Kathmandu: The Nepal government has recommended five ordinances to President Ramchandra Paudel for endorsement following a Council of Ministers meeting on January 10. The ordinances aim to amend various acts to enhance governance, economic procedures, and public service delivery.

President Paudel has already issued four of these ordinances as per Article 114 (1) of the Constitution. These include the Amendments to Acts for Promoting Good Governance and Public Service Delivery, 2081, the First Amendment to the Economic Procedure and Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2081, the First Amendment to the Privatization Act, 2081, and the Amendments to Acts for Improving Economic and Business Environment and Enhancing Investment, 2081.

In a press conference, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung outlined several key decisions made during the cabinet meeting. The government approved Rs 1.63 billion in grant assistance for the Forest Project for Prosperity and decided to increase the paid-up capital of the Citizen Investment Trust (CIT) to Rs 6.48 billion. The minimum support price for wheat was set at Rs 3,867 per quintal for the current fiscal year.

The cabinet also made notable appointments, including Brajesh Pyakurel, Judge of the Patan High Court, as Chair of the Revenue Tribunal, Kathmandu, and Bidur Koirala, another judge from the Patan High Court, as a Member of the Special Court, Kathmandu. In the security sector, Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) Kuber Kadayat and Rabindra KC were promoted to Additional Inspector Generals (AIGs) and assigned to the Police Headquarters' Crime Investigation Bureau and the Province Coordination Department, respectively.

Further deployments included the assignment of Joint-Secretary Baburam Adhikari as Chief Secretary of the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers in Lumbini Province and Madan Bhujel to the same position in Madhes Province.

The cabinet approved a range of legislative initiatives, granting permission to table the Nepal Citizenship Act (2063 BS) Amendment Bill before the Federal Parliament. It also endorsed the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2081 and approved a bill to amend and integrate laws related to the Armed Police Force Nepal. Additionally, the Labour, Employment, and Social Security and Mountaineering Regulations (Sixth Amendment, 2081) received approval.

In a move toward policy reform, the government decided to scrap the Guideline Related to Regulation of Nuclear Substances, 2072 BS. It also granted permission to draft a bill aimed at amending and integrating laws related to immigration.

These decisions reflect the government’s focus on institutional reform, enhancing public service delivery, and addressing pressing economic and governance challenges.