Government of Koshi Province explained

Native Name:कोशी प्रदेश सरकार
Type:Governance
Jurisdiction:Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Headquarters:Biratnagar, Nepal
Region Code:NP-ON
Budget:$9 Billion USD
Minister1 Pfo:Chief Minister
Parent Department:Government of Nepal
Map:Nepal Province 1.svg
Service:All Working Days

The Government of Koshi, known locally as the Provincial Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Koshi Province which consists of 14 districts.

The Governor of the province is appointed head of the province by the President of Nepal on the recommendation of Federal cabinet for a period of five years unless freed earlier by federal government.[1] The Head of Koshi Province is the Governor (Provincial Chief), and the Chief Minister holds the position of the Head of executive. The role of governor is largely ceremonial as the functioning of the government is managed entirely by the Chief Minister. The governor appoints minister and chief minister based on the articles and clauses of Constitution.

The Koshi government maintains its capital at Biratnagar[2] [3] and is seated at the Koshi Provincial Government Secretariat.

Etymology

The province named Koshi after the largest river of Kosi river, which is the largest in the country. On 1st march 2023 the temporary name of the province Province No. 1 changes into Koshi Province.[4] The Kosi river is significantly and culturally an important river of Nepal. The Kosi river is called Kausika in Rigveda and Kausiki in Mahabharata. The Kosi is associated with many ancient spiritual stories. It is mentioned in the Bal Kand section of Valmiki Ramayana as the Kausiki who is the form assumed by Satyavati after her death. In Ramayana Kausiki is mentioned as younger sister of Ganga.

Executive

Head of State

See main article: Governor (Nepal) and Governor of Koshi Province.

The Governors of the Provinces of Nepal have similar powers and functions at the province (state) level as those of the President of Nepal at National level. According to the Constitution of Nepal, the Governor is a state's head, but de facto executive authority rests with the Chief Minister. The governor acts as the nominal head whereas the real power lies with the Chief ministers of the province and his/her councils of ministers. The Governor of a Province is appointed by the President of Nepal. The incumbent Governor of Koshi Province is Parshuram Khapung, since 20 August 2021.[5] [6] [7]

Head of Government

See main article: Chief minister (Nepal) and Chief Minister of Koshi Province.

In the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, a chief minister is the elected head of government of each province. Following elections to the Koshi Provincial Assembly, the governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form the government. The governor appoints the chief minister, whose council of ministers are collectively responsible to the assembly. Given that he has the confidence of the assembly, the chief minister's term is for five years and is subject to no term limits.The current Chief Minister of Koshi Province is Hikmat Kumar Karki, since 9 May 2024.[8]

Secretary

See main article: Chief Secretary of Nepal.

The Chief Secretary of Koshi Province (Nepali: कोशी प्रदेशको मुख्य सचिव) is the chief administrative officer and senior–most civil servant of the Government of Koshi Province. The chief secretary is the head of the Cabinet Secretariat and is the secretary of the cabinet and the constitutional council. The Cabinet Secretary enforces cabinet discipline and coordinates between ministries.The current acting Chief secretary of Nepal is (Deepak Kafle) [9]

Legislature

Officers

See main article: Speaker of the Koshi Provincial Assembly and Deputy Speaker of the Koshi Provincial Assembly.

Koshi Provincial Assembly

See main article: Koshi Provincial Assembly and 2nd Koshi Provincial Assembly.

The Koshi Provincial Assembly also known as the Koshi Pradesh Sabha. The legislative structure of the province is unicameral. The Koshi Province Provincial Assembly consists of 93 members of whom 54 are elected through first-past-the-post voting and 37 of whom are elected through proportional representation. The term of the assembly is five years unless dissolved earlier.[10] [11]

Judiciary

See main article: Biratnagar High Court.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cabinet recommends guvs, names ad hoc 'workstations' . 2018-01-17 . The Himalayan Times . en-US . 2019-05-31.
  2. Web site: Sureis . 2018-01-19 . Biratnagar celebrates its status of provincial capital . 2023-03-15 . The Himalayan Times . en.
  3. Web site: Locals intensify protest in Dhankuta after Biratnagar named as provincial HQ . 2023-03-15 . kathmandupost.com . English.
  4. Web site: Nepal’s 'Province 1' renamed 'Koshi' after country’s largest river . 1 March 2023 . Canada Asia Sustainability Tracker. 9 March 2023.
  5. Web site: State chiefs Khapung, Pariyar and Joshi took oath . 2023-03-15 . English.MakaluKhabar.com . en-US.
  6. Web site: Today . N. L. . 2021-11-09 . President appoints province chiefs in three provinces . 2023-03-15 . Nepal Live Today . en.
  7. Web site: Government changes three provincial chiefs . 2023-03-15 . kathmandupost.com . English.
  8. Web site: UML’s Hikmat Karki appointed chief minister in Koshi . 2024-07-26 . kathmandupost.com . English.
  9. Web site: प्रमुख सचिव मुख्यमन्त्री तथा मन्त्रिपरिषद्को कार्यालय . 2023-03-12 . ocmcm.p1.gov.np.
  10. Web site: Nepal elections explained . www.aljazeera.com . 2019-06-04.
  11. Web site: CDC submits its report with 165 electoral constituencies . kathmandupost.ekantipur.com . English . 2019-06-04.