Balendra “Balen” Shah, a 35-year-old former rapper, structural engineer, and ex-mayor of Kathmandu, was sworn in on 27 March 2026 as the prime minister of Nepal following a historic victory of his Rastriya Swatantra Party in the 5 March general elections. The ceremony, held in Kathmandu, included formal prayers and rituals, and he was appointed by President Ram Chandra Paudel after his party secured a strong majority in the House of Representatives.
At 35, Shah is the youngest person ever to serve as prime minister in Nepal’s history, and his appointment has been widely recognized as placing him among the youngest national leaders globally. His government is characterized by a remarkably youthful leadership, with 10 out of the 15 ministers under 40 years of age, making it one of the youngest cabinets in the world.
Shah’s rise reflects a significant shift in Nepal’s political landscape. He first gained public attention through his music career and later as mayor of Kathmandu, where he introduced initiatives in urban management and citizen engagement. His political breakthrough came amid widespread frustration with established parties and youth-driven protests that shaped the 2026 election outcome.
Following his swearing-in, Shah appointed a council of ministers consisting largely of young leaders. Some of the key ministers include Dr. Swarnim Wagle as finance minister (51), Shishir Khanal as foreign minister (47), Sudan Gurung as home affairs minister (38), Sunil Lamsal for physical infrastructure and transport (35), Sasmit Pokharel handling education and youth affairs (29), Nisha Mehta as health minister (38), Pratibha Rawal for federal affairs (32), Sobita Gautam as law minister (30), Geeta Chaudhary for agriculture and environment (32), Bikram Timilsina for communication and technology (43), Dipak Kumar Sah for labor and social security (34), and Sita Badi for women and children’s affairs (30). Their ages range from 29 to 51, with most ministers in their 30s, making it an exceptionally young cabinet compared with traditional governments in the region.
International leaders have sent messages of congratulations, and Shah has expressed a commitment to strengthen Nepal’s foreign relations and focus on domestic reforms, including tackling corruption and expanding opportunities for the country’s young population. His premiership marks a new chapter in Nepalese politics, characterized by generational change, youthful leadership, and expectations of reform.
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