Kathmandu, May 28 -- For the first time in Nepal's history, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday invited applications from eligible citizens for ambassador and permanent representative posts, and published a seven-page terms of reference (ToR) outlining the process.

The move comes amid an ongoing debate over whether ambassadorial appointments should be made through open competition or reserved for experts and experienced individuals.

In line with the new government's stated emphasis on merit-based appointment and open competition for public positions, the foreign ministry has now opened ambassadorial posts for applicants. However, the ToR does not specify the countries to which successful candidates will be posted.

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