According to the Lok Sewa Aayog (LSA), also known as the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) annual report of 2065/66 BS (2008/09-2009/10), 28,978 applicants were aged between 21 to 25; 10,417 were between the age of 18 to 20, and 22,737 were 26 to 30 years of age.[break]
“For young graduates, the starting salary at a government office is pretty hefty,” said 31-year-old Subash Dhakal, IT Officer at Ministry of Science and Technology.
Dhakal has been working for the government for seven years. He also said that for many youth today applying for LSA exams and wanting to work for the government is mainly due to its stability.
Echoing the same, 28-year-old Hari Pokharel, who also works for Ministry of Science and Technology with the Office of Controller of Certification, said that it is the stability and also the prestige that one holds as a civil servant.
“When it comes to salary, not many are very satisfied but the prestige and security that comes with it, it is something that everyone looks up to,” said Pokharel, who has been working with the Ministry for the past seven months.
How to get into civil service?
The LSA bears the responsibility of hiring new staff for the Government of Nepal. To start working as a civil servant, one has to first take the Lok Sewa exams.
“We announce the vacancies on our website, wherein one can check the calendar and apply for the appropriate jobs,” informed Dr. Niranjan Prasad Upadhyay, Spokesperson at the LSA. “Anyone who meets the criteria of the job and is above 18 and below 35 (male) and below 40 (female) can apply and sit for the exams,” he added.
Taking the exam is not an easy task. Pokharel studied one or two hours everyday for his exams for a year. “It’s not an easy task studying for the Lok Sewa exams, so one really needs to brush up the knowledge about the post they are applying for, if they really want to pass,” said Pokharel.
Dhakal, on the other hand, was teaching in a private college before he joined the civil service, and didn’t really have to study hard. “The teaching bit helped and I could remember a lot from that. Hence, I didn’t have to study much like others do,” shared Dhakal.
“The syllabuses for the jobs are available on our website and one can follow that and it is recommended that applicants refer to the book rather than guidebooks available,” informed Upadhyay. The old question papers of the exams are also available in the library in the LSA premises located in Anam Nagar, Kathmandu.
How difficult is the work?
According to Pokharel, depending on the job criteria, the difficulty can be measured. But he assured that working for the Government of Nepal is not an easy task.
“People think we work from 10 to 4, loiter around and just spend the day but that doesn’t happen. We have a lot of paperwork to finish and it’s pretty busy,” opined Pokharel.
Dhakal said the same and added that working for a private company and government is not much different. “You have to work, anywhere you go, and the fact that you’re working on behalf of the government adds even more responsibility on your shoulder,” said he.
Civil service is definitely not an easy task and getting into it is even more so. “I had been studying for the Lok Sewa exams for more than six months and the fact that it’s in Nepali made it even more difficult and I couldn’t succeed this time,” shared 23-year-old Bijaya Dahal who appeared for the exams last year and is willing to give it a try again.
“The youth are more attracted towards government jobs because the syllabus of Khardar’s and Subba’s post is that of SLC and 10+2. This makes it easier for the young ones and hence we’re seeing a big rush,” said Dr. Upadhyay.
Whatever may be the reason to join the civil service, the fact that the youth can bring change to the current system stands high.
Complaining about how the current system is dysfunctional is not the only way out. The opportunity to join the system and bring about the change is just round the corner.
For more information, visit www.psc.gov.np or look out for information concerning it in the Gorkhapatra Nepali daily.
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