President Paudel swears in 15-member council of ministers under Prime Minister Shah

KATHMANDU: A 15-member Council of Ministers has been formed under the leadership of newly appointed Prime Minister Balendra Shah.

President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed ministers today at a special ceremony organised at the Office of the President in the presence of Prime Minister Shah.

On the occasion, Dr Swarnim Wagle took the oath as Minister for Finance; Sudan Gurung as Minister for Home Affairs; Shishir Khanal as Minister for Foreign Affairs; Sunil Lamsal as Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Urban Development; Biraj Bhakta Shrestha as Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation; Khadak Raj Paudel as Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation; Sasmit Pokhrel as Minister for Education, Science and Technology, and Youth and Sports; Nisha Mehta as Minister for Health and Population, and Water Supply; Dr Bikram Timalsina as Minister for Communication and Information Technology; Pratibha Rawal as Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, and Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation; Sobita Gautam as Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; Gita Chaudhary as Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development and Forests and Environment; Dr Dipak Shah as Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security; and Sita Wadi as Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens.

Prime Minister Shah is currently overseeing the responsibilities of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. President Paudel appointed Shah to the post of Prime Minister this morning in accordance with Article 76, Clause (1) of the Constitution of Nepal.

Present at the ceremony were Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, outgoing Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut and the Chairperson of the National Assembly, Narayan Prasad Dahal. Former prime ministers, former chairpersons of the Council of Ministers, heads of constitutional bodies, senior government officials, heads of security agencies and representatives of various diplomatic missions were also present.