KATHMANDU, AUGUST 14

The government has approved the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy, 2082 BS. The policy, presented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, received Cabinet endorsement during its meeting on August 11.

Minister for Communications and Information Technology and government spokesperson Prithvi Subba Gurung announced the decision while unveiling the outcomes of the Council of Ministers meeting today.

The Cabinet also appointed Sandip Rai of Panchthar district as the new General Manager of Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS). The position had remained vacant for more than a month following the retirement of the previous GM, who had completed a four-year term.

In another decision, motor vehicles will now be subject to charges for using the Nagdhunga Expressway. As per the revised rates, cars and vans will be charged Rs 65 when entering Kathmandu and Rs 60 when exiting.

The fee for minibuses and trucks is set at Rs 125 and Rs 80 respectively, while buses and trucks will be charged Rs 260 and Rs 200 respectively. Heavy vehicles will be charged Rs 600 for inbound travel and Rs 250 for outbound.

The Cabinet granted Madhesh Province Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh permission to visit Switzerland from August 31 to September 6 to participate in a 'Study Tour on Inter-Governmental Cooperation and Competition in the Swiss Federal System.'

Additional decisions include approving the participation of Deputy Auditor General Bindu Bista in the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) event in the Philippines from September 22–26, and accepting grant assistance of USD 90 million (approximately Rs 12.5 billion) from the South Korean government for the Gandaki Technical School infrastructure development project.

The Cabinet also fixed the minimum support price for the current fiscal year at Rs 3,463.81 per quintal for Mota (coarse) unhusked rice and Rs 3,628.33 per quintal for medium rice.

Furthermore, permission was granted for the Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation to attend the Global Infrastructure Cooperation Conference 2025 in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from September 16–18, and for the Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport to participate in the Asia-Pacific Regional Road Safety Conference in Manila, Philippines, from September 9–11.

The Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation will represent Nepal at the 42nd ICAO Assembly, scheduled to be held from September 23 to October 3 in Montreal, Canada.

The Cabinet also endorsed a proposal to create 725 temporary officer-level posts for various bodies under the Ministry of Labour, Transport, and Social Security for the fiscal year 2082–83 BS (2025–26).