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Balen Shah
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Balen Shah

बालेन शाह

Prime Minister of Nepal since March 2026 · MP for Jhapa-5 · former Mayor of Kathmandu

Also known as Balendra Shah · Balen · बालेन्द्र शाह

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Balendra “Balen” Shah is a Nepali structural engineer, rapper and politician who has been Prime Minister of Nepal since 27 March 2026, after the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) won the March 2026 general election. Born in Kathmandu on 27 April 1990, he was 35 when he took office, the youngest prime minister of the federal republic. He represents Jhapa-5, where he defeated former prime minister K. P. Sharma Oli by 68,348 votes to 18,734.

Quick facts

Born
wd
Place of birth
Kathmandu wd
Citizenship
Nepal wd
Occupation
rapper, politician, structural engineer wd
Education
M.Tech in Structural Engineering, Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (Visvesvaraya Technological University), 2018, BE in Civil Engineering, Himalayan WhiteHouse International College, V.S. Niketan Higher Secondary School ref
Spouse
Sabina Kafle (m. 2018) ref
Official website
balenformayor.com wd
Social media
X (Twitter) · Facebook · Instagram · YouTube wd

Public office

Officeholder record, tenure and sources →

Positions held wd

  • Prime Minister of Nepal (since 27 March 2026 · BS 13 Chaitra 2082 onwards)
  • Member of the House of Representatives of Nepal (since 26 March 2026 · BS 12 Chaitra 2082 onwards)
  • Mayor of Kathmandu (30 May 2022 – 18 January 2026 · BS 16 Jestha 2079 – 4 Magh 2082)

Overview

Shah first became known as a Nephop artist in the early 2010s. In May 2022 he won the Kathmandu mayoral election as an independent, the first independent to hold the post, and served until he resigned on 18 January 2026 to join the RSP and run for Parliament. As mayor he introduced live broadcasts of council meetings, online building permits and a weekly textbook-free day in community schools, and led a demolition and street-vending crackdown that drew criticism from Human Rights Watch. As prime minister his government launched a 100-point governance agenda, moved public pay to a fortnightly cycle and merged federal ministries, while facing criticism over squatter evictions and his reluctance to speak publicly.

Career timeline

  1. 2026–present
    Prime Minister of Nepal ref
    Onlinekhabar
    Appointed by President Ram Chandra Paudel as parliamentary leader of the largest party; also holds the Defence portfolio.
  2. 2026–present
    Member of the House of Representatives, Jhapa-5 ref
    Khabarhub
    Won 68,348 votes to K. P. Sharma Oli's 18,734 in the 5 March 2026 election.
  3. 2026
    Joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party
    Republica
    Projected as the party's prime-ministerial candidate.
  4. 2022–2026
    Mayor of Kathmandu ref
    Khabarhub
    Sworn in 30 May 2022; resigned 18 January 2026 to contest the general election.
  5. 2022
    Won the Kathmandu mayoral election as an independent ref
    BBC Nepali
    61,767 votes (38.6%), ahead of Sirjana Singh (Nepali Congress) and Keshav Sthapit (CPN-UML).
  6. 2021
    Announced his mayoral candidacy on Facebook
    Republica
  7. 2018
    M.Tech in structural engineering, Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bengaluru
    Republica
  8. 2012
    Debut single “Sadak Balak”; later Raw Barz battle-rap series
    Al Jazeera
    Songs on corruption, inequality and urban life made him known in Nepal's underground hip-hop scene.

Key decisions and initiatives

  1. 2026
    Federal ministries cut from 22 to 18 ref
    Ratopati
    Former bureaucrats questioned the logic of the mergers.
  2. 2026
    Fortnightly pay for civil servants, police and army ref
    The Rising Nepal
    Republica reported Nepal as the first South Asian country with such a cycle for government staff.
  3. 2026
    Stricter customs on goods over Rs 100 from India
    The Kathmandu Post
    Aimed at small-scale smuggling; border shoppers complained of higher costs.
  4. 2026
    100-point governance agenda ref
    The Kathmandu Post
    Measurable targets per ministry, an asset-investigation commission, a ban on party-affiliated unions in the civil service and schools, and home delivery of passports and ID cards.
  5. 2022
    As mayor: private schools told to give 10% scholarships
    The Kathmandu Post
  6. 2022
    As mayor: live broadcast of council meetings, online building permits
    The Kathmandu Post
  7. 2023
    As mayor: tactile paving, falcha-style bus shelters, new bus routes
    The Kathmandu Post

Controversies and criticism

Notable statements

Recognition

  1. 2026
    TIME100: The 100 Most Influential People of 2026
    Time
  2. 2023
    TIME100 Next 2023 (emerging leaders)
    Time (reported by The Kathmandu Post)

Music and media

Early life and education

Quoted from Wikipedia: Balen Shah (CC BY-SA 4.0); each sentence links the source Wikipedia cites for it. Checked 6 November 2026.

