While Prime Minister Balendra (Balen) Shah has received numerous praises, he and his party have taken another positive step forward: Nearly two decades after the state implemented an inclusive policy, 33 per cent of the Cabinet is made up of female ministers for the first time.

Summary:

  • On March 27, 2026, Nepal’s newly appointed Prime Minister Balen Shah formed a cabinet with 33% women representation, a historic first for the country.

  • The 15-member cabinet includes five female ministers, representing Khas Arya, Dalit, Madhesi, Tharu, and Janajati communities.

Female ministers and their portfolios:

  • Sobita Gautam: Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs
  • Sita Badi: Women, Children, Senior Citizens
  • Pratibha Rawal: Federal Affairs and General Administration (also Land Management, Cooperatives, Poverty Alleviation)
  • Geeta Chaudhary: Agriculture, Livestock Development, Forest Environment
  • Nisha Mehta: Health Population

This achievement aligns with Nepal’s inclusive policy requiring 33% women representatives in the Federal Parliament, though previous cabinets had not met this quota.

The previous highest female representation was 26% in 2022 and 24% in Baburam Bhattarai’s cabinet (2011).

The cabinet formation reflects progress toward gender equality and inclusion of marginalized communities.

Key women ministers have diverse backgrounds in law, healthcare, journalism, and activism.

This marks a significant step for Nepal in ensuring gender balance in political leadership.

Archive: https://archive.is/4sR8z