Key Takeaways:

• Cabinet chaired by CM Chet Narayan Acharya approved new regulations
• Youth and Sports merged into Social Development; Industry, Tourism and Transport dissolved
• Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation merged with Urban Development; tourism added to Forests and Environment
• Two senior agriculture officers permanently appointed in Rupandehi

KATHMANDU, JULY 30 The Lumbini Province government has restructured its administrative setup, reducing the number of ministries from 12 to nine in a bid to improve governance and streamline service delivery. A Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya on Wednesday approved the Provincial Government (Allocation of Business) Regulations, 2026, retaining the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers alongside eight ministries. According to Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Ratna Bahadur Khatri, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has been merged into the Ministry of Social Development, while the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Transport has been dissolved, with industry and transport portfolios transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law. Similarly, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has been merged with the Ministry of Urban Development, while tourism has been added to the Ministry of Forests and Environment, which will now operate as the Ministry of Forests, Environment and Tourism. The Cabinet also approved the permanent appointment of two senior agriculture officers on the recommendation of the Public Service Commission. Ram Prasad Pande has been appointed Director General of the Agriculture Development Directorate in Rupandehi, while Bhaskar Poudel will head the Livestock and Fisheries Development Directorate in the district.