Public Service Commission (PSC - Lok Sewa Aayog): Recruitment and Promotion Guidelines
The Public Service Commission (PSC) prioritizes merit, fairness, and transparency. Annually, it creates a specific schedule to fill positions in civil services, security agencies, and organized institutions. On the first day of the fiscal year (Shrawan 1), the PSC releases notices for recruitment and promotions in the civil service, facilitating preparation and time management for eligible candidates.
Annual Recruitment Overview
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Federal and Provincial Commissions: The PSC fills thousands of positions annually in the federal government and organized institutions. Following the federal structure, provincial public service commissions are operational in all seven provinces. The PSC’s performance enhances public trust in government work and addresses legal complexities, irregularities, and delays. If political leadership adopts the PSC’s efficient style, it can drive rapid national development.
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Historical Background: Established on Asar 1, 2008 BS, the PSC celebrated its 74th anniversary this year. Initially, the PSC advertised six positions on Bhadra 18, 2008 BS. Now, it publishes around two thousand advertisements and promotions annually. The PSC is a reliable body for recruitment in civil services, security agencies, and organized institutions. Article 243 (5) of the constitution mandates that permanent appointments to pensionable government positions require the PSC’s consultation.
Key Functions of the PSC
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Advertisement and Examination: The PSC handles advertisement publication, application collection, written examinations, marking and evaluation of answer sheets, publication of results, interviews, recommendations, and promotions. It also constructs and revises examination curricula. The PSC ensures that appointments, promotions, and departmental actions in public bodies comply with prevailing laws. It monitors recruitment, appointments, and the staffing structure of temporary, contract, or wage-based employees.
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Operational Offices: The PSC operates examinations through its central office in Kathmandu and 16 other offices across the country, including Dhankuta, Dipayal, Jaleshwar, Pokhara, Butwal, Surkhet, Ilam, Khotang, Hetauda, Baglung, Dang, Jumla, Mahendranagar, and application management centers. Written exams for Nayab Subba and Kharidar are also conducted in Humla, Dolpa, Lahan, and Birgunj.
Recruitment Statistics
- Fiscal Year 2080/081 BS: The PSC was involved in recruiting and promoting personnel in three security agencies and organized institutions. The PSC also provides consultation on employee services and facilities to organized institutions. Joint Secretary and spokesperson Geeta Kumari Humagai stated that efforts are being made to make the PSC’s performance more reliable and to align the examination schedule for organized institutions with that of the civil service.
Annual Entry of Personnel in Civil Service
- Recent Trends: In the last five fiscal years (2075/76 to 2079/80 BS), between one to two thousand new individuals have entered various positions in the civil service each year. The PSC has been conducting open, inclusive, internal competition, and internal promotion exams. For example, in the fiscal year 2075/76 BS, 729 individuals entered the civil service through open and inclusive exams. In 2076/77 BS, 2,904 new entrants started their service in various positions. In 2077/78 BS, the PSC recommended 1,235 through open and 998 through inclusive competition, totaling 2,233 new entrants. In 2078/79 BS, 1,200 entered through open and 1,017 through inclusive competition, totaling 2,223 new entrants. In 2079/80 BS, 1,080 through open and 1,006 through inclusive competition, totaling 2,086 new entrants started their service.
Advertisement Release Schedule
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Unified Schedule: The PSC annually determines seat numbers and percentages for various civil service positions, publishes advertisements, conducts exams, interviews, and recommends candidates according to a unified schedule. Ministries, security agencies, and organized institutions must submit their recruitment lists within the specified time. If a position does not need to be filled, the concerned body informs the PSC, and the process for that position is halted.
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Annual Schedules: The PSC publishes schedules for civil service, health service, parliamentary service, and national human rights service positions. The schedule remains consistent over the years. Promotions to the special gazetted class are conducted as needed, so no fixed schedule is made.
Specific Timelines for Various Positions
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First-Class Gazetted: Advertisements on the last Wednesday of Ashwin, exams in Mangsir, results in Poush/Magh, and interviews and recommendations in Falgun/Chaitra.
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Second-Class Gazetted (Technical/Non-Technical): Percentage determination and advertisement in Ashwin, exams in Poush/Magh, results in Falgun/Chaitra, and interviews and recommendations in Chaitra/Baishakh.
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Health Service (11th and 9th Level): Percentage determination and advertisement in Ashwin, exams in Poush/Magh, results in Falgun/Chaitra, and interviews and recommendations in Chaitra/Baishakh.
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Third-Class Gazetted Technical: Percentage determination in Ashwin/Kartik, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Kartik, exams in Magh/Falgun, results in Chaitra/Baishakh, and interviews and recommendations in Jesth/Asar.
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Health Service (8th Level): Open competition with percentage determination in Ashwin/Kartik, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Kartik, exams in Magh/Falgun, results in Chaitra/Baishakh, and interviews and recommendations in Jesth/Asar.
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Health Service (7th Level): Percentage determination in Ashwin/Kartik, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Kartik, exams in Magh/Falgun, results in Chaitra/Baishakh, and interviews and recommendations in Jesth/Asar.
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Third-Class Gazetted (Non-Technical and Third-Class Officer): Percentage determination in Kartik/Mangsir, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Mangsir, first phase exams in Magh, results in Falgun, second phase and internal competition exams in Chaitra, results in Jesth, and interviews and recommendations in Shrawan/Bhadra.
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First-Class Non-Gazetted (Non-Technical) and Assistant First-Class: Percentage determination in Mangsir/Poush, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Poush, first phase exams in Falgun, results in Chaitra, second phase exams in Baishakh, results in Shrawan/Bhadra, and interviews and recommendations in Bhadra/Ashwin.
