Nepal Cabinet Sets New Benchmark with 40 Percent Female Representation

Kathmandu. The government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah has prioritized inclusive governance, achieving approximately 40 percent female participation in the Council of Ministers. Six women have been appointed as ministers in the 16-member cabinet, representing 37.5 percent of the total.

Prime Minister Shah's Press and Research Expert, Dipa Dahal, stated that this ratio establishes a new standard for female participation in Nepal's cabinet. "The current government believes in an inclusive and equitable governance system. The presence of 37.5 percent female ministers in the cabinet confirms that we are putting the transformative politics we have been advocating into practice," she said.

Advocates and rights activists have also praised this government move. When the new government led by Prime Minister Shah was formed on Chait 13, Sobita Gautam was appointed Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Geeta Chaudhary as Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Sita Badi as Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, and Nisha Mehta as Minister of Health and Population.

On the recommendation of Prime Minister Shah, President Ramchandra Paudel appointed Gauri Kumari Yadav as Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies today. Although the Constitution of Nepal ensures at least 33 percent female participation in state bodies, previous governments often failed to meet this target.

Rights activists have reacted positively, noting that this government has exceeded the constitutional threshold to reach nearly 40 percent, viewing it as a significant step toward inclusive governance.

They believe this move will assist in formulating women-friendly policies to strengthen inclusive democracy. Mohana Ansari, a former member of the National Human Rights Commission, emphasized that this high level of female participation in the cabinet is a first in the country's history and should be viewed as a significant and positive achievement.

"This is the first time there has been such high female participation in the cabinet in terms of numbers," she said. "Having six women in a 16-member cabinet is an exemplary step toward inclusion under female leadership. Furthermore, the election of Ruby Thakur as Deputy Speaker today is a strong signal of the government's sensitivity toward the inclusive agenda."

According to senior advocate Meera Dhungana, this participation is not only satisfactory but also an opportunity to increase policy sensitivity. "Women's participation will help in making sensitive decisions on issues related to women," she expressed. She also suggested that female participation should be increased to 50 percent in the near future.

Advocate Bhawana Dahal expressed the view that along with numbers, diversity is also important, and the current cabinet has sent a positive message. "Not just the numbers, but having diversity in female leadership is also a positive sign," she said.