Provincial governments of Nepal

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The provinces of Nepal are governed by provincial governments which form the second level of governance in the country; after the federal government. The provincial governments are established, and their structure is defined by Part 13 of the Constitution of Nepal.

Contents

Legislature

Each province has a unicameral provincial legislature, varying in size according to the population of the province. The members are elected through first-past-the-post voting and party-list proportional representation for a term of five years, unless dissolved sooner. The first provincial election was held in 2017.

The provincial assemblies are presided over by the Speaker who is elected from amongst the members of the assembly and is not a part of the debates. The speaker is helped by a Deputy Speaker who is also elected from amongst the members. At least one of the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker must be a woman and they must not belong to the same party unless only one party is represented in the assembly. [1] Nanda Gurung is the first and only woman to be elected as the speaker of a provincial assembly. She is currently serving as the Speaker of Karnali Provincial Assembly having been elected in 2023. [2]

The governors of the provinces have the power to summon and prorogue the sessions of the assembly pursuant to the Constitution. The interval between two consecutive sessions of the assemblies cannot exceed six months. If one-fourth of the total members of an assembly make a petition during a prorogation or recess of the assembly, the governor must call a session or a meeting. [3]

AssemblyMeeting placeSeatsSpeakerDeputy SpeakerTerm
Koshi Province Biratnagar, Morang 93 Ambar Bahadur Bista Sirjana Danuwar 2nd Assembly
Madhesh Province Janakpur, Dhanusha 107Ram Chandra MandalBabita Devi Raut Ishar 2nd Assembly
Bagmati Province Hetauda, Makwanpur 110 Bhuwan Kumar Pathak Apsara Chapagai 2nd Assembly
Gandaki Province Pokhara, Kaski 60Krishna Prasad DhitalBina Kumari Thapa 2nd Assembly
Lumbini Province Bhalubang, Dang 87Tularam Gharti MagarMenuka Khand K.C. 2nd Assembly
Karnali Province Birendranagar, Surkhet 40 Nanda Gurung Yashoda Neupane 2nd Assembly
Sudurpashchim Province Godawari, Kailali 53 Bhim Bahadur Bhandari Koili Devi Chaudhary 2nd Assembly

Executive

Ruling party by province, as of 27 April 2023. NepalChiefMinisterparty (6).svg
Ruling party by province, as of 27 April 2023.

The executive power of a province is vested in the provincial cabinet. If a cabinet does not exist, the executive power is exercised by the governor of the province. [4]

The head of the provincial cabinet is the chief minister. The governor appoints the leader of the parliamentary party that commands a majority, either alone or with the support of one or more parties, in the provincial assembly as the chief minister. The governor appoints members to the provincial cabinet on the recommendation of the chief minister. The members of the provincial cabinet are responsible for the various departments of the provincial administration. A provincial cabinet can only consist of a maximum of 20% of the total number of members of the provincial assembly. [5] A non-member of a provincial assembly can be appointed as a minister in the cabinet, but must obtain membership of the assembly within six months of their appointment. [6]

The assembly can force the resignation of the chief minister with a vote of no confidence. [7]

ProvinceChief MinisterPartyTook officeCabinet
Koshi Hikmat Kumar Karki CPN (UML) 9 May 2024 H. K. Karki III
Madhesh Satish Kumar Singh Janamat 7 June 2024 Singh
Bagmati Bahadur Singh Lama Congress 24 July 2024 Lama
Gandaki Surendra Raj Pandey Congress 20 May 2024 Pandey II
Lumbini Chet Narayan Acharya CPN (UML) 24 July 2024 Acharya
Karnali Yam Lal Kandel CPN (UML) 10 April 2024 Kandel
Sudurpashchim Kamal Bahadur Shah Nepali Congress 5 August 2024 Shah II

