Submit your Article

Prime Minister Balen Shah expanded the Cabinet on Friday.  He expanded the Cabinet soon after he took the oath of office and secrecy at Sheetal Niwas.

The ministers recommended by the Prime Minister took the oath of office and secrecy amidst a function at Sheetal Niwas.

The names of some ministers were finalized following a discussion between Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane and Parliamentary Party leader Shah.

According to a source at the RSP, Dr Swarnim Wagle has been appointed as Finance Minister, Sudan Gurung as Home Minister, Shirshir Khanal as Foreign Minister, Sunil Lamsal as Minister Physical Infrastructure, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha as Energy Minister, Khadka Raj Ganesh Paudel as Tourism Minister, Sasmit Pokharel as Education Minister, Sobita Gautam ass Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Pratibha Rawal as Minister of General Administration, Bikram Timilsina as Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Nisha Mehata as Minister for Health and Population, Gita Chaudhary as Agriculture Minister, Sita Badi as Minister for Women and Children and Deepak Shah was minister without portfolio.

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

The country is getting a new Prime Minister today. 

It is stated that President Ram Chandra Paudel is scheduled to administer the oath of office and secrecy to senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Balendra Shah, as the Prime Minister of Nepal at the President's Office, Sheetal Niwas, this afternoon. 

Before administering the oath, Shah will be informed about his appointment as the Prime Minister. 

As per the Article 76 (1) of the Nepal Constitution, a single-party government will be formed. 

The President's Office has informed that the ceremony for taking the oath of office and secrecy of the Prime Minister has been set for the afternoon. 

Leaders of various political parties, representatives of diplomatic missions in Kathmandu, civil society, and high-placed government officials have been invited to attend the ceremony. 

It is noted that the ministers will also take the oath of office and secrecy along with the Prime Minister today itself. 

In the House of Representatives election held on last March 5, the Rastriya Swatantra Party secured 182 seats. 

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

Leader Shah emerged victorious with 68,348 votes from Jhapa Constituency No. 5 in the House of Representatives election. 

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

In the wake of Nepal’s youth-led political shift, there is a renewed sense of hope across the country, a belief that things can be done differently, that long-standing systems can be re-examined, and that policy can begin to reflect the realities of the people it serves. For educators, this moment feels deeply personal. Between my parents and myself, we have spent close to six decades in education, shaping classrooms, preparing teachers, and building institutions. From this vantage point, of experience, responsibility, and continued investment in Nepal’s future, I often reflect on a crucial need: that the education policy we shape must be truly inclusive, adaptive, and reflective of the needs of a modern Nepali society.

A modern education policy must recognize that private schools are not merely optional institutions but an essential part of a diverse education ecosystem. Free education, as guaranteed by the Constitution, is vital, but so too is the right of communities to access schools that meet the specific needs of their children. These principles are not mutually exclusive. Private schools fill gaps, whether through higher accountability, specialized programs, or approaches that prioritize skills alongside academics. In a diverse society, no single system can serve every child and family equally; providing choice ensures that students have access to environments where they can meaningfully learn and grow.

The policy must also actively encourage international collaboration. Thousands of Nepali students leave the country each year in search of better educational opportunities. This is not only a reflection of aspiration, but also of gaps within our own system. An education policy that allows schools to engage with global resources, pedagogical practices, and academic collaborations creates the possibility of strengthening learning at home. Affiliations, teacher training, access to international content, and the ability to bring in expertise from outside Nepal are not departures from national identity. Rather, they are ways of ensuring that Nepali students are not learning in isolation and remain connected to the advancements shaping education globally. A more open system allows schools to evolve, innovate, and remain relevant and dynamic in a rapidly changing world.

One of the reflections of how inclusion is understood in policy lies in the way language is treated within the curriculum. Nepal’s classrooms are far more diverse than policy often acknowledges. This diversity is not only diverse in terms of returning students or international learners, but also across communities within Nepal whose mother tongue is not Nepali. When proficiency in Nepali language and literature is assumed, and when subjects like Social Studies are taught exclusively in Nepali, the medium itself can become a barrier to learning.

Creating flexibility within this structure, whether through alternative Nepali language learner tracks in 

place of standard language and literature, or more accessible approaches to teaching Social Studies in the language of comfort, allows students to engage with content more meaningfully. This adjustment would not only support Nepali returnees but also ensure that students from diverse linguistic communities within Nepal are not disadvantaged by a one-size-fits-all requirement. At the same time, it creates space for all learners to connect with Nepali language and culture in ways that are accessible and relevant. Inclusion, in this sense, is not about lowering standards, but about ensuring that language enables learning rather than limits it.

Diversity within the teaching community is equally essential. The ability to bring in educators from different backgrounds, including international faculty, strengthens cross-cultural understanding, enriches pedagogical practice, and exposes students to multiple perspectives. These are not peripheral advantages; they are central to preparing students for a global and interconnected world. Yet, practical barriers such as restrictive hiring processes, visa restrictions, and high costs often make this difficult. Addressing these constraints would allow schools to build more dynamic, globally relevant learning environments, aligned with broader national aspirations of openness, collaboration, and growth.

At the same time, inclusion must extend to students whose needs fall outside conventional systems. 

As I explored in my 2025 op-ed titled ‘The Invisible Student’, every child has the right to education and the ability to move through it with dignity. Flexible pathways, curriculum modifications, accommodations, and alternative forms of certification are not exceptions; they are essential to ensuring that education serves every learner it is meant to reach. Only then can the principles of human dignity and equity, central to any modern education policy, be truly upheld.

If Nepal is to foster collaboration, innovation, and growth, its education system must be open enough to evolve and responsive enough to reflect the realities of its learners. This includes students across geographies, languages, abilities, and aspirations. Schools that are able to respond to this diversity are better positioned to nurture not just academic success, but confidence, adaptability, and a sense of belonging.

Such an approach also carries implications beyond the classroom. When students feel that the system reflects their realities and aspirations, the impulse to look outward for opportunity begins to shift. Retention of talent, meaningful engagement with the Nepali diaspora, and the ability to attract learners from beyond our borders all emerge more organically from a system that is innovative, relevant, and inclusive at its core.

The opportunity before this government is significant. An education policy that is open, equitable, and future-ready has the potential to shape not just institutions, but the direction of the country itself. If done well, it can create a system that retains talent, and positions the country as a hub for learning in the region.