Why Nepal’s New PM Balen Shah Plans To Issue Apology To Dalits: Discrimination To Violence Explained

Last Updated:April 01, 2026, 16:00 IST

Nepal’s New PM Balen Shah Plans To Issue Apology To Dalits: Is there caste discrimination against Dalits in Nepal? Has there been violence? Why the apology? News18 explains

The newly formed government of Nepal, led by Prime Minister Balendra “Balen" Shah, has made a historic decision to issue a formal state apology to the Dalit community for centuries of systemic discrimination and exclusion. This move is a central part of the government’s 100-point Governance Reform Agenda, approved in its first Cabinet meeting following the March 2026 general elections.

Is there caste discrimination against Dalits in Nepal? Has there been violence? Why the apology? News18 explains.

What does the Nepal government plan to do?

Prime Minister Balen Shah, a 35-year-old structural engineer and former Mayor of Kathmandu, led the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) to a landslide victory, unseating veteran leaders like former PM KP Sharma Oli.

His government is committed to issuing a public apology within 15 days of taking office (by mid-April 2026) to acknowledge injustices inflicted by state and social structures.

Alongside the apology, the state plans to launch a special program focused on social justice, inclusive restoration, and socio-economic upliftment for Dalits and other marginalised groups, according to reports.

Dalits in Nepal

Despite constitutional guarantees, the Dalit community, which makes up approximately 13.6% of Nepal’s population, continues to face significant challenges.

Nearly 42% live below the poverty line (double the national average).

They have roughly 6% to 8% of Parliamentary seats, which is below their population proportion.

Incidents of atrocities against Dalits in Nepal

While Nepal officially abolished the caste system in 1963 and declared itself a “caste-discrimination-free nation" in 2006, atrocities against Dalits persist due to deep-seated social hierarchies and weak law enforcement.

Destruction of Property (March 2025): In the Siraha District, a local chairperson reportedly used a municipality dozer to destroy a Dalit home because the family organized a religious celebration on their land.

Inter-Caste Marriage Violence: Attacks linked to inter-caste marriages remain a primary driver of lethal violence. Past high-profile cases, such as the 2020 Rukum West massacre where six people were killed for an inter-caste elopement, continue to cast a shadow as justice remains slow.

Custodial Deaths: Human rights organizations have documented multiple deaths of marginalised individuals in police or prison custody, with families alleging torture and authorities often claiming suicide.

Discrimination against Dalits in Nepal

• Denial of access to religious sites and resistance to inter-caste marriages.
• Reports of murders and assaults related to caste discrimination continue, particularly in rural areas.
• Critics have pointed out that despite the new government’s reformist stance, meaningful representation of Dalits in high-level ministerial positions is still an area needing progress.

What the law says

Article 40 of the 2015 Constitution ensures rights to health, education, and proportional participation. Caste-based discrimination was criminalised by the 2011 Act. While legal reforms like the Caste-Based Discrimination and Untouchability Act (2011) and the 2015 Republican Constitution exist, activists note that enforcement remains weak due to entrenched social attitudes.

New PM bans student politics

Balendra ‘Balen’ Shah has kicked off his tenure with an aggressive reform push, unveiling a 100-point action plan within 48 hours of taking office including one of the most controversial moves yet: a blanket ban on student politics.

The new government has ordered all political student unions to be removed from campuses, saying colleges and universities must be freed from partisan influence.

In their place, the government plans to create non-partisan student bodies such as “Student Council" or “Voice of Students" within the next 90 days.

The move is being pitched as a clean-up measure aimed at ending years of violence, vandalism, extortion, and disruption allegedly linked to party-affiliated student wings and Maoist-backed groups. Balen Shah’s government argues that campuses have become overly politicised, with party flags overshadowing academics, exams being delayed, and teachers even coming under attack.

But critics say the ban could also undermine democratic participation and dismantle one of Nepal’s traditional entry points into political life.

KEY FAQs

Who are Dalits?

Dalits are communities historically placed at the lowest level of the caste hierarchy, facing systemic discrimination.

Will an apology change ground reality?

Not by itself—it must be followed by strong enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and social reform.

Is caste discrimination illegal in Nepal?

Yes. It is banned under law, but implementation remains weak.

With agency inputs

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