Ministry of Defence (Nepal)

The Ministry of Defence is governmental body in Nepal that formulates defence policies and coordinates defence affairs with other agencies of the government and the Nepal Army. The present defence minister is Ishowor Pokhrel.

Ministry of Defence
Agency overview
HeadquartersSingha Durbar, Kathmandu
Employees52 staffs
Ministers responsible
  • Ishwor Pokhrel
Websitemod.gov.np
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Origin

The origin and evolution of the defence administration of modern Nepal dates back to the unification of Nepal in 1770. From the foundation to until popular movement, the defence administration was directly overseen by the Crown itself.

Before 1950, there was no division of duties between the Ministry and the Army headquarters. The Commander-in Chief and the Senior Commanding General between themselves dealt with the whole range of administration and policy regarding defence. For the first time in the history of Nepal, a separate ministry by the name of Defence Ministry was set up in the interim Government of 1950 headed by Prime Minister Mohan Shumsher. The first Defence Minister was Babar Shumsher . The organizational structure of the Defence Ministry at the time was quite simple having only two branches, Viz. (i) General and (ii) Budget. The Ministry had a secretary, two deputy secretaries, and two assistant secretaries. Since then the ministry has undergone continuous evolution and assumed the present structure.

The Ministry of Defence was established to protect and defend the nation and the people from internal instability and external threats by ensuring the sovereignty, national independence and integrity of the country.

Top Executive Involved [1]
  • Ishwor Pokhrel (Hon'ble Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Defence)
  • Reshmi Raj Pandey(Secretary)
  • Santa Bahadur Sunar (Joint Secretary (Spokesperson))
  • Geeta Gurung (Under Secretary (Information Officer))

Functions

According to Business (Allocation) Regulation 2063, the Ministry of Defense is responsible for following functions:

  • Organization and control of the Nepalese Army
  • Coordination of Military Training
  • Oversight of Military Welfare
  • Procurement and Production of military hardware
  • Oversight of military activities and military operations
  • Oversight and coordination of military construction
  • Development of Military academy, installation, communication and transport
  • Provision of Military storage
  • Enhancement of Military Intelligence capabilities
  • Development and establishment of Military Hospitals
  • Establishment and Management of Military barracks and offices
  • Coordination and direction of military assistance in natural calamities and development
  • Organization, Training and Administration of the National Cadet Corps
  • Welfare of Retired Military Personnel
  • Oversight, establishment and coordination of National Parks and Wildlife reserves
  • Provision and procurement of military aircraft
  • Welfare schemes
  • Coordination with the National Security Council (NSC)

Objective

Ministry of Defence is established as per Government of Nepal Business Allocation Rules, 2069 (2012) with the objective of managing and operating national defence affairs.[2] The Ministry is responsible for maintaining internal as well as external security in order to safeguard the national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Besides its primary responsibility of external security, it is also responsible for maintaining internal law and order by protecting the lives and properties of the people as per the derisory of the government . In this context the principal task of the Defence Ministry is to make policy directions on defence and security matters and communicate them for implementation to the Nepalese Army and its various service departments. Besides, the MoD also acts as a liaison or contact point for communication and interaction for Nepal Army with other Ministries and Departments. [3][4][5]

Former Ministers of Defense

This is a list of all ministers of Defense since the Nepalese Constituent Assembly election in 2013:

Name Party Assumed Office Left Office
1 Interim Prime Minister Khil Raj Regmi[6]independent25 February 201411 February 2014
2 Prime Minister Sushil KoiralaNepali Congress25 February 201412 October 2015
3 Bhim Bahadur RawalCommunist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)5 November 20141 August 2016[7]
4 Bal Krishna KhandNepali Congress26 August 201631 May 2017
5 Bhimsen Das Pradhan[8]Nepali Congress26 July 201615 February 2018
6 Ishwor PokharelCommunist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) until 17 May 2018
Nepal Communist Party from 17 May 2018		26 February March 2018
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References
  1. "Ministry of Defence". mod.gov.np. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  2. "Government of Nepal Business Allocation Rules, 2069 (2012)" (PDF). www.lawcommission.gov.np. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  3. http://mod.gov.np/
  4. http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/08/04/top-story/defence-ministry-takes-serious-exception-to-pla-vacancy-call/319817.html
  5. http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/07/19/top-story/mod-forms-panel-to-recommend-revision-in-military-justice-system/357381.html
  6. "Council of Ministers". Office of the Prime Minister. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013.
  7. "Nepal Army bids farewell to Defence Minister Rawal". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  8. "Deuba sworn in as 40th PM, forms Cabinet by inducting 7 ministers". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
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