Historic first for Nepal: Five women take key portfolios in PM Balen’s 15-member cabinet

In a historic move for Nepalese politics, Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Friday unveiled a 15-member Cabinet featuring five women ministers , achieving the constitutionally mandated 33 per cent female representation for the first time.

The new ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy by President Ram Chandra Paudel in a ceremony that signalled a new era of inclusivity in the country’s governance.

Among the women ministers, Nisha Mehta will lead the Health Ministry, Pratibha Rawal takes charge of the Federal Affairs, General Administration, and Cooperatives Ministry, Sobita Gautam assumes the Law and Justice portfolio, and Sita Badi heads the Women and Children Ministry. Observers note that this is likely the highest number of women ever appointed in a Nepalese Cabinet , marking a milestone in the nation’s political history.

While Nepal’s constitution requires a 33 per cent reservation for women across all state organs, including Parliament and the Cabinet, previous governments rarely approached this target, usually including just one or two women ministers. Legal experts hail the Balen Cabinet as “highly inclusive” .

“This is the first time we see such significant representation of women in the Cabinet, and it is highly commendable,” said Dinesh Tripathi , a senior advocate and constitutional expert. “It reflects a positive step toward implementing constitutional provisions that have long been ignored.”

The Balen government’s focus on inclusivity is seen as a bold move, signalling both recognition of women’s leadership potential and a commitment to more balanced, representative governance in Nepal.