Nepal’s new federal civil service bill, explained in nine points
Summary
Nepal has registered a bill in Parliament to overhaul the federal civil service, raising the retirement age to 60, capping pensionable service at 30 years and introducing new rules on lateral entry, inclusion and conflicts of interest. The proposed law also creates a legal framework for provincial civil services and a two-year cooling-off period for senior officials after retirement.
Key Points
- The bill seeks to replace the Civil Service Act, 1993 and align Nepal’s bureaucracy with the federal system.
- It raises the mandatory retirement age to 60, but existing employees who have already reached 55 or completed 30 years of service would retire when the new law takes effect.
- Pensionable service would be capped at 30 years, and the law would allow lateral entry for specialized posts if needed.
- The bill increases inclusive recruitment quotas to 49 percent, sets a two-year cooling-off period for senior officials, and provides a legal framework for provincial and local civil services.
