KATHMANDU: The government has begun the process of renaming merged ministries at Singha Durbar as part of its administrative restructuring plan aimed at improving efficiency, cost-effectiveness and performance.
A Cabinet meeting held on May 13 approved the Nepal Government (Work Division) Regulations, 2083 BS, which redefined the functional allocation of federal ministries. Under the new structure, the number of ministries has been reduced to 18, including the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, down from 22 earlier.
The government said the restructuring was carried out by merging ministries with similar functions.
According to the new arrangement, ministries such as Finance, Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Defence, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, and Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation have been retained.
A separate Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has been created by separating science and technology-related functions from the Ministry of Education. The government said the new ministry aims to prioritize research, innovation and technological development.
Similarly, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Urban Development, and Water Supply have been merged to form a new Ministry of Infrastructure Development.
The Ministry of Education has been renamed the Ministry of Education and Sports by incorporating the sports sector, while the Ministry of Labour has been expanded to include youth affairs and renamed the Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment.
Likewise, the Ministry of Women and Children has been expanded to include gender and sexual minority issues along with social security, and will now operate as the Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities, and Social Security.
Comment