Nepal government to cut 10 secretary-level posts in civil service restructure

The Nepalese federal government is preparing to eliminate about 10 secretary-level positions as part of a wider plan to reduce more than 600 civil‑service posts across various levels. The initiative follows Organization and Management (O&M) surveys that ministries have been conducting to restructure agencies and adjust staffing needs.

Nine ministries—including Federal Affairs and General Administration, Women, Children and Gender, Science and Technology, Youth and Sports, Labor and Employment, Education and Sports, Communication and Information Technology, Defense, and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs—have completed their surveys. Currently there are 71 secretary‑level posts, and the government has a policy of appointing only one secretary per ministry. Five secretary positions have already been automatically eliminated after a reduction in ministries, and no promotions to secretary level have been recommended since March. A vacancy left by the retirement of Ram Prasad Ghimire in March remains unfilled, and further cuts could occur if the offices of the Auditor General, Public Procurement Monitoring Office, and Nepal Trust do not retain separate secretary posts.