BBC Nepali has been broadcasting for nearly 40 years and is a respected source of news for listeners in Nepal, India and the rest of South Asia, the Far East and the Gulf countries.

Covering a wide spectrum of news stories as well as regular analysis and features on Nepalese issues, BBC Nepali has maintained an unparalleled credibility as a source of accurate and balanced information and analysis for Nepali-speaking audiences.

BBC Nepali's London-based team is supported by correspondents in Kathmandu and stringers across Nepal. The programmes are broadcast for half-an-hour at 1500 GMT every day on shortwave and on BBC 103 FM in Kathmandu and are re-broadcast by around 30 partner FM stations across Nepal. There is also a growing audience of Nepali-speakers who visit the website bbcnepali.com for programmes, in text and audio.

Apart from regular news and current affairs, there are two popular segments on BBC Nepali: on Wednesdays, Nepal Sandarva interviews key Nepalese who are in the headlines and on Saturdays, a discussion programme, Naya Nepal, deals with controversial issues relating to politics and society. Listeners' views are included in the BBC Nepali daily output.

"Our programming was re-structured in January 2007 to make it more market-specific, catering to the growing demands for Nepal-related news and analysis," says Rabindra Mishra, Head of BBC Nepali. "Coverage of Nepalese issues since then has hugely increased, and we have been getting a very positive response from our audiences."

BBC Nepali started on 7 June 1969 as a weekly 30-minute programme. In 1974 the broadcast was increased to three 15-minute programmes a week. The current daily schedule was introduced in 1994.

Today the BBC Nepali team includes Head of the Service, Rabindra Mishra; Desk Editor, Suman Kharel; Producers in London, Jitendra Raut, Navin Singh Khadka and Bhagirath Yogi; Chief Correspondent, Sushi Sharma; Correspondents in Kathmandu, Sharad KC and Surendra Phuyal, and stringers across Nepal.

BBC Nepali works with journalists from the BBC's internationally renowned newsgathering operation – one of largest in the world – to produce international stories.