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Government of Nepal

Government of Nepal
नेपाल सरकार
National Flag and Emblem of Nepal
Overview
State   Nepal
LeaderPrime Minister
Sushila Karki
Appointed byPresident of Nepal
on the advice of the Federal Parliament
Main organCouncil of Ministers
Ministries20 ministries and several constitutional bodies
Responsible toFederal Parliament of Nepal
HeadquartersSingha Durbar, Kathmandu
Websitenepal.gov.np
Politics of Nepal
Constitution
Government

Executive:

Federal Parliament:

Judiciary:

Elections
Federalism
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
Related topics
flag Nepal portal

The Government of Nepal (Nepali: नेपाल सरकार, romanized: Nepāl Sarkār) is the central executive authority of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The Head of state is the President and the Prime Minister holds the position of the Head of executive. The role of President is largely ceremonial as the functioning of the government is managed entirely by the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the Parliament. The Prime Minister selects all the other ministers; together they form the Council of Ministers.The heads of constitutional bodies are appointed by the President on the recommendation of Constitutional Council, with the exception of the Attorney General, who is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.[1]

Following the Gen Z protest, the previous government led by KP Sharma Oli collapsed. Since 12 September 2025, Nepal has been governed by a transitional administration headed by Sushila Karki,[2] serving as interim Prime Minister ahead of the 2026 general election.[3]

History

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Before Unification of Nepal

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Bharadari government

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The character of government in the Kingdom of Nepal was driven from consultative state capacity of the previous Gorkha hill principality, known as Bharadar.[note 1][4] These Bharadars were drawn from high caste and politically influential families. For instance; Thar Ghan aristocratic group in the earlier Gorkha hill principality. Bharadars formed a consultative body in the kingdom for the most important functions of the state as councillors, ministers and diplomats.[4] There was no one single successful coalition government as court politics were driven from large factional rivalries, consecutive conspiracies and ostracization of opponent Bharadar families through assassination rather than legal expulsion.[4] Another reason was the minority of the reigning King between 1777 and 1847 that led to establishment of anarchial rule.[5] The government was stated to have been controlled by regents, Mukhtiyars and alliance of political faction with strong fundamental support.[5] In the end of the 18th century, the central politics was regularly dominated by two notable political factions: Thapas and Pandes.[5] As per historians and contemporary writer Francis Hamilton, the government of Nepal[note 2] comprised

As for Regmi states, the government of Nepal comprised

In 1794, King Rana Bahadur Shah came of age and his first act was to re-constitute the government such that his uncle, Prince Bahadur Shah of Nepal, had no official part to play.[6][7] Rana Bahadur appointed Kirtiman Singh Basnyat as Chief (Mul) Kaji among the newly appointed four Kajis though Damodar Pande was the most influential Kaji.[7] Kirtiman had succeeded Abhiman Singh Basnyat as Chief Kaji[8] while Prince Bahadur Shah was succeeded as Chief (Mul) Chautariya by Prince Ranodyot Shah, then heir apparent of King Rana Bahadur Shah by a Chhetri Queen Subarna Prabha Devi.[7] Kajis had held the administrative and executive powers of nation after the fall of Chief Chautariya Prince Bahadur Shah in 1794. Later, Kirtiman Singh was secretly assassinated on 28 September 1801, by the supporters of Raj Rajeshwari Devi[9] and his brother Bakhtawar Singh Basnyat, was then given the post of Chief (Mul) Kaji.[10] Later Damodar Pande was appointed by Queen Rajrajeshwari as Chief Kaji.[11] When the exiled abdicated King Rana Bahadur Shah prepared his return in 1804, he arrested many government officials including then Chief Kaji Damodar Pande and sacked the reigning government. He took over the administration of Nepal by assuming the position of Mukhtiyar (chief authority).[12][13][14] A new government was constituted with favoring officials. Bhimsen Thapa was made a second kaji; Ranajit Pande, who was the father-in-law of Bhimsen's brother, was made the Mul (Chief) Kaji; Sher Bahadur Shah, Rana Bahadur's half-brother, was made the Mul (Chief) Chautariya; while Rangnath Paudel was made the Raj Guru (royal spiritual preceptor).[15][16] Later in April 1806, tensions arose between Chief Chautariya Sher Bahadur Shah and Mukhtiyar Rana Bahadur Shah on the night of 25 April 1806 during a meeting at Tribhuvan Khawas's house[17][18] where around 10 pm, Sher Bahadur in desperation drew a sword and killed Rana Bahadur Shah before being cut down by nearby courtiers, Bam Shah and Bal Narsingh Kunwar, also allies of Bhimsen.[19][20] The assassination of Rana Bahadur Shah triggered a great massacre in Bhandarkhal (a royal garden east of Kathmandu Durbar) and at the bank of Bishnumati river[21][22] after which Kaji Bhimsen killed 55 senior officials to benefit from the chaos.[23] He was declared Mukhtiyar (Chief Authority) of Nepal and led the new government from a royal mandate of minor King Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah.[24]

