Buddhist monks along with Hindu priests, chant prayers during the oathtaking ceremony newly appointed Prime Minister Balendra Shah, popularly known as “Balen”, at Shital Niwas, the presidential building that was ransacked and burned by protesters during the anti-corruption protests that toppled the government last year, in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 27, 2026. REUTERS/Navesh ChitrakarBuddhist monks along with Hindu priests chant prayers during the oathtaking ceremony newly appointed Prime Minister Balendra Shah, popularly known as “Balen”, at Shital Niwas, the presidential building that was ransacked and burned by protesters during the anti-corruption protests that toppled the government last year, in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 27, 2026. REUTERS/Navesh ChitrakarNewly appointed Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, Minister of Education, Science and Technology; Youth and Sports Sasmit Pokarel, Minister of Labour Employment and Social Security Dipak Kumar Sah, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadka Raj Paudel, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, Minister of Women Children and Senior Citizens Sita Badai, and Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development and Forest and Environment Gita Chaudhary administer their oath at “Shital Niwas”, presidential building in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 27, 2026. REUTERS/Navesh ChitrakarNewly appointed Prime Minister Balendra Shah, popularly known as “Balen”, hugs outgoing interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, after taking the oath of office at “Shital Niwas”, the presidential building in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 27, 2026. REUTERS/Navesh ChitrakarNewly appointed Prime Minister Balendra Shah, popularly known as “Balen”, holds his daughter Niloufer Shah as first lady Sabina Kafle stands behind him, while attending his oathtaking ceremony at “Shital Niwas”, the presidential building in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 27, 2026. REUTERS/Navesh ChitrakarNewly appointed Prime Minister Balendra Shah, popularly known as “Balen”, holds his daughter Niloufer Shah, while attending his oathtaking ceremony at “Shital Niwas”, the presidential building in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 27, 2026. REUTERS/Navesh ChitrakarNewly appointed Prime Minister Balendra Shah, popularly known as “Balen”, looks on during his oath ceremony at “Shital Niwas”, presidential building in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 27, 2026. REUTERS/Navesh ChitrakarNewly appointed Prime Minister Balendra Shah, popularly known as “Balen”, and his newly sworn-in cabinet of ministers pose for a photo after taking the oath of office at “Shital Niwas”, the presidential building in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 27, 2026. REUTERS/Navesh ChitrakarNepal’s President Ram Chandra Paudel, administers the oath of office to newly appointed Prime Minister Balendra Shah, popularly known as “Balen”, after a landslide victory in parliamentary election by his party, in the presence of Outgoing interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki and Chairperson of National Assembly Narayan Prasad Dahal, at “Shital Niwas”, the presidential building in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 27, 2026. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar