Nepal Grants Basic Universal Income in Remote Mountain Districts
Nepal has launched a pioneering Universal Basic Income (UBI) pilot targeting households in remote mountain districts—specifically those located above 3,000 meters. Eligible families receive NPR 3,000 (~US$23) per month, with payments made via mobile banking or local cooperatives. Ministry evaluations over the next year will assess impacts on nutrition, school attendance, and migration patterns.
This UBI pilot could inform broader social security policies across Bhutan, northern India, and Bangladesh’s hill districts, where terrain and poverty pose similar service delivery challenges.
