KATHMANDU, MAY 29 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) officially invited applications from eligible Nepali citizens for ambassadorial and permanent representative positions yesterday (Thursday), marking a watershed moment in the country's diplomatic history. This is the first time in Nepal's history that the ministry has opened vacancies for the appointment of envoys through a formal, and competitive process rather than being limited to political appointees and career diplomats. The TOR, however, makes no mention of the nation to which the chosen candidates will be deployed. According to the ministry, the application was called in compliance with the Ambassadorial Appointment Directive-2018 (modified in 2022) and Section 45 of the Good Governance (Management and Operation) Act-2006. The procedure states that the position of ambassador will have a four-year term and be regarded as equivalent to Gazetted Special Class. Nepal currently has 17 diplomatic missions without heads. India, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Israel, South Korea, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Oman, and Saudi Arabia are among the nations sans ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions under the foreign service. A master's degree in international relations, political science, law, economics, public administration, or a similar field is required of applicants. According to the requirements, candidates must be citizens of Nepal, be at least 35 years old, and not have obtained either temporary or permanent residency from any other nation. Those found guilty of crimes involving moral turpitude or corruption will be excluded. Similarly, certain criteria have been set: the applicant must not have been dismissed from the service of the Government of Nepal, must not be employed by a non-governmental organisation receiving foreign aid, must not have a conflict of interest with the proposed country, and must have a high moral character. Experts have hailed the government's move, calling it historic and commendable. According to the ministry, proficiency in the English language is essential, and familiarity with the language of the host nation will be beneficial. According to Dr Pramod Jaiswal, research director at the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE), the Nepal government's recent decision to issue an open call for ambassadorial positions represents a historic and significant shift towards structural transparency. Ambassadorial appointments in Nepal have long been plagued by allegations of political cronyism and financial corruption, with positions reportedly given out as rewards for party loyalty or political funding. Jaiswal observed that the new open-call format reverses this negative trend, providing a unique opportunity for independent international relations experts to directly contribute to the nation through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While acknowledging potential challenges, such as the risk of selecting individuals who lack structural loyalty to the current government's policies, Jaiswal believes that the current system is a significant improvement over previous practices. 'Never in Nepal's history has there been an open call for ambassadors... This is truly remarkable because it will promote transparency and accountability,' he told THT. 'We know that there were rumours, or allegations, that the previous governments had collected funds from aspirants to secure such positions. I believe open call for the positions of ambassadors is a break from the tainted- trend.' 'There are chances that this government might not choose ambassadors based on their loyalty ... some of them who might be selected might not be loyal to the party or to the government, which can alter the process of making decisions or implementing government policy,' he added. Jay Nishant, a political and governance analyst, also praised the government's decision, saying, 'It's a good call provided the government can ensure fairness in the selection, keeping it completely meritorious.' According to him, some may argue against it, claiming that those with self-esteem and credible social status will not apply for the positions. 'The onus lies entirely on the government to persuade them. It's a good start, but it may take some time to mature. It is a welcome move by MoFA,' he added. Additionally, the government has decided to shut down six diplomatic missions abroad, including three embassies, two consulates general, and a liaison office. The embassies in Denmark, Brazil, and South Africa are among those being dissolved. The embassies in Denmark, Brazil, and South Africa are among those being dissolved. Additionally, the Consulate General in Chengdu (China) and San Francisco (USA) will be closed, alongside the Nepali Embassy's liaison office in Visakhapatnam, India. Prior to this decision, Nepal maintained ambassadorships in 34 countries and consulates general in 10 countries. Among the affected missions, the ambassadorial positions in Denmark and South Africa are currently vacant, while the tenure of the ambassador to Brazil is set to expire within a few months.