Nepal, May 14 -- The government has reduced the number of federal ministries to 18 to maintain administrative reforms and austerity, reduce unnecessary recurrent expenses, and boost performance.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday decided to lower the number of ministries from the existing 22 to 18 by approving the 'Nepal Government (Work Division) Regulations, 2083 BS'.

According to Prime Minister Balendra Shah's Press and Research Adviser, Dipa Dahal, the government has retained the Ministries of Finance, Home, Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs.

Similarly, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, and the Ministry of E...