In a move to fill the vacant position at the helm of the Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA), the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has issued a notice inviting applications for the post of Chairman.

The announcement was made public on Sunday through an official notice, initiating the process of selecting a suitable candidate to lead the vital telecommunications regulatory body.

According to the published notice, eligible candidates must fulfill specific criteria. Prospective applicants need to be between the ages of 30 and 65 by the application deadline.

Additionally, they are required to possess a minimum of a graduation degree from a recognized educational institution and have a substantial 10 years of relevant experience.

The application is open to government service employees, individuals from public institutions, authorities, boards, committees, commissions, establishments, or public companies.

These candidates should hold a relevant graduation degree and have served in a national gazetted first-class, tenth-level position, or higher. The notice emphasizes that applicants should not be disqualified for appointment by prevailing law.

Interested and eligible individuals are encouraged to submit their applications within seven days from the date of the notice’s publication. The application package should include a copy of citizenship, biodata, educational certificates, experience disclosure certificate, a professional action plan, and two passport-size photographs, as specified by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.

The need to appoint a new Chairman arose after the resignation of the former NTA Chairman, Purushottam Khanal, on January 9, with seven months remaining in his tenure.

The decision to step down came amidst reported pressure from Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma.

In response to Khanal’s resignation, the cabinet formed a committee tasked with recommending a new chairman.

The committee, under the coordination of the secretary of the Communication Ministry, is overseeing the selection process. Meanwhile, the role of acting chairman has been temporarily assigned to Nabaraj Adhikari, a current board member of the NTA.