A recent job opening at the National Intelligence Department has received a record number of applications, 49,000 for 232 posts, throwing even officials into a tizzy.

The intelligence department had opened a vacancy for 232 posts of “assistant informers” a month ago and those with School Leaving Certificates (10th grade) were eligible to apply. The application submission deadline ended on Monday.

The department plans to deploy the new recruits along borders—both with India and China—for intelligence gathering for counter-terrorism, according to an official at the Prime Minister’s Office familiar with the hiring process.

Out of 49,000 applicants, over 41,000 have been processed.

The Public Service Commission will conduct a written exam and interview at later dates.

Former intelligence chiefs, however, have cautioned about hiring staff for the department through such a competitive process, as such informers need to work covertly most of the time.

Those known as “covert” operatives or “agents” are associated in various jobs or professions but also gather and provide information to the intelligence department. Their job is permanent but they do not work overtly or publicly.

Officials said applications in such large numbers are rare for civil service jobs. Some of the security agencies even fail to get the number of applications matching the number of posts.

Public Service Commission Chairman Umesh Mainali said that he was left wondering by the number of applications.

“We are going to conduct this type of examination for the first time in the history of the National Intelligence Department. Earlier, positions such as these were filled internally, or at the recommendation of senior bureaucrats, officials, politicians and others,” said Mainali.

As per the new constitution, those who receive salaries and perks from the state should be selected through the Public Service Commission via a competitive examination.

Earlier, there was a hiring board within the intelligence department and it used to recommend names from various influential officials, politicians and bureaucrats.

“So there was no need to call vacancy,” said former Deviram Sharma, former chief at the National Intelligence Department. “But that provision was largely misused by politicians and bureaucrats, particularly after the restoration of democracy in 1990.”

The official at the Prime Minister’s Office said the overwhelming number of applications reflect the interest of the young people to work as intelligence agents. He attributed this to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s move of bringing the department under the Prime Minister’s Office.

“There are new laws and regulations and the department has more teeth now,” he said. Mainali, however, said there may have been applications in such a huge number because the aspirants think there’s more freedom in the intelligence department compared to other security agencies like the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the Nepal Army.

Those who work in the intelligence department need not wear uniforms, they don’t have to stick to one place or room doing nine-to-five jobs and there’s more freedom.

Though the required qualification for the post of assistant informers is School Leaving Certificate, over 50 percent of the applicants are graduates, according to the official at the Prime Minister’s Office.