Cabinet of Koshi

S.N.PortfolioMinister responsiblePolitical PartyConstituencyAssumed office
Cabinet ministers
1 Chief Minister
All other ministries not allocated to anyone.
Hikmat Kumar Karki CPN (UML) Jhapa 5(A) 9 May 2024 [8] [9]
2Minister of Economic Affairs and Planning Ram Bahadur Ranamagar CPN (UML) Ilam 2(B) 9 May 2024
3Minister of Physical Infrastructure Development
4 Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Lila Ballabh Adhikari CPN (UML) Morang 2(B) 17 May 2024
5Minister for Social Development Panch Karna Rai CPN (UML) Khotang 1(A) 17 May 2024
6Minister for Water Supply, Irrigation and Energy Ekraj Karki CPN (UML) Jhapa 2(A) 17 May 2024
7Minister for Tourism, Forest, and Environment
8Minister for Health
State ministers
9Minister of State in the OCMCM Sirjana Rai CPN (UML) Party list17 May 2024
10Minister of State for Tourism, Forest, and Environment

Cabinet of Madhesh Province

S.N.PortfolioMinister responsiblePolitical PartyConstituencyTook office
Cabinet ministers
1Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh Janamat Saptari 2 (B) 7 June 2023 [10]
2Minister for Physical Infrastructure DevelopmentSaroj Kumar Yadav CPN (UML) Mahottari 4 (A) 7 June 2023 [11]
3Minister for Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives Janardan Singh Chhetri Nepali Congress Parsa 3 (B) 18 July 2024
4Minister for Education and Culture Rani Kumari Tiwari Loktantrik Samajwadi Mahottari 3 (B) 18 July 2024
5Minister for Home, Communications and Law Raj Kumar Lekhi CPN (UML) Saptari 1 (A) 7 June 2023 [11]
6Minister for Health and PopulationSatrudhan Prasad Singh CPN (UML) Siraha 2 (B) 7 June 2023 [11]
7Minister for Finance Sunil Kumar Yadav Nepali Congress Rautahat 3 (B) 18 July 2024
8Minister for Sports and Social WelfarePramod Kumar Jaiswal CPN (UML) Parsa 3 (A) 7 June 2023 [11]
9Minister for Forests and EnvironmentTribhuwan Sah Janamat Siraha 4 (A) 7 June 2023 [11]
10Minister for Energy, Irrigation and Water Supply Shesh Narayan Yadav Nepali Congress Dhanusha 4 (A) 18 July 2024
11Minister for Industry, Commerce and TourismSakil Ali Miya Janamat Party Saptari 1 (B) 18 July 2024
12Minister for Labor and Transport Kaushal Kishor Ray Nepali Congress Sarlahi 2 (B) 18 July 2024

Cabinet of Bagmati Province

S.N.PortfolioMinister responsiblePolitical PartyConstituencyTook office
Cabinet ministers
1Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama Nepali Congress Nuwakot 2 (B) 24 July 2024
9Minister for Agriculture and Livestock DevelopmentPrakash Shrestha CPN (UML) Kathmandu 7 (B) 24 July 2024
2Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Kundan Raj Kafle Nepali Congress Dolakha 1 (A) 25 July 2024
8Minister for Physical Infrastructure DevelopmentAman Kumar Maskey CPN (UML) Kathmandu 6 (B) 24 July 2024
3Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Suraj Chandra Lamichhane Nepali Congress Kathmandu 1 (B) 25 July 2024
13Minister for Forest and EnvironmentKrishna Prasad Silwal CPN (UML) Chitwan 2 (A) 24 July 2024
5Minister for Drinking Water, Energy and Irrigation Shyam Bahadur Khadka Nepali Congress Kathmandu 5 (B) 25 July 2024
12Minister for HealthKiran Thapa Magar CPN (UML) Bhaktapur 2 (A) 24 July 2024
4Minister for Social Development Hariprabha Khadgi Nepali Congress Kathmandu 6 (A) 25 July 2024
10Minister for Labour, Employment and TransportationPrem Bhakta Maharjan CPN (UML) Lalitpur 3 (B) 24 July 2024
14Minister without portfolio Madhu Kumar Shrestha Nepali Congress Dhading 1 (A) 25 July 2024
6Minister for Youth and Sports Min Krishna Maharjan Nepali Congress Lalitpur 1 (B) 25 July 2024
11Minister for Industry, Commerce, Land and AdministrationSuku Maya Tamang CPN (UML) Party list24 July 2024
7Minister for Culture, Tourism and Co-operatives Bimal Thakuri Nepali Congress Kathmandu 3 (B) 25 July 2024

