Nepal, July 4 -- Even as the government moves to reduce the number of permanent secretaries in the civil service, ministers have begun appointing secretary-rank advisers under newly approved Cabinet guidelines, paving the way for up to 57 secretary-level political appointees across ministries.

The appointments follow the Cabinet's approval of the Guidelines on Ministers' Advisers and Secretariat Management, 2026, which allow ministers to recruit senior advisers from outside the civil service. Depending on the ministry, each minister may appoint between three and five advisers, although only one adviser will be entitled to the salary, allowances and other benefits equivalent to those of a government secretary.

Minister for Infrastructur...