Mukhtiyars ruled over the executive and administrative functions of the state until its replacement by British conventional prime minister in 1843 conferred upon then ruling Mukhtiyar Mathabar Singh Thapa.[25]

Ideals of the old Bharadari government

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The policies of the old Bharadari governments were derived from ancient Hindu texts as Dharmashastra and Manusmriti.[26] The King was considered as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and was the chief authority over legislative, judiciary and executive functions.[26] The judiciary functions were decided on the principles of Hindu Dharma codes of conduct.[26] The king had full rights to expel any person who offended the country and also pardon the offenders and grant return to the country.[26] The government on practicality was not an absolute monarchy due to the dominance of Nepalese political clans making the Shah monarch a puppet ruler.[26] These basic Hindu templates provide the evidence that Nepal was administered as a Hindu state.

Republic: (2008–present)

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Structure

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Legislature

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Main article: Parliament of Nepal

Executive

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President

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Main article: President of Nepal

Vice president

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Main article: Vice President of Nepal

Prime minister

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Main article: Prime Minister of Nepal

Cabinet, ministries and agencies

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Main articles: Council of Ministers of Nepal and List of government agencies of Nepal
Ministries and departments of the Government of Nepal
# Ministry Department(s)
English Nepali
1. Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers प्रधानमन्त्री तथा मन्त्रिपरिषद्को कार्यालय Department of Revenue Investigation
2. Ministry of Finance अर्थ मन्त्रालय Department of Customs
Inland Revenue Department
Department of Money Laundering Investigation
3. Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation उर्जा, जलश्रोत तथा सिँचाइ मन्त्रालय Department of Electricity Development
Department of Hydrology and Meteorology
Department of Water Resources and Irrigation
4. Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation भौतिक पूर्वाधार तथा यातायात मन्त्रालय Department of Roads
Department of Transport Management
Department of Railways
5. Ministry of Urban Development सहरी विकास मन्त्रालय Department of Local Infrastructure Development
Department of Urban Development and Building Construction
6. Ministry of Home Affairs गृह मन्त्रालय Department of Immigration
Department of National ID and Civil Registration
Department of Criminal Assets Management
Department of Prison Management
7. Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs कानुन, न्याय तथा संसदीय मामिला मन्त्रालय
8. Ministry of Information and Communications सञ्‍चार तथा सूचना प्रविधि मन्त्रालय Department of Printing
Department of Information Technology
Department of Information and Broadcasting
Postal Services Department
9. Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security श्रम, रोजगार तथा सामाजिक सुरक्षा मन्त्रालय Department of Foreign Employment
Department of Labour and Occupational Safety
10. Ministry of Foreign Affairs परराष्ट्र मन्त्रालय Department of Passport
11. Ministry of Water Supply खानेपानी मन्त्रालय Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management
12. Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation भूमि व्यवस्था, सहकारी तथा गरिबी निवारण मन्त्रालय Department of Co-Operatives
Department of Land Management and Archive
Department of Survey
13. Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies उद्योग, वाणिज्य तथा आपूर्ति मन्त्रालय Department of Industry
Department of Mines and Geology
Department of Cottage and Small Industries
14. Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizen महिला, बालबालिका तथा ज्येष्ठ नागरिक मन्त्रालय Department of Women and Children
15. Ministry of Youth and Sports युवा तथा खेलकुद मन्त्रालय
16. Ministry of Health and Population स्वास्थ्य तथा जनसङ्ख्या मन्त्रालय Department of Health Services
Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine
Department of Drug Administration
17. Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation संस्कृति, पर्यटन तथा नागरिक उड्डयन मन्त्रालय Department of Archaeology
Department of Tourism
18. Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development कृषि तथा पशुपंक्षी विकास मन्त्रालय Department of Agriculture
Department of Livestock Services
Department of Food Technology and Quality Control
19. Ministry of Education, Science and Technology शिक्षा, विज्ञान तथा प्रविधि मन्त्रालय Department of Education
20. Ministry of Defence रक्षा मन्त्रालय
21. Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration सङ्घीय मामिला तथा सामान्य प्रशासन मन्त्रालय Department of National Personnel Records
Department of Federal Affairs
22. Ministry of Forests and Environment वन तथा वातावरण मन्त्रालय Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation
Department of Forests and Soil Conservation
Department of Environment
Department of Plant Resources

