In a move signaling both renewal and response to public demand, Nepal’s interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki has expanded her cabinet for the third time, bringing in a diverse group of new ministers amid the country’s ongoing political transformation. The expansion, announced on October 26, 2025, comes just weeks after a youth-led uprising toppled the previous government and set the stage for dramatic changes at the highest levels of Nepal’s leadership.
The most recent round of appointments, administered by President Ram Chandra Paudel at a swearing-in ceremony held at Sheetal Niwas, includes four new ministers. According to South China Morning Post and Kathmandu Post, the new additions are Dr. Sudha Sharma Gautam as Minister of Health and Population, Ganpatilal Shrestha as Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Khagendra Sunar as Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security, and Bablu Gupta as Minister for Youth and Sports. The ceremony took place at 2:30pm, marking a significant moment for a government still finding its footing after the September unrest.
The backdrop to these changes is a period of extraordinary upheaval in Nepal. On September 8 and 9, 2025, protests erupted in Kathmandu and other cities, initially triggered by a temporary ban on social media. But as reported by South China Morning Post, the unrest was fueled by deeper frustrations—long-standing economic hardship, rampant corruption, and a pervasive sense that the government was unresponsive to the needs of ordinary citizens. What started as a youth-led demonstration quickly spiraled into violence, with at least 73 people losing their lives and key government buildings—including parliament, courts, and ministries—set ablaze during the chaos.
The fallout was immediate and dramatic. Then–Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was forced to resign, swept aside by the so-called Gen Z movement that brought tens of thousands of young Nepalis into the streets. Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, known for her reformist credentials, was sworn in as interim prime minister on September 12, 2025. Her mandate: restore stability, address the grievances of the protesters, and rebuild trust in Nepal’s battered institutions.
Karki’s approach has been to assemble a government that reflects the diversity and aspirations of Nepal’s population. The previous rounds of appointments, on September 15 and 23, brought in figures from across the spectrum: Rameshore Khanal as finance minister, Om Prakash Aryal as home minister, and Kulman Ghising as minister for energy and physical infrastructure. Later, respected personalities such as former Supreme Court Justice Anil Kumar Sinha, Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Mahabir Pun, climate and agriculture expert Madan Prasad Pariyar, and journalist Jagadish Kharel joined the cabinet. Each choice, according to Kathmandu Post, was meant to signal a new era of competence and inclusion.
But it is the latest appointments that have drawn particular attention—especially among Nepal’s youth. Bablu Gupta, at just 28 years old, is emblematic of the new faces rising in Nepali politics. As the founder of the Hundred Group, a volunteer organization devoted to supporting underprivileged communities through food drives and education programs, Gupta has built a reputation for hands-on activism and a willingness to tackle problems head-on. According to South China Morning Post, he is widely regarded as a champion for young people, many of whom see themselves reflected in his journey from grassroots organizing to the corridors of power.
Gupta’s appointment is also notable for another reason: he was the only candidate from a list of seven names recommended by the Gen Z protest leaders to make it into the cabinet. This detail, reported by Kathmandu Post, highlights both the influence and the limitations of the youth movement in shaping the new government. While their voices have been heard, the final choices reflect a broader balancing act—one that includes activists, technocrats, and established figures from different sectors of society.
Dr. Sudha Sharma Gautam, the new Minister of Health and Population, brings her own impressive credentials to the table. A former health secretary, Sharma is also a doctor and author known for her leadership in maternal and child health policy. Her expertise is expected to be crucial as Nepal confronts ongoing public health challenges, from improving rural healthcare access to addressing the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the words of one senior official quoted by South China Morning Post, "Dr. Sharma’s leadership in maternal and child health policy is widely respected, and her experience will be vital as we rebuild our health system."
The other new ministers also reflect the government’s commitment to inclusion and reform. Ganpatilal Shrestha, a cultural activist, will head the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation—a portfolio central to Nepal’s identity and economic hopes. Khagendra Sunar, a Dalit rights activist, takes charge of Labour, Employment and Social Security, bringing a focus on marginalized communities and social justice to a ministry that oversees millions of Nepali workers at home and abroad.
The process leading up to these appointments was anything but smooth. According to Kathmandu Post, days of rigorous discussions preceded the final list, with various factions lobbying for their preferred candidates. The Gen Z movement, riding high after its role in forcing government change, pushed hard for greater representation. Yet, as the dust settled, it became clear that Prime Minister Karki was intent on creating a team that balanced youthful energy with seasoned expertise.
Observers note that this strategy carries both promise and risk. On one hand, the inclusion of activists and reformers has injected fresh momentum into the government and offered hope to a population desperate for change. On the other, the challenges facing Nepal remain daunting: rebuilding institutions damaged during the protests, addressing deep-seated economic woes, and restoring public trust after years of scandal and mismanagement. As one analyst put it, "The new cabinet is a step in the right direction, but the real test will be whether they can deliver tangible results for ordinary Nepalis."
For now, the mood in Kathmandu is cautiously optimistic. The sight of new ministers taking the oath of office—some of them young, others with decades of experience—has fueled hope that this government might finally be able to bridge the generational and social divides that have long plagued Nepali politics. Whether this optimism will translate into lasting change remains to be seen, but for many, the events of the past weeks have already marked a turning point.
As Nepal’s new cabinet settles in, the world watches to see if this unique blend of youth, activism, and expertise can chart a new course for the Himalayan nation. The stakes could hardly be higher, but for the first time in a long while, many Nepalis believe that real change may just be within reach.
