Why civil service morale matters for better governance

The civil service is the permanent institution of the state and a foundation of democratic governance. Regardless of which political party comes to power, civil servants are responsible for implementing the government’s policies and programmes. Yet the morale of Nepal’s civil servants appears to have declined significantly in recent years. This has implications not only for administrative performance but also for the quality and timeliness of services received by citizens.

The issue has become particularly relevant under the current government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah. In the March 2026 general election, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) secured 182 of the 275 seats in the House of Representatives, giving it a clear parliamentary majority. Shah was subsequently appointed prime minister on 27 March.