KATHMANDU, June 15: Baikuntha Aryal, a seasoned civil servant who began his career from the post of a Non-Gazetted (First Class) officer, has been appointed as the government’s chief secretary. A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Thursday morning took a decision to this effect considering Aryal's impending retirement on June 18 after serving a five-year term as secretary.
Shankar Das Bairagi, the previous chief secretary, was originally slated to serve until October. However, Bairagi voluntarily stepped down from his position and was subsequently appointed as the National Security Adviser, paving the path for Aryal to assume the role of chief secretary for an additional three years.
Aryal, who was set to retire as secretary within the next few days, now holds the position of the seniormost secretary among the 72 government secretaries.
Born in Pharping, Kathmandu, Aryal joined the civil service in 1990 after successfully passing the Non-Gazetted (First Class) examination conducted by the Public Service Commission (PSC). Over the years, he steadily climbed the ranks, achieving the positions of section officer within three years and under secretary and joint secretary in a remarkably short span of time.
Aryal holds a postgraduate degree in public administration from Tribhuvan University and has completed additional studies in economics from Norway.
Recognized as an expert in the fields of natural resource distribution and financial management, Aryal has excelled in his previous roles. During his tenure as secretary in the Finance Commission, he played a pivotal role in the federal financial transfer system of Nepal. Prior to that, he demonstrated his capabilities as a joint secretary and deputy secretary, earning him a reputable standing within the civil service sector.
Aryal has held several key positions in his career, including roles in the Finance Management Commission, Ministry of Commerce, and Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. In March, the government assigned him to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
Even during his time, he contributed significantly to the digitization efforts within the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. Notably, Aryal spent six years in the Ministry of Finance and was considered a strong candidate for the position of finance secretary, although he was not granted that opportunity at the time. Prior to that, he served as under secretary in the Planning Commission for a decade.
Given his favorable standing among political leaders and his exemplary track record in staff administration, Aryal's appointment as chief secretary has garnered widespread interest. Colleagues who have worked alongside Aryal during his career view him as the most competent candidate for the position. As an economist, Aryal played a pivotal role in developing Nepal's financial transfer model following the country's transition to federalism.