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Newly appointed Prime Minister of Nepal Balen Shah took the oath of office and secrecy on Friday.

He became the 47th prime minister of the country.

President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy amidst a special function at Sheetal Niwas at the auspicious time of 12: 34 pm today.

The cremony included chanting by 108 priests, blessings by 107 Buddhist monks and conch blowing by seven Brahmins.

This is the first time in the country that the Prime Minister's swearing-in ceremony was conducted reflecting the Vedic-Sanatan tradition. 

Shah was appointed as the Prime Minister on Friday morning in accordance with Article 76(1) of the Constitution after the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) secured a single majority.

The RSP won 182 seats in the House of Representatives elections held on March 5.

On Thursday, the party picked leader Shah as the Parliamentary Party leader.

Leader Shah emerged victorious with 68,348 votes from Jhapa Constituency-5 in the House of Representatives elections.

On Thursday, HoR senior-most member, Arjun Narsingh KC, administered the oath of office and secrecy to the members of Parliament.

ALSO READ: Hopes and challenges for Balen

Who is Balen Shah?

Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, was born on April 27, 1990, in Kathmandu.

Shah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Himalayan White House International College, Kathmandu, and a Master’s in Structural Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University, Karnataka, India. He was also awarded a researcher’s fellowship to pursue PhD studies in Civil Engineering at Kathmandu University.

Before entering politics, Shah had already established himself in Nepal’s hip-hop scene, gaining recognition through the rap battle platform Raw Barz and various underground street rap battles.

Over the years, Shah released numerous rap songs and musical projects.  His music often centered on issues such as corruption, social inequality, political instability, unemployment, and the everyday struggles of living in Nepal.

One of his most popular songs is “Balidan”, which means sacrifice in the Nepali language which has garnered millions of views on YouTube.

On December 17, 2021, Shah announced through a social media post that he would contest for the mayoral position of Kathmandu as an independent candidate, a move that captured national attention. He secured a historic victory on May 26, 2022, garnering 61,767 votes. He took the oath of office and secrecy on May 30, 2022.

During his tenure as the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Shah faced several controversies and criticisms. He led a large-scale demolition campaign against the illegal structures and removed businesses operating in areas designated for parking.

In 2022, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s efforts to clear squatters from the banks of the Bagmati River led to violent clashes that left over 20 people injured.

In 2023, Shah imposed a temporary ban on Indian films in Kathmandu following controversy over the portrayal of Sita as “India’s daughter” in the film Adipurush. The ban was later lifted by the Patan High Court.

On December 28, 2025, Shah joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and resigned as Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City on January 18, 2026 to contest the House of Representatives elections as the party’s candidate for prime minister.

He contested the election from Jhapa-5, a stronghold of former Prime Minister CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli.

Shah achieved a resounding triumph, defeating Oli with a margin of 49,614 votes. Shah secured 68,348 votes, while Oli obtained 18,734 votes.

The RSP also secured a landslide, winning 182 seats in the 275 First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) seats and 57 seats under the proportional representation category.

The snap election was held six months after the Gen Z protests on September 8–9, 2025, which left 77 people dead, many of them shot by police. The protests ultimately toppled the Oli-led government.

ALSO READ: Balen: An unresolved mystery

It has finally been confirmed that Nepali student Bipin Joshi died while being held captive by the Hamas group in Gaza.

Hamas on Monday released the names of four dead hostages including Joshi.

Confirming the names of four dead hostages, the terror group has announced to hand over the bodies today itself.

According to the group, the bodies of the hostages to be handed over today include Nepali national Bipin Joshi and Israeli citizens Gully Illouz, Yossi Sharabi and Daniel Perez.

Earlier this morning, Israeli authorities had informed the Nepali officials that Joshi was not alive.

Officials at the Prime Minister's Office, Israel and the military had officially informed the Nepali Embassy in Israel that Joshi is not alive.

Hamas abducted Joshi from Alumim Kibbutz on October 10, 2023.

