Nepal marked Constitution Day and National Day on Saturday, with the country’s top state officials calling for stronger governance, social justice, inclusion and fuller implementation of the constitution.

In a message marking the day, President Ramchandra Paudel said the constitution’s vision of a federal democratic republic should help deliver lasting peace, good governance and prosperity. He also called for unity and solidarity in responding to the loss of life and property caused by the August 26 Bhotekoshi floods.

“The Constitution envisions an equitable society based on social justice and an economy oriented towards socialism underpinned by democratic values,” Paudel said, stressing equal access to state services and social security.

Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav also called for greater commitment to inclusion, equality and proportional representation, describing the constitution as a product of the Nepali people’s long struggle and the country’s diversity.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah, addressing a Constitution Day ceremony in Kathmandu, said his government was committed to both the letter and spirit of the constitution. But he warned that even a strong constitution could become “just a piece of paper” if those implementing it were not honest and committed.

Shah said the government was pursuing administrative reform, zero tolerance for corruption, political neutrality in the bureaucracy and merit-based appointments to public office. He also said his government would prioritise artificial intelligence, innovation and a knowledge-based economy.

Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane said any review of the constitution should focus on people at the margins of society. Calling it a ‘sacred contract’ between the state and citizens, he said its guarantee of fundamental rights must be reflected in the daily lives of marginalised people.

Former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, who leads the CPN-UML, and former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, coordinator of the Nepali Communist Party, also called for protecting the constitution and its gains. Oli urged constitutional forces to unite to safeguard the charter and strengthen national unity, while Dahal said its achievements must be linked to people’s daily lives and its unfinished tasks completed.

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also extended greetings to Nepal on the occasion.

Jaishankar, however, referred to the occasion as Nepal’s ‘National Day’ rather than Constitution Day in a message on X. He also highlighted India’s support for Nepal’s rescue and relief efforts following the recent floods. Rubio expressed sympathy for flood-affected communities and said the United States would support Nepal’s recovery efforts. Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s long-standing ties with Nepal.