Kathmandu, Mar 27 (PTI) Nepal’s new Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Friday restructured the cabinet and merged various ministries to simplify government operations and improve coordination.
Popularly known as ‘Balen’, Shah himself retained the Defence and Industry, and Commerce portfolios, while the remaining 14 ministers took their oath at the special ceremony held at the official residence of the President, Shital Niwas.
In the order of hierarchy, Minister for Finance Dr Swarnim Wagle holds the second spot, while Minister for Home Affairs, Sudan Gurung, ranks third, according to the President’s Office.
The Youth and Sports Ministry was merged with the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, with Sasmita Pokharel heading the office. The Drinking Water Ministry was merged with the Ministry of Health and Population, led by Nisha Mehta.
While the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation was integrated with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, led by Pratibha Rawal.
The Ministry of Forest and Environment was abolished for the first time and was merged into the Ministry of Agriculture, headed by Gita Chaudhary.
KP Sharma Oli, from July 2024 till his ouster, was heading a cabinet with 25 ministers, while the interim government, headed by Sushila Karki, formed after the resignation of Oli in the wake of violent Gen Z protests which rocked the Himalayan nation from September 9 to 12, had 15 ministers.
The current Constitution of Nepal, implemented in 2015, capped the size of the Council of Ministers to 25 according to Article 76. PTI SKS/SBP SKS RD RD
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