Kathmandu, July 2 – A conflict has arisen between Nepal’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) regarding proposals to revise the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Act from 1991 and significantly alter the structure of the nation's leading scientific organization.
The suggested amendment policy has already led to an objection from the Commission for the Examination of Misuse of Power (CIAA).
The Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Mahabir Pun, has characterized the 33-year-old organization as burdened by excessive bureaucracy and political involvement, asserting that it needs significant changes. Nevertheless, scientists and administrators within NAST claim that the ministry is trying to erode the academy's independence under the pretense of reorganization.
Pun has publicly admitted to having interfered in the organization's matters.
The situation demands action," Pun stated. "The organization remained without oversight for an extended period. Influence from politics and decisions made due to power distribution have undermined it. It can now only be improved through external involvement.
He stated his dissatisfaction with the present condition of NAST and aimed to remove it from political interference.
As per Pun, out of NAST's yearly budget of Rs450 million, Rs270 million, approximately 75 percent, is allocated for employee wages and operational costs.
He claimed that the academy has placed greater emphasis on scholarly pursuits than on fostering innovation. According to Pun, since the leadership council is primarily composed of scholars instead of visionaries, progress has suffered, and the organization has grown excessively staffed.
we intend to invert this approach," pun stated. "we plan to expand our research team and cut down on support personnel.
Pun also stated that the organization's legal structure is obsolete.
Five decades ago, there was no information technology, and the number of universities was significantly lower than what we see today," he stated. "The NAST Act came into effect in 1991. It no longer aligns with current circumstances, and I aim to implement substantial changes.
According to the present system, Nepal's prime minister holds the position of NAST's chancellor, with the science and technology minister acting as vice-chancellor. Pun intends to eliminate this setup.
The Department of Science has already sent suggested changes to the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology Act, 1991, to the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs.
Pun argues that the present system of administration has fostered political favoritism.
Our plan is to eliminate the role of chancellor and hire a director instead," he stated. "The organization needs to be guided by specialists. Individuals who have held their posts for many years will receive a dignified send-off, and we'll introduce dynamic younger professionals.
However, scientists and officials at NAST have increasing worries about the ministry's method.
A representative of NAST, Ram Chandra Paudel, stated that reform is essential, yet contended that the department has taken an incorrect approach.
When Minister Pun initially assumed his position, we ourselves asked him to reform NAST," Paudel stated. "However, the approach the ministry is currently taking under the guise of restructuring has caused us significant concern.
He specifically opposed suggestions that would enable the ministry to manage scientific research.
The ministry states that it will conduct studies. Scientific investigation can hardly operate under a bureaucratic framework," he remarked. "As soon as documents start moving between government employees, research comes to a halt.
Demands for changing NAST are not recent.
Dhan Bahadur Karki, a scholar affiliated with the institution, mentioned that conferences and discussions regarding organizational restructuring were held under the previous vice-chancellor, Dr Dilip Subba.
He stated, 'NAST needs to be extended across all seven provinces.' 'Our attention should not solely concentrate on cutting-edge technologies,' he added. 'We must equally emphasize our own faith, customs, and indigenous local techniques, employing them to enhance independence.'
A different NAST researcher, who wished to remain unidentified, stated that staff members had not been provided with formal discussion or official information about the reorganization initiatives.
Rather, he stated, conversations were occurring openly as the organization's future was being determined without including individuals who worked within it.
As per the scientist, the newly implemented Business Allocation Rules of 2026 allocate research duties directly to the ministry, diminishing the independence of organizations like NAST.
During a period when universities and other research organizations have faced challenges in delivering outcomes, the government should grant NAST more power," stated the scientist. "However, instead, it is attempting to subject research to administrative oversight.
Paudel mentioned that the department has been seeking advice from external specialists but hasn’t worked closely with the organization itself or tackled issues affecting its employees.
He mentioned that NAST is now functioning with both the position of vice-chancellor and secretary empty, causing significant delays in most of its regular activities.
"the transformation we seek is one that eliminates superfluous bureaucratic control and grants researchers complete power over their work," he stated.
Paudel also opposed Pun's suggestion of removing the prime minister from the role of chancellor.
we believe the prime minister should remain our chancellor since scientists desire not just financial support from the government but also acknowledgment and motivation," he stated. "the backing of the prime minister holds more significance.
Still, Pun is resolute in his intention to dismiss the prime minister from office.
A Ministry representative named Monika Jha stated that individuals with personal agendas submitted the CIAA report since the department was working towards increasing openness during NAST's renovation procedure and in choosing those who would receive awards.
A grievance filed early this week alleges that the ministry has meddled with NAST's independence and initiated an adverse publicity drive targeting the institution.
It further claims that the ministry is leveraging transparency changes in grants and honors as an excuse to take over NAST's regulatory framework and independent position.
Pun rejected those allegations.
Autonomy refers to how an organization conducts its activities," he stated. "After receiving government support, it can't freely pursue every action it desires.
It needs to create its own budget, or if it depends on public funds, it has to be responsible," he stated. "Ending the habit of employing excess personnel, providing wages without tasks, and neglecting the department under political cover will happen.
Staff members of NAST claim that the ministry has decided to proceed on its own instead of working together with the academy during a period when key leadership roles are still unfilled.
"The organization was initially set up to liberate scientific activities from administrative control and grant full independence in research," Paudel stated.
Nevertheless, after the restoration of democracy, political involvement continued to grow. Positions of leadership were more often filled by those with political connections instead of scientific specialists.
He mentioned that this has slowly led to a large administrative system where officials hold more power than scientists, causing the organization to become less appealing to new researchers.
As per Paudel, NAST can be successful only when individuals appointed to academic roles are chosen purely on the basis of their scientific and academic qualifications, not due to political considerations.
Furthermore, he emphasized that the academy desperately requires a deputy chancellor who possesses a solid academic background and a thorough grasp of modern scientific issues, pointing out that important managerial roles have been unfilled for a long time.
Paudel contended that the present hiring procedure is overly complex, making it difficult to draw in well-qualified researchers who have completed their doctorates and postdoctoral studies. He proposed the establishment of an independent and streamlined system for employing scientists.
He also dismissed proposals to move innovative initiatives beyond NAST, stating that the academy is entirely able to handle them.
Members of NAST stated that the academy has already set up innovation centers across all seven provinces, eliminating the need for the ministry to establish similar organizations.
Pun regarded those centers as mostly ceremonial.
"They are essentially just temporary accommodations occupied by one or two individuals managing funds," he stated.
He mentioned that the ministry will create specific innovation centers accessible to everyone, along with research labs inside universities, to assist students and enhance Nepal's innovative environment.
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