Kathmandu: The government has initiated the process of appointing a new chairperson for the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) 15 days after the legal deadline set by the Insurance Act. The current chairperson, Surya Silwal, who was suspended due to corruption charges, is set to complete his tenure on Magh 11. According to the Act, the appointment of a new chairperson should have been completed at least a month before the position becomes vacant.
In the interim, Madan Dahal, joint secretary at the Ministry of Finance and a representative on the Authority’s board, has been leading the institution based on seniority.
Call for Applications for NIA Chairperson Position
The Ministry of Finance has issued a public notice for the appointment of the chairperson of the Nepal Insurance Authority. The selection will be made through an open competition. Interested Nepali citizens meeting the required qualifications must submit their applications in a sealed envelope to the Financial Sector Management and Institutional Coordination Division, Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, within 15 days from the first publication of the notice on 2081/09/26.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must meet the following requirements:
Educational Qualification & Experience
- A postgraduate degree (or equivalent) in insurance, finance, banking, commerce, management, public administration, statistics, mathematics, economics, or law.
- At least five years of senior managerial experience in the relevant field.
Moral & Ethical Standards
- Must possess high moral character.
Should not be disqualified under Section 8(3) of the Insurance Act, 2079. - Age Criteria & Additional Disqualifications
- The applicant must be at least 30 years old but not older than 65.
The following individuals are ineligible to apply:
- Non-Nepali citizens.
- Those convicted of corruption, money laundering, human trafficking, drug-related offenses, antiquities smuggling, wildlife crimes, or other moral turpitude-related offenses.
- Individuals who have been blacklisted under existing laws and have not completed three years since their removal.
- Holders of permanent residency (PR) in a foreign country.
- Executives of public institutions involved in government contracts.
Individuals suffering from mental instability.
The government’s delay in initiating the appointment process has raised concerns about adherence to legal provisions, but with the call for applications now issued, the selection process is expected to move forward.