KATHMANDU: The government has issued directives to link civil servants’ performance with measurable results, requiring all public offices to prepare objective performance indicators for each position within 45 days.
As part of broader governance reforms, the government said a performance-based accountability and review system will be implemented within 90 days to end the tendency of treating both efficient and underperforming employees equally.
The measures are included in a 100-point reform agenda unveiled on Friday aimed at improving public service delivery and administrative efficiency.
According to the plan, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration will develop standards within 45 days to certify the quality of services delivered by local governments, with provisions to reward high-performing institutions.
In a major structural reform, the government has decided to reduce the number of federal ministries to 17 within 30 days by amending existing rules on the allocation of business. The move aims to curb rising recurrent expenditure caused by an oversized administrative structure.
The agenda also states that staff management will be adjusted accordingly, ensuring that service delivery is not disrupted even if restructuring requires internal reassignment or promotion management.
To address inefficiencies, all public bodies have been instructed to initiate legal amendments to eliminate duplication, procedural complexity, and unnecessary processes that make services slow, costly, and ineffective.
The government will also review unproductive boards, committees, projects, and institutional structures that create financial burdens or overlap in functions. Based on the evaluation, such entities will be scrapped, merged, or restructured.
A high-level task force comprising representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has been formed to recommend reforms within one month.
The reform plan also pledges to make public administration free from political interference, ensuring neutrality, accountability, and citizen-oriented service. Strict implementation of the civil service code of conduct has been emphasized to address corruption, delays, and poor public behavior.
Additionally, a national standard for organizational and management surveys across federal, provincial, and local levels will be approved within 15 days. Teacher records and post-retirement benefits management will be handled by provincial education ministries from the next fiscal year.
The Ministry of Urban Development will set minimum standards for physical infrastructure of government offices within two months, with implementation targeted within 100 days.
To simplify access to public services, the government plans to establish citizen service centers in major cities under an “agencification modality,” operating at least 12 hours daily.
Furthermore, services such as citizenship, passports, national identity cards, and those provided by district administration offices will be integrated into a digital system to ensure faster and hassle-free delivery.
A 24-hour national grievance and support system will also be introduced, allowing citizens to lodge complaints and requests through phone, mobile apps, online portals, and social media platforms.
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