Public Bodies Abolishment Nepal Committee Recommends 11

29th March 2026, Kathmandu

In a major step toward administrative reform in 2026, the Public Bodies Abolishment Nepal Committee has officially recommended the dissolution of 11 public institutions.

Public Bodies Abolishment Nepal 

The proposal aims to streamline governance, eliminate redundancy, and improve fiscal efficiency across government operations. This recommendation follows years of criticism regarding the mushrooming of specialized committees and boards that often overlap with existing departmental duties.

The recommendation comes directly from the Good Governance Roadmap Study Committee, which is currently led by Secretary Govind Bahadur Karki. This committee was formed in response to growing public demands, including sentiments expressed during the Janajeevi movement, to identify and remove unnecessary layers in the governance system of Nepal. On Chaitra 3, 2082, the committee submitted its comprehensive report to Chief Secretary Suman Raj Aryal, outlining the institutional restructuring required to modernize the state.

List of Public Bodies Recommended for Abolishment

According to the detailed report, the Public Bodies Abolishment Nepal Committee has proposed scrapping the following 11 institutions to reduce the burden on the national treasury:

• Buddhist Philosophy Promotion and Gumba Development Committee
• Minimum Wage Fixation Committee
• Nepal Railway Board
• Urban Public Transport Authority
• Land Development Revolving Fund
• Town Development Committees (various locations)
• Bardibas Medical College Infrastructure Development Project
• Butwal Medical College Infrastructure Development Project
• Surkhet Medical College Infrastructure Development Project
• National Dairy Development Board
• District Election Offices

Reasons Behind the Recommendations

The committee emphasized that many of these institutions have either become completely redundant, failed to perform effectively since their inception, or have responsibilities that can be easily transferred to existing permanent government bodies.

For instance, the work of the Buddhist Philosophy Promotion and Gumba Development Committee can be handled by Lumbini University and the Department of Archaeology. Similarly, the strategic responsibilities of the Nepal Railway Board can be transferred back to the Department of Railways under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

The Urban Public Transport Authority was highlighted by the Public Bodies Abolishment Nepal Committee as a prime example of institutional inefficiency. The report noted that this authority has reportedly failed to carry out any significant work or policy implementation even three years after its formal establishment. Likewise, various Town Development Committees can now have their functions managed by local municipal governments, aligning with the federal structure and decentralization efforts of Nepal.

Structural Changes and Reassignments

The committee also suggested strategic structural adjustments rather than outright elimination in certain sensitive cases. These reassignments are intended to ensure that the core functions of the abolished bodies do not disappear but are integrated into more stable environments.

Key suggestions include:

Advertisement

Dairy Services: The functions of the National Dairy Development Board should be transferred to the Department of Livestock Services.

Election Management: District Election Offices should be dissolved, with their administrative responsibilities handed over to the respective District Administration Offices.

Provincial Coordination: To ensure better coordination during elections, Provincial Election Offices should be strengthened at the provincial level instead of maintaining 77 separate district units.

For major infrastructure development projects, such as the medical colleges in Bardibas, Butwal, and Surkhet, the committee recommended dissolving the project offices immediately after the construction phase is completed, as their continued existence as separate legal entities is unnecessary for the operational phase.

Governance and Efficiency Goals

The Public Bodies Abolishment Nepal Committee aims to drastically reduce administrative duplication and improve the accountability of the remaining state organs. By eliminating overlapping roles and underperforming institutions, the government can focus its limited resources on delivering frontline services more effectively to the citizens.

This initiative aligns with the broader governance reforms seen in 2026, which emphasize transparency and a leaner administrative structure. It reflects a shift toward a performance-based bureaucracy that prioritizes results over the mere existence of organizational charts. Reducing the number of chairpersons and board members in these 11 bodies will also save millions of rupees in monthly allowances and administrative overhead.

Future Outlook for Administrative Reform

The recommendations will now be reviewed by the Cabinet of Nepal, and the final implementation will depend on specific policy decisions and the necessary legislative processes to repeal the acts under which these bodies were created. If adopted, these reforms could significantly reshape the public administration landscape of Nepal for the next decade.

The move is expected to enhance service delivery by removing “middleman” institutions and reducing bureaucratic delays. It also signals a strong commitment from the current leadership to address deep-rooted inefficiencies and modernize the governance systems to meet international standards of public management.

Conclusion

The proposal by the Public Bodies Abolishment Nepal Committee to scrap 11 public institutions marks a critical milestone in the journey toward a more efficient Nepal. By eliminating redundant bodies and reallocating their essential responsibilities to existing departments, the government is taking a decisive step toward a more accountable and citizen-focused administrative system. If implemented effectively, these reforms will ensure the better utilization of national resources and set a precedent for future institutional evaluations.

For More: Public Bodies Abolishment Nepal