Interim Government of Nepal Act 1951 — End of Rana Rule, Multiparty Government

What happened

After the Rana rulers were forced out in 1951, Nepal got a new temporary set of rules. For the first time in Nepal's history, Nepalis were given basic rights — the right to speak freely, have a free press, and gather together. This was the beginning of democracy in Nepal, though it took many more years to fully arrive.

Full Verified Record

The Interim Government of Nepal Act 1951 was promulgated by King Tribhuvan following the Delhi Compromise that ended Rana autocracy. It replaced the 1948 Act and established the framework for a multiparty democratic transition. The Act: restored King Tribhuvan's sovereignty, created a Council of Ministers with both Rana and Nepali Congress representation, guaranteed fundamental rights for the first time in Nepali history (freedom of speech, press, assembly), and committed to holding elections to a Constituent Assembly. It was explicitly 'interim' — until a permanent constitution could be drafted. However, the Constituent Assembly election promised in 1951 was not held until 1959 (limited) and 1991 (fully free).

राणा शासनको अन्तपछि राजा त्रिभुवनले जारी गरेको यो अन्तरिम संविधानले पहिलोपटक नेपालीहरूलाई मौलिक अधिकारको ग्यारेन्टी दियो — भाषण स्वतन्त्रता, प्रेस स्वतन्त्रता, भेला स्वतन्त्रता।

Why it mattered

The 1951 Act was Nepal's first democratic constitution, even if interim. It broke the 104-year Rana monopoly on power and established the principle that Nepal's people had fundamental rights. Its failure to produce a Constituent Assembly for 8 years was a major frustration that led to B.P. Koirala's election in 1959 and King Mahendra's subsequent coup in 1960.