Nepal government approves AI policy, tolls, appointments, and international trips

The Nepal government has approved the ‘National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy, 2082 BS’. The policy, presented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, received cabinet approval during the meeting held on August 11.

Minister for Communications and Information and government spokesperson Prithvi Subba Gurung shared the cabinet decisions on Thursday, highlighting this major step toward advancing AI in Nepal.

In another decision, the cabinet appointed Sandip Rai from Panchthar district as the new General Manager of Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS). The post had been vacant for over a month following the retirement of the previous GM, who completed a four-year term in office.

The cabinet also decided that vehicles using the Nagdhunga Expressway will now have to pay toll charges. As per the decision, the toll rates are as follows:

• Cars and vans: Rs 65 while entering Kathmandu, Rs 60 while leaving
• Minibuses and trucks: Rs 125 and Rs 80, respectively
• Buses and large trucks: Rs 260 and Rs 200, respectively
• Heavy vehicles: Rs 600 and Rs 250, respectively

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

Other international participations approved by the cabinet include:

• Deputy Auditor General Bindu Bista attending the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) event in the Philippines from September 22–26.
• Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation attending the “Global Infrastructure Cooperation Conference 2025” in Seoul, South Korea, from September 16–18.
• Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport participating in the Asia-Pacific Regional Road Safety Conference in Manila, Philippines, from September 9–11.
• Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation representing Nepal at the Forty-Second ICAO Assembly in Montreal, Canada, from September 23 to October 3.

The cabinet also approved the receipt of grant assistance of 90 million US dollars (around Rs 12.5 billion) from the South Korean government for infrastructure development at Gandaki Technical School.

Additionally, the minimum support price for unhusked rice has been set for the current fiscal year. The rate for coarse (Mota) rice is Rs 3,463.81 per quintal, while medium rice is set at Rs 3,628.33 per quintal.

Finally, the cabinet endorsed a proposal to add 725 temporary officer-level posts in various bodies under the Ministry of Labour, Transport and Social Security for the fiscal year 2082-83 BS (2025-26).