# Nepal Police

Nepal Police (Nepali: नेपाल प्रहरी, romanized: Nēpāl praharī) is the national and primary law enforcement agency of Nepal. It is primarily responsible for maintaining law and order, prevention of crime and crime investigation within the jurisdiction determined by the Constitution of Nepal. Apart from its primary role, Nepal Police conducts a vast array of duties such as VIP protection, Security of Vital Installations, Traffic management, Secret services, Intelligence collection, Riot Control, Disaster management, Hostage rescue and various other Ceremonial roles. Nepal Police is currently led by Inspector General of Police Deepak Thapa since 18 March 2025. He is the 31st IGP of Nepal Police.

## History
### Before the Rana Regime (1864–1951 AD)

During the Rana Regime, little was done to institutionalize policing, establishing Milisiya, Thana police Chakki, office of police director general etc. which gradually shaped The Nepal Police into this modern "Nepal Police".

### During the period 1951–1990

Nepal saw the dawn of democracy after the fall of the Rana regime. The Police Headquarters was established in 1952 in Kathmandu. Mr. Toran Shamsher J.B. Rana was appointed the first Inspector General of Police. The Police Act, 2012 BS (1955 AD) came into effect. The Police Regulation, 2015 BS (1959 AD) came into effect.
The Parliamentary Government under the multi-party system was adopted for some years which was followed by Panchayat System since 1960. The establishment of the Central Police Training Centre in 1963 A.D.

### 1990–present

The people's democratic movement of 1990 reinstated the multi-party democratic system. The new constitution of the kingdom was promulgated on 9 November 1991. The Police Reform Commission was constituted in the year 1992 and the modernisation of the police started to come in tune with the aspirations of the people and norms of a multi-party system. The first contingent of police personnel was deployed on a UN mission in 1991. More than 2000 police personnel have already served the international community in blue helmets.
The Nepal Police has total of 79,554 police personnel, and has 2,344 permanent and 507 temporary police offices and units spread all over the country. The present chief is Basanta Bahadur Kunwar.

## Head of Nepal Police

The Nepalese Police is headed by the Inspector General of Police of Nepal. He reports directly to the Ministry of Home Affairs and is appointed by the Government of Nepal for a tenure of four years, although two IGPs have served for six years.

## Organizational structure

There are four departments in the Police Headquarters that function to undertake the policing activities of Nepal Police. These departments are headed either by Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) or Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP). In addition to the departments, there are the National Police Academy and the Metropolitan Police Office that are being looked by Additional Inspector General of Police.

### Operation and Crime Investigation Department

Head: AIGP

### Central Investigation Bureau

Head:

### Administration Department

Head: AIG

### Human Resource Development Department

Head: AIGP

### Nepal Police Hospital

Nepal Police Hospital was inaugurated by the late king Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev on the 27th of Chaitra, 2040 BS. It was established to provide free health services to in-service policemen, their families, and ex-servicemen and their spouses. The hospital commenced OPD services and 25 bedded indoor services through 5 medical doctors, a few nurses, paramedics, and administrative staff. The infrastructure then was built with the financial support of the Government of Nepal and the voluntary contribution of the police personnel. Some instruments and equipment were donated by the Government of India and a Japanese club. The Government of Nepal has been bearing all the expenses of the hospital ever since its establishment (infrastructure development, upgrading human resources and equipment). The routine annual budget allocated by the government to the hospital is inadequate to meet the increasing demand for health services for the staff of the Police organization. Therefore, Prahari Kalyan Kosh (Police Welfare Fund) of Nepal Police has established a trust to provide health services to the family members of the serving policemen ex-servicemen and their spouses. The fund supports to purchase of medicines for physically and mentally handicapped and Renal Failure patients. It also provides a variable additional budget every year to further support the above-mentioned group of patients. Though the spectrum of services provided by the hospital in the initial stage was minimal, it had a great positive impact on all the policemen and medical professionals.

### National Police Academy

Head: AIGP
The National Police Academy of Nepal, formerly known as the Sadar Prahari Talim Kendra, is an academic wing of Nepal Police. It is solely responsible for conducting basic and advanced training programmed for the police officers in Nepal. AIGP Tek Prasad Rai is the executive director of this academy. The NPA is the apex body of all Nepal Police Training Institutions in the country. Its goal is to develop quality human resources for Nepal Police to achieve organizational and individual objectives with a strong commitment of service and responsibility to the people. The academy is set to be the 'Center for Excellence' and is committed to expand its resource base through tie-ups with similar institutions in and outside the country. The main objectives of NPA are:
* To conduct foundation training's (induction courses) by offering developmental opportunities to the senior police officers and technical police officers.
* To prepare police instructors required for the entire police training system in Nepal Police and provide consultancy services.
* To offer and undertake advanced training for senior police officers in the field of leadership, management and administration, proactive policing, community policing trainer's training, etc.
* To extend prospective and substantive relationship with universities in the relevant subjects and to award academic degrees to the trainees.
* To organize workshops, seminars, symposiums, conferences and short courses in policing issues.
* To carry out quality research activities (required by Police Headquarters-PHQ) or to act as a research faculty (qualitative research on behalf of PHQ) regarding police profession to develop analytically capability.
* To extend assistance and advice police headquarters i.e. consultancy service rendered to PHQ in formulating training policies.

### Metropolitan Police Office

Head: AIGP

### Metropolitan Traffic Police Division

Head: DIGP

### Central Polygraph Section

Nepal Police has started using Polygraph system for credibility assessment in criminal and internal disciplinary investigations from 6 February 2014. Nepal Police has established "Central Polygraph Section" in Crime Investigation Department at Police Headquarters.

