KATHMANDU:- Prime Minister Balendra Shah has defended the government’s decision to bar partisan politics from educational institutions and the civil service, calling it essential to restore merit and public trust.

The move, introduced through an ordinance, prohibits party flags on campuses and restricts political affiliation within the bureaucracy.

Shah said student bodies and sections of the civil service had long functioned as extensions of political parties, undermining professionalism. “Merit was replaced by connections, and competence by political loyalty,” he said.

He emphasised that students should learn politics “from teachers, not from party crowds,” while civil servants should follow rules and serve the public “not under political shelter.”

The Prime Minister maintained that the reform does not curtail rights but strengthens professional independence, adding that appointments, transfers and promotions will now be based on procedure, capability and performance.

Framing the decision as institutional reform, Shah said the goal is to promote responsible, values-based political understanding among students while ensuring a neutral and service-oriented civil service.

The policy has triggered debate, with some student groups warning of protests and calling it a restriction on political space.