Government of Nepal

This study presents a hybrid metaheuristic framework integrating Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm III (NSGA-III) and Multi-objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO) to solve the Time–Cost–Environmental Sustainability Trade-off (TCEST) problem for sustainable construction planning in Nepal. The model simultaneously minimizes project completion time and cost while maximizing environmental performance, tailored to the Nepalese construction context. A detailed case study of a G + 1 residential building in the Kathmandu Valley—comprising 21 activities with multiple execution modes—validates the framework. The hybrid algorithm generates a well-distributed Pareto front, offering diverse trade-off solutions relevant to Nepal’s unique cost structures, resource availability, and environmental priorities, such as reducing reliance on imported materials and minimizing riverbed material extraction. Performance metrics confirm the framework’s superiority over standalone algorithms. The Weighted Sum Method is applied to identify the most suitable solution based on stakeholder priorities. Correlation and trade-off analysis further reveal key interdependencies among objectives. Validation results indicate high predictive accuracy (R² > 0.96) and Pareto front quality. Overall, the hybrid NSGA-III–MOPSO framework provides a robust, data-driven decision support system for Nepalese stakeholders to balance project timelines, budgets, and sustainability goals effectively.

The adoption of sustainable aquaculture practices, including efficient water management, reduced chemical use, environmentally friendly feed, and proper waste management, is essential for minimizing environmental degradation and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the fish farming sector. However, limited empirical evidence exists on the factors influencing fish farmers’ behavioral intention and actual adoption of such practices in Nepal’s inland aquaculture sector. This study examines the determinants of farmers' behavioral intention and actual adoption of sustainable fish farming practices in Madhesh Pradesh, Nepal, using an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework incorporating attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavior, self-efficacy, and environmental concern, with the latter two constructs extending the standard TPB model. Data was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) based on data collected from 289 fish farmers. The results revealed that attitude was the strongest correlate of behavioral intention, while subjective norms were significantly associated with both behavioral intention and actual behavior. Perceived behavior showed a significant association with behavioral intention but not with actual behavior. Self-efficacy showed a negative association with behavioral intention but a positive association with actual behavior. Environmental concern was not significantly associated with either behavioral intention or actual behavior. Behavioral intention was significantly associated with actual behavior, suggesting it serves as a meaningful pathway through which antecedent constructs relate to observed adoption behavior. The findings further indicated that economic and institutional barriers, particularly limited market access, high input costs, and inadequate technical knowledge, continue to constrain the adoption of sustainable practices. This study contributes to the literature by extending the TPB framework in the context of smallholder aquaculture in a developing country setting and highlights the predominance of economic and structural factors over environmental motivations in shaping adoption behavior. The findings provide evidence-based insights for policymakers and development practitioners to design targeted interventions that strengthen market linkages, improve extension services, and support farmers’ transition toward sustainable aquaculture practices.

Society 6.0 represents a paradigm that can be defined as a human-centered paradigm that repositions technological innovation as an instrument of ethical governance, ecological sustainability, and inclusive well-being, representing a fundamental departure from the technology-optimization logic of Society 5.0. Despite growing scholarly interest, research on Society 6.0 remains geographically concentrated, thematically narrow, and largely disconnected from the challenge of climate-resilient development, particularly in the Global South. Against this backdrop, the study employs a bibliometric analysis and systematic review to map the current state of Society 6.0 while examining its potential for climate-resilient development. This study extracted 552 documents from Scopus and analyzed using tools Bibliometrix (R) and VOSviewer. The bibliometric analysis indicates a strong annual growth rate of 71

The September 2024 floods along Nepal’s Banepa–Bardibas Road, commonly known as BP Highway, resulted in one of the most severe transport infrastructure failures in the Himalayan region to date. These floods, triggered by an extreme three-day rainfall event (including a 24-hour deluge exceeding 300 mm at multiple stations), heavily damaged the 26 km stretch between Bhakundebesi and Nepalthok. Using chainage-level field reconnaissance, rainfall analysis, and a review of emergency response and rehabilitation measures, this study provides the first integrated documentation of the hazard cascade, infrastructure failures, and institutional responses along the severely impacted road section. The results reveal distinct failure modes, including complete washouts, retaining wall and toe protection collapses, and debris-induced blockages, driven by interacting flood processes (riverbank erosion and sediment surges). Despite early national flood alerts, preparedness remained reactive, causing severe bottlenecks; recovery efforts relied heavily on emergency diversions and temporary gravel tracks. International comparisons show that, while global authorities now embed climate risk into design standards, Nepal’s roadway network remains anchored in obsolete design return periods. This study provides the first integrated, chainage-level documentation of the hazard cascade, infrastructure failure typologies, and institutional response along a severely impacted Himalayan river-corridor roadway, combining field reconnaissance, rainfall analysis, and international benchmarking within a single corridor-scale analytical framework. The findings demonstrate that compound hazard interactions, particularly the amplification of flood impacts by quarry-induced channel constriction and systemic gaps in risk-informed planning are the defining drivers of infrastructure vulnerability in this and comparable mountain road corridors across South Asia.

Introduction Minimum Service Standards (MSS) provide a framework for assessing minimum service readiness and identifying gaps in health facilities. Nepal has expanded MSS across government hospitals, but assessment scores alone may not indicate whether identified gaps are addressed or improvements are sustained. Therefore, this study aimed to: (i) describe longitudinal MSS trends among tertiary and specialized hospitals; (ii) present FY 2082/83 province-level and hospital-category MSS averages; (iii) describe implementation gaps relevant to the use of MSS findings; and (iv) propose practical directions for strengthening MSS implementation. Methods A descriptive secondary data analysis was conducted using MSS assessment records for tertiary and specialized hospitals from FY 2076/77 to 2082/83. FY 2082/83 MSS averages by province and hospital category were obtained from the national MSS reporting platform. MSS performance and trends were summarized descriptively. Relevant government documents, scientific literature, and official sources were reviewed using a narrative and descriptive approach. Practice-based insights were considered to inform the interpretation of implementation issues and areas for improvement. Results MSS scores varied across hospitals, assessment years, provinces, and hospital categories. Several tertiary hospitals showed improvement over time, although progress was not consistent. Specialized hospitals remained below 70% throughout the available assessment period. Identified gaps were not always addressed, and follow-up, continuity, accountability, and verification needed strengthening. Some MSS indicators also need to be updated to reflect current health-system needs. The findings support digital tracking, stronger accountability and peer learning, regular updating of MSS, additional measures of quality of care, and expansion of MSS to remaining specialized and super-specialized public hospitals and private hospitals. Conclusion MSS provides an important foundation for assessing service readiness and identifying gaps. Strengthening follow-up, accountability, verification, and continuous improvement could help move MSS beyond assessment and scoring toward a continuous quality-improvement mechanism.