Kathmandu - The Language Commission has instructed the Government of Nepal to make the use of Nepali mandatory on embossed vehicle number plates, replacing the current practice of using English letters and numbers.
The commission has argued that without such implementation, the promotion and preservation of Nepal’s national language and cultural identity could face challenges.
At present, most embossed number plates in Nepal use English characters. However, since Nepali, written in the Devanagari script, is the country’s official language, the commission has emphasized that it must be prioritized in all state affairs, including transportation systems.
In a formal letter to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and the Department of Transport Management, the commission has recommended gradually converting existing embossed plates into Nepali.
This follows longstanding calls from linguists, writers, and civil society members who have urged the government to promote mother tongue–based systems over foreign language dominance.
Public attention is now focused on how quickly the government will act on this directive. Meanwhile, the Department of Transport Management has stated that it will review the technical aspects, legal provisions, and international practices before taking a final decision.