Cabinet of Gandaki Province

S.N.PortfolioMinister responsiblePolitical PartyConstituencyTook office
Cabinet ministers
1Chief Minister
  • All ministries and berth remaining unalloted
Surendra Raj Pandey Congress Gorkha 2 (B) 29 May 2024 [12]
2Minister for Social Development and Health Bindu Kumar Thapa Congress Kaski 2 (B) 29 May 2024 [12]
3Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development and Transport Deepak Manange Independent Manang 1 (B) 29 May 2024 [12]
4Minister for Economic AffairsDr Tek Raj Gurung Congress Lamjung 1 (A) 29 May 2024 [12]
5Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Water Supply Fanindra Devkota Nepal Socialist Party Gorkha 2 (A) 29 May 2024 [12]

Cabinet of Lumbini Province

S.N.PortfolioMinister responsiblePolitical PartyConstituencyTook office
Cabinet ministers
1Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya CPN (UML) Arghakhanchi 1 (A) 24 July 2024 [13] [14]
2Minister for Forests and Environment Badshah Kurmi Congress Banke 3 (B) 24 July 2024 [13] [14]
3Minister for Physical Infrastructure DevelopmentBhumiswar Dhakal CPN (UML) Rupandehi 5 (A) 24 July 2024 [13] [14]
4Minister for Agriculture and Land ManagementDinesh Panthi CPN (UML) Gulmi 2 (B) 24 July 2024 [13] [14]
5Minister for Economic Affairs Dhanendra Karki Congress Gulmi 1 (B) 24 July 2024 [13] [14]
6Minister for Urban Development and Water Supply Saroj Thapa Congress Pyuthan 1 (B) 24 July 2024 [13] [14]
7Minister for Industry, Tourism and Transport Management Prachanda Bikram Neupane Congress Dang 2 (B) 24 July 2024 [13] [14]
8Minister for HealthKhem Bahadur Saru CPN (UML) Palpa 1 (B) 24 July 2024 [13] [14]
9Ministry for Energy, Water Resources, and IrrigationSita Sharma CPN (UML) Party list24 July 2024 [13] [14]
10Minister for Interior Affairs and Law
11Minister for Social DevelopmentJanma Jaya Timilsina
12Ministry for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens

Cabinet of Karnali Province

S.N.PortfolioMinister responsiblePolitical PartyConstituencyTook office
Cabinet ministers
1Chief Minister
  • Minister for Internal Affairs and Law
Yam Lal Kandel CPN (UML) Surkhet 2 (A) 9 April 2024 [15]
2Minister for Economic Affairs Rajeev Bikram Shah Nepali Congress Jajarkot 1 (B) 4 August 2024 [16] [17]
3Minister for Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives Binod Kumar Shah CPN (UML) Dailekh 2 (B) 30 April 2024 [18]
4Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development Sher Bahadur Budha CPN (UML) Dolpa 1 (A) 30 April 2024 [18]
5Minister for Social Development Ghanashyam Bhandari Nepali Congress Dailekh 2 (A) 4 August 2024 [16] [17]
6Minister for Water Resource and Energy Development Bijaya Budha Nepali Congress Party list4 August 2024 [16] [17]
7Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment Suresh Adhikari Nepali Congress Salyan 1 (B) 4 August 2024 [16] [17]
State ministers
1Minister of State for Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development Gamata Bishwakarma CPN (UML) Party list30 April 2024 [18]

