KATHMANDU: The Government has increased the salary of civil servants to be effective from the new fiscal year.

Presenting the budget estimates for the fiscal year 2019/20, Finance Minister Yuvaraj Khatiwada announced an increment by 20 per cent in the basic salary of the non-gazetted and 18 per cent in the basic salary of the gazetted civil servants.

The increment covers government employees, security persons, teachers and state-owned corporation staffers.

It was during the premiership of current Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in 2073 BS that salary of the civil servants had last been increased.

The increment, Finance Minister Khatiwada said, is expected to boost the morale of the civil servants and strengthen their professional integrity and thereby lead to effective public service delivery.

The government has increased the salary of civil servants after a span of three years.