Nepal is a nation with a long and complex history, and its list of prime ministers is reflective of this.There have been over dozens of people who hold the position of prime minister of Nepal.
The list of prime ministers of Nepal is ever-changing, reflecting the evolution of the country’s political landscape. Since the formation of the modern Nepalese government in 1950s, the nation has seen over 40 Prime Ministers, some of whom have held office multiple times.
In this blog post, we will take a look at the different Prime Ministers that have served Nepal throughout its history.
Who Is The Prime Minister in Nepal?
The Prime Minister of Nepal is the head of government in the country and is responsible for the overall administration, policy-making, and direction of the Nepalese government.
The current Prime Minister of Nepal is Pushpa Kamala Dahal popularly known as Prachanda, who was sworn in recently on December 25, 2022. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of Nepal and is responsible for running the day-to-day activities of the government.
He or she is also the leader of the Council of Ministers which is the highest executive body in Nepal. The Prime Minister has a significant role in the Nepalese parliament and is considered to be one of the most important political figures in Nepal.
Roles of Prime Minister in Nepal
The Prime Minister of Nepal is the head of the executive branch of the Government of Nepal. He or she is the most powerful and influential politician in Nepal and plays a crucial role in the political life of the country. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of Nepal after being proposed by the Nepali Congress (NC) Party and approved by the Parliament.
The Prime Minister is responsible for initiating and implementing policies and overseeing their implementation as well as representing Nepal in international forums. In addition, the Prime Minister is responsible for managing cabinet meetings, appointing members to the cabinet and preparing agendas for the meetings. He or she is also responsible for appointing ambassadors, representing the interests of Nepal in international organizations, maintaining relations with foreign countries, and providing recommendations on matters related to foreign policy.
Additionally, the Prime Minister of Nepal holds responsibility for overseeing the functioning of government departments, granting promotions and determining salaries for government officials, and ensuring that government laws are followed. Furthermore, they have an important role in recommending judges to be nominated by the president and ratifying any treaties and agreements concluded between Nepal and other states.
Through these various responsibilities, the Prime Minister of Nepal has been seen as the symbol of national unity and a unifying leader for all of Nepal. As such, the Prime Minister of Nepal has a vital role in the politics of this small nation, often leading up to changes in government. From 1951 till today, there have been 28 Prime Ministers of Nepal, each holding office from short periods of time to multiple terms lasting more than a decade.
While some of these Prime Ministers remain highly regarded due to their actions, others remain mired in controversy due to allegations of corruption or other misdeeds. All Prime Ministers however, have had an impact on shaping the history of this Himalayan nation and its people, making it an ever-changing list with each new Prime Minister taking office.
List of All Prime Ministers of Nepal (1776-2022)
This blog post examines the ever-changing list of prime ministers of Nepal, from the first in 1700s up to the present day.
Before 1800s
Before 1800s, the Prime Ministers were known as Deewan. They were the head of the executive of the Kingdom of Nepal and were appointed directly by the kings.
| S.N | Names | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vamsharaj Pande | 1776 | 1779 |
| 2 | Swarup Singh Karki | 1776 | 1777 |
| 3 | Sarbajit Rana Magar | 1777 | 1778 |
| 4 | Abhiman Singh Basnyat | 1785 | 1794 |
| 5 | Kirtiman Singh Basnyat | 1794 | 1801 |
| 6 | Bakhtawar Singh Basnyat | 1801 | 1803 |
Before Rana Era
Before the Rana Era, alongside Deewan, the Prime Ministers were known as Kaji and Mulkaji and were directly appointed by the kings.
| SN | Names | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Damodar Pande | 1803 | 1804 |
| 2 | Rana Bahadur Shah | 1804 | 1806 |
| 3 | Bhimsen Thapa | 1806 | 1837 |
| 4 | Rana Jang Pande | 1837 | 1837 |
| 5 | Rana Nath Poudyal | 1837 | 1838 |
| 6 | Chautariya Pushkar Shah | 1838 | 1839 |
| 7 | Rana Jang Pande | 1839 | 1840 |
| 8 | Ranga Nath Poudyal | 1840 | 1840 |
| 9 | Fateh Jung Shah | 1840 | 1843 |
| 10 | Mathabar Singh Thapa | 1843 | 1845 |
| 11 | Fateh Jung Shah | 1845 | 1846 |
During Rana Era
The Rana Era in Nepal began in 1846 when Jung Bahadur Rana became the first Rana Prime Minister of Nepal.
