The Administrative Reform Recommendation Committee has advised the government to limit the number of central ministries to 12 in the federal set-up.

Stating that provincial government’s jurisdiction will expand, the committee has suggested less number of ministries for the Centre.

In a report submitted to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala on Thursday, the panel headed by Administrative Court Chairman Kashi Raj Dahal has recommended reducing the number of ministries to 18 at present in order to make the administrative structure efficient, and to avoid duplication of works, imbalanced work division and a lack of coordination. There are 27 ministries at the moment.

The panel formed by the Baburam Bhattarai-led government in 2012 has also advised the government to accept batch promotion system in bureaucracy and review the promotion system at the top level of bureaucracy, including chief secretary and secretaries.

It has called for a review of the transfer system in bureaucracy. “The arbitrary transfer of secretaries should be stopped immediately,” the report says. It has suggested a special mechanism chaired by the PM with the minister for general administration and the chief secretary as members for setting up criteria for the transfer and posting of top bureaucrats.

Pressing for downsizing regional offices, the panel is against the opening of more such offices. The report seeks dissolution of boards, committees and councils with similar mandates as a measure to discourage politicisation and ease the financial burden on the state. The report suggests limiting the mandate of the Prime Minister’s Office for effective monitoring, control and coordination.

The panel wants stronger constitutional bodies, more powerful anti-corruption agencies and an Election Commission that is authorised to announce poll dates. It suggests bringing the private sector under corruption watch.

The panel recommends 60 years as the cut-off age for serving bureaucrats, only one trade union and code of conduct for civil servants, diversity management at various levels and zero tolerance against corruption. It wants the sacking of those embezzling state funds.

The report seeks a review of the structure and procedure of local bodies and asks the government to set up a local body service commission to hire employees.

Accepting the report, Prime Minister Koirala said the recommendations would be taken seriously.