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AI regulation in Nepal: laws & policy (2026)

AI in Nepal: guidelines only.

Nepal adopted its first National AI Policy (2082/2025) via Cabinet decision in August 2025, establishing guiding principles, planned institutional bodies, and sectoral integration goals. The policy is a non-binding executive instrument, not a parliamentary law, and explicitly calls for future AI-specific legislation, standards, and regulations to be developed. As of mid-2026, no comprehensive AI law has been enacted.

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Legal framework

National Artificial Intelligence Policy 2082 (2025), approved by Cabinet on 11 August 2025; Ministry of Communication and Information Technology

Key points: artificial intelligence in Nepal

  1. Cabinet-approved national policy

    The Government of Nepal approved the National AI Policy 2082 on 11 August 2025, submitted by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. It is a policy directive, not primary legislation passed by Parliament, and therefore does not carry the force of binding law.

    giwmscdnone.gov.np risingnepaldaily.com

  2. Planned AI Regulation Council

    The policy mandates creation of an AI Regulation Council chaired by the Communications Minister, tasked with developing standards, recommending legal alignment with international norms, and overseeing compliance. The council is to convene at least twice yearly, but enabling legislation for its formal statutory powers was still pending as of 2026.

    kathmandupost.com aiassociationnepal.org

  3. National AI Centre established

    A National AI Centre under the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology was established (operational from November 2025) to coordinate AI research, international cooperation, and serve as secretariat to the AI Regulation Council.

    aiassociationnepal.org dig.watch

  4. Ethics and rights principles

    The policy adopts UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of AI as a reference framework, emphasising fairness, transparency, accountability, human rights, and data privacy. Safeguards for citizen rights and data security are stated goals, but there is no standalone data-protection or AI liability statute in force.

    giwmscdnone.gov.np ismt.edu.np

  5. Future legislation explicitly foreseen

    The policy itself commits to introducing new AI-specific laws, standards, and institutional rules and includes a biennial review mechanism. Experts and the CAN Federation have noted significant gaps in actual regulatory authority until dedicated legislation is enacted.

    kathmandupost.com thehimalayantimes.com

  6. Implementation concerns

    Commentators, including the Nepal Economic Forum and Himalayan Times, flag weak digital infrastructure, limited institutional capacity, absence of a comprehensive data-protection law, and risk of misuse by political actors as barriers to effective AI governance under the current policy-only framework.

    nepaleconomicforum.org thehimalayantimes.com

Sources

  1. giwmscdnone.gov.np/media/pdf_upload/National%20AI%20Policy-Final_uxc94vg.pdf
  2. risingnepaldaily.com/news/66752
  3. kathmandupost.com/money/2025/08/16/nepal-rolls-out-ambitious-ai-policy
  4. aiassociationnepal.org/national-artificial-intelligence-ai-policy-2082/
  5. dig.watch/resource/nepals-national-ai-policy-2082-2025
  6. thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/government-endorses-national-ai-policy
  7. nepaleconomicforum.org/a-view-on-the-national-ai-policy/
  8. thehimalayantimes.com/opinion/nepals-ai-policy-exists-but-is-nepal-ready
  9. ismt.edu.np/ismt-blog-details/ai-ethics-and-policy-in-nepal
  10. thehimalayantimes.com/opinion/nepals-ai-policy-digital-divide-and-implementational-challeng

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Orientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 24 May 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026