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| Jagdish Kharel Biography |
Jagdish Kharel is a prominent Nepali journalist, media personality, and political figure. Born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal, his birthday is believed to fall around August 6, though his exact date of birth has not been publicly confirmed.
Kharel pursued higher education at Tribhuvan University, where he completed a Master’s degree in Mass Communication. In 2021, he became part of the first batch of the university’s MPhil-PhD program in International Relations and Diplomacy. His academic interests include research on contemporary issues such as the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement, reflecting his deep engagement with Nepal’s foreign policy and international affairs.
Kharel began his career in journalism in the early 2000s, starting in print and radio. His career took a significant leap in 2008 when he joined Image Channel Television as an Executive Producer. Over the years, he has remained a central figure in Nepal’s broadcast media, serving as the Editor-in-Chief at Image TV HD and working with Image FM 97.9. Since 2008, he has hosted the popular weekly political talk show Hot Seat, a program that has become a staple of political discourse in Nepal.
Beyond journalism, Kharel has contributed to several initiatives that support the media community. He has been actively involved with the news portal imagekhabar.com, a part of the Image Group, and founded Media Help Line, a network designed to assist journalists during times of crisis. His leadership in covering major national events, such as the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic, has been widely recognized.
His contributions to journalism and communication eventually paved the way for his political career. On September 21, 2025, Kharel was appointed Minister for Communication and Information Technology of Nepal. His appointment, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sushila Karki and endorsed by President Ramchandra Paudel, marked a new chapter in his career as he transitioned from media to governance.
Over the years, Kharel’s work has earned him several accolades. In March 2025, he received the National Digital Media Film Journalism Award, while his program Hot Seat was nominated in the LIC Nepal Media Awards 2078 (2022). In July 2025, he was also honored by the Global College of Management for his contributions to media and society.
Despite his public role, Kharel maintains a private personal life. He resides in Kathmandu, Nepal, and little is publicly known about his family. His journey from a young journalist to a national media leader and government minister illustrates his significant impact on Nepal’s communication landscape.