Cabinet of Sudurpashchim Province

S.N.PortfolioMinister responsiblePolitical PartyConstituencyTook office
Cabinet ministers
1Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah Congress Kailali 2 (A) 5 August 2024 [19] [20]
2Minister for Physical Infrastructure DevelopmentSurendra Bahadur Pal CPN (UML) Baitadi 1 (A) 5 August 2024 [19] [20]
3Minister for Economic Affairs Bahadur Singh Thapa Nepali Congress Kanchanpur 2 (B) 5 August 2024 [19] [20]
4Minister of Industry, Tourism, Forest and EnvironmentLaxman Kishor Chaudhary Nagrik Unmukti Kailali 1 (B) 5 August 2024 [19] [20]
5Minister of Social Development Meghraj Khadka Nepali Congress Achham 1 (A) 5 August 2024 [19] [20]
6Minister for Interior Affairs and LawHira Sarki CPN (UML) Party list5 August 2024 [19] [20]
7Minister for Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives Bir Bahadur Thapa CPN (UML) Kanchanpur 1 (A) 5 August 2024 [19] [20]
State ministers
1Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Planning Prakash Bahadur Bam Nepali Congress Kailali 4 (B) 5 August 2024 [19] [20]
2Minister of State for Social Development Saraswati Khadka Nepali Congress Party list5 August 2024 [19] [20]
3Minister of State in the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure DevelopmentNirmala Saud CPN (UML) Party list5 August 2024 [19] [20]

Judiciary

The former appellate courts were changed into High Courts after the adoption of the new constitution. [21]

High Courts of Nepal
S.N.High CourtJurisdictionPrimary seatChief JudgeRef.
1 Biratnagar High Court (Koshi) Morang District, Sunsari District, and Udaypur District Biratnagar Shri Ramesh Prasad Rajbhandari [22]
2Janakpur High Court (Madhesh) Dhanusha District, Mahottari District, and Sarlahi District Janakpur Binod Sharma (Acting) [23]
3Patan High Court (Bagmati) Kathmandu District, Lalitpur District, Bhaktapur District, Rasuwa District, Nuwakot District, Kavrepalanchowk District, Sindhupalchowk District, Dolakha District, Ramechhap District, Sindhuli District, and Dhading District Lalitpur Nripa Dhoj Niraula [24]
4Pokhara High Court (Gandaki) Kaski District, Lamjung District, Tanahu District, Manang District, Gorkha District, Syangja District, and Nawalpur District Pokhara Ramesh Pokharel [25]
5Tulsipur High Court (Lumbini) Dang District, Pyuthan District, Rolpa District and Eastern Rukum District Tulsipur Nita Gautam Dixit [26]
6Surkhet High Court (Karnali) Surkhet District, Salyan District, West Rukum District, Dailekh District and Jajarkot District Birendranagar Sheshraj Shiwakoti (Acting) [27]
7Dipayal High Court (Sudurpashchim) Bajura District, Bajhang District, Achham District, Doti District, and Kailali District Dipayal Tej Bahadur Karki (Acting) [28]

