Kathmandu : A 15-member Council of Ministers has been formed under the leadership of newly appointed Prime Minister Balendra Shah.

President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed ministers at a special ceremony held at the President’s Office today in the presence of the newly appointed Prime Minister Shah.

On the occasion, Dr Swarnim Wagle took oath as the Minister for Finance, Sudhan Gurung as the Minister for Home Affairs, Shishir Khanal as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sunil Lamsal as the Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Urban Development, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha as the Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Khadga Raj Poudel as the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Sasmit Pokharel as the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, and Sports.

Similarly, Nisha Mehata took oath as the Minister for Health and Population, and Water Supply; Dr Bikram Timilsina as the Minister for Communications and Information Technology; Pratibha Rawal as the Minister for General Administration and Land Management, and Poverty Alleviation;

Shobita Gautam as the Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; Geeta Chaudhary as the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, and Forests and Environment; Dr Deepak Shah as the Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security; and Sita Badi as the Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has kept the portfolio of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to himself for now.

President Paudel appointed Shah, the leader of the parliamentary party of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), as the Prime Minister today morning as per Article 76 (1) of the Constitution of Nepal.

Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal, former prime ministers, chiefs of constitutional bodies, high-ranking officials of the government, chiefs of security bodies and office-bearers of different diplomatic missions were present in the swearing-in ceremony.