‘Government Decision Process Regulations, 2083’ Approved to End Administrative Delays, Digital System Mandatory

1 October, Kathmandu.

The government has introduced the ‘Government Decision Process (Simplification and Digitalization) Regulations, 2083’ to make the decision-making system of public administration more responsible, prompt, and effective.

The ‘Government Decision Process Simplification Directive, 2065’ has been repealed and transformed into regulations. The proposal put forward by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to end administrative delays by digitizing the process in accordance with the times, considering that the regulations will have greater legal status and enforceability compared to the directive, was approved by yesterday’s cabinet meeting.

With the implementation of the new regulations, a digital system has been made mandatory as the primary medium for the decision-making process in government bodies. Under this, all operations including file registration, comments, opinions, approvals, digital signatures, archiving, and monitoring will be conducted through an integrated electronic decision system. Every file registered in the digital system will be provided with a unique identification number and a QR code.

The level of comments has also been reduced to make the decision-making process smooth and hassle-free. For policy-level and important administrative decisions made at the ministerial level, there will be a maximum of three levels of comments, and for general administrative matters, a maximum of two levels.

As soon as a file is registered in the system, time calculation will start automatically, and if no action is taken within the stipulated time, the file will automatically be forwarded to the next higher decision-making level within twenty-four hours.

To modernize public services, artificial intelligence (AI) can be used as an auxiliary tool in legal research, precedent searching, risk analysis, and preparing initial drafts of comments. Similarly, service recipients will be able to check the progress of their files using a tracking number received via online, mobile app, or SMS, and service delivery will be through a one-door system.

Public bodies must register files in digital format through the digital system, and such prepared electronic files will also be considered official government records.

In addition, a ‘Decision Delay Index’ will be implemented to measure the performance of offices, and monitoring will be conducted through an integrated dashboard from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. The regulations include strict provisions for departmental action and score reduction in performance evaluations for officials who cause unnecessary delays in the decision-making process or fail to fulfill their responsibilities.

For More: Government Decision Regulations 2083