Nepal Police

Nepal Police is the national police force of Nepal. It works under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is the main police force of the country.

Its main job is to keep law and order in place and to prevent crime. It also looks into crimes. Its work follows the rules set by the Constitution of Nepal.

Nepal Police also does many other jobs. These include protecting very important people, guarding important buildings and places, and managing traffic. It also gathers information to keep the country safe, helps calm down crowds during riots, and helps people during disasters. The force also rescues hostages and takes part in ceremonies.

History

During the Rana Regime, there was very little formal policing in Nepal. Over time, new steps such as the Milisiya, Thana police, Chakki, and the office of police director general helped build the Nepal Police into the modern force it is today. After the Rana regime ended, Nepal began a new era of democracy. The Police Headquarters was set up in 1952 in Kathmandu. Mr. Toran Shamsher J.B. Rana became the first Inspector General of Police. The Police Act, 2012 BS (1955 AD) and the Police Regulation, 2015 BS (1959 AD) came into effect. For some years, the country had a parliamentary government with many political parties. From 1960, the Panchayat System was used instead. The Central Police Training Centre was opened in 1963 A.D.

In 1990, the people's democratic movement brought back a system with many political parties. A new constitution for the kingdom was announced on 9 November 1991. In 1992, the Police Reform Commission was set up. The police began to modernise so that they could better meet the needs of the people and fit a system with many political parties. In 1991, the first group of police officers was sent to serve on a United Nations mission. More than 2000 police officers have since served other countries in blue helmets.

Head of Nepal Police

Main article: Inspector General of Police (Nepal)

The Nepal Police is led by the Inspector General of Police of Nepal. The Inspector General reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Government of Nepal chooses the Inspector General for a term of four years, but two Inspectors General have served for six years.

The current Inspector General is Dan Bahadur Karki. He has held the job since 13 November 2025.

Organizational structure

Nepal Police is organized into different branches and special units. These help it handle the country's security, investigation, and office work. The Police Headquarters has four Bureaus and five Departments that do the police work of Nepal Police. These branches are meant to keep people safe, enforce the law, and respond to new dangers in both cities and rural areas.

Nepal Police has many officers and staff. It has offices and units spread across the whole country.

Core Operational Branches

This section lists the main branches of the police. These include traffic, metropolitan, provincial, and district offices.

Metropolitan Traffic Police Division

• Kathmandu Valley traffic Police Office

Metropolitan Police Range

• Kathmandu Valley Police Office

Provincial Police Offices (PPOs)

• Koshi Province Police Office
• Madhesh Province Police Office
• Bagmati Province Police Office
• Gandaki Province Police Office
• Lumbini province Police Office
• Karnali Province Police Office
• Sudurpaschim Province Police Office

District Police Offices (DPOs)

Specialized Units (Bureaus)

1. Central Investigation Bureau (CIB)

2. Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)

3. Anti Human Trafficking Bureau (AHTB)

4. Cyber Bureau

Departments

1. Administration Department

2. Human Resource Development Department

3. Province Coordination Department

4. Operation Department

5. Crime Investigation Department

• Central Polygraph Section

Since 6 February 2014, Nepal Police has used a polygraph to check if people are telling the truth. This is used in criminal cases and in internal investigations. The police also set up a "Central Polygraph Section" in the Crime Investigation Department at Police Headquarters.

Types of Nepal Police Personnel

Nepal Police has many kinds of officers and units. General duty police work in district offices in all 77 districts. They also work in city police ranges in places such as Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and Pokhara. Provincial police offices are numbered 1 to 7, matching Nepal's federal structure. Border police watch over and protect international borders, and tourist police help visitors.

Investigative police include the Crime Investigation Department (CID), the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), the Cyber Bureau, the Human Trafficking Control Bureau, and the Women and Children Service Directorate. Traffic police work through the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, regional traffic units in major cities and on highways, and mobile traffic patrols that use GPS and surveillance tools.

Tactical units and special forces include the Special Task Force (STF), riot control units, the VIP Security Division, and the Anti-Terrorism Task Force. Technical police include a forensic science laboratory, communication, training, logistics and welfare directorates, and medical and engineering units.

Training and academic units include the National Police Academy, regional training centers, and special skill schools. These schools teach subjects such as cybercrime, disaster response, and negotiation. Ceremonial and community police take part in public events, cultural celebrations, and ceremonies. This group includes the Nepal Police Band and community police units that encourage citizens to get involved and stay aware of safety. It also includes the Aasara Drug Rehabilitation Center, which runs programs to help people return to everyday life.

List of Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGPs)

As of 24 September 2025, these departments are led by an Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) or a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP). The National Police Academy and the Metropolitan Police Office are also led by an AIGP. The National Police Academy is the training center of the Nepal Police. It runs basic and advanced training courses for police officers in Nepal. The Nepal Police School and the Research and Planning Directorate are also on this list. The Research and Planning Directorate was started in 1987. It studies how the police can grow and serve people better. Then it makes plans based on what it learns.

The Nepal Police Hospital was opened by the late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev in 2040 BS. It was made to give free health care to serving police officers, their families, and ex-servicemen and their spouses. It was built with help from the Government of Nepal and money given by police staff. Some equipment was donated by the Government of India and a Japanese club.

Main article: National Police Academy of Nepal

Uniform

The Nepal Police wear both summer and winter uniforms. Regular officers wear a light blue shirt with navy blue pants. Junior ranks wear a beret, while high-ranked officers wear a Peaked cap with a blue band. The most senior officers have braids on the peak of their cap.

Officers in the Special Task Force, a group that handles difficult situations, wear blue camouflage uniforms with ball caps. In winter, they add a blue jacket or sweater.

Rank insignia

The Nepal Police has fourteen ranks. Three new ranks were recently added: Senior Sub Inspector (SSI), Senior Head Constable (SHC), and Assistant Head Constable (AHC).

Weapons and Equipments