Sasmit Pokharel, a young lawmaker from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has been appointed as Nepal’s new Minister of Education, Science and Technology, and Youth and Sports by Prime Minister (PM) Balendra Shah (Balen).
President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed minister amid a special ceremony on March 27, 2026. PM Shah announced Pokharel’s appointment as part of the new 15-member cabinet on the first day of his premiership following the RSP’s victory in the March 5, 2026, general elections.
Pokharel, 29, who won the House of Representatives seat from Kathmandu Constituency-5 by defeating senior political leaders, previously worked closely with Balen Shah during his tenure as Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
Born and raised in the capital, Pokharel completed his schooling in Kathmandu and pursued higher education, Bachelor of Business Management and Bachelor of Law (BBM-LL.B) from Kathmandu University School of Law. He also studied elements of public administration alongside his legal education, with a strong interest in policymaking, legislation, and governance rather than courtroom practice.
Professionally, Pokharel began his career in public service as an Associate Expert at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Planning Commission during Balen's tenure as Mayor. In this role, he actively contributed to various municipal initiatives, particularly those focused on improving the quality of education, urban planning, and local governance reforms.
Before joining the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), he was associated with the Bibeksheel Sajha Party and contested the 2022 provincial election as an independent candidate, securing over 1,000 votes. He has also gained practical experience in legislative processes through an internship at the House of Representatives Secretariat. He contributed to various initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education in the capital.
A passionate political activist with a mission to bring transparency, digital governance, and youth-centric reforms to Nepal, Pokharel is widely recognized as a close aide of Prime Minister Balen Shah. His work in local government and deep understanding of Kathmandu’s challenges have shaped his vision for equitable, technology-friendly education and accountable public service.
The appointment comes as the new RSP-led government has promised a compact cabinet with emphasis on competence, clean governance, and immediate reforms in key sectors like education.
Prior to this, Mahabir Pun, Chairman of the National Innovation Center, was serving as Nepal's Minister of Education, Science and Technology under the former interim cabinet of Prime Minister (PM) Sushila Karki.
