| Agencyname: | Nepal Police |
| Nativename: | Nepali: नेपाल प्रहरी |
| Patchcaption: | Patch of Nepal Police |
| Logocaption: | Logo of Nepal Police |
| Flagcaption: | Flag of Nepal Police |
| Motto: | सत्य सेवा सुरक्षणम् |
| Mottotranslated: | Truth, Service & Security |
| Formedyear: | (2012 B.S.) |
| Employees: | 79,541[1] |
| Country: | Nepal |
| Legaljuris: | Nepal |
| Governingbody: | Government of Nepal |
| Governingbodyscnd: | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| Constitution1: | Police Act 2012 |
| Headquarters: | Naxal, Kathmandu |
| Chief1name: | Dan Bahadur Karki |
| Chief1position: | Inspector General of Police (IGP) |
| Child1agency: | National Police Academy |
| Child2agency: | Nepal Police Club |
| Child3agency: | Nepal Police Health Club |
| Child4agency: | Aasara Drug Rehabilitation Center |
| Child5agency: | Nepal Police Band |
| Unittype: | Bureau |
| Officetype: | Departments |
| Anniversary1: | Nepal Police Day- 23rd of Asoj |
Nepal Police is the national and primary national law enforcement agency of Nepal, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs. 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 Dan Bahadur Karki since 13 November 2025. He is the 33rd IGP of Nepal Police.[2]
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".[3] [4]
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.[5]
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.[6] [7] [8]
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 Chandra Kuber Khapung.[9] [10]
See main article: Inspector General of Police (Nepal).
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.[11] [12]
Nepal Police is structured into various branches and specialized units to address the country's diverse security, investigative, and administrative needs. There are four Bureaus and five Departments in the Police Headquarters that function to undertake the policing activities of Nepal Police. These branches are designed to uphold public safety, enforce laws, and respond effectively to emerging threats across both urban and rural areas.
Nepal Police has started using 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.
Engaged in public outreach, cultural representation, and ceremonial duties.
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.
| AIGP Name | Department/ Bureau | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Uma Prassad Chaturvedi | Operations Department | Coordinates field operations, riot control, and tactical deployments |
| Sushil Singh Rathore | Crime Investigation Department [13] | Oversees criminal investigations nationwide |
| Rajan Adhikari | Human Resource Department [14] | Manages personnel, recruitment, and administrative affairs |
| Himalayan Kumar Shrestha | Administration Department | Leads traffic regulation and enforcement across Nepal |
| Dambar Bahadur BK | Province Coordination Department | Leads traffic regulation and enforcement across Nepal |
| Siddhi Bikram Shah | National Police Academy | Responsible for strategic leadership training and curriculum development |
| Dan Bahadur Karki | Kathmandu Valley Police | Maintains law and order in Kathmandu Valley |
| Manoj Kumar KC | Central Investigation Bureau[15] | Focuses on high-profile and organized crime investigations |
| Purposed | Narcotics Control Bureau | Handles drug-related crimes and international coordination |
| Airport perimeter and terminal security and safety |
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.
Head: AIGP [16]
See main article: National Police Academy of Nepal.
The National Police Academy of Nepal, formerly known as the Sadar Prahari Talim Kendra, is an academic wing of the Nepal Police. It is solely responsible for conducting basic and advanced training programs 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. The main objectives of NPA are:
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 the R&P Directorate to build a quick network to facilitate research and planning activities of Nepal police.
The uniform of the Nepal Police consists of both summer and winter gear.[17]
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.
