Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel Appointed as 18th Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank

The Government of Nepal has formally appointed Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel as the 18th Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), ending a prolonged vacancy at the helm of the country’s central bank.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Tuesday evening. This appointment follows a recommendation made earlier in the day by the Governor Recommendation Committee, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel. The committee had shortlisted three candidates: Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel, Acting Governor Dr. Neelam Dhungana, and former Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai.

Among the three, Dr. Poudel was listed as the top candidate and subsequently endorsed by the Cabinet. His nomination is understood to have been made under the Nepali Congress quota, following a political consensus reached between Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Dr. Poudel is a well-respected economist and former Vice Chairperson of the National Planning Commission.