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Sasmit Pokharel | |
|---|---|
| सस्मित पोखरेल | |
| Minister of Education, Science and Technology | |
| Assumed office 27 March 2026 | |
| Constituency | Kathmandu Constituency No. 5 |
| Minister of Youth and Sports | |
| Assumed office 27 March 2026 | |
| Government Spokesperson | |
| Assumed office 27 March 2026 | |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Rastriya Swatantra Party |
Sasmit Pokharel (Nepali: सस्मित पोखरेल) is a Nepali politician and member of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). He serves as Minister of Education, Science and Technology as well as Youth and Sports in the cabinet of Prime Minister Balen Shah, having been sworn into office on 27 March 2026 at a ceremony held at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas, with President Ramchandra Paudel administering the oath.[1] He also serves as the Government Spokesperson, a role assigned to him by the Council of Ministers on the same day.[2]
At the time of the 2026 election, Pokharel was 29 years old and was contesting on a Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) ticket.[3]
Early life and education
editPokharel was born and raised in Kathmandu Constituency No. 5. He grew up in the area and describes it as his home, noting that when his family's house was built, there were no other houses nearby — only paddy fields and crops.[3]
He studied law and public administration, with interests in policymaking and legislation rather than courtroom practice. During law school, while many of his classmates interned in law firms or courts, he interned at the House of Representatives Secretariat, where he observed committee deliberations, bill drafting, and the overall legislative process. He also worked closely on registering amendments and private member bills.[3]
Career
editCivic and municipal work
editBefore contesting the 2026 election, Pokharel was a close aide of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Mayor Balendra (Balen) Shah and had previously served as an associate expert at the KMC City Planning Commission.[4]
Among the initiatives he was involved in during this period was the car-free Hadigaun programme — closing a street once a week — which generated grassroots employment and enabled local women and housewives to earn between Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 per month by selling indigenous food and drinks, while also promoting local culture.[3]
2026 parliamentary election
editPokharel filed his candidacy from Kathmandu Constituency No. 5 for the House of Representatives election scheduled for 5 March 2026, representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party.[4]
Kathmandu-5 spans from the historically significant settlements of Tokha and Hadigaun in the north — where remains of the Licchavi period have been found — to the diplomatic precinct of Baluwatar and Lazimpat in the south, home to the prime minister's residence, the president's residence, and many of the country's most powerful embassies.[3]
Ministerial appointment
editFollowing Prime Minister Balen Shah's appointment, Pokharel was given charge of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology as well as Youth and Sports. Prime Minister Shah retained the Defence and Industry portfolios under his own charge, while Swarnim Wagle was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister and Sudhan Gurung was assigned the Home Ministry.[1] A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on the same day additionally assigned Pokharel the responsibility of Government Spokesperson.[2]
Policy positions
editIn a pre-election interview with The Himalayan Times, Pokharel outlined his main legislative priorities:
Education reform
editHe stated that his first priority was to reform education at the national level. In Kathmandu Metropolitan City, significant changes had been made to public schools — improving infrastructure, introducing smart boards and digital classrooms, and training teachers — to the point where public schools in Kathmandu now match or exceed the national average of private schools on key exam results. As a lawmaker, he sought to create a strong legal and policy framework to replicate this model throughout Nepal, demonstrating that what worked in Kathmandu can be scaled nationally with proper laws, budgets and standards.[3]
Digital nomad visa
editHe proposed introducing a nomad visa to attract higher-spending remote workers in IT and other sectors who would bring income to Nepal and spend it on accommodation, food, services and local businesses, targeting a different demographic from budget tourists who stay briefly.[3]
Sports in schools
editHe sought to incorporate sports into the school curriculum from an early age and to establish sports scholarships through legislation and policy, building on a programme already implemented in Kathmandu Metropolis.[3]
Federalism
editHe expressed the view that rather than debating whether Nepal should be federalised, the focus should be on making provincial governments more effective — reducing the number of MPs and ministers at provincial and federal levels, and giving provinces clearer authority and responsibilities.[3]
References
edit- 1 2 "Newly appointed ministers in Balen-led Cabinet sworn in". The Himalayan Times. 27 March 2026.
- 1 2 "Sasmit Pokharel appointed govt spokesperson". Khabarhub. 27 March 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "My first priority is to reform education at the national level". The Himalayan Times. 23 February 2026.
- 1 2 "Sasmit Pokharel files candidacy from Kathmandu-5". myRepublica. 20 January 2026.