Administrative Reform in Nepal: A Conceptual Discussion

Abstract

Administrative reform in Nepal has been a continuous process aimed at promoting administrative efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, accountability, responsiveness, through restructuring policy, structure, and adopting new administrative norms, values, technology. The set up of the ancient administrative system in Nepal was based on centralized, hierarchic and rigidity which also had negative effects such as corruption, maladministration, political patronage, nepotism, favoritism. A number of efforts were made to make the effective administrative system adopting various conceptual and theoretical development in this field. This article examines the theoretical foundation in line with the efforts made through administrative reform in Nepal. The study also reviews the implementation of recommendations given by different reform commissions in Nepal. It is based on historical research design and relies on secondary data collected from books, research article, legal provisions, government report, and the archives. Findings revel that such efforts contributed for improving in administrative structure, service condition and power sharing through decentralization, however, practical application is very challenging due to political interference, nepotism, favoritism, status quo-oriented behavior, corruption, redtapism, buck passing nature. This is mainly due to lack of professionalism, neutral competencies, meritocracy, political commitment, ethical culture, technology friendly administration, citizen centric administration to ensure effective, efficient, responsible, transparent and accountable administration.