India, Japan, and UNDP to Support Nepal’s Upcoming Parliamentary Elections

Nepal’s upcoming House of Representatives election, scheduled for Falgun 21, will receive logistical, financial, and technical support from India, Japan, and the development partner United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). According to the Ministry of Finance, Nepal, India will provide vehicles for election management, Japan will extend financial assistance, and UNDP will offer direct institutional and technical support to the Election Commission.

The Ministry of Finance stated that the Ministry of Home Affairs had initially requested 750 vehicles from the Indian government to support election operations. However, considering practical needs and logistical feasibility, the request was revised to 650 vehicles. Based on the revised proposal, India has so far delivered 538 vehicles to Nepal in different phases.

India has been providing the vehicles in a gradual and structured manner. All the vehicles received so far are cabin pickup vans, which are primarily intended for transportation and logistical support during the election process. Some of these vehicles were handed over through formal ceremonies, while others entered Nepal after completing customs procedures.

According to ministry records, India handed over 60 vehicles in the first phase on Magh 7, 2081. In the second phase, on Magh 16, 2082, an additional 250 cabin pickup vans were provided. Further deliveries were made in subsequent phases to meet operational requirements.

Ministry spokesperson Tank Prasad Pandey informed that 112 vehicles are still expected to arrive. He added that India is also preparing to provide larger trucks equipped with protective grills, which can be used for election security purposes. In addition, India has expressed its willingness to support Nepal with other essential equipment required for effective election management.

Alongside India’s logistical support, Japan has committed to providing NPR 400 million in financial assistance for the election. According to Joint Secretary Dhaniram Sharma of the Ministry of Finance, discussions between the Nepalese and Japanese governments are currently underway. He stated that the agreement process is in progress and is expected to be completed within a few days.

Sharma also noted that, apart from India and Japan, there is little possibility of additional support from other countries. The government believes that the assistance pledged so far will be sufficient to manage the election in an organized manner.

Meanwhile, UNDP will provide direct support to the Election Commission of Nepal through a separate agreement. Under this arrangement, UNDP will assist in organizing training programs for election personnel and provide equipment such as computers, printers, information technology tools, and stationery materials.

The government considers international cooperation crucial to ensuring that the upcoming election is conducted in a free, fair, transparent, and credible manner. Officials believe that support in areas such as logistics, security, technology, and human resource development will help strengthen the overall election process.

Experts also view this assistance as a positive step toward improving institutional capacity and operational efficiency. They argue that timely logistical and technical support reduces administrative pressure and allows election authorities to focus more on transparency and voter confidence.

Overall, the combined support from India, Japan, and UNDP is expected to play a significant role in facilitating smooth and reliable elections. While domestic institutions remain primarily responsible for the process, international assistance is likely to enhance management capacity and reinforce public trust in the democratic system.