Kathmandu – Prime Minister Sushila Karki has expanded the Council of Ministers for the fourth time, administering appointments to four new ministers on Thursday as part of the ongoing restructuring of the interim administration formed after the Gen Z uprising of Bhadra 23 and 24.
At a ceremony held at Sheetal Niwas, President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Shraddha Shrestha, Madhav Chaulagain, Rajendra Singh Bhandari, and Kumar Ignam, following the recommendation of Prime Minister Karki earlier in the day.
According to officials, Shrestha has been assigned the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens; Chaulagain will lead the Ministry of Forests and Environment; Bhandari will head the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security; and Ignam has been appointed to the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation.
Third Expansion Conducted on Kartik 20
Prior to today’s appointments, Prime Minister Karki expanded the cabinet for the third time on Kartik 20, inducting Sudha Gautam, former Health Secretary, as Minister for Health and Population, and Bablu Gupta as Minister for Youth and Sports. Both ministers were sworn in before President Paudel at Sheetal Niwas. With that expansion, the cabinet’s size reached 10 members including the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Karki continues to retain several portfolios, including Foreign Affairs, Defence, Drinking Water, Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Forests and Environment, Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, and Labour, Employment and Social Security, pending internal restructuring.
Earlier Inductions Brought in Experts and a Former Journalist
Karki’s earlier expansions on Bhadra 30 and Asoj 6 included several prominent professionals:
Rameshwor Prasad Khanal – Finance; Federal Affairs and General Administration
Kulman Ghising – Urban Development; Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation; Physical Infrastructure and Transport
Om Prakash Aryal – Home Affairs
Anil Kumar Sinha – Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
Mahabir Pun – Law; Education, Science and Technology
Madan Prasad Pariyar – Agriculture and Livestock Development
Jagdish Kharel – Communications and Information Technology
Jagdish Kharel, a veteran journalist and media professional, leads the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, introducing a new communication strategy within the government.
Sudha Gautam’s Leadership at Health Ministry
Newly appointed Health Minister Sudha Gautam has already taken charge of the ministry. A respected gynecologist, obstetrician and public health specialist, Gautam began her government career in 2039 and served as President of the Nepal Medical Association. She later resigned as Health Secretary before completing her tenure. Gautam has also worked internationally, including in African nations, and is an author of books such as Aprameya and Singha Durbar’s Rotating Table.
Gen Z Enters Cabinet Through Bablu Gupta
Bablu Gupta, appointed Minister for Youth and Sports, represents Gen Z in the cabinet. Active through the ‘Hundred Group’ during the COVID-19 pandemic, he contributed to blood-donation coordination, food distribution and support for exploited migrant workers. Upon assuming office, Gupta announced that all meetings and decisions of bodies under the ministry will be broadcast live, pledging transparency and responsiveness to youth concerns.
