Lok Sewa eligibility by education
Every government vacancy in Nepal is open to Nepali citizens who meet two conditions on the last date to apply: the minimum educational qualification (न्यूनतम शैक्षिक योग्यता) and the age limit (उमेरको हद). The table summarises the main posts from the latest advertisements.
| You have passed | Posts you can apply for |
|---|---|
| Class 8 | Police Constable (18–23), APF Constable (18–22), Army Sainik (18–22) |
| SEE / SLC | Kharidar, Assistant Computer Operator (with computer subject or training), JTA, ANM, AHW, corporation pre-test level 4 |
| +2 / PCL | Nayab Subba, Computer Operator, Sub-Engineer, Ranger, JT, Staff Nurse, Health Assistant, Police/APF ASI, Army Officer Cadet, lower secondary teacher, pre-test level 5 |
| Bachelor | Section Officer, Computer Officer, Engineer, Agriculture/Forest Officer, Police/APF Inspector, Graduate Officer Cadet, RBB Senior Assistant |
| Master | All of the above where age allows, plus officer posts such as RBB Assistant Manager |
Lok Sewa after +2: Nayab Subba and technical posts
With a Proficiency Certificate or +2 (प्रवीणता प्रमाणपत्र तह वा कक्षा १२) in any subject you can apply for Nayab Subba in the Administration, Justice and Foreign services. Accounts and Revenue groups ask for management, commerce or similar subjects. Technical +2/diploma holders have their own fifth-level posts: Sub-Engineer (civil diploma), Computer Operator (+2 with computer, or +2 and 6 months of computer training), Ranger (forestry), JT (agriculture) and, in the health service, Staff Nurse and Health Assistant. Prepare with the Nayab Subba syllabus or the Computer Operator syllabus.
Kharidar qualification – खरिदारको योग्यता
Kharidar needs SLC/SEE or equivalent; for graded certificates the PSC accepts GPA 2.0 or above. The accounts group asks for mathematics, Ain Sresta or optional accountancy in SEE. Age: 18 to 35, and up to 40 for women and candidates with a disability. See the Kharidar syllabus.
Lok Sewa after Bachelor: Section Officer and more
A bachelor's degree in any subject qualifies you for Section Officer (शाखा अधिकृत) in General Administration and Foreign services from age 21. The Justice service needs a law degree. Technical graduates apply for Engineer, Computer Officer, Agriculture Officer or Forest Officer, and health graduates for Nursing Officer (7th level) or Medical Officer (8th level, MBBS). Graduates up to 25 can also try Police or APF Inspector, and up to 24 the Army's Graduate Officer Cadet. Start with the Section Officer syllabus.
Age limits explained
- Civil service (PSC): 18 for non-gazetted and 21 for gazetted posts; not over 35, or 40 for women and candidates with a disability (Civil Service Act section 10). Serving permanent civil servants have no upper limit.
- Health service: 18 (21 for officers) to 45 for everyone.
- Police, APF and Army: tight limits – Constable 18–23 (APF 18–22), ASI 18–24 (APF 18–23), Inspector 20–25 (APF 21–25), Officer Cadet 18–21 with +2 or 18–24 with a bachelor's. There is no extension for women.
- Teachers and banks: lower secondary teacher 18–40; RBB level 5 18–35 and level 6 21–35, both up to 40 for women and candidates with a disability.
"35 वर्ष ननाघेको" means you must not have crossed 35 on the counting date. If you are exactly at the limit, check your date of birth with the age calculator.
Banks and corporations: the PSC pre-test
State banks and corporations that recruit with PSC consent now use a PSC pre-qualification exam (पूर्वयोग्यता परीक्षा) for non-technical level 4 (SEE) and level 5 (+2) posts. The pass certificate is valid for one year, and only certificate holders may apply when the bank publishes its own advertisement. Practise with the pre-test syllabus and the RBB syllabus.
Common mistakes
- Applying before the result is out – the qualification must be complete by the last date to apply.
- Forgetting the equivalence letter for a foreign degree (समकक्षता).
- Missing professional council registration for nursing, medical and veterinary posts.
- Assuming every subject qualifies – accounts, revenue and technical groups list specific subjects.
Next steps: see what each post pays with the salary calculator, prepare your document checklist, and practise on our question bank and mock exams. Exam dates are on the PSC calendar.
Sources
- Public Service Commission advertisements (Kharidar 2082/11/27, Nayab Subba 2082/09/30, technical first class 2082/10/28, officer 2082/08/24 and 2082/07/26, technical second class 2082/12/25, corporations' pre-test 2083/04/06)
- Nepal Police vacancies (Constable 2082/06/10, Inspector 2082/08/26, ASI 2083/06/02)
- Armed Police Force vacancies (Inspector/ASI 2082/09/04, Constable 2083/05/26)
- Nepali Army recruitment portal (Officer Cadet 2083/04/29, other-ranks criteria)
- Teacher Service Commission – lower secondary advertisement 2082/12/24
- Rastriya Banijya Bank career notices (open vacancy 2083/03/19)
- Civil Service Act, 2049 – section 10 (age)