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First-Class Non-Gazetted (Technical): Percentage determination in Poush/Magh, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Magh, exams in Baishakh, results in Jesth, and interviews and recommendations in Shrawan/Bhadra.
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Health Service (5th Level): Percentage determination in Poush/Magh, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Magh, exams in Baishakh, results in Jesth, and interviews and recommendations in Shrawan/Bhadra.
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Second-Class Non-Gazetted (Non-Technical) and Assistant Second-Class: Percentage determination in Magh/Falgun, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Falgun, internal competition exams in Jesth/Asar, results in Bhadra/Ashwin, and interviews and recommendations in Ashwin/Kartik.
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Second-Class Non-Gazetted (Technical): Percentage determination in Falgun/Chaitra, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Chaitra, exams in Jesth, results in Asar, and interviews and recommendations in Shrawan.
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Health Service (4th Level): Percentage determination in Falgun/Chaitra, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Chaitra, exams in Jesth, results in Asar, and interviews and recommendations in Shrawan.
Recruitment in Security Agencies and Organized Institutions
The PSC conducts internal and open competitions for recruitment in the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, National Investigation Department, and organized institutions. The recruitment process starts in Shrawan and is completed by Asar, with the schedule published at the beginning of the fiscal year. If organized institutions do not request recruitment according to the schedule, the PSC will halt the process. The PSC can make additional decisions if a formal request is made by security agencies and organized institutions. The schedule for organized institutions is subject to change even if published by the PSC.
Key Statistics from the Public Service Commission (PSC) Report:
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Annual Recruitment: The PSC fills thousands of positions annually in the federal government and organized institutions.
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Provincial Commissions: Established in all seven provinces following the federal structure.
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Historical Background:
- Established: Asar 1, 2008 BS.
- First Advertisement: Bhadra 18, 2008 BS.
- Annual Advertisements and Promotions: Around 2,000.
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Civil Service Entry (Last Five Fiscal Years - 2075/76 to 2079/80 BS):
- 2075/76 BS: 729 new entrants through open and inclusive exams.
- 2076/77 BS: 2,904 new entrants (1,436 through open competition, 1,168 through inclusive competition).
- 2077/78 BS: 2,233 new entrants (1,235 through open, 998 through inclusive competition).
- 2078/79 BS: 2,223 new entrants (1,200 through open, 1,017 through inclusive competition).
- 2079/80 BS: 2,086 new entrants (1,080 through open, 1,006 through inclusive competition).
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Operational Offices: 16 offices across the country, including Kathmandu, Dhankuta, Dipayal, Jaleshwar, Pokhara, Butwal, Surkhet, Ilam, Khotang, Hetauda, Baglung, Dang, Jumla, Mahendranagar, and application management centers. Additional examination centers in Humla, Dolpa, Lahan, and Birgunj.
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Security Agencies and Organized Institutions: Involved in the recruitment and promotion of personnel in three security agencies.
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First-Class Gazetted: Advertisements on the last Wednesday of Ashwin, exams in Mangsir, results in Poush/Magh, and interviews and recommendations in Falgun/Chaitra.
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Second-Class Gazetted (Technical/Non-Technical) and Second-Class Officer: Percentage determination and advertisement in Ashwin, exams in Poush/Magh, results in Falgun/Chaitra, and interviews and recommendations in Chaitra/Baishakh.
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Health Service (11th and 9th Level): Percentage determination and advertisement in Ashwin, exams in Poush/Magh, results in Falgun/Chaitra, and interviews and recommendations in Chaitra/Baishakh.
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Third-Class Gazetted Technical: Percentage determination in Ashwin/Kartik, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Kartik, exams in Magh/Falgun, results in Chaitra/Baishakh, and interviews and recommendations in Jesth/Asar.
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Health Service (8th Level): Open competition with percentage determination in Ashwin/Kartik, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Kartik, exams in Magh/Falgun, results in Chaitra/Baishakh, and interviews and recommendations in Jesth/Asar.
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Health Service (7th Level): Percentage determination in Ashwin/Kartik, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Kartik, exams in Magh/Falgun, results in Chaitra/Baishakh, and interviews and recommendations in Jesth/Asar.
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Third-Class Gazetted (Non-Technical and Third-Class Officer): Percentage determination in Kartik/Mangsir, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Mangsir, first phase exams in Magh, results in Falgun, second phase and internal competition exams in Chaitra, results in Jesth, and interviews and recommendations in Shrawan/Bhadra.
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First-Class Non-Gazetted (Non-Technical) and Assistant First-Class: Percentage determination in Mangsir/Poush, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Poush, first phase exams in Falgun, results in Chaitra, second phase exams in Baishakh, results in Shrawan/Bhadra, and interviews and recommendations in Bhadra/Ashwin.
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First-Class Non-Gazetted (Technical): Percentage determination in Poush/Magh, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Magh, exams in Baishakh, results in Jesth, and interviews and recommendations in Shrawan/Bhadra.
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Health Service (5th Level): Percentage determination in Poush/Magh, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Magh, exams in Baishakh, results in Jesth, and interviews and recommendations in Shrawan/Bhadra.
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Second-Class Non-Gazetted (Non-Technical) and Assistant Second-Class: Percentage determination in Magh/Falgun, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Falgun, internal competition exams in Jesth/Asar, results in Bhadra/Ashwin, and interviews and recommendations in Ashwin/Kartik.
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Second-Class Non-Gazetted (Technical): Percentage determination in Falgun/Chaitra, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Chaitra, exams in Jesth, results in Asar, and interviews and recommendations in Shrawan.
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Health Service (4th Level): Percentage determination in Falgun/Chaitra, advertisement on the last Wednesday of Chaitra, exams in Jesth, results in Asar, and interviews and recommendations in Shrawan.
