Balen Shah to Be Sworn in as Nepal Prime Minister at Shital Niwas Under Article 76(1)

Balen Shah is set to take oath as Nepal’s prime minister at Shital Niwas under Article 76(1) after securing a majority in the House of Representatives.

Roshani Shrestha Pathak

Friday, 27 March 2026, 08:30 • Updated: 27 Mar 2026

Balen Shah takes the oath of office as Nepal’s prime minister, administered by Ram Chandra Paudel, during a ceremony at the President’s Office in Shital Niwas, Kathmandu.

Kathmandu — Ram Chandra Paudel is set to administer the oath of office and secrecy to Balen Shah as Nepal’s prime minister at 12:34 PM on Friday at the President’s Office, Shital Niwas. Ahead of the ceremony, Shah will be formally notified of his appointment as prime minister.

The swearing-in ceremony will incorporate religious and cultural traditions. Seven Brahmin priests will perform a ceremonial conch blowing, 108 Vedic students will recite auspicious chants, and 16 Buddhist monks will conduct the Ashtamangala recitation.

The government is being formed under Article 76(1) of the Constitution of Nepal, which allows for the formation of a majority government. Leaders from various political parties, representatives of diplomatic missions in Kathmandu, civil society members, and senior government officials have been invited to attend the ceremony.

Members of the Council of Ministers are also expected to take the oath alongside the prime minister. In the House of Representatives election held on March 5, 2026, the Rastriya Swatantra Party secured 182 seats. The party selected Shah as its parliamentary party leader on Thursday.

Shah was elected from Jhapa Constituency No. 5 with 68,348 votes. Earlier, senior-most member of the House of Representatives, Arjun Narsingh KC, administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly elected lawmakers.

The swearing-in marks the formal beginning of a new government under Shah’s leadership.