Preamble and Fundamental Rights

The Preamble of Nepal's Constitution

The Constitution of Nepal 2015 (2072 BS) opens with a preamble that lays out the vision for the country. Article 4(1) then formally declares Nepal to be an independent, indivisible, sovereign, secular, inclusive, democratic, socialism-oriented, federal democratic republican state.

Key Themes in the Preamble

• Sovereignty: The sovereign power belongs to the people of Nepal.
• Federalism: Nepal is organized as a federal state with three tiers of government.
• Secularism: The state maintains religious neutrality while protecting religious freedom.
• Inclusiveness: Commitment to end discrimination based on class, caste, region, language, religion, and gender.

Fundamental Rights (Part 3, Articles 16–46)

The Constitution guarantees a wide range of fundamental rights to every citizen:

• Right to live with dignity (Article 16)
• Right to freedom — of speech, assembly, movement, and profession (Article 17)
• Right to equality — no discrimination on grounds of origin, religion, race, caste, tribe, sex, etc. (Article 18)
• Right to communication — freedom of opinion and expression (Article 19)
• Right relating to justice — access to free legal aid for indigent citizens (Article 20)
• Right against torture (Article 22)
• Right to education — free basic education (Article 31)
• Right to health — basic healthcare services (Article 35)
• Right to food (Article 36)
• Right to housing (Article 37)

Every citizen has the right to demand the enforcement of fundamental rights through the Supreme Court or High Courts.

Why This Matters

Understanding your fundamental rights empowers you to hold the government accountable and ensures that your basic human dignity is protected by the highest law of the land.