Can Nepalis Make A Fortune In IT Industry?

A renowned figure, member of the Parliament, and General Secretary of the Nepali Congress, Mr. Gagan Thapa, recently made a statement suggesting that youths in Nepal can earn Rs. 2 to 3 lakhs per month by working remotely in the IT sector. While his comment drew massive criticisms online, it’s worth noting that his statements were neither entirely baseless nor entirely practical in Nepal's current context. In this article, we’ll break down how Nepali youth currently stand in the IT industry, the actual potential of remote work, the skills and experience required to achieve such income levels, challenges they face, and the reforms that are needed to make such aspirations more realistic.