It has been one month since the government led by Balendra Shah took office, backed by a near two-thirds majority in Parliament. On the day he assumed leadership, the Cabinet endorsed an ambitious 100-point governance reform agenda, with over 50 commitments set for completion within the first month.
While the government claims that most short-term commitments have been initiated and several completed, a detailed, item-by-item progress report has yet to be made public. Officials say implementation is ongoing across ministries, with some measures already in effect and others still in progress.
Early actions include the formation of high-level committees to investigate past incidents and review public officials’ assets. A draft of a national commitment framework, consolidating priorities from across political parties, has also been released. Structural changes, such as reducing the number of federal ministries to 17, have been put into practice, though legal formalities are still pending.
Efforts to improve governance systems—such as digitising public services, introducing e-signatures, and streamlining administrative processes—have largely entered the implementation phase. Anti-corruption measures, including a new national action plan, have also moved forward.
However, several key promises remain incomplete. These include a formal state apology to historically marginalised communities, reforms in service delivery tracking systems, and measures to strengthen industrial security and supply chains. Progress on infrastructure monitoring and investment facilitation has also been slower than expected.
The government’s early days reflect a mix of momentum and delay. While the reform agenda has been set in motion, the coming months will be critical in determining whether these commitments translate into visible change.