KATHMANDU: President Ram Chandra Paudel has assigned new portfolios within the current Council of Ministers.

The reshuffle was carried out on the recommendation of Prime Minister Balendra Shah under Article 76 (9) of the Constitution of Nepal.

Under the new allocation of responsibilities, Prime Minister Shah will handle the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs, along with the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.

Swarnim Wagle has been assigned the Ministry of Finance, while Shishir Khanal will take charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Similarly, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has been given responsibility for the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, and Sobita Gautam has been assigned the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.

According to a statement issued by the President’s Office spokesperson Ritesh Kumar Shakya, the 15-member Council of Ministers has undergone a revised division of responsibilities across key sectors including education, health, agriculture, and infrastructure.