Sushila Karki, former Chief Justice of Nepal, has been sworn in as the first woman Prime Minister of Nepal. She was administered the oath by President Ramchandra Paudel at the Presidential Palace in Kathmandu. The appointment follows the resignation of KP Sharma Oli after violent Gen-Z protests over corruption and a ban on major social media platforms.
Key Highlights
- Ceremony: Attended by Vice President Rambaran Yadav, Nepal Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel, and Gen-Z protest representatives.
- Protests: Triggered by corruption and restrictions on social media; violent clashes claimed several lives.
- Parliament dissolved: On her first day in office, Karki dissolved the House of Representatives and announced fresh elections on 5 March 2026.
- Karki (aged 73) will serve as the interim Prime Minister until elections.
About Sushila Karki
- Born: 1952, Biratnagar, Nepal.
- Profession: Lawyer, Professor, Chief Justice (2016–2017).
- Spouse: Durga Prasad Subedi (activist in 1990s democratic movement).
- Known for: Judicial independence, anti-corruption rulings, and activism against authoritarianism.
- First woman Chief Justice of Nepal (2016).
- Oversaw landmark rulings – including conviction of Information & Communications Minister Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta (corruption) and overturning government’s police chief appointment.
- Faced impeachment motion (2017) by Nepali Congress and CPN leaders but it was later withdrawn after public protests.
- Participated in the 1990 People’s Movement, jailed during anti-monarchy struggle, and authored novel Kara based on that period.
- Significance: Her appointment symbolizes judicial integrity, anti-corruption reform, and public demand for clean governance.
Nepal: Political System
- Capital: Kathmandu.
- Currency: Nepalese Rupee (NPR).
- Government Type: Federal Democratic Republic.
- Constitution of Nepal: Adopted in 2015.
- President (Head of State): Ramchandra Paudel (2023–present).
- Vice President: Ram Sahaya Yadav.
- Prime Minister (Head of Government): Interim – Sushila Karki (2025).
Historical Milestones in Nepal
- 1951: End of Rana oligarchy, start of constitutional monarchy.
- 1990 People’s Movement: End of absolute monarchy, multiparty democracy restored.
- 2006 People’s Movement (Loktantra Andolan): End of King Gyanendra’s rule → transition towards republic.
- 2008: Nepal became a Republic, monarchy abolished.
- 2015: Nepal promulgated its first republican Constitution, declaring a secular, federal democratic republic.
Women’s Firsts in Nepal
- First Woman Chief Justice: Sushila Karki (2016).
- First Woman President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari (2015–2023).
- First Woman Speaker of Parliament: Onsari Gharti Magar (2015).
- Now (2025): First Woman Prime Minister → Sushila Karki.
Relations with India
- Nepal shares 1,770 km border with India, an open border with free movement of people.
- Key treaties: 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
- Both nations share cultural, religious, and economic ties.