Kathmandu, March 27, 2026 – President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) and the newly appointed ministers of the 15-member cabinet at a special ceremony held at Shital Niwas (President’s Office) today.
The swearing-in ceremony was conducted with traditional rituals, including Swastivachan by Vedic priests and Mangal Vachan by lamas. This marks the official beginning of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)-led government following its landslide victory in the recent general elections.
Prime Minister Balen Shah has retained the portfolios of Defence and Industry in addition to the premiership. The cabinet features notable inclusion of five women ministers, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and youth leadership.
Full List of Cabinet Ministers and Portfolios
- Prime Minister & Defence Minister: Balendra Shah (Balen)
- Finance Minister (Second in Hierarchy): Dr. Swarnim Wagle
- Home Minister (Third in Hierarchy): Sudhan Gurung
- Foreign Minister: Shishir Khanal
- Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister: Sunil Lamsal
- Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister: Biraj Bhakta Shrestha
- Tourism Minister: Khadka Raj Paudel (Ganesh)
- Education, Science and Technology & Youth and Sports Minister: Sasmita Pokharel
- Health and Population Minister: Nisha Mehta
- Communication and Information Technology Minister: Bikram Timilsina
- General Administration Minister: Pratibha Rawal
- Labour, Employment and Social Security Minister: Deepak Sah (Mahottari)
- Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister: Sobita Gautam
- Women, Children and Senior Citizens Minister: Sita Wadi
Dr. Swarnim Wagle: An Economist at the Helm of Finance Ministry
Dr. Swarnim Wagle, a renowned Nepali economist and policy expert, has been appointed as the Finance Minister. Born in Bungkot, Gorkha, he completed his early education at Budhanilkantha School. He holds a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics (LSE), a Master’s in Public Administration in International Development (MPA/ID) from Harvard Kennedy School, and a PhD in Economics from the Australian National University.
With over 25 years of international experience, Dr. Wagle has served as a Senior Economist at the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC and as Chief Economic Advisor for the UNDP’s Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau, advising 36 countries. He previously served as Vice-Chair (Minister-level) of Nepal’s National Planning Commission and played a key role in post-2015 earthquake reconstruction efforts.
His appointment is widely seen as a strong signal for economic reform, investment promotion, fiscal discipline, and sustainable development in Nepal.
Historic Moment and Public Expectations
The ceremony at Shital Niwas was attended by senior political leaders, family members, and high-ranking officials. In his brief remarks after taking the oath, Prime Minister Balen Shah reiterated his commitment to good governance, economic transformation, and delivering visible change to the people.
This lean, 15-member cabinet is being viewed as a youthful, expert-driven, and action-oriented government. The public now eagerly awaits concrete steps on pressing issues such as economic recovery, job creation, infrastructure development, and anti-corruption measures. read more news:https://tajakhawar.com/, see rsp elected constituencies
