Editorial photo #13501991 Politics

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

Nepal's newly appointed Home Minister Sudan Gurung (in black cap and glasses) is welcomed by officials upon arrival at the ministry in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 27, 2026. On the same day, Balen takes the oath of office amid a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Kathmandu. The newly formed 15-member cabinet under Prime Minister Shah includes five women MPs, ensuring the constitutional provision of one-third women participation is met for the first time. Women ministers are appointed from both proportional and direct election categories. Sita Badi is appointed 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 named 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)