  • Shah was born on 27 April 1990 in the Naradevi area of Kathmandu to a Maithil family from Ekdara, Mahottari District. Al Jazeera
  • He is the youngest of three children born to Dhruva Devi Shah, a housewife from Dhanusha District, and Dr. Ram Narayan Shah, an Ayurvedic physician who worked at the Naradevi Ayurvedic Hospital. My Republica
  • Shah's family prioritized education and discipline, while his father encouraged his interest in creative activities like music. Al Jazeera
  • His elder sister, Sujata Shah Sejekan, is a painter, while his elder brother, Kaushal Shah, is a chartered accountant. My Republica
  • Shah attended the Jaljala Secondary School and Alliance Academy, where he completed his primary and secondary education, respectively. My Republica
  • He later attended V.S. Niketan Higher Secondary School and completed his intermediate science studies. My Republica

Videos on Jhalak

In the news All news →

Questions

When was Balen Shah born?
Balen Shah was born on 27 April 1990 in Kathmandu.
What positions has Balen Shah held?
Positions held by Balen Shah include: Prime Minister of Nepal (since 27 March 2026); Member of the House of Representatives of Nepal (since 26 March 2026); Mayor of Kathmandu (2022–2026).
Where did Balen Shah study?
Balen Shah was educated at M.Tech in Structural Engineering, Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (Visvesvaraya Technological University), 2018, BE in Civil Engineering, Himalayan WhiteHouse International College, V.S. Niketan Higher Secondary School.
When did Balen Shah become Prime Minister of Nepal?
Balen Shah was appointed Prime Minister by President Ram Chandra Paudel on 27 March 2026, after the RSP won the March 2026 general election. ref
Which constituency does Balen Shah represent?
Jhapa-5. He won it on 5 March 2026 with 68,348 votes, defeating former prime minister K. P. Sharma Oli (18,734). ref
When was Balen Shah Mayor of Kathmandu?
From 30 May 2022 until he resigned on 18 January 2026 to contest the general election. He was the first independent elected mayor of Kathmandu. ref
What did Balen Shah study?
He holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Himalayan WhiteHouse International College and an M.Tech in structural engineering (2018) from Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology in Bengaluru. ref
Is Balen Shah a rapper?
Yes. He began releasing Nephop songs in the early 2010s, starting with “Sadak Balak” in 2012, and took part in the Raw Barz battle-rap series. ref

Sources

  1. Wikipedia (English): Balen Shah · CC BY-SA 4.0
  2. Wikipedia (Nepali): बालेन शाह · CC BY-SA 4.0
  3. Wikidata item Q111772343 · CC0 1.0
  4. Image: Official Portrait of Prime Minister Balendra Shah, 2026.jpg by Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  5. Record
  6. Record
  7. Office record: Office of the Prime Minister (opmcm.gov.np)
  8. Office record: Wikipedia
  9. Wikipedia (English), revision used for cited facts: Balen Shah · CC BY-SA 4.0
  10. Al Jazeera: Balen Shah: Rapper, mayor, Nepal's next prime minister? (2 March 2026)
  11. Jhalak video: 81st Session of the UN General Assembly Address by Rt. Hon. Balendra Shah
  12. Onlinekhabar: Prime Minister of Nepal (27 March 2026)
  13. Toronto Star (AP), 27 Mar 2026
  14. Khabarhub: Member of the House of Representatives, Jhapa-5 (7 March 2026)
  15. The Kathmandu Post, 8 Mar 2026
  16. Republica: Joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (18 January 2026)
  17. Khabarhub: Mayor of Kathmandu (30 May 2022)
  18. The Kathmandu Post: resignation
  19. BBC Nepali: Won the Kathmandu mayoral election as an independent (26 May 2022)
  20. Republica: Announced his mayoral candidacy on Facebook (17 December 2021)
  21. Ratopati: Federal ministries cut from 22 to 18 (13 May 2026)
  22. Republica: criticism
  23. The Rising Nepal: Fortnightly pay for civil servants, police and army (20 April 2026)
  24. Republica
  25. The Kathmandu Post: Stricter customs on goods over Rs 100 from India (19 April 2026)
  26. The Kathmandu Post: 100-point governance agenda (29 March 2026)
  27. Ratopati
  28. The Kathmandu Post: As mayor: private schools told to give 10% scholarships (5 October 2022)
  29. The Kathmandu Post: As mayor: live broadcast of council meetings, online building permits (19 September 2022)
  30. The Kathmandu Post: As mayor: tactile paving, falcha-style bus shelters, new bus routes (13 May 2023)
  31. Republica: Squatter-settlement clearance in Kathmandu criticised by rights groups and opposition (24 April 2026)
  32. The Diplomat
  33. Ratopati: Criticised for rarely addressing the public as prime minister (July 2026)
  34. Onlinekhabar survey
  35. The Kathmandu Post: Deleted Facebook post with profanity aimed at foreign powers and parties (3 November 2025)
  36. The Kathmandu Post: Banned Indian films over an Adipurush line; called the government and court “Indian slaves” (18 June 2023)
  37. Setopati
  38. Setopati: Threatened to “set Singha Durbar on fire” after a city car was stopped (September 2023)
  39. Human Rights Watch: Street-vendor crackdown: Human Rights Watch cited disproportionate force (14 December 2022)
  40. The Kathmandu Post: Demolition drive against encroachments drew cheers and concerns (5 September 2022)
  41. The Kathmandu Post: Thapathali clash
  42. Setopati: “Don't get emotional, doing business on streets is illegal” (to activist Iih) (27 September 2023)
  43. Time: TIME100: The 100 Most Influential People of 2026 (15 April 2026)
  44. Time (reported by The Kathmandu Post): TIME100 Next 2023 (emerging leaders) (14 September 2023)
  45. The Kathmandu Post: Wrote and performed “Nepal Haseko” for the film Laaj Sharanam (11 February 2025)

Last updated · last reviewed · facts checked 7 November 2026

Cite this page

"Balen Shah". DigiNepal. Last updated 4 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/balen-shah. Retrieved 7 November 2026.

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Overview and curated sections written by DigiNepal editors from the cited sources; parts are derived from the Wikipedia article Balen Shah, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Official Portrait of Prime Minister Balendra Shah, 2026.jpg — Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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