### Research and Planning Directorate

Research and Planning (R&P)Directorate of Nepal Police was established in 1987 as the research and planning division. Now, the R&P Directorate is responsible for conducting research on the issues of institutional development and service delivery and making the plans based on the findings of the research. The directorate is responsible for conducting research and formulating plans based on the research.
Altogether 17 Research and planning sections have been established at departmental and regional levels under R&P Directorate to build a quick network to facilitate research and planning activities of Nepal police.

## Uniform

The uniform of the Nepal Police consists of both summer and winter gear.
Regular officers wear a light blue shirt with navy blue pants. Junior ranks wear beret while high-ranked officers wear Peaked cap (with a blue band) with most senior officers with braids on the peak.
Riot police (Special Task Force Police) wear blue DPM pattern camouflage uniforms will ball caps. The winter uniform adds a blue jacket or sweater.

## Rank insignia

The Nepal Police has fourteen ranks. Three new ranks, Senior Sub Inspector (SSI), Senior Head Constable (SHC), and Assistant Head Constable (AHC), were recently added to the Nepal Police.
| प्रहरी महानिरीक्षक Prahārī Mahānirīkr̥ṣak | प्रहरी महानिरीक्षक Prahārī Mahānirīkr̥ṣak | प्रहरी अतिरिक्त महानिरीक्षक Prahārī Atirikt Mahānirīkr̥ṣak | प्रहरी अतिरिक्त महानिरीक्षक Prahārī Atirikt Mahānirīkr̥ṣak | प्रहरी नायव महानिरीक्षक Prahārī Nāyava Mahānirīkr̥ṣak | प्रहरी नायव महानिरीक्षक Prahārī Nāyava Mahānirīkr̥ṣak | प्रहरी वरिष्ठ उपरीक्षक Prahārī Varishṭ Uparīkṣak | प्रहरी वरिष्ठ उपरीक्षक Prahārī Varishṭ Uparīkṣak | प्रहरी उपरीक्षक Prahārī Uparīkṣak | प्रहरी उपरीक्षक Prahārī Uparīkṣak | प्रहरी नायव उपरीक्षक Prahārī Nāyava Uparīkṣak | प्रहरी नायव उपरीक्षक Prahārī Nāyava Uparīkṣak | प्रहरी निरीक्षक Prahārī Nirīkṣak | प्रहरी निरीक्षक Prahārī Nirīkṣak |
| Two-star pips, crossed Khukuri and police baton within a wreath of Lotus leaves | Two-star pips, crossed Khukuri and police baton within a wreath of Lotus leaves | One-star pip, crossed Khukuri and police baton within a wreath of Lotus leaves | One-star pip, crossed Khukuri and police baton within a wreath of Lotus leaves | Crossed Khukuri and police baton within a wreath of Lotus leaves | Crossed Khukuri and police baton within a wreath of Lotus leaves | Three stars pips with crossed Khukuri and police baton | Three stars pips with crossed Khukuri and police baton | Two stars pips with crossed Khukuri and police baton | Two stars pips with crossed Khukuri and police baton | One-star pip, crossed Khukuri and police baton | One-star pip, crossed Khukuri and police baton | Crossed Khukuri and police baton | Crossed Khukuri and police baton |
| Inspector General (IGP) | Inspector General (IGP) | Additional Inspector General (AIG) | Additional Inspector General (AIG) | Deputy Inspector General (DIG) | Deputy Inspector General (DIG) | Senior Superintendent (SSP) | Senior Superintendent (SSP) | Superintendent (SP) | Superintendent (SP) | Deputy Superintendent (DSP) | Deputy Superintendent (DSP) | Inspector (INSP) | Inspector (INSP) |
| प्रहरी वरिष्ठ नायव निरीक्षक Prahārī Varishṭ Nāyava Nirīkṣak | प्रहरी वरिष्ठ नायव निरीक्षक Prahārī Varishṭ Nāyava Nirīkṣak | प्रहरी नायव निरीक्षक Prahārī Nāyava Nirīkṣak | प्रहरी नायव निरीक्षक Prahārī Nāyava Nirīkṣak | प्रहरी सहायक निरीक्षक Prahārī Sahāyak Nirīkṣak | प्रहरी सहायक निरीक्षक Prahārī Sahāyak Nirīkṣak | प्रहरी वरिष्ठ हवल्दार Prahārī Varishṭ Havaladār | प्रहरी वरिष्ठ हवल्दार Prahārī Varishṭ Havaladār | प्रहरी हवल्दार Prahārī Havaladār | प्रहरी हवल्दार Prahārī Havaladār | प्रहरी सहायक हवल्दार Prahārī Sahāyak Havaladār | प्रहरी सहायक हवल्दार Prahārī Sahāyak Havaladār | प्रहरी जवान Prahārī Jwān | प्रहरी जवान Prahārī Jwān |
| Three star pips | Three star pips | Two star pips | Two star pips | One star pip | One star pip | Three chevrons on the shoulder with a yellow shoulder strap | Three chevrons on the shoulder with a yellow shoulder strap | Three chevrons on shoulder | Three chevrons on shoulder | Two chevrons on shoulder | Two chevrons on shoulder | A red and yellow shoulder strap | A red and yellow shoulder strap |
| Senior Sub Inspector (SSI) | Senior Sub Inspector (SSI) | Sub Inspector (SI) | Sub Inspector (SI) | Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) | Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) | Police Senior Head Constable (SHC) | Police Senior Head Constable (SHC) | Police Head Constable (HC) | Police Head Constable (HC) | Police Assistant Head Constable (AHC) | Police Assistant Head Constable (AHC) | Police Constable (PC) | Police Constable (PC) |
Source: Nepal Police

## Firearms

* L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle United Kingdom, special units
* Various shotguns
* Riot gun
* IMI Galil Israel
* Colt Commando carbine United States
* M16 assault rifle United States