BIKRAM RAI
Nepal’s prime minister is the ceremonial head of 49 institutions, which means the country’s executive head is compelled to attend unproductive formal programs throughout his term. Besides the Cabinet of Ministers, Security Council, National Planning Commission and Constitutional Council, the prime minister won’t be missed if he steps down from the remaining 45.

“Most institutions want the prime minister as their chairperson to simply take favors through affiliation,” says Chief Secretary Leela Mani Puoudel. “If the prime minister wants, he could make productive use of his time by stepping down from most of these positions.”

The practice of appointing the head of the country as the chancellor of universities began during Panchayat and has become the norm even after the monarchy was abolished. Nepal’s Prime Minister is the chancellor of nine universities. Besides universities, the executive head is also appointed at academies and several other ‘high-level’ committees.

Former finance secretary Rameshwor Khanal, who was also advisor to the prime minister, says, “Autonomous institutions like universities don’t even require education ministers as chancellors.” Khanal says institutions like High-Level HIV/AIDS Council and many other academies aren’t going to be more effective by simply affiliating themselves with the prime minister.

“The Prime Minister needs to devote all his time for constitution-writing and economic transformation by stepping down from ceremonial roles,” says Radhesh Pant, the chief executive officer of the Investment Board.

Nepal’s prime minister is the head of the following institutions: 1. Cabinet of ministers

  1. Constitutional Council

  2. National Security Council

  3. National Academy of Science and Technology

  4. Nepal Academy

  5. Music and Dance Academy

  6. Lalit Kala Academy

  7. Nepal Academy of Medical Sciences

  8. Patan Academy of Health Sciences

  9. National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities

  10. BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences

  11. Tribhuwan University

  12. Kathmandu University

  13. Purwanchal University

  14. Pokhara University

  15. Lumbini Buddha University

  16. Nepal Sanskrit University

  17. Far Western University

  18. Mid-Western University

  19. Agriculture and Forest Science University

  20. National Water Resource Development Council

  21. Tourism Board

  22. Environment Protection Council

  23. Climate Change Council

  24. High level HIV/AIDS Council

  25. National Information Technology Development Council

  26. National Development Council

  27. National Sports Council

  28. Kathmandu Valley Development Council

  29. National Development Problem Solution Committee

  30. High level Peace Committee

  31. Army Integration Special Committee

  32. High Powered Committee for Integrated Development of Bagmati Civilisation

  33. Administrative Reform Monitoring Committee

  34. High level Investment Board

  35. High Level Policy Committee on Organistion

  36. National Population Committee

  37. Decentralisation Implementation Monitoring Committee

  38. Nation Tiger Conservation Committee

  39. National Planning Commission

  40. High level Committee for Information Technology

  41. Poverty Alleviation Fund

  42. Lumbini Development Fund

  43. Pashupati Area Development Trust

  44. National Trust for Nature Conservation

  45. National Commission for Sustainable Development

  46. Nepal Scout

  47. Investment Board

  48. Karnali Academy of Health Sciences