The government on Thursday appointed senior economist and former member of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Swornim Wagle as the vice chairman of the Commission, the apex body that frames the country’s development plans and policies.

A Cabinet meeting held today took the decision to this effect.

Wagle's appointment to the NPC vice chair comes after Min Bahadur Shrestha has stepped down from the post. Shrestha had tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on July 31.