Master timeline of BS/AD dates every LLB entrance candidate must memorise
Exam Snapshot
For any law entrance candidate in Nepal, dates are high-yield MCQ territory. The examiners frequently test your knowledge of historical legal milestones, constitutional promulgations, and the exact implementation dates of landmark codes using both Bikram Sambat (BS) and Gregorian Calendar (AD) formats.
Core Concept
Below is the definitive chronological timeline of the most critical events in Nepalese legal history:
- 1910 Poush 7 BS (5 January 1854 AD): Promulgation of the first codified law of Nepal, the Muluki Ain 1910 by Jung Bahadur Rana.
- 2004 Magh 13 BS (26 January 1948 AD): Promulgation of the first constitution, the Government of Nepal Act 2004 (never fully implemented).
- 2007 Chaitra 29 BS (11 April 1951 AD): Promulgation of the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007 following the fall of the Rana regime.
- 2009 Shrawan 8 BS (23 July 1952 AD): Establishment of the Pradhan Nyayalaya (Pradhan Nyayalaya Act 2008).
- 2013 Bhadra 8 BS (24 August 1956 AD): The formal establishment of the Supreme Court of Nepal under the Supreme Court Act 2013.
- 2020 Bhadra 1 BS (17 August 1963 AD): Enforcement of the Muluki Ain 2020, which introduced major social reforms (abolished caste-based discrimination in legal sentencing).
- 2031 Kartik 5 BS (21 October 1974 AD): Authentication of the Evidence Act 2031 (implemented on 2032 Ashar 1 BS).
- 2072 Ashwin 3 BS (20 September 2015 AD): Promulgation of the current Constitution of Nepal by the Constituent Assembly.
- 2074 Ashwin 30 BS (16 October 2017 AD): Presidential authentication of the five Muluki Codes (Civil, Civil Procedure, Criminal, Criminal Procedure, Sentencing).
- 2075 Bhadra 1 BS (17 August 2018 AD): Implementation date of the new Muluki Codes, replacing the 55-year-old Muluki Ain 2020.
Nepal Law Anchors
These dates are codified within the opening clauses of the respective legislative documents:
- Preamble/Section 1 of Muluki Ain 1910: Records the date as "1910 Years, Poush Badi 7".
- Section 1(2) of Muluki Devani Samhita 2074: Specifies that the code shall commence on "1st of Bhadra, 2075".
- Article 308 of the Constitution of Nepal: Declares the commencement date as 3rd Ashwin, 2072.
Confusable Terms
MCQ writers love to exploit the difference between when a law was signed and when it actually came into force.
| Term | Legal Definition | Classic Exam Example |
|---|---|---|
| Promulgation/Authentication (प्रमाणीकरण) | The date the Head of State signs the bill into law. | Muluki Codes were authenticated on 2074 Ashwin 30 |
| Commencement/Enforcement (प्रारम्भ) | The date from which the provisions of the law become active. | Muluki Codes came into force on 2075 Bhadra 1 |
MCQ Traps
- The Supreme Court Trap: Do not confuse the establishment of the Pradhan Nyayalaya (2009 Shrawan 8) with the formal establishment of the Supreme Court of Nepal (2013 Bhadra 8).
- Muluki Codes Implementation Trap: Questions will ask "When did the Muluki Criminal Code 2074 come into effect?" The options will include both 2074 Ashwin 30 and 2075 Bhadra 1. The correct answer for implementation is 2075 Bhadra 1.
- Evidence Act Gap: The Evidence Act was passed in 2031 BS but commenced on 2032 Ashar 1 BS. Watch the question phrasing carefully.
Example
An MCQ question asks: "When was the Supreme Court of Nepal established under the Supreme Court Act 2013?"
- A) 2009 Shrawan 8 BS
- B) 2013 Bhadra 8 BS
- C) 2015 Falgun 1 BS
- D) 1956 September 20 AD
Answer: B. Options A is the date for the Pradhan Nyayalaya. Option C is the date of the 2015 Constitution. Option D is a filler.
Memory Hook
Remember the "Bhadra 1 Double-Header": Both the major legal codifications of modern Nepal—the Muluki Ain 2020 and the New Muluki Codes 2075—came into active enforcement on Bhadra 1 (exactly 55 years apart: 2020 BS and 2075 BS).
Quick Revision
- 1910 Poush 7: First Muluki Ain.
- 2009 Shrawan 8: Pradhan Nyayalaya.
- 2013 Bhadra 8: Supreme Court.
- 2020 Bhadra 1: Muluki Ain 2020 enforced.
- 2031 Kartik 5: Evidence Act authenticated.
- 2072 Ashwin 3: Current Constitution promulgated.
- 2075 Bhadra 1: New Muluki Codes came into effect.