Four New Ministers Inducted into Karki Cabinet

President Ram Chandra Poudel on Monday, September 22, administered the oath of office and secrecy to four new ministers in the Sushila Karki-led interim government.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Karki recommended Anil Kumar Sinha for the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; and Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation. Mahabir Pun was appointed Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Madan Prasad Pariyar as Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, and Jagdish Kharel as Minister for Communication and Information Technology.

With their induction, the size of the Karki Cabinet has expanded to eight members.

Sinha, a former Supreme Court justice, brings long judicial experience. Kharel, a journalist, was serving as Head of News at Image Media Group. Pariyar, a senior climate and agriculture expert, has led the Samata Foundation, a non-profit promoting social justice and inclusiveness, and coordinated the State Restructuring Commission of the Constituent Assembly.

Pun, a Roman Magsaysay Award laureate, is widely recognised for advancing science, technology, and research through the National Innovation Centre. He is also known for his candid social media presence.

Karki, 73, was appointed Interim Prime Minister on September 12 following the collapse of the KP Sharma Oli government on September 9 amid nationwide anti-corruption protests and public anger over the social media ban.

Earlier, on September 15, former Finance Secretary Rameshore Khanal, Nepal Electricity Authority chief Kulman Ghising, and advocate Om Prakash Aryal were sworn in as ministers for Finance; Physical Infrastructure and Transport; and Home Affairs, respectively. Ghising also holds the Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, and Urban Development portfolios.

Following Sinha’s appointment to the Law Ministry, Aryal now oversees only Home Affairs.