Balen Shah Leads New Government with 15-Member Cabinet in Nepal

Balen Shah Leads New Government with 15-Member Cabinet in Nepal

Senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and parliamentary party leader Balen Shah has been appointed as the Prime Minister. President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed Shah as Prime Minister on Friday.

Prime Minister Shah’s cabinet consists of 15 ministers, including himself. All of them took the oath of office and secrecy on the same day.

Swarnim Waglé has been appointed as the Finance Minister. He is a Member of Parliament elected from Tanahun–2 and also serves as the Vice Chairman of the RSP. Waglé holds a PhD in Economics from the Australian National University and has experience working as the Chief Economic Advisor for the Asia-Pacific region at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He has also worked with IIDS, the World Bank, and Kathmandu University. Before joining RSP, he was affiliated with the Nepali Congress and was appointed Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission by Sher Bahadur Deuba. He has been actively involved in economic policy discussions and played a role in post-earthquake reconstruction efforts in 2015. He has studied at the London School of Economics, Harvard University, and ANU, and co-edited The Great Upheaval at Cambridge University in 2022. Waglé advocates for economic reform and aims to raise Nepal’s GDP significantly within 5–7 years.

Shishir Khanal has been appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Elected from Kathmandu–6, he previously served as Minister of Education. Khanal studied political economy at the University of Bridgeport and completed his master’s in public policy at the University of Wisconsin. He founded Teach For Nepal in 2012 to improve education in public schools. He has experience working in the United States with state-level policymakers and has been active in Nepal’s education sector. He joined RSP ahead of the 2022 elections and won his seat by a large margin.

Sudan Gurung, elected from Gorkha–1, has been appointed as the Home Minister. A 38-year-old social activist, he founded “Hamro Nepal” and played a key role in relief efforts during the 2015 earthquake. He was also involved in civic movements and political coordination during transitional periods. Gurung has stated that he would not take government salary benefits and had even declared during his campaign that he would become Home Minister.

Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has been appointed as the Minister of Energy. He is a Member of Parliament from Kathmandu–8 and was previously a provincial assembly member. He has a background in business administration and has been involved in political and social campaigns. He also has experience in hospital management and business operations.

Sobita Gautam has been appointed as the Minister of Law. A central member of RSP, she won the election from Chitwan–3. Before entering politics, she worked in media and hosted health-related programs on Nepal Television. She holds a law degree and has actively contributed to legislative reforms during her parliamentary tenure.

Bikram Timilsina has been appointed as the Minister of Information and Communication. Elected from Nuwakot–1, he holds a PhD in international relations from Griffith University, Australia. He has also taught governance and security studies and worked as a researcher and journalist.

Sita Wadi has been appointed as the Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens. Coming from a marginalized Badi community, she represents a historic inclusion in Nepal’s government. She overcame poverty and social discrimination to pursue education and complete a master’s degree in political science. She has been active in social work and journalism.

Sasmit Pokharel has been appointed as the Minister of Education, Youth, and Sports. Elected from Kathmandu–5, he defeated prominent candidates from major parties. He has a background in law and governance and has been involved in policy-making and urban planning, particularly during Balen Shah’s tenure as Kathmandu mayor.

Pratibha Rawal has been appointed as the Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration. A proportional representation MP, she has a background in journalism and has worked closely with party leadership since the party’s formation.

Ganesh Paudel has been appointed as the Minister of Tourism and Culture. A writer from Pokhara, he has published books and previously contested local elections. He later joined RSP and won the Kaski–1 seat.

Gita Chaudhary has been appointed as the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock Development, Forests, and Environment. Coming from a Tharu background, she has worked as a legal advocate for marginalized communities and has been active in social justice issues.

Sunil Lamsal has been appointed as the Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. An engineer by profession, he has worked on infrastructure projects and served as an advisor in Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

Nisha Mehta has been appointed as the Minister of Health and Population. A proportional representation MP, she has a background in nursing and public health and has worked in healthcare institutions.

Deepak Sah has been appointed as the Minister of Labor, Employment, and Social Security. He holds advanced degrees in public health and policy from international institutions and has served as a public health expert and leader in professional organizations.