Constitutional bodies

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Constitutional body Head of constitutional body Website
Position/Title Name
Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority Chief Commissioner Prem Kumar Rai official website
Office of The Attorney General Attorney General Dinmani Pokharel official website
Office of the Auditor General Auditor General Tanka Mani Sharma (Dangal) official website
Election Commission Chief Election Commission Dinesh Thapaliya official website
Public Service Commission Chairman Madhav Prasad Regmi official website
National Women Commission Chairperson Kamala Kumari Parajuli official website
National Human Rights Commission Chairman Top Bahadur Magar official website
National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission Chairman Balananda Poudel official website

Security services

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Security Service Head of agency Website
Position/Title Current Head
Nepal Army Chief of Army Staff (प्रधान सेनापति) Gen. Ashok Raj Sigdel official website
Nepal Police Inspector General (प्रहरी महानिरीक्षक) Dan Bahadur Karki official website
Armed Police Force Inspector General (सशस्त्र प्रहरी महानिरीक्षक) Raju Aryal official website
National Investigation Department Chief Investigation Director Hutaraj Thapa official website

Secretaries

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Main article: Secretary to the Government of Nepal

Civil services

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Main article: Civil Services of Nepal

Judiciary

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Main article: Judiciary of Nepal

Supreme Court

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Main article: Supreme Court of Nepal

Elections and voting

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Main articles: Elections in Nepal and Politics of Nepal
See also: Election Commission of Nepal

State and local governments

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Main articles: Provincial governments of Nepal and Local government in Nepal

Finance

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See also: Nepal Rastra Bank

Taxation

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Main article: Taxation in Nepal

;Category:Taxation in Nepal

Central budget

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Main article: Budget of Nepal

Issues

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Corruption

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Main article: Corruption in Nepal

International organisation participation

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United Nations, UNDP Nepal, SAARC, ESCAP, FAO, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Interpol, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WTO, BIMSTEC.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Bharadar translates as 'bearers of burden of state'.
  2. ^ Here the government of Nepal can simply be called Bharadari Sabha or Council of Bharadars.

References

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  1. ^ "Federalism in Action – Nepal's Local Elections 2022: Two Steps Forward but One Step Back?". Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Former chief justice sworn in as Nepal's interim prime minister following deadly protests". Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  3. ^ "Nepal to hold general election next year". Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Pradhan 2012, p. 8.
  5. ^ a b c Pradhan 2012, p. 9.
  6. ^ Acharya 2012, p. 14.
  7. ^ a b c Pradhan 2012, p. 12.
  8. ^ Karmacharya 2005, p. 56.
  9. ^ Acharya 2012, p. 34.
  10. ^ Acharya 2012, p. 35.
  11. ^ Pradhan 2012, p. 14.
  12. ^ Acharya 2012, p. 54.
  13. ^ Nepal 2007, p. 57.
  14. ^ Pradhan 2012, p. 15.
  15. ^ Nepal 2007, p. 58.
  16. ^ Acharya 2012, p. 55.
  17. ^ Acharya 2012, pp. 64–66.
  18. ^ Nepal 2007, p. 62.
  19. ^ Acharya 2012, p. 67.
  20. ^ Nepal 2007, pp. 62–63.
  21. ^ Acharya 2012, pp. 68–71.
  22. ^ Nepal 2007, pp. 63–64.
  23. ^ Pradhan 2012, p. 16.
  24. ^ Acharya 2012, p. 71.
  25. ^ Kandel, Devi Prasad (2011). Pre-Rana Administrative System. Chitwan: Siddhababa Offset Press. p. 95.
  26. ^ a b c d e Pradhan 2012, p. 7.
  27. ^ "Ghimire elected Speaker of the House of Representatives". The Kathmandu Post. January 19, 2023. Archived from the original on Jan 22, 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  28. ^ "Timilsina officially elected as NA chairperson". The Kathmandu Post. Mar 14, 2018. Archived from the original on Jul 30, 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.

Works cited

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