KATHMANDU, April 24: In a move that signals a sharper push for discipline within Nepal’s bureaucracy, the government has drawn a clear line on who gets to ride in official vehicles—and who does not.
The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) has directed that officials below the rank of Joint Secretary must not use government vehicles. More significantly, any such vehicles currently being used in violation of the rules are to be immediately withdrawn and returned to the government’s central ‘vehicle pool’.
The circular, sent to all ministries, commissions, secretariats and public agencies, reflects growing concern within the government over the widespread and often unchecked use of state vehicles by officials not entitled to such privilege.
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Under existing laws, only gazetted first-class officers—Joint Secretaries and above—are eligible for dedicated vehicles. Yet, in practice, a large number of lower-ranking government officials have been found using four-wheeled vehicles, blurring the lines between entitlement and convenience.
Officials say the latest directive is not merely administrative housekeeping but part of a broader effort to restore order, equity and efficiency in public service. By pulling back vehicles from unauthorised users and placing them in a shared pool, the government aims to ensure that resources are allocated based on necessity rather than access or influence.
The timing of the decision is also significant. With petroleum prices rising sharply in both international and domestic markets, the state is under increasing pressure to curb fuel expenditure. Reducing the number of vehicles on the road—and regulating their use more strictly—has been identified as a key step toward cost control.
At the same time, the directive seeks to correct long-standing anomalies within the system. There have been instances where officials entitled to vehicle facilities have gone without, while others without such eligibility continued to use them. The new rules attempt to reverse this imbalance.
Going forward, even authorised use of government vehicles will come under tighter scrutiny. Offices must coordinate with their administrative divisions before deploying vehicles for official
