The 18th Civil Service Day was marked across the country on Tuesday. It is celebrated annually on Bhadra 22 since 2061 BS. The Day is marked on Bhadra 22 on commemorate the first Civil Service Act as it was introduced on Bhadra 22 in 2013 BS. The country began celebrating the Civil Service Day as per a resolution of the UN General Assembly. As the UN General Assembly designated June 23 as a Public Service Day on 20 December, 2002, the day is celebrated annually by different countries on different days. On this special day in Nepal, civil servants celebrate their hard work and contribution to the nation and the people. Similarly, they also take this opportunity to make introspection into their shortcoming as well as their future plans and commitments for improved performance for the coming days.

Since the advent of democracy in 2007 BS, the civil service in the country has a lot of success stories that not only the civil servants but all citizens should also underline and celebrate. The bureaucracy is hailed as permanent government. But it is sometimes wrongly perceived as a pro-status quo and anti-change. But in Nepal, it actually facilitated the safe-landing of political change between 2007 and 2017 BS. Similarly, the protests of the government employees are still considered as crucial to the ending of the party-less Panchayat system. During the decade long insurgency, it was the civil servants along with the security forces that played its role provide services to the people even in the remote parts of the country. They had played a positive role in the second People’s Movement in 2063 BS, too. So, the glorious past of Nepali civil service is commendable.

Governments change. Even political system changes in a certain time period. But civil administration remains intact, filling gaps of transition and ensuring uninterrupted service to the general people. The civil administration is static and growing. Since it implements plans and policies of the government and delivers service to the people, it is called the bridge between the government and the people. Functioning of the government and state running could not be imagined without the presence of the civil service apparatus in any country and under any kind of political system. The promulgation of the new constitution in 2015 ushered in the federal democratic republican system. The new political system needs a new civil service law.

The Federal Civil Service Bill was registered in the Parliament Secretariat in February 2019. It is yet to be endorsed. The provincial and local governments are facing difficulties in recruiting civil servants and executing day to day works due to the delay in the passing of the bill. The government should fulfill the urgent need of recruiting more civil servants as many of such posts are lying vacant. The lack of sufficient number of the civil servants is badly affecting the service delivery in the provinces and the local levels. Time and again, questions are raised on the competency and devotion of the civil servants. This may have arisen out of the weakness of a few dishonest people. It is the duty of the government to maintain discipline and integrity in the civil service by rewarding the excellent performers and punishing those who are show laxity in work. Diligence and hard work of the civil servants can boost their image and earn public trust.