The Federal Parliament of Nepal (संघीय संसद नेपाल, Saṅghīya Sansada Nēpāla) is the bicameral federal and supreme legislature of Nepal established in 2018 (2074 BS). It consists of the National Assembly and the House of Representatives as parallel houses.

The upper house, the National Assembly (राष्ट्रिय सभा, Rastriya Sabha), consists of 59 members; eight for each province, regardless of population by an electoral college of each province, and three are appointed by the President on recommendation of the government. The lower house, the House of Representatives (प्रतिनिधि सभा, Pratinidhi Sabha) has 275 members. 165 members are elected from single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting and 110 elected through proportional electoral system where voters vote for political parties, considering the whole country as a single election constituency.

History

Legislatures of Kingdom of Nepal

The former Parliament of Nepal was dissolved by King Gyanendra in 2002, on the grounds that it was incapable of handling the Maoist rebels. The country's five main political parties had staged protests against the king, arguing that he must either call fresh elections or reinstate the elected legislature. In 2004, the king announced that parliamentary elections would be held within twelve months; in April 2006, in response to major pro-democratic protests, it was announced that Parliament would be reestablished.

Interim Legislature of Nepal

After the success of the April 2006 people's movement on 15 January 2007 the old parliament was dissolved and replaced by a 330-member interim legislature of Nepal. The legislature drafted an interim constitution and a constituent assembly election was held in April 2008. The 601-member assembly on 28 May 2008 abolished the 238-year-old monarchy and declared the country a republic. The constituent assembly, which was initially given two years to draft a new constitution, was dissolved on 27 May 2012 after its failure to draft a new constitution due to differences over restructuring the state.

Legislature Parliament of Nepal

The second Nepalese Constituent Assembly was converted into a legislative parliament of Nepal after the promulgation of the constitution on 20 September 2015. The second Nepalese Constituent Assembly was formed after the failure of the first Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution. The Legislature Parliament of Nepal was dissolved on 21 January 2018 (7 Magh 2074 BS).

Parliament House

From the beginning of democracy in Nepal till 2008 all the legislative activities were held in the Gallery Baithak. However, the Parliament shifted to the ICC in New Baneshwar after the HoR members increased to 601 following the election of the Constituent Assembly.

Until September 2025, both houses of the federal parliament met at the International Convention Centre in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. On 9 September 2025, anti-government demonstrators stormed the convention centre as part of the Gen Z protests. The building was vandalised and subsequently set alight. Demonstrators also stormed the nearby Singha Durbar government complex and razed the main building, which houses the offices of the prime minister and other government ministers.

A new parliament building is being constructed within the premises of the Singha Durbar complex, which houses most government offices.

Composition

According to the Constitution of Nepal 2015, Nepal has a two-chamber parliament (संसद), consisting of the Pratinidhi Sabha and the Rastriya Sabha, with the President of Nepal acting as their head.

President of Nepal

The President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (नेपालको राष्ट्रपति, Nēpālakō rāṣṭrapati) is the head of state of Nepal and commander in chief of the Nepalese Armed Forces. The office was created in May 2008 after the country was declared as a republic. The first President of Nepal was Ram Baran Yadav. The current president is Ram Chandra Poudel. He is the third president of the country.

Rastriya Sabha

The Rastriya Sabha (राष्ट्रिय सभा, Rastriya Sabha) has 59 members. Eight members are elected from each of the seven provinces by an electoral college of each province, and three are appointed by the President on recommendation of the government. They must include at least three women, one Dalit, and one member from disabled groups. Members serve staggered six year terms such that the term of one-third members expires every two years.

Pratinidhi Sabha

The Pratinidhi Sabha (प्रतिनिधि सभा, Pratinidhi Sabha) has 275 members. 165 members are elected from single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting and 110 elected through proportional electoral system where voters vote for political parties, considering the whole country as a single election constituency. The members of the house hold their seats for five years or until the body is dissolved by the President on the advice of the council of ministers.

Parliamentary committees

There are 16 thematic committees in the federal parliament: ten in the Pratinidhi Sabha, four in the Rastriya Sabha and two joint committees.

Pratinidhi Sabha

  • Finance
  • International Relations and Tourism
  • Industry, Commerce, Labour and Consumer Welfare
  • Law, Justice and Human Rights
  • Agriculture, Cooperative and Natural Resources
  • Women And Social Affairs
  • State Affairs and Good Governance
  • Infrastructure Development
  • Education, Health and Information Technology
  • Public Account

Rastriya Sabha

  • Development, Economic Affairs and Good Governance
  • Legislation Management
  • Public Policy and Delegated Legislation
  • Federalism Enablement and National Concerns

Joint

  • Parliamentary Hearing
  • Monitoring and Evaluation of the Implementation of the Directive Principles, Policies and Obligations of the state

Women's representation

The constitution of Nepal guarantees a 33% reservation for women in all public offices including the federal parliament. On 16 March 2018, Dr. Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe was elected as the deputy speaker of the house. Women's representation in the parliament has increased since the Constituent Assembly, which eventually guaranteed provisions for women's representation on the constitution.

See also

Explanatory notes

External links