September 23, 2025
KATHMANDU – Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Monday expanded her Cabinet for the second time by inducting some noted experts in their respective fields.
Amid a ceremony at the President’s Office, the four new ministers—Anil Kumar Sinha, Mahabir Pun, Madan Prasad Pariyar and Jagadish Kharel—took the oath of office and secrecy in the presence of President Ramchandra Paudel.
Sinha has been appointed the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies. He will also oversee the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation.
After assuming office, Sinha stated that the government will give priority to domestic products while undertaking the reconstruction work following the widespread destruction of property in the Gen Z protests two weeks ago. Hundreds of public and private property were damaged and destroyed during the youth-led anti-corruption protests across the country on September 8 and 9 that claimed at least 72 lives. Following the violent protests, the then KP Sharma Oli government resigned and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Karki was appointed as interim prime minister on September 12 with a mandate to hold new parliamentary elections on March 5, 2026.
Minister Sinha also stated that priority will be given to Gen Z martyrs’ families in government jobs.
Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Pun is the new minister for Education, Science and Technology, while Madan Prasad Pariyar has taken charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. Journalist Kharel was sworn in as the minister for Communication and Information Technology.
Pun has been leading a nonprofit named Rashtriya Aviskar Kendra (national innovation centre) and devoted his time to developing the culture of research, technology, and innovation in Nepal since 2012.
After Pun assumed office, the ministry announced four advisory committees—on space technology; nuclear technology; biotechnology; and information technology and artificial intelligence.
“I will consult experts and work based on their suggestions,” he told reporters after assuming office.
“Our focus will be on expanding new research, innovation, technology and promoting entrepreneurship,” he added.
Agriculture Minister Pariyar is a climate and agricultural expert. Pariyar serves as the president of Samata Foundation, a non-profit that works for social justice and inclusiveness. He previously coordinated the high-level state restructuring commission when the country was writing the current constitution.
After assuming office, Pariyar said he would work to resolve the issues of sugarcane farmers and dairy producers.
The government has failed to pay dues to dairy farmers and producers for a long time and they have been protesting demanding the payments. Likewise sugarcane farmers had also staged protests in Kathmandu seeking compensation from the state after sugar mills failed to pay them.
“I am committed to resolving the problems faced by dairy and sugarcane farmers.” The main responsibility of the government is to hold elections on March 5, so we will take support from different sectors,” he said. He also promised to address the ongoing shortage of chemical fertilisers.
Although Prime Minister Karki had reportedly forwarded the name of Sangeeta Mishra for appointment as health minister, her name was withheld at the last moment. Mishra is an additional secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population.
Upon assuming office, Kharel, the new minister for Communication and Information Technology, instructed officials to provide free internet in various public spaces in Kathmandu within two months. Likewise he also announced plans to launch free internet in 10 cities of seven provinces within five months. “Today’s youths are increasingly dependent on the internet for several reasons including jobs,” he said, adding, “So we need to heed their concerns.”
Earlier, on September 15, Prime Minister Karki had inducted Rameshore Khanal as finance minister, Kulman Ghising as minister for energy, water resources and irrigation as well as for physical infrastructure, transport and urban development, and Om Prakash Aryal as home minister.
The prime minister herself has been overseeing the remaining ministries.