Update (19:19 NST, October 5, 2026)
The total number of civil servants who resigned between Shrawan 1 (BS) and Ashoj 14 (BS) remains 614, according to records from the Nijamati Kitabkhana, Nepal’s Civil Service Records Office. This updates the timeframe for the previously reported 614 resignations, which covered a period from Baisakh 1 (BS) 2083 to October 5, 2026.
Among these 614 resignations, the breakdown is now specified as four secretary-level officers, 11 joint secretaries, 108 under-secretaries, 126 gazetted third-class officers, 118 non-gazetted officers, and 163 unclassified employees.
The four secretary-level officers who resigned include Kamal Prasad Pokharel, who stepped down from his post as Communications Secretary, along with Baburam Adhikari and Rajkumar Shrestha, according to the records.
The figure of 11 joint secretaries who resigned between Shrawan 1 (BS) and Ashoj 14 (BS) is a subset of the 31 joint secretaries reported to have left the civil service in the four months leading up to October 5, 2026.
Nijamati Kitabkhana records indicate that 210 resignations were registered in Shrawan and Bhadra (BS), with an additional 404 resignations reaching the office between Ashoj 1 (BS) and Ashoj 14 (BS), after being approved by various ministries. The pace of resignations reportedly accelerated further after the Federal Civil Service Bill, 2083, was registered in the Federal Parliament Secretariat on Ashoj 15 (BS) 2083.
Padam Kumar Shrestha, a deputy director general at the Inland Revenue Department, a key revenue collection and administration body under Nepal’s Ministry of Finance, resigned on Monday, October 5, 2026. His resignation brings the total number of joint secretaries leaving Nepal’s civil service in the last four months to 31.
Shrestha, who headed the department’s Policy Analysis and Management Division, submitted his resignation to the Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for economic policy formulation and implementation. He was due for mandatory retirement in approximately eight to nine months, by Jestha 14 (BS) 2084, but opted for voluntary early departure.
Earlier, Kedar Sharma, the former Chief Tax Administrator of the Large Taxpayers Office, also resigned on September 22, 2026. Sharma was scheduled for mandatory retirement in five months, by Falgun 13 (BS) 2084.
The resignations of joint secretaries, who hold the gazetted first-class officer rank, typically require a recommendation from their respective ministry to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, which manages Nepal’s civil service and federal matters. The resignations are then approved by a Cabinet meeting.
Reasons for the exodus
A significant factor driving the surge in resignations is the proposed ’30-55′ provision in the Federal Civil Service Bill, 2083, which was registered in the Federal Parliament Secretariat on Ashoj 15 (BS) 2083. This provision mandates compulsory retirement for civil servants who have completed 30 years of service or reached 55 years of age.
Concerns have also grown among long-serving employees regarding a proposed clause in the bill that would cap pension calculations at a maximum of 30 years of service, regardless of the actual duration of employment. Many civil servants are reportedly resigning before the new law takes effect to secure their service benefits and pensions under the existing regulations.
The trend of civil service resignations has accelerated since Prime Minister Balen Shah’s government assumed office. Additionally, some employees have expressed dissatisfaction and resigned following transfers from easily accessible areas, including Kathmandu, to remote regions.
Between Baisakh 1 (BS) 2083 and October 5, 2026, a total of 614 civil servants have resigned. This includes four special-class officers, 108 gazetted second-class officers (under-secretaries), 126 gazetted third-class officers, 182 non-gazetted officers, and 163 unclassified employees.
The path ahead
The final form of the Federal Civil Service Bill, 2083, its transitional provisions, and implementation details will be clarified through the parliamentary process. The resignations of joint secretaries, including Shrestha and Sharma, await approval from the Cabinet.
The departure of a large number of experienced civil servants raises concerns about the potential impact on institutional memory, the continuity of decision-making processes, and the overall efficiency of public service delivery. Dr. Swarnim Wagle currently serves as the Minister of Finance, while Pratibha Rawal is the Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration.
