The government has forwarded a proposal seeking Public Service Commission (PSC)’s nod to increase the age limit for civil servants form 58 to 60 years.

A Cabinet meeting on Wednesday forwarded the proposal to the PSC for approval, seeking changes in Civil Service Act, Chief Secretary Somlal Subedi said.

The Ministry of General Administration had forwarded the proposal to the Cabinet seeking change in the age limit of civil servants. After the nod from the PSC, an amendment to Civil Servant Act would be made. After that, it will be sent to Parliament for approval. 

The PSC is positive about the proposal, said a senior official, adding that the PSC has already forwarded recommendation regarding increasing the age limit for civil servants. 

In its annual report, the constitution body had also recommended an increase in the age limit for the civil servants.

Those who are lobbying for increasing the age limit for civil servants say that such proposal will help heavily cut down government expenditure. 

Those opposing the proposal, however, say such a provision is being introduced with an aim to promote some top level bureaucrats and that this will slow down the hiring process bar new entry into civil service. 

In South Asia, India and Pakistan have fixed retirement age for civil servants at 60, while the same in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is 59 and 62.