27/05/2026
New Publication | Power, Authority, and Decision-Making in Nepal's Public Administration
Nepal’s bureaucracy is often described as a “black box.” Even those who regularly engage with the government find its internal workings difficult to understand.
With civil service reform returning to the top of Nepal’s policy agenda following the March 2026 elections, the research authored by Sushav Niraula and Saumitra Neupane provides much-needed analytical grounding for these reform efforts. It offers one of the most detailed examinations of Nepal’s civil service published to date.
The research examines:
– Where bureaucratic power comes from — formal and informal
– How transfers and promotions have become arenas of political bargaining
– Why civil servants are primary authors of public policy, not just its implementers
– How Nepal's federal transition left subnational governments under-resourced
–What the Federal Civil Service Bill reveals about who holds power — and how far they'll go to defend it
Read and download the full report here: https://pei.center/publication/https-pei-center-wp-content-uploads-2026-05-power-authority-and-decision-making-in-nepals-public-administration-pdf/
