Balendra Shah takes oath as Nepal’s prime minister

Balendra Shah became Nepal’s youngest prime minister by taking the oath of office on Friday. His party won a big election earlier in March and gained support after a youth-led uprising in September that changed the government.

Shah was chosen as prime minister by President Ram Chandra Paudel on March 27, 2026. His Rastriya Swatantra Party secured nearly two-thirds of the seats in the lower house of parliament during the March 5 elections.

His swearing-in happened at 12:34 p.m., coinciding with Ram Navami, a festival celebrating Lord Rama’s birth in the Himalayan nation.

Balendra Shah is known for his dual career as a structural engineer and a former rap artist. Before entering politics, he was the mayor of Kathmandu. His party won about two-thirds of the 275 seats in the lower house of parliament.

Shah gained attention during the September youth-led protests that led to the previous government’s downfall. Although he didn’t take part directly, he publicly supported the young demonstrators, mostly from Generation Z, who were leading the movement.