KATHMANDU: Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties have registered 18 amendments to the Nepal Rastra Bank (Third Amendment) Bill, proposing to increase the number of deputy governors from two to three.

Under the proposals submitted by lawmakers from Rastriya Swatantra Party, Nepali Communist Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party, the newly added third position would be reserved for highly qualified external experts from outside the central bank’s regular service.

Concurrently, the government has proposed relaxing the qualification criteria so that existing executive directors can be recommended for the post 30 days before a vacancy opens.

The parliament secretariat will now consolidate these amendments before the bill is presented to the House for clause-by-clause discussion and final passage.