, ordered Sher Bahadur Deuba's appointment. The November 2022 election produced another hung parliament, with Prachanda and then Oli (from July 2024) heading shifting coalitions — by 2025, Nepal had seen 14 governments in 17 years of the republic.
On 4 September 2025 the Oli government blocked 26 unregistered social-media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube and X. Against the backdrop of the viral 'Nepo Kids' scandal, Gen Z-led protests erupted on 8 September; security forces killed 19 protesters outside parliament that day. On 9 September crowds burned parliament, Singha Durbar, the Supreme Court and party offices; Oli resigned and the ban was lifted. The final official toll of the uprising was 76 dead and over 2,600 injured.
On 12 September 2025 President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed former chief justice Sushila Karki — Nepal's first woman prime minister — to head an interim government, dissolved the House, and set elections for 5 March 2026.
That election rewrote the map: the Rastriya Swatantra Party won 182 of 275 seats with 47.8% of the proportional vote — the strongest mandate since 1959 — while the Nepali Congress (38) and UML (25) collapsed to historic lows. On 27 March 2026, Balendra ('Balen') Shah, the 35-year-old engineer-rapper and former Kathmandu mayor, was sworn in as Nepal's youngest prime minister, leading the first single-party majority government since 1999.
Key events, 2015–present
The events of this era from the full political timeline — filter by thread.
Nov–Dec 2017Elections
First federal elections
The UML–Maoist alliance wins a near two-thirds majority; K.P. Oli becomes PM of the first elected federal government.
20 Nov 2022Elections
Hung parliament; RSP debuts
Nepali Congress leads with 89 seats; the new Rastriya Swatantra Party wins 20 in its first election.
8–13 Sep 2025People's movements
Gen Z uprising
A social-media ban ignites youth protests; 76 die, parliament and Singha Durbar burn, PM Oli resigns.
12 Sep 2025Government
Sushila Karki — first woman PM
The former chief justice heads an interim government; the House is dissolved and elections set for 5 March 2026.
5 Mar 2026Elections
RSP landslide
Rastriya Swatantra Party wins 182 of 275 seats (47.8% PR vote) — the strongest mandate since 1959; NC and UML collapse to historic lows.
27 Mar 2026Government
Balendra Shah sworn in
At 35, the former Kathmandu mayor becomes Nepal's youngest PM, leading the first single-party majority government since 1999.
Key figures
K.P. Sharma Oli
PM 2015–16, 2018–21, 2024–25; resigned in the Gen Z uprising
Sushila Karki
First woman PM; interim head of government Sep 2025 – Mar 2026
Balendra Shah
PM since 27 March 2026 (RSP); youngest in Nepal's history
Ram Chandra Paudel
President since 13 March 2023
The federal era — and the Gen Z reset: frequently asked questions
When did the The federal era — and the Gen Z reset era in Nepal begin and end?+
The The federal era — and the Gen Z reset era began in 2015 (2015–present) and is ongoing.
What defined the The federal era — and the Gen Z reset period?+
Three-party musical chairs, a youth uprising, and the 2026 landslide. Nepal's first federal governments cycled the same three leaders (Oli, Dahal, Deuba) through revolving coalitions. In September 2025 a social-media ban ignited the Gen Z uprising: parliament burned, K.P. Oli resigned, and Sushila Karki became the first woman PM of an interim government. The 5 March 2026 election swept Balendra Shah's Rastriya Swatantra Party to power with 182 of 275 seats.
What are the key dates of the The federal era — and the Gen Z reset era?+
Key milestones include — First federal election: 26 Nov & 7 Dec 2017; Gen Z uprising: 8–13 September 2025 — 76 dead, parliament burned; First woman PM: Sushila Karki, sworn in 12 September 2025; 2026 election: 5 March 2026 — RSP 182/275 seats (47.8% PR vote); Current PM: Balendra Shah, sworn in 27 March 2026.
What was a key event of the The federal era — and the Gen Z reset era?+
Gen Z uprising (8–13 Sep 2025): A social-media ban ignites youth protests; 76 die, parliament and Singha Durbar burn, PM Oli resigns.
Sources & data note
Dates and figures for The federal era — and the Gen Z reset (2015–present) as documented by the listed sources. Bikram Sambat equivalents are given where customary.