The Order of Precedence in Nepal, Maryadakram (मर्यादाक्रम), Nepal VIP Ranking, is a hierarchical protocol list that outlines the ranking of government officials and dignitaries. This order is crucial in determining the seating arrangement at state functions, the order of arrival and departure at official events, and the order of introductions. The current order of precedence was finalized in May 2019 as the country embraced federalism.
Table of Contents
The Top Three: President, Vice President, and Prime Minister
At the top of the protocol list is the President, followed by the Vice President, and then the Prime Minister.
Further Down the Order in Nepal VIP Ranking List
Following the top three positions, the order of precedence continues with the Chief Justice, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and other key positions such as the chairpersons of various committees of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly, vice-chair of the National Planning Commission, Supreme Court justices, Judicial Council members, chiefs of constitutional bodies, attorney general, assistant ministers, and members of parliament.
| Rank | Designation in Nepal |
|---|---|
| 1 | President |
| 2 | Vice President |
| 3 | Prime Minister |
| 4 | Chief Justice |
| 5 | Speaker of the House of Representatives, chairperson of the National Assembly |
| 6 | Former president, deputy prime minister, former vice-president, former prime minister, and former chairperson of the Council of Ministers |
| 7 | Governors of provinces |
| 8 | Ministers of the Government of Nepal, Chief Ministers of provinces, leaders of opposition parties of the HoR, personalities decorated with Nepal Ratna, former chief justice, chairperson of Constituent Assembly, deputy speaker of the HoR, deputy chairperson of the National Assembly, parliamentary deputy leader of the ruling party, former speaker of the Parliament, former speaker of the HoR, former chairperson of the National Assembly and former deputy prime ministers |
| 9 | State minister of the Government of Nepal, chief whip of ruling party in the HoR, chief whip of the main opposition party in the HoR, chairpersons of committees of the HoR, chairpersons of committees of the National Assembly, vice-chairperson of the National Planning Commission, Supreme Court justice, chiefs of constitutional bodies, members of Judicial Council and attorney general |
| 10 | Assistant minister of the Government of Nepal, members of the HoR, members of the National Assembly, former ministers, chief judges of High Court, ministers of provincial government, mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, former parliamentarians, chief secretary and chief of army staff |
| 11 | Assistant ministers of provincial assemblies and mayors of metropolitan cities (excluding KMC) |
Conclusion
The Order of Precedence in Nepal is a crucial aspect of the country’s protocol, dictating the hierarchical ranking of government officials and dignitaries. It is a reflection of the country’s political structure and the relative importance of various positions within the government. As Nepal continues to evolve and embrace federalism, the order of precedence serves as a guide for official state functions and provides a clear understanding of the country’s political hierarchy.
