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Nepal’s Rapper Turned Politican Balen Forms Government Ensuring 33 Percent Women Participation For The First Time

Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, Nepali Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, arrives at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 27, 2026, after taking the oath of secrecy to attend a cabinet meeting. On the same day, Prime Minister Balendra Shah took the oath of office during a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Kathmandu. The newly formed 15-member cabinet under Prime Minister Shah includes five women members of parliament, meeting the constitutional provision of one-third women participation for the first time. Women ministers have been appointed from both proportional and direct election categories. Sita Badi is the Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens; Sobita Gautam is the Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs; Pratibha Rawal is the Minister for General Administration; Nisha Mehta is the Minister for Health and Population; and Geeta Chaudhary leads the Ministry of Agriculture. According to Article 38(4) of the Constitution, the state must ensure women's participation in all organs on the basis of proportional and inclusive principles, making 33 percent participation mandatory. Article 84(2) guarantees at least one-third female representation in the House of Representatives, while Article 176 requires 33 percent women's representation in provincial assemblies. Previous federal cabinets had not fully implemented these constitutional provisions until now. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto)

Photo Details

Photo ID	#13502002
Date Taken	27 March 2026
Location	N/A
Photographer	Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto
Category	Politics
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto

Related Keywords

One Person Waist Up Biraj Bhakta Shrestha Nepali Minister Energy Water Resources Irrigation Prime Minister Balendra Shah Kathmandu oath of secrecy cabinet meeting Presidential Palace 15-member cabinet women MPs 33 percent female representation constitutional provision one-third women participation proportional election direct election Sita Badi Women Children Senior Citizens Sobita Gautam Law Justice Parliamentary Affairs Pratibha Rawal General Administration Nisha Mehta Health Population Geeta Chaudhary Agriculture Article 38(4) proportional principles inclusive principles Article 84(2) House of Representatives Article 176 provincial assemblies federal level Subaas Shrestha NurPhoto.

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