Government appointments fall short on inclusion
Summary
Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s government has come under criticism for public appointments that fall short of Nepal’s constitutional promise of proportional inclusion. Women, Madheshis, Janajatis and Dalits remain underrepresented across constitutional bodies, academies and university leadership posts despite claims of merit-based selection.
Key Points
- The government’s cabinet shows some diversity, but appointments to constitutional bodies and public institutions have drawn sharp criticism for weak representation of women and marginalized communities.
- Key posts such as chief justice, Election Commission leadership, National Planning Commission members and cultural academy office-bearers were filled without balanced gender, regional or communal representation.
- Lawmakers and critics say the administration is prioritizing meritocracy while ignoring the constitutional principle of proportional inclusion.
- Recent university and regulatory appointments also lacked women and broader social diversity, deepening the debate over representation in public institutions.
