Lt Gen (Retd) Balananda Sharma was appointed Nepal's foreign affairs minister on Friday (December 26, 2025).
President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Sharma at the President's Office in Sheetal Niwas, according to a notice issued by his office.
This is the fifth Cabinet expansion by Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who leads an interim government mandated to hold the general elections on March 5.
With Mr. Sharma's induction, the strength of Karki’s Council of Ministers has risen to 15.
PM Karki, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, Vice-President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, and other senior officials were present at the oath taking ceremony.
