Govt publishes 100-point reform agenda to overhaul bureaucracy

KATHMANDU: The government published a 100‑point reform agenda on Saturday aimed at overhauling the bureaucracy, improving public service delivery and stepping up measures against corruption.

Approved by the Council of Ministers on March 27 after the recent general elections, the package introduces an approach called Delivery‑Based Governance that ties ministry performance to measurable outcomes. Every ministry has been ordered to submit a detailed work plan within seven days, identifying 10 major tasks with timelines and key performance indicators, and the office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers will monitor and publicly report progress.

As part of an administrative restructuring, the government plans to reduce the number of federal ministries to 17 within 30 days. The agenda seeks to insulate the civil service from partisan influence by abolishing political trade unions in public administration and prohibiting civil servants, teachers and professors from holding political affiliations; violations will trigger departmental action under the law.

To tackle corruption and undisclosed assets, an authorised Property Investigation Committee will be formed within 15 days. The committee will first investigate assets of high‑level political figures and senior officials who served from 2062/63 (2005/06) to the present, with a second phase to examine the period from 1991 to 2005. Officials said the probes will be evidence‑based and impartial.

The reforms include measures to make citizen services more accessible. A Government Courier Service is to be launched within 100 days to deliver documents such as passports, citizenship certificates and licences to people’s homes. Passport and citizenship services will also be made available from any district administration office to reduce the need for travel.

Digital governance is a priority, with the government adopting the principle of “submit details only once” to cut redundant paperwork and promote efficient data sharing among agencies.

On social justice, the government announced a formal apology to Dalits and historically marginalised communities for systemic discrimination and pledged a reform programme for these groups within 15 days. A support package, including employment and skills development, will be provided within 100 days for families of martyrs and those injured in the recent “Gen‑Z Movement.”

The agenda also calls for constitutional amendments to strengthen democratic institutions. A task force will be formed within seven days to prepare a Constitution Amendment Discussion Paper aimed at building national consensus on long‑term political and institutional reforms, including the electoral system. The government said it will compile a “National Commitment” from the manifestos and promises of all parties that contested the elections to ensure shared ownership of the reform process.

The document sets strict timelines for implementation and signals an ambitious effort by the new administration to reform state institutions, improve service delivery and address corruption. Observers say the success of the plan will depend on sustained political will and effective enforcement as the government moves to translate the agenda into action.