KATHMANDU — Prime Minister Balendra Shah said on Nepal Constitution Day that his government is fully committed to both the letter and the spirit of the Constitution, while emphasizing that its effectiveness ultimately depends on those responsible for implementing it.

Shah made the remarks while addressing a ceremony held at Tundikhel in Kathmandu to mark Constitution Day and National Day. He said even a strong constitution could remain limited to paper if the people responsible for putting it into practice were not honest and consistently active.

Commitment to governance reform

The prime minister said the government views the current period as the beginning of a broader effort rather than the end of the process.

He acknowledged that corruption and impunity have deep roots but said efforts to confront those problems are strong and growing. Shah also said the government considers good governance an essential prerequisite for development.

According to Shah, the government has already started work on reforming administrative structures as part of its effort to strengthen governance.

He said the measures include determining an appropriate size for the administrative structure, maintaining zero tolerance toward corruption, ensuring political neutrality within the administrative machinery and adopting merit-based appointment processes for public positions.

Shah said good governance should be demonstrated through action rather than treated simply as a slogan, adding that the government is working toward that objective.

Focus on AI, innovation and knowledge economy

The prime minister also said the government does not intend to continue following traditional approaches to economic development.

Instead, he said it would prioritize a knowledge-based economy with artificial intelligence and innovation at its centre. Shah linked the use of technology with the government’s stated objective of delivering the good governance sought by young people.