Cabinet expands ministers’ advisers and personal secretariats

Nepal's government has reversed a decision to curb political appointments, allowing ministers to significantly expand their advisory teams and personal secretariats. A Cabinet decision on April 15 permits each minister to appoint between three and five advisers, equivalent to secretary level, and a nine-member personal secretariat.

This move effectively reinstates a previous structure that had been reduced following the "Gen Z movement" in September 2025. The government stated the revision is necessary due to current workload, coordination, and administrative needs, aiming to make ministries more effective and result-oriented.

The decision, however, has not been made public, with officials at the Prime Minister's Office reportedly concerned about potential backlash. The directive is being circulated to ministries for implementation, with the Ministry of Finance having already provided consent for maintaining these posts and facilities. Any appointments exceeding the established ceiling will require justification and approval from the Ministry of Finance.

“

To make the performance of all ministries more effective, organised and result-oriented, the number of advisers and personal secretariat staff for ministers has been increased.