Towards Zero Tolerance to Corruption: Is Corruption Scenario Changing in Nepal

This study evaluated a very delicate issue of corruption. It has attempted to identify the changed scenario of corruption in Nepal and illustrated the initiations that the government of Nepal has commenced towards the zero tolerance to corruption. This study is a result of the analysis of the research question ‘Is the corruption scenario changing in Nepal?’ This study combined a triangulation approach in order to fulfill the set objective. The unit of analysis was every day’s newspaper during the year 2017 to 2019.  Based on the nature of content published in the newspaper and backing up with the legal frameworks and functionalities of anti-corruption agencies, three major categories were created. They included: 1) punitive actions, 2) preventive measures and promotional activities, and 3) corruption related research/report/view.  On the other hand, for the qualitative content, a logic framework model of program assessment was used to analyze the content and information. It has also attempted to disentangle the three different nature of anti-corruption strategy - punitive actions, preventive measures and promotional activities, and corruption related research/report/view- and its impact on corruption control. The outcome of anti-corruption initiatives are assessed by using independent sample t-test and multiple regression analysis. The changes in punitive actions, preventive and promotional activities, and corruption related research/report/view before and after the election was assessed and found that there are significant differences between the means of the two periods. Anti-corruption agencies getting its chief/chief commissioner, in comparison to without chief/chief commissioner, has more number of punitive actions against corruption. Although this study could not justify the relationship between the punitive actions, preventive and promotional activities, and corruption related research/report/ view but discovered that punitive actions, preventive and promotional activities, and corruption related research/report/view against corruption after the election or change in government had significantly increased compared to before election or change in government.