Nepal Federal Civil Service Bill moves to Public Service Commission

The Federal Civil Service Bill in Nepal is moving toward the Public Service Commission (PSC) for consultation following a Cabinet decision. The bill has faced delays and contains several contentious provisions.

A primary point of debate is a transitional retirement rule that could require civil servants to retire after 30 years of service or at age 55. This conflicts with other provisions in the bill that seek to raise the standard mandatory retirement age from 58 to 60, potentially forcing many experienced employees out of service prematurely.

Other key proposals in the bill include:

• Lateral entry: Allowing outside experts to fill selected executive and specialist positions for fixed terms, a move that has raised concerns regarding political appointments. • Entry age changes: Adjusting the maximum age for civil service entry to 32 for men and 35 for women to encourage younger candidates. • Structural reforms: Addressing political neutrality, performance evaluations, and personnel management within the federal structure.

The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Federal Affairs and General Administration will revise the bill based on the PSC’s recommendations before resubmitting it to the Cabinet and Parliament.