New prime minister Sushila Karki, a former chief justice known for her uncompromising stance against corruption, faces an immense challenge just weeks after taking office. Chosen after huge protests which toppled her predecessor KP Sharma Oli, she has six months to deliver elections and satisfy demands from Nepal’s energised Gen Z movement. Protesters are urging her to arrest senior leaders accused of graft, purge politically connected bureaucrats, and investigate the 74 protest-related deaths. Their support remains conditional, with leaders such as Sudan Gurung warning they will oust her if progress stalls. Karki has pledged an anti-corruption committee and a panel to examine the violence. Yet entrenched party power - especially Oli’s influence as head of the Communist Party - poses obstacles. With youth unemployment above 20% and decades of political instability, Nepal stands at a pivotal moment reminiscent of the 2008 Maoist uprising. Karki must balance swift action and careful diplomacy to prevent renewed turmoil, while proving that democratic reform is possible.