Additional Benches and Extended Benches of Nepal

S.N.High CourtAdditional and Extended BenchesJurisdictionPrimary seatSenior-most Judge
1 Biratnagar High Court Ilam Bench [29] Jhapa District, Ilam District, Panchthar District, and Taplejung District Illam Premraj Karki
2 Biratnagar High Court Dhankuta Bench [30] Dhankuta District, Terathum District, Sankhuwasabha District, and Bhojpur District Dhankuta Pusparaj Koirala
3Biratnagar High CourtOkhaldhunga Bench [31] Okhaldhunga District, Khotang District, and Solukhumbhu District Okhaldhunga Thakur Prasad Sharma Poudel
4Janakpur High CourtRajbiraj Bench [32] Saptari District and Siraha District Rajbiraj Diliraj Acharya
5Janakpur High CourtBirgunj Bench [33] Parsa District, Bara District and Rautahat District Birgunj Sharanga Subedi
6Patan High CourtHetauda Bench [34] Chitwan District and Makwanpur District Hetauda Mohammad Shabir Hussain
7Pokhara High CourtBaglung Bench [35] Baglung District, Parbat District, Myagdi District and Mustang District Baglung Dwarikaman Joshi
8Tulsipur High CourtButwal Bench [36] Rupandehi District, Nawalparasi District, Kapilvastu District, Gulmi District, Palpa District, and Arghakhanchi District Butwal Shivaraj Adhikari
9Tulsipur High CourtNepalgunj Bench [37] Banke District and Bardiya District Nepalgunj Dr. Ratna Bahadur Bagchand
10Surkhet High CourtJumla Bench [38] Jumla District, Kalikot District, Humla District, Mugu District, and Dolpa District Jumla Gunaraj Dhungel
11Dipayal High CourtMahendranagar Bench [39] Kanchanpur District, Darchula District, Baitadi District and Dadeldhura District Bhimdatta Prabha Basnet

    See also

    References

    1. Article 182, Constitution of Nepal, 2015
    2. "Karnali elects Nepal's first woman provincial Speaker". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
    3. Article 183, Constitution of Nepal, 2015
    4. Article 162, Section 13, Constitution of Nepal, 2015
    5. Article 168, Section 13, Constitution of Nepal, 2015
    6. Article 170, Section 13, Constitution of Nepal, 2015
    7. Article 169, Section 13, Constitution of Nepal, 2015
    8. "Hikmat Karki appointed as Chief Minister of Koshi Province - OnlineKhabar English News". 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
    9. "Koshi Chief Minister Hikmat Karki and two ministers take oath". Setopati. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
    10. Republica. "Satish Singh takes oath of office and secrecy as CM of Madhesh Province". My Republica. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
    11. 1 2 3 4 5 "सतिशकुमार सिंह : पालिका अध्यक्ष हुँदै मधेशको मुख्यमन्त्रीसम्म". ekantipur.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2024-07-06.
    12. 1 2 3 4 5 Samiti, Rastriya Samachar (2024-05-29). "Surendra Raj Pandey appointed as Gandaki province CM". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2024-06-29.
    13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Republica. "Lumbini Province ministers assigned responsibility". My Republica. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
    14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "You are being redirected..." thehimalayantimes.com. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
    15. "UML's Kandel appointed chief minister of Karnali". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
    16. 1 2 3 4 "कर्णाली सरकारमा कांग्रेस सहभागी, ४ मन्त्रीले लिए सपथ". ekantipur.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2024-08-06.
    17. 1 2 3 4 "कर्णालीमा कांग्रेसका ४ मन्त्रीले लिए शपथ". Online Khabar. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
    18. 1 2 3 "Karnali Chief Minister Kandel expands Cabinet". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
    19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Newly appointed CM of Sudurpaschim Province sworn in". Khabarhub. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
    20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Far West CM Shah, ministers sworn in". Setopati. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
    21. "Govt designates all 7 high courts". My Republica. Retrieved 2018-03-31.
    22. "Biratnagar High Court".
    23. "Janakpur High Court".
    24. "Patan High Court".
    25. "Pokhara High Court".
    26. "Tulsipur High Court".
    27. "Surkhet High Court".
    28. "Dipayal High Court".
    29. "Ilam Bench".
    30. "Dhankuta Bench".
    31. "Okhaldhunga Bench".
    32. "Rajbiraj Bench".
    33. "Birgunj Bench".
    34. "Hetauda Bench".
    35. "Baglung Bench".
    36. "Butwal Bench".
    37. "Nepalgunj Bench".
    38. "Jumla Bench".
    39. "Mahendranagar Bench".