Inter-ethnic/State Relations – 2015
2015
On 31 May 2015, parties had agreed to reach a consensus on disputed issues including federalism and issues of ethnicity and adopt a fast track approach to produce a draft of the constitution. On 9 June, 4 major political parties reached a 16-point agreement to deal with the contentious issues.1 The draft constitution was submitted in the Constituent Assembly on 30 June. The draft constitution was approved for public debate on July 7.2 The draft constitution provides that Nepal shall have eight provinces based on five criteria of identity (ethnicity/community, language, culture, geography/territorial continuity and historical continuity) and four criteria of capability (economic interdependence, and capability; status of infrastructure development, possibilities; availability of natural resources; administrative feasibility). The Nepal government will form a federal commission to recommend the demarcation of federal provinces. Two third majority of all members of the provincial assemblies will name the provinces.The draft constitution provided for the establishment of National Inclusive Commission, which is said to protect and promote interests of ethnic and minority groups.