With the appointment of a security adviser, the number of advisers to President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has reached seven. 

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has appointed former Nepal Army General Netra Bahadur Thapa as her security adviser. Though Thapa joined office on April 13, the announcement was made on Wednesday.

Thapa is the brother of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa. 

According to a statement issued by the Office of the President, Thapa will advise and suggest the President on security related matters. 

President Bhandari’s other advisers are Madan Kumar Bhattarai (foreign relations), Sushil Pykural (politics and human rights), Madhav Sharma (press and media), Dhan Harka Rai (economy and planning), Jagannath Mahaseth (agriculture) and Mina Acharya (women empowerment and gender issues). Bhattarai is former foreign secretary and former ambassador and Pyakural is former member of the National Human Rights Commission.

Other three appointments to the Office of the President are Prof Sangita Rayamaji, Jeevastha Shah and Bhesh Raj Adhikari. 

Rayamaji looks after social and cultural issues, Shah looks after President’s meetings and engagements and Adhikari is chief personal secretary. (PR)