Nepal, Sept. 24 -- The government born out of the Gen-Z movement is sending a clear signal-it will not spend recklessly. With state coffers under pressure and fresh demands for resources mounting, Prime Minister Sushila Karki's interim administration has embarked on a path of austerity.

The challenge before it is daunting. On one hand lies the urgent need to rebuild public infrstructures damaged during the Gen Z movement. On the other, the government must prepare for the House of Representatives (HoR) elections slated for March 5, 2026. And looming over everything is the moral burden of being a government that rose to power on the back of anti-corruption protests.

At the heart of this austerity drive is Finance Minister Rameshore Khanal...