Many studies show that corruption negatively affects public investment, reduces government revenue, misuses public resources, and decreases expenditure and quality of life for the people. It is also considered the leading cause behind the low quality of infrastructure, damaging social, economic, political, and infrastructural development. Similarly, corruption also hinders development because it distorts resources affecting economic growth and service delivery. So, corruption and underdevelopment have a positive correlation. Corruption has been a major driving force behind underdevelopment in many countries. This article is written based on secondary data. The content of news published in newspapers was analyzed during the study. This paper reveals the prevalence of high levels of corruption in the governance system and development activities is the main reason behind the underdevelopment in Nepal.

This study focuses on the impact of Nepal’s great earthquake 2015 on women and girls. The context of women’s vulnerabilities to disaster is shaped by social differences in roles and responsibilities of women and men. The difference in the division of labor that forces women to stay within the house put them at more risk of death than men. Women are engaged in domestic tasks and caregiving responsibilities, which delay their response and escape from the buildings during emergencies. The lack of education, good health, hygiene and early warning system or absence of disaster awareness made women more vulnerable than men during 2015 earthquake in Nepal. Women relate to different social, physical, psychological, and economic vulnerability in, during and post disaster period. This paper explains the relationship between disaster and its impact over women in the context of Nepal. This article is identified as qualitative research. This research is based on interpretive and descriptive methods. Researcher therefore has collected qualitative data derived from both primary and secondary sources. To analyze and prove the effect of earthquake ethnographically, interviews and key-informants’ interviews are employed. Total 16 interviews and 4 key informants’ interview, and one focus group discussion were held in study area. Researcher also collected secondary data from multiple sources— books, articles, journals, review papers, government documents and archives, nongovernmental reports, newspapers and online materials. The findings of this paper are that women are specifically more vulnerable during disaster because of their socioeconomic and cultural positions. Women encounter different types of problems like social, cultural, economic difficulties. Women’s vulnerability is increased by social differences in roles and responsibilities of male and female during the disaster. The paper strongly argues that gender-based discrimination, inequalities, access to resources and decisionmaking process are the key factors, which directly affect the women during the disaster.

Small businesses in world heritage sites provide services to visitors and livelihood for residents. Besides the cultural and religious values promoted by these businesses, they also provide socioeconomic support to their owners. The Pashupatinath temple is known as Hindu’s major religious and pilgrimage destination in South Asia. Hundreds of businesses around the temple provide services to visitors. This study evaluates the socioeconomic impacts of these small businesses around Pashupatinath temple. Using a survey of 110 businesses, binary logistic regression models find that the owners of larger businesses selling religious supplies in this area are more likely to own houses in Kathmandu and to be more satisfied with their businesses. The study also finds that businesses without permanent stalls faced severe hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assessed the socioeconomic status of a business owner through house ownership in Kathmandu, and finds that small businesses operating in the premises of the religious heritage site of Pashupatinath temple have a positive relation to the livelihood of the business owners and their families. It concludes that small-scale business in world heritage sites directly contributes to local livelihoods and economies.

The global pandemic impacted Asian migrant workers disproportionately. During the first COVID-19 nationwide lockdown, Nepali migrant workers faced many challenges due to widespread misconceptions of them being vectors of COVID-19. This research examines COVID-19 impacts on international and internal Nepali migrant workers. A national survey on the social, economic, and psychological challenges of returning Nepali migrant workers was administered online from 10 May to 20 July 2020. A total of 672 responses were received. Using a binary logistic regression model, the research finds that the domestic migrant workers were less likely to get economic support, expect to borrow money during COVID-19, experience negative changes in their personal lives, and expect the COVID-19 contraction. In contrast, international migrant workers were less likely to return to their pre-pandemic employment. The research exposed long-standing vulnerabilities of migrant workers and identified immediate actions from Nepalese Central, Provincial, and Local governments to address their needs.

This paper explores illicit capital outflows, explaining its multifaceted implications in underdeveloped countries like Nepal. The paper also highlights the historical dynamics adjacent to illicit financial transfers, including their causes, mechanisms, and repercussions. The paper examines the various facets of illicit capital outflows, corruption, and bad governance mechanisms in Nepal. It explores how modern technology and global financial structures facilitate these outflows, contributing to a drain of resources from Nepal. Moreover, the study delves into historical contexts where significant capital outflows occurred due to political transitions and exploitation of national treasuries. The paper also discusses contemporary instances of illicit financial activities, including illegal transactions through Currency Smuggling, Hundi, and the involvement of banks and business entities in illegal capital flights from Nepal to abroad. It emphasizes the challenges faced by regulatory bodies in curbing these illicit practices and their adverse impacts on economic development, revenue collection, and the formal economy in Nepal.

Corruption, a pervasive global issue, is particularly pronounced in countries where impunity and lawlessness prevail. This article examines the complex relationship between impunity and corruption, highlighting how unchecked power and weak legal frameworks allow corruption to flourish. In Nepal, the historical context of impunity, dating back to the Rana regime and continuing through various political systems, has significantly contributed to the institutionalization of corruption. The lack of accountability for the Rana family and high-level officials has created an environment where corruption thrives unchallenged during Rana Regime. Instances from Nepal's history, such as the Panchayat's "Panchakhat Mafi" and the vacuum in the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) in long time in republican regime, illustrate how legal provisions have been manipulated to protect the powerful. This study combined historical analysis and semi-structured interviews with key informants to examine the evolution of impunity and its impact on corruption in Nepal, using thematic analysis to identify patterns and assess reforms. This study underscores that efforts to combat corruption will remain ineffective without robust watchdog institutions and genuine enforcement of the law. The article argues that dismantling impunity is essential for eradicating corruption and achieving good governance in Nepal.