Nepal, April 26 -- Since the 1950s, 'development' has become one of the most powerful ideas shaping Nepal's socio-political imagination and everyday life. From policy dialogues to tea-shop conversations, the language of bikas permeates how progress is understood and measured. Over the decades, the Nepali state has implemented a wide range of development plans, supported by substantial bilateral and multilateral assistance.

Yet, even by standard measures, the outcomes have been mixed. Nepal has achieved tangible gains-rising income, lower child mortality, improved literacy, better maternal health and longer life expectancy. But it continues to rank among the poorer countries in Asia despite the upcoming LDC graduation, with persistent and...