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.[18]
| < | --None--> | < | -- Inspector General Insignia --> | < | -- Additional Inspector General Insignia --> | < | -- Deputy Inspector General Insignia --> | < | -- Superintendent Insignia --> | < | -- Deputy Superintendent Insignia --> | < | -- Inspector Insignia --> | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nepali: प्रहरी महानिरीक्षक Nepali: Prahārī Mahānirīkr̥ṣak < | -- Inspector General --> | Nepali: प्रहरी अतिरिक्त महानिरीक्षक Nepali: Prahārī Atirikt Mahānirīkr̥ṣak < | -- Additional Inspector General --> | Nepali: प्रहरी नायव महानिरीक्षक Nepali: Prahārī Nāyava Mahānirīkr̥ṣak < | -- Deputy Inspector General --> | Nepali: प्रहरी वरिष्ठ उपरीक्षक Nepali: Prahārī Varishṭ Uparīkṣak | Nepali: प्रहरी उपरीक्षक Nepali: Prahārī Uparīkṣak < | -- Superintendent --> | Nepali: प्रहरी नायव उपरीक्षक Nepali: Prahārī Nāyava Uparīkṣak < | -- Deputy Superintendent --> | Nepali: प्रहरी निरीक्षक Nepali: Prahārī Nirīkṣak < | -- Inspector --> | ||||||||
| Two-star pips, crossed Khukuri and police baton within a wreath of Lotus leaves < | -- Inspector General --> | One-star pip, crossed Khukuri and police baton within a wreath of Lotus leaves < | -- Additional Inspector General --> | Crossed Khukuri and police baton within a wreath of Lotus leaves < | -- Deputy Inspector General --> | Three stars pips with crossed Khukuri and police baton | Two stars pips with crossed Khukuri and police baton < | -- Superintendent --> | One-star pip, crossed Khukuri and police baton < | -- Deputy Superintendent --> | Crossed Khukuri and police baton < | -- Inspector --> | ||||||||
| Inspector General (IGP) | Additional Inspector General (AIG) | Deputy Inspector General (DIG) | Senior Superintendent (SSP) | Superintendent (SP) | Deputy Superintendent (DSP) | Inspector (INSP) | ||||||||||||||
| < | -- Senior Sub Inspector Insignia --> | < | -- Sub Inspector Insignia --> | < | -- Assistant Sub Inspector Insignia --> | < | -- Senior Head Constable Insignia --> | < | -- Head Constable Insignia --> | < | -- Assistant Head Constable Insignia --> | < | -- Constable Insignia --> | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nepali: प्रहरी वरिष्ठ नायव निरीक्षक Nepali: Prahārī Varishṭ Nāyava Nirīkṣak < | -- Senior Sub Inspector --> | Nepali: प्रहरी नायव निरीक्षक Nepali: Prahārī Nāyava Nirīkṣak < | -- Sub Inspector --> | Nepali: प्रहरी सहायक निरीक्षक Nepali: Prahārī Sahāyak Nirīkṣak < | -- Assistant Sub Inspector --> | Nepali: प्रहरी वरिष्ठ हवल्दार Nepali: Prahārī Varishṭ Havaladār < | -- Senior Head Constable --> | Nepali: प्रहरी हवल्दार Nepali: Prahārī Havaladār < | -- Head Constable --> | Nepali: प्रहरी सहायक हवल्दार Nepali: Prahārī Sahāyak Havaladār < | -- Assistant Head Constable --> | Nepali: प्रहरी जवान Nepali: Prahārī Jwān < | -- Constable --> | |||||||
| Three star pips < | -- Senior Sub Inspector --> | Two star pips < | -- Sub Inspector --> | One star pip < | -- Assistant Sub Inspector --> | Three chevrons on the shoulder with a yellow shoulder strap < | -- Senior Head Constable --> | Three chevrons on shoulder < | -- Head Constable --> | Two chevrons on shoulder < | -- Assistant Head Constable --> | A red and yellow shoulder strap < | -- Constable --> | |||||||
| Senior Sub Inspector (SSI) | Sub Inspector (SI) | Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) | Police Senior Head Constable (SHC) | Police Head Constable (HC) | Police Assistant Head Constable (AHC) | Police Constable (PC) | ||||||||||||||
| Handguns | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beretta 92 | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum |  Italy | |||
| Glock 17 | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum |  Austria | |||
| Pistol Auto 9mm 1A | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum |  India | |||
| Shotgun | ||||||
| Remington Model 870 | Pump action | 12-gauge shotgun |  United States | |||
| Submachine gun | ||||||
| Heckler & Koch MP5 | Submachine gun | 9×19mm Parabellum |  Germany | |||
| IWI Uzi | Submachine gun | .260 Remington |  Israel | Deployed in airport security and tactical squads | ||
| Sterling submachine gun | Submachine gun | 9×19mm Parabellum |  United Kingdom | |||
| Assault Rifle/ Battle Rifles | ||||||
| Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | Israel | [19] | |||
| Carbine | 5.56×45mm NATO | United States | ||||
| INSAS rifle | Light machine gun | 5.56×45mm NATO | India | |||
| M16 | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | United States | |||
| Light Machine Gun | ||||||
| Light machine gun | Uses by special units | |||||
| FN MAG | GPMG | 7.62 mm |  Belgium | Used by garrison and perimeter defense units | ||
| Sniper Rifles | ||||||
| Dragunov SVD | Sniper rifle | 7.62×54mmR | Limited use in special operations | |||
