The Koshi Province Assembly has unanimously passed a bill allowing 13 national languages to be used alongside Nepali in official government business. The legislation was passed in Biratnagar on October 10, 2026.
The Bill to Make Arrangements Regarding the Language of Official Business in Koshi Province, 2083 creates a legal basis for the use of languages including Maithili and Limbu in official provincial work.
A step towards inclusive governance
The bill is framed as a significant step for linguistic rights, identity and inclusive governance. It relates to Article 7 of the Constitution of Nepal, which addresses the language of official business.
One report said the bill was revised on the Assembly floor following pressure from Yayokha.