| SN | Names | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jung Bahadur Rana | 15 September 1846 | 1 August 1856 |
| 2 | Bam Bahadur Kunwar | 1 August 1856 | 25 May 1857 |
| 3 | Krishna Bahadur Kunwar Rana | 25 May 1857 | 28 June 1857 |
| 4 | Jung Bahadur Rana | 28 June 1857 | 25 February 1877 |
| 5 | Ranodip Singh Kunwar | 27 February 1877 | 22 November 1885 |
| 6 | Bir Shumsher JBR | 22 November 1885 | 5 March 1901 |
| 7 | Dev Shumsher JBR | 5 March 1901 | 27 June 1901 |
| 8 | Chandra Shumsher JBR | 27 June 1901 | 26 November 1929 |
| 9 | Bhim Shumsher JBR | 26 November 1929 | 1 September 1932 |
| 10 | Juddha Shumsher JBR | 1 September 1932 | 29 November 1945 |
| 11 | Padma Shumsher JBR | 29 November 1945 | 30 April 1948 |
| 12 | Mohan Shumsher JBR | 30 April 1948 | 12 November 1951 |
During 1950s to 1960s
| SN | Names | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matrika Prasad Koirala | 16 November 1951 | 14 August 1952 |
| 2 | Matrika Prasad Koirala | 15 June 1953 | 11 April 1955 |
| 3 | Surya Bahadur Thapa | 11 April 1955 | 14 April 1955 |
| 4 | Tanka Prasad Acharya | 27 January 1956 | 26 July 1957 |
| 5 | Kunwar Indrajit Singh | 26 July 1957 | 15 May 1958 |
| 6 | Subarna Shamsher Rana | 15 May 1958 | 27 May 1959 |
| 7 | BP Koirala | 27 May 1959 | 15 December 1960 |
During 1960s to 19902
| SN | Names | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tulsi Giri | 2 April 1963 | 23 December 265 |
| 2 | Surya Bahadur Thapa | 23 December 1963 | 26 February 1964 |
| 3 | Tulsi Giri | 26 February 1964 | 26 January 1965 |
| 4 | Surya Bahadur Thapa | 26 January 1965 | 7 April 1969 |
| 5 | Gahendra Bahadur Rajbhandari | 7 April 1969 | 13 April 1970 |
| 6 | Kriti Nidhi Bista | 14 April 1971 | 16 July 1973 |
| 7 | Nagendra Prasad Rijal | 16 July 1973 | 1 December 1975 |
| 8 | Tulsi Giri | 1 December 1975 | 12 September 1977 |
| 9 | Kriti Nidhi Bista | 12 September 1977 | 30 May 1979 |
| 10 | Surya Bahadur Thapa | 30 May 1979 | 12 July 1983 |
| 11 | Lokendra Bahadur Chand | 12 July 1983 | 21 March 1986 |
| 12 | Nagendra Prasad Rijal | 21 March 1986 | 15 June 1986 |
| 13 | Marich Man Shrestha | 15 June 1986 | 6 April 1990 |
| 14 | Lokendra Bahadur Chand | 6 April 1990 | 19 April 1990 |
During 1990s to Present Day
| SN | Names | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Krishna Prasad Bhattarai | 19 April 1990 | 26 May 1991 |
| 2 | Girija Prasad Koirala | 26 May 1991 | 30 November 1994 |
| 3 | Man Mohan Adhikari | 30 November 1964 | 12 September 1995 |
| 4 | Sher Bahadur Deuba | 12 September 1995 | 12 March 1997 |
| 5 | Lokendra Bahadur Chand | 12 March 1997 | 7 October 1997 |
| 6 | Surya Bahadur Thapa | 7 October 1997 | 15 April 1998 |
| 7 | Girija Prasad Koirala | 15 April 1998 | 31 May 1999 |
| 8 | Krishna Prasad Bhattarai | 31 May 1999 | 22 March 2000 |
| 9 | Girija Prasad Koirala | 22 March 2000 | 26 July 2001 |
| 10 | Sher Bahadur Deuba | 26 July 2001 | 4 October 2002 |
| 11 | Lokendra Bahadur Chand | 11 October 2002 | 5 June 2003 |
| 12 | Surya Bahadur Thapa | 5 June 2003 | 3 June 2004 |
| 13 | Sher Bahadur Deuba | 3 June 2004 | 1 February 2005 |
| 14 | Girija Prasad Koirala | 25 April 2006 | 28 May 2008 |
| 15 | Girija Prasad Koirala | 28 May 2008 | 18 August 2008 |
| 16 | Pushpa Kamal Dahal | 18 August 2008 | 25 May 2009 |
| 17 | Madhav Kumar Nepal | 25 May 2009 | 6 February 2011 |
| 18 | Jhala Nath Khanal | 6 February 2011 | 29 August 2011 |
| 19 | Baburam Bhattarai | 29 August 2011 | 13 March 2013 |
| 20 | Khil Raj Regmi | 14 March 2013 | 11 February 2014 |
| 21 | Sushil Koirala | 11 February 2014 | 12 October 2015 |
| 22 | KP Sharma Oli | 12 October 2015 | 4 August 2016 |
| 23 | Pushpa Kamal Dahal | 4 August 2016 | 7 June 2017 |
| 24 | Sher Bahadur Deuba | 7 June 2017 | 15 February 2018 |
| 25 | KP Sharma Oli | 15 February 2018 | 13 July 2021 |
| 26 | Sher Bahadur Deuba | 13 July 2021 | 25 December 2022 |
| 27 | Pushpa Kamal Dahal | 25 December | Present Day |
Conclusion
The office of Prime Minister of Nepal is a crucial and powerful post. Throughout history, the Prime Minister of Nepal has had to take on various roles, from leading the government to ensuring the country’s stability.
Over the years, Nepal has seen many different Prime Ministers come and go, each bringing their own individual flair and ideas to the table. From Jung Bahadur Rana to BP Koirala, each Prime Minister of Nepal has played an important part in shaping the history and future of this beautiful country.
Tell us in the comment box, what do you think about this list of prime ministers of Nepal.
