Nepal Insurance Authority Chairman Appointment Nears Final Stage Amid Concerns Over Transparency and Fairness
Kathmandu – The government has moved forward with the process of appointing a new chairman of the Nepal Insurance Authority. According to sources, five months after applications were invited for the position, the appointment process is now nearing its final stage. A new chairman is likely to be appointed soon.
Despite its pledge not to compromise on good governance, transparency and fairness, the government led by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has kept the details of the applicants confidential. Even the number of applicants and their names have not been made public since the government invited applications on May 27, 2026. Only unofficial information was provided that around 50 applications had been received by the final day of the seven-day application period.
Details have been kept confidential in the appointment process for the chairman of the Nepal Insurance Authority, a public institution and financial sector regulator. Previously, the government led by KP Sharma Oli, which was widely criticized for poor governance, had at least conducted formal presentations and made appointments based on recommendations from the selection committee’s list of top candidates. The current government’s decision to conduct the appointment process with even greater secrecy is not only contrary to the spirit and intent of the Insurance Act, 2022, but also carries the risk of the appointment becoming legally contested and the position being left in limbo. It may be recalled that the appointment of the previous chairman remains in limbo after a case was filed at the Supreme Court over issues including his qualifications.
According to sources, the Ministry of Finance is not independently proceeding with the appointment by preparing a shortlist in accordance with the existing procedures and conducting presentations or examinations. Instead, under pressure from the Prime Minister’s Office, the process has reportedly been brought to its final stage after five months, with plans to appoint a chairman through discretionary authority without involving applicants in the further selection process.
When asked for a response regarding the matter, Ministry of Finance spokesperson Amrit Lamsal declined to comment.