KATHMANDU: Kiran Pandit has been appointed as the deputy governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) following the Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday.

Although two Deputy Governor positions were vacant after the retirement of former Deputy Governors Dr. Neelam Dhungana Timsina and Bam Bahadur Mishra on March 7, 2026, the government decided to fill one of the posts with Pandit. His tenure as Deputy Governor will be five years.

Pandit currently serves as the executive director of the Foreign Exchange Management Department and ranks seventh among the bank’s executive directors.

Governor Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel had recommended four executive directors for the position, but Pandit was the only candidate appointed. The government has not disclosed why the second Deputy Governor position remains vacant.

According to Section 16 of the Nepal Rastra Bank Act, 2002, the government appoints deputy governors based on the governor’s recommendation.

The law also requires that when recommending candidates, the governor submit a list of twice the number of vacant positions from among senior bank officers, based on merit.

A deputy governor is automatically considered retired from regular bank service and serves as a member of the bank’s Board of Directors.

Career and achievements

Born on October 17, 1979, Pandit joined Nepal Rastra Bank on January 16, 2006, as a third-level officer. Within six years, he was promoted to assistant director on June 10, 2011, through internal competition.

On July 11, 2017, he became a director, securing first place in the competitive process, and was promoted to executive director on February 13, 2025.

Less than two years after becoming executive director, he has now been appointed deputy governor.

Throughout his career, Pandit has worked in multiple departments, including Human Resources, Regulation, Bank Supervision, Currency Management, the Governor’s Office, and branch offices in Birgunj and Dhangadhi.

He has also led the Financial Inclusion and Consumer Protection Division, the Payment Systems Department, and the Foreign Exchange Management Department.

While in the Regulation Department, he played a key role in formulating and implementing policies for working capital loans.

Additionally, he has served as the spokesperson for the bank and has been recognized as the Best Employee during the bank’s 69th anniversary, standing out among 1,147 employees.

Education and professional development

Pandit holds a master’s degree in management from Tribhuvan University, where he was a gold medalist in his faculty. He also earned a master’s degree in sociology from Tri-Chandra Campus.

Furthering his professional development, he completed a one-year professional course in climate finance at Griffith University in Australia, a certification course in decentralized finance from Duke University in the United States, and a certification in humanitarian communication from the University of Geneva, Switzerland.

Pandit comes from a distinguished family; his father is a former Supreme Court justice. Known for his expertise in regulatory policy, bank supervision, and financial management, Pandit has spent over two decades building a highly respected career at Nepal Rastra Bank.