For almost a year, Joshi’s family had heard nothing about him, until the Israeli military released a video in November 2023, confirming that he was alive in captivity. A video showing him alive was released a few days ago when the new ceasefire was announced.

Hamas handed over 20 living hostages to Israel through the Red Cross today.

A total 1,139 people, including 10 Nepali students had died in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

Born on October 26,  2000 in Kanchanpur, Joshi had travelled to Israel as part of the “Learn and Earn” agricultural training program under a bilateral initiative between the two countries. Just three weeks after his arrival, he found himself at the heart of one of the most violent attacks in Israel’s history.

On the morning of Oct 7, 2023, Hamas militants launched a surprise assault on southern Israel, including Kibbutz Alumim, where Joshi was staying with 48 other Nepali students. When attackers threw a grenade into the bunker where Joshi and his friends were hiding, he reportedly deflected it—saving lives but exposing himself in the process. He was captured and later seen alive in Gaza.

Following his abduction, a flurry of diplomatic efforts was made by Nepal, Israel, and international partners to secure Joshi’s release.

On November 11, 2023, the Nepal government dispatched a DNA collection team to Joshi’s home to check samples against unclaimed bodies. No matches were found. Then on November 20, 2023, The Israel Defense Force released CCTV footage from October 7, where Joshi was identified by his family and friends as he was dragged by militants.

Months passed without any confirmed updates. Israeli intelligence tracked Joshi’s phone to Gaza, and despite being included in international hostage talks, his name never appeared on release lists.

Many initiatives were taken to bring him back to Nepal. On November 24, 2023, then Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Prakash Saud urged Qatar’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, to take initiatives for Joshi’s release from Hamas’ captivity.

On April 23, 2024, President Ram Chandra Paudel requested the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to help secure Joshi’s release. On May 19, 2024, Joshi’s family met then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to seek support for his release. On May 31, 2024, Israeli Ambassador to Nepal, Hanan Goder, demanded the unconditional release of all 125 people, including Joshi.

On October 8, 2024, the BBC reported that Israeli intelligence confirmed Joshi’s phone was located in Gaza. On January 8, 2025, then Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba appealed to Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Shmulik Arie Bass at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take immediate action to secure Joshi’s release.

On January 17, the Ministry of Home Affairs in Kathmandu welcomed the ‘Agreement for the Release of Hostages and Ceasefire in Gaza’ expressing hope for Joshi’s safe return.

A few days ago, Joshi’s family posted a 33-second video—believed to be filmed in a Gaza hospital—where Joshi, visibly under duress, identified himself in English: “My name is Bipin Joshi. I am from Nepal. I am 23 years old.”

“We decided to release it to show that he is in Gaza and alive, and maybe it can create pressure on the negotiating teams to understand our feelings, our pain,” said Joshi’s sister Pushpa. “It’s been two years, it’s too much pain for us and the hostages and the other hostages’ families.”

Despite the silence, Joshi’s family remained hopeful. His sister Pushpa became a voice in the campaign to bring her brother home. “It’s been two years. It’s too much pain for us,” she said during a protest in Israel’s Hostages Square. “How can anyone endure more than 680 days in a dark, unbearable room?”

Joshi’s mother, Padma, made a tearful plea upon arriving in Israel earlier this year: “Please, rescue my son… bring him home now.” Their journey took them from their home to the heart of Israeli politics, where they met President Isaac Herzog, Speaker Amir Ohana, and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar—all of whom expressed their commitment to Joshi’s case.

Since the IDF tweeted: “It’s official, there are no more living Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity,” the state of Joshi is still unknown as they haven’t mentioned about other nationalists’ hostages. The Israeli military confirms that the last 20 living hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are now back in Israel after more than two years in captivity.

Pushpa’s continued appeals have gathered support among Nepali youths, civil society, and more. His image has appeared on banners, placards, and even an Israeli flag made of hostage portraits displayed during mass rallies. Before his capture, Joshi sent a message to his cousin saying, “If something happens to me, you have to take care of my family. Be strong and always see the future.”