KATHMANDU — March 27, 2026
In a historic shift in Nepal’s political landscape, Balendra “Balen” Shah was sworn in as the country’s new Prime Minister on Friday, marking the beginning of a new generation of leadership.
The ceremony took place at Sheetal Niwas, the official residence of the President, where President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office. At 35, Shah becomes one of the youngest prime ministers in Nepal’s history.
A structural engineer, former rapper, and the former mayor of Kathmandu, Shah rose to national prominence through his reform-focused politics and strong support among young voters.
Landslide Election Victory
Shah’s rise to power followed the March 5, 2026 general election, in which his party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), secured a commanding victory.
The party won 182 of the 275 seats in the House of Representatives, giving it a strong parliamentary majority and enabling it to form a government without coalition partners.
Political analysts describe the result as a major rejection of Nepal’s traditional political establishment and a reflection of the growing influence of younger voters demanding reform.
The “Expert-Led” Cabinet
| Minister | Portfolio |
| Balendra Shah | Prime Minister; Ministry of Defence |
| Swarnim Wagle | Minister of Finance |
| Sudan Gurung | Minister of Home Affairs |
| Shishir Khanal | Minister of Foreign Affairs |
| Sobita Gautam | Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs |
| Sasmit Pokharel | Minister of Education, Science and Technology |
| Biraj Bhakta Shrestha | Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation |
| Nisha Mehta | Minister of Health and Population |
| Sunil Lamsal | Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport |
| Amresh Kumar Singh | Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies |
| Gita Chaudhary | Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development |
| Bikram Timilsina | Minister of Communication and Information Technology |
| Ganesh Poudel | Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation |
| Pratibha Rawal | Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration |
| Sita Badi | Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens |
| Deepak Kumar Shah | Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security |
