Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah has disclosed assets totaling NPR 14.6 million in his bank account, as per public property details released by him and his Cabinet members. The Corruption Prevention Act mandates high-ranking officials to declare their assets within 60 days of taking office, although public disclosure is not obligatory. Despite this, transparency and good governance principles have historically led to such disclosures.
In a move towards transparency, Prime Minister Balendra Shah has revealed that his sources of income include Facebook, YouTube, and Spotify. Additionally, his family members also possess significant assets. Shah’s mother owns land in Kathmandu and Dhanusha district, while his father holds land in Mahottari district. Furthermore, Shah’s wife owns a substantial amount of precious metals, including gold and silver.
The tradition of public asset disclosures by Nepal’s leaders dates back to the restoration of democracy in 1990. While this practice is generally followed, some past governments have deviated from it. For instance, the government under former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in July 2024 did not disclose property details, similar to a previous administration led by Sushila Karki.
