A government should not be judged only by what it delivers. As Prime Minister Balendra Shah's administration completes its first 100 days, the record of its delivery is mixed. The government says it has restored public trust and advanced governance reforms. Yet an assessment of its own 100-point action plan shows only 38 commitments have been completed, while nearly two-thirds remain unfinished or are still moving through the system.
The first 100 days were designed to send a message that this administration would govern differently. The roadmap promised quick action on public service delivery, anti-corruption, digital governance, economic reforms, and political accountability. Some of those promises have translated into visible results. Small cooperative depositors have begun receiving refunds. A high-level commission has started investigating unexplained wealth. Digital government services have expanded, driving licence backlogs have fallen sharply, and online public grievance systems have become more responsive. These are meaningful steps that deserve recognition.
Many of the government's biggest commitments remain incomplete. Several reforms missed their own deadlines, while others exist only on paper. In some cases, the administration even departed from the approach outlined in its own action plan, raising questions about consistency and credibility. Every government faces practical limits. In only 100 days, no government can fully achieve an ambitious reform agenda. Usually, the set timelines turn out to be overly hopeful.
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Financial limitations make it effectively impossible to carry out the plan. Political resistance is inevitable. The real issue is not that every target was unmet, but whether the government remained faithful to its priorities and demonstrated the discipline needed to carry them through. That record is uneven.
Digital governance stands out as one of the administration's strongest areas. Expanding online services, improving complaint handling, and reducing paperwork can produce lasting benefits if backed by legislation and institutional reform. Likewise, the property investigation commission signals that corruption remains on the government's agenda, although its credibility will depend entirely on whether investigations proceed independently and without political favor.
In other sectors, the picture is less encouraging. The government's handling of informal settlement evictions exposed the gap between planning and execution. The action plan promised registration and resettlement before relocation. Bulldozers arrived first. The Supreme Court stepped in, and the government was forced to pause. That episode weakened confidence in an administration elected on promises of lawful, people-centered governance.
Economic reforms also remain incomplete. Businesses are still waiting for promised relief measures. Agriculture, despite employing millions, has seen limited progress on irrigation, market reforms, and support for farmers. Major governance reforms, including civil service performance-based promotion, cross-district public services, and several digital governance laws, remain stalled.
Political credibility faces another test. The government came to power promising to end patronage and strengthen institutions. It cannot afford to repeat the appointment culture it criticized in previous administrations. Governance reform begins with consistent practice, not slogans.
The next phase matters more than the first 100 days. The government will have to narrow its focus, make developments public occasionally, and most importantly, stop hiding delays by simply extending deadlines. Instead, it should disclose the reasons for them. Parliament must become the main forum for reform, rather than relying on ordinances whenever political obstacles appear. Above all, every unfinished commitment should be tracked against clear timelines that the public can verify.
The first 100 days offered signs of intent, and delivering barely a third of the promised agenda is not a failure in itself. Failing to accelerate from here would be.
