Kathmandu

Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah and members of his Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)-led Cabinet have publicly disclosed their assets, drawing mixed reactions and criticism from sections of the public.

The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers released the details on Sunday, in compliance with Section 50 of the Corruption Prevention Act, which mandates public officials to submit their asset declarations within 60 days of assuming office.

The disclosures, presented as part of the government’s commitment to transparency, include holdings in bank deposits, land, shares, and other valuables. However, the scale of both cash and non-cash assets revealed has sparked concerns in some quarters.

According to the declaration, Prime Minister Shah has bank deposits amounting to Rs 14.6 million, with income attributed to earnings from digital platforms such as Facebook and YouTube. He also owns houses and land in Kathmandu, Dhanusha, and Mahottari districts, and has declared 190 tolas of ancestral gold among his assets.

Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle reported share investments worth Rs 19 million and bank deposits of approximately Rs 9 million. He also owns a residential property in Lalitpur valued at Rs 20 million and land holdings across multiple locations estimated at Rs 107.5 million, with income sources cited as professional earnings and inherited assets.

Home Minister Sudan Gurung disclosed share investments worth Rs 43.1 million, along with land in three districts and 89 tolas of gold.

While asset disclosure is a legal requirement, the publication of these details has triggered public debate. On Monday, a group of leftist student activists staged a protest in Kathmandu, demanding greater clarity on the sources of wealth and calling for an independent investigation into how the ministers accumulated their assets.

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The development highlights growing scrutiny of public officials in Nepal, even as the government positions transparency as a key pillar of its governance approach.