Nepal's Youth Rush for Temporary Police Jobs Ahead of Elections
Thousands of young Nepalis are lining up for temporary police positions ahead of upcoming national elections. This marks the first major electoral event since youth-led protests shook the Himalayan nation last year. The demonstrations spotlighted deep economic problems that continue to affect daily life.
Massive Response to Job Openings
More than twenty-seven thousand people applied during the first two days of recruitment. Nepal police spokesman Abinarayan Kafle confirmed these numbers on Sunday. Young people formed long queues outside police stations across all seventy-seven districts of Nepal.
"Sunday was a public holiday but so many people, most of them youths, were queueing outside police stations with great excitement," Kafle told reporters. The enthusiasm reflects the desperate need for employment opportunities among Nepal's younger generation.
Economic Background of the Crisis
Nepal estimates it suffered losses of about five hundred eighty-six million dollars following last year's protests. Nearly fifteen thousand people lost their jobs after demonstrations toppled the government in September. The youth-led movement began as anger over a brief government ban on social media.
Deeper frustrations about corruption and economic hardship quickly fueled the protests. A police crackdown resulted in the deaths of young demonstrators. Riots spread and parliament was set ablaze, ultimately causing the government's collapse. At least seventy-seven people died during the unrest.
Personal Stories from Applicants
Sarika Karki, a twenty-year-old applicant, expressed hope about earning some pocket money. "I am also Gen-Z, but I do not have a job," she said in Kathmandu. "I hope the election will go well, and I am able to help in my own way as a temporary police officer."
Nischal Poudel, thirty, previously worked as a hotel cook but now finds himself unemployed. "Only God knows if I will be selected, but now that I've applied and I am sure something good will happen," he told reporters from an application queue in Kathmandu.
Significance of the Temporary Positions
Nepal plans to fill one hundred forty-nine thousand ninety police posts before the March polls. Each recruit will receive roughly two hundred eighty dollars for forty days of service. This represents substantial income in a country where per capita gross national income reached just one thousand four hundred four dollars in 2025 according to United Nations monitoring.
The temporary officers will handle various logistical duties during elections. Their tasks include managing queues at polling stations and carrying ballot boxes. Many young applicants will participate in their first election through these temporary roles.
Broader Economic Context
Government data reveals more than eight hundred thirty-nine thousand Nepalis left the country last year to work abroad. Nepal has a population of approximately thirty million people. The World Bank reports that eighty-two percent of the country's workforce engages in informal employment.
This massive exodus and high informal employment rate underscore the structural economic challenges facing Nepal. The temporary police positions offer rare formal employment opportunities for young people struggling to find work in their home country.
