Following a comprehensive review, the government led by Balendra Shah has reduced the number of federal ministries from 22 to 18. The decision to decrease the number of ministries aligns with the recommendations of the Administrative Restructuring Commission and the electoral promises of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). It has been advised that the federal government focus on sustainable development by maintaining 18 ministries under its jurisdiction.
Formed in the wake of the Janandolan movement, the strong administration under Balendra Shah reduced the number of federal ministries from 22 to 18. Following the recommendations of the Administrative Restructuring Commission and the electoral pledge of the ruling RSP, not only was the number of ministries cut but their areas of responsibility were also redefined. This move is viewed as a positive step aimed at reducing administrative expenses and fostering good governance.
However, fluctuations in ministry numbers and renaming with every government change can indicate institutional instability, which runs counter to the need for strong institutions necessary for nation-building. In some countries, ministries possess their distinct identities and histories; for example, most U.S. ministries have their own logos, symbolizing institutional identity, independent existence, historicity, and continuity.
Nevertheless, merely changing names is insufficient; performance and outcomes ultimately matter. Frequent renaming can reflect institutional instability and shortsightedness among rulers. Therefore, decisions regarding names and functions should be made with a long-term perspective rather than impulsively. While jurisdictional changes can be accommodated over time, altering established names is less acceptable. Names should be simple and easy to pronounce and write consistently. When names become too lengthy, people often resort to shorter versions for convenience, which they tend to prefer. However, shorter names sometimes fail to adequately represent the whole or may lose official gravitas.
This article discusses the preservation of division and sustainable naming of federal ministries in Nepal. When defining ministries, the focus should not only be on strict numbers but also on creating functional and sustainable institutions.
According to Schedule 5 of Nepal’s Constitution and considering the federal government’s core responsibilities, executive traditions, and national characteristics, the following ministries can be formed to promote sustainable development. While personal opinions may vary, the Restructuring Commission has proposed various names and numbers. The current robust government must prioritize the building of sustainable public institutions, keeping in mind Nepal’s status as a sensitive landlocked small country, constitutional rights, and international practices. Establishing 18 ministries with priority in the following areas under the federal government is advisable:
- Office of the Prime Minister: The headquarters of the federal executive, accommodating the Council of Ministers, federal affairs, and civil administration, coordinating governance holistically.
- Ministry of Finance: Responsible for budget preparation, tax revenue, customs, public expenditure, financial policy, debt management, and economic planning.
- Ministry of Home Affairs: Managing internal security, police, disaster management, law enforcement, border administration, and immigration.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Overseeing diplomacy, embassies, international treaties, foreign policy, international organizations, bilateral and multilateral relations, and protection of Nepali citizens abroad.
- Ministry of Defense: Coordinating national borders and security, managing the Nepali Army and national security policy.
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports: Promoting tourism, heritage conservation, hospitality, policy formulation, and linking sports development with tourism.
- Ministry of Transport: Managing all transportation systems including roads, aviation, rail, and waterways.
- Ministry of Information and Communication: Handling public information dissemination, media policy, publishing, broadcasting, telecommunications, and digital communication.
- Ministry of Law and Justice: Responsible for lawmaking and judicial matters, requiring concise, clear, and effective nomenclature.
- Ministry of Infrastructure Development: Overseeing construction in roads, irrigation, agriculture, tourism, electricity, drinking water, education, and urban infrastructure.
- Ministry of Social Development: Coordinating social security, welfare, protection of marginalized communities, women, children, youth, elderly, persons with disabilities, minorities, and poverty alleviation programs.
- Ministry of Education and Culture: Facilitating education and promoting culture, with a role in preserving Nepal’s indigenous culture.
- Ministry of Health: Overseeing health services, public health, hospitals, disease control, pharmaceutical regulation, vaccination programs, and health policy.
- Ministry of Agriculture: Managing agricultural policies, production, irrigation, livestock, food security, and nutrition.
- Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation: Leading policies and research in science, technology, and innovation.
- Ministry of Human Resources and Employment: Handling population data, workforce statistics, employment policies, training, and labor relations.
- Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Investment: Fostering industrial development, regulating trade, and promoting investment.
- Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources: Coordinating natural resource management, climate change, energy, and environmental protection.
Additional proposals include some potential minor changes in titles and responsibilities through constitutional amendments. For example, the Chief Secretary position in the Prime Minister’s office could be re-titled as Principal Secretary to enhance uniformity within the federal structure, similar to designations such as Chief Justice or Chief of Army Staff. Likewise, roles like Attorney General could adopt the prefix ‘Principal’. Police and armed police leadership titles could be standardized to ‘Principal Police Inspector’ and ‘Principal Armed Police Inspector’ respectively, with the Director of Investigation becoming ‘Principal Director of Investigation’ to strengthen the federal identity and simplify pronunciation, thus supporting administrative coherence.
Province-level positions such as Chief Minister and Chief Attorney General exist, so the provincial Chief Secretary may be designated as Chief Secretary as well. Constitutional commission heads could also be titled ‘Principal Commissioner.’ These title adjustments bolster federal identity, ease articulation, and foster uniformity throughout the administrative framework.
