Who Is the Current Prime Minister of Nepal?

Balen Shah, also called as Balendra Shah, is the current Prime Minister of the Nepal. He took office on March 27th, 2026. It represents a huge turning point for the Nepalese political system.

In addition to his position as the Prime Minister of Nepal, Shah used to be the Mayor of Kathmandu. Moreover, he gained popularity due to his activities as a rapper and civil engineer. Thus, he became one of the most famous young politicians in the country.

Below are the key details about Balendra Shah, the Prime Minister of Nepal, his life story, and political career.

Who Is Balendra Shah?

Balendra Shah was born on April 27, 1990, in Kathmandu, Nepal. Shah belongs to the Newar Buddhist ethnic group and his father used to practice Ayurvedic medicine.

At the beginning of his fame, Shah was famous as a rapper, singing songs with themes including corruption, social inequality, and youth problems in Nepal.

Later, his image as a dissident of the old political system became a key feature of his political profile.

Education and Engineering Career of Balendra Shah

In spite of his fame as a musician, Shah has also had a career as an engineer.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Himalayan WhiteHouse International College, Nepal.

He moved to India for further studies and obtained a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering in 2018 from Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Shah’s engineering education has also shaped his views regarding infrastructure development and urban management during his tenure as the mayor of Kathmandu.

From Rapper to Mayor of Kathmandu

Shah stepped into political life in 2022 by running for the mayoral position in Kathmandu as an independent candidate.

Instead of just depending on the political party mechanisms, his election campaign was characterized by the use of the social media and interaction with the electorate.

Shah focused on issues like corruption, waste management, traffic control, and governance transparency, which won him widespread support among younger voters.

He won the election and became the Mayor of Kathmandu.

How Did Balendra Shah Become Prime Minister of Nepal?

Since the Gen Z protest in 2025, political landscape of the country became more complex due to weakness of the existing political parties.

In December 2025, Shah decided to join the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). Then he resigned as a Kathmandu mayor in January 2026 in order to run in the parliamentary elections.

The RSP had a good performance during the parliamentary elections in March 2026 and got a parliamentary majority. As a result, Shah became Prime Minister of Nepal on March 27, 2026.