A Young Officer’s Awakening: Inside Nepal’s Civil Service

Over a year ago, I entered the civil service. My father had always wanted me to join government service, but something in me wasn’t quite ready. It was only after attending an event where I witnessed firsthand the role of bureaucracy in policymaking that my interest truly sparked. I studied hard, fortunately cleared Lok Sewa on my first attempt, and when I finally held my appointment letter, I remember feeling on top of the world. Soon after, I chose to go to rural Nepal and was posted in Okhaldhunga under the Ministry of Urban Development. Reflecting on it now, with the limited experience I have gained so far, I think there are two major perception shifts I have had regarding government service that I’d like to share.