When was Bidya Devi Bhandari born?

Bidya Devi Bhandari was born on 19 June 1961 in Mane Bhanjyang.

What positions has Bidya Devi Bhandari held?

Positions held by Bidya Devi Bhandari include: President of Nepal (2015–2023); Ministry of Defence (2009–2011).

Where did Bidya Devi Bhandari study?

Bidya Devi Bhandari was educated at Tribhuvan University.

Gunjan Raj Giri · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Bidya Devi Bhandari

विद्यादेवी भण्डारी

President of Nepal

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Bidya Devi Bhandari (Nepali: विद्यादेवी भण्डारी; born 19 June 1961) is a Nepali former politician who served as the second president of Nepal from 2015 to 2023. She formerly served as the minister of defence and minister of environment and population.

Quick facts

Born: 19 June 1961 wd
Place of birth: Mane Bhanjyang wd
Citizenship: Nepal wd
Occupation: politician wd
Political party: Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), Communist Party of Nepal wd
Education: Tribhuvan University wd
Spouse: Madan Kumar Bhandari wd
Official website: presidentofnepal.gov.np wd

Public office

President (29 October 2015 – 12 March 2023)

Officeholder record, tenure and sources →

Positions held wd

President of Nepal (29 October 2015 – 12 March 2023)
Ministry of Defence (25 May 2009 – 6 February 2011)

About

She is the first woman to hold the presidential office in the country. She served as the vice-chairperson of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) and was the chair of the All Nepal Women's Association before being elected president. Bhandari previously served as the Minister of Defence, the first woman to hold the office, from 2009 to 2011. She also served as the Minister of Environment and Population in 1997, and has been an active campaigner for environmental awareness and women's rights in Nepal. In June 2017, she visited the headquarters of the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Gland, Switzerland and met with the director general Inger Andersen to discuss enhanced collaboration on nature conservation and sustainable development. In 2016, Forbes placed her at number 52 on its list of the world's 100 most powerful women.

Early life and education

Quoted from Wikipedia: Bidya Devi Bhandari (CC BY-SA 4.0); each sentence links the source Wikipedia cites for it. Checked 7 November 2026.

Bhandari was born on 19 June 1961 in Mane Bhanjyang, Bhojpur, to Ram Bahadur Pandey and Mithila Pandey. Setopati
She joined the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist–Leninist) in 1980. India Today
She is also related to Nepali Congress leader Gyanendra Bahadur Karki. One Click Nepal
During the 2025 Nepalese Gen Z protests her house in Bhangal, Kathmandu was burned down by a mob of protesters. onlinekhabar.com

Career

According to the details provided by the CPN (UML), Bhandari joined politics as an activist of the Youth League of CPN (ML) in 1978, from Bhojpur. India Today
In the 1994 general election, she was elected from Kathmandu–2, defeating house speaker Daman Nath Dhungana. One Click Nepal
Her influence in the party remained dominant when she was elected as vice-chairperson of the CPN (UML) in its eighth general convention held in Butwal. My Republica News
Bhandari renewed her membership in the CPN (UML) and re-entered active politics in July 2025. The Kathmandu Post
She was appointed as senior leader of CPN (UML) in September 2026. Setopati

Controversies and criticism

She also held the nomination of three members to National Assembly sent by the outgoing Deuba government but immediately approved the nominations sent in by the incoming Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Nepali Times
Bhandari passed the ordinance brought for citizenship brought upon by KP Sharma Oli government which was finally denied by Supreme Court to be a matter requiring discussion in parliament. OnlineKhabar The Kathmandu Post
After it came being approved by majority from parliament by Deuba cabinet it was denied by her. The Kathmandu Post
The decision was challenged by the Supreme Court of Nepal, along with signature of majority (146) MPs. Hindustan Times
On 12 July 2021, the Supreme Court stated the decision of parliament dissolution by Bhandari was unlawful. RatoPati
This was celebrated by the then opposition alliance led by the Nepali Congress, including allies CPN (Maoist Centre) and Janata Samajbadi Party. The Times of India

In the news All news →

State must be serious about the security of Nepalis abroad: Bidya Devi Bhandari4 November 2026
Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari returns home after China visit26 October 2026
Bhandari calls for long-term climate support for vulnerable countries24 October 2026
Former president Bidya Devi Bhandari to leave for China on Thursday21 October 2026
Bidya Bhandari visits flood-affected area13 October 2026

Questions

When was Bidya Devi Bhandari born?: Bidya Devi Bhandari was born on 19 June 1961 in Mane Bhanjyang.
What positions has Bidya Devi Bhandari held?: Positions held by Bidya Devi Bhandari include: President of Nepal (2015–2023); Ministry of Defence (2009–2011).
Where did Bidya Devi Bhandari study?: Bidya Devi Bhandari was educated at Tribhuvan University.

Sources

Last updated 1 November 2026 · facts checked 7 November 2026

Cite this page

"Bidya Devi Bhandari". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/bidya-devi-bhandari. Retrieved 7 November 2026.

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Text from the Wikipedia article Bidya Devi Bhandari, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Her Excellency The Right Honourable Bidya Devi Bhandari विद्यादेवी भण्डारी संघीय संसद भवनमा 4 (far crop).jpg — Gunjan Raj Giri, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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