Nepal is a country with geographical diversity, which had been practicing a unitary form of government since its unification by Prithvi Narayan Shah. However, this system was not able to achieve the development goals of the country and had been described as an "exclusive form of rule" by its critics.[citation needed] Federalism has been seen as the answer to solving regional inequality and reducing economic, social, and religious discrimination[citation needed]; the country has transformed into a federal structure as a result.
Nepal has been a federal democratic republican state since 28 May 2008 (15th Jestha, 2065 BS). According to the concept of a federal system, Nepal has been divided into 7 provinces, 1700 districts and 753 local levels. Now each province has a separate government along with the federal government at the centre.