Nepal’s Drone Dilemma: A Crisis of Inaction

While researching for the Nepali Army, I was alarmed to find how minimally AI and drone technologies are being used across government services. Occasionally, we hear of isolated efforts—like the National Innovation Center (led by Dr. Mahabir Pun) delivering medicines via drones in Myagdi, UNDP testing drone-assisted seed spraying in hilly regions, or drone development for disaster risk reduction by the Robotic Association Nepal and the GBS team. However, these are pilot projects—small in scale, largely symbolic, and more about publicity than serious, strategic implementation.