From BHU To Nepal's First Female Prime Minister: 5 Things About Sushila Karki

Last Updated:September 12, 2025, 21:31 IST

Former Chief Justice of Nepal, Sushila Karki, took oath as the new Prime Minister of the country after violent Gen-Z protests against corruption that left 51 dead.

Sushila Karki, the new Prime Minister of Nepal. (Photo: X)

Nepal endured a dramatic week with violent Gen-Z protests breaking out in several parts of the country that resulted in the ouster of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Now, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has taken oath as the interim head of the new government, becoming the first female PM of Nepal.

A social media ban triggered massive protests against corruption, spiralling into violent clashes that left at least 51 dead and prompting the resignation of former PM Oli and several key ministers. The new government has been appointed to restore calm in the Himalayan country and guide the nation through the political crisis.

What To Know About Sushila Karki

1. Sushila Karki served as the chief justice of Nepal’s Supreme Court from July 2016 to June 2017, becoming the first female judge in the history of the country.
2. Born on June 7, 1952, in Biratnagar, Karki was the eldest sister of seven children. She studied political science at India’s Banaras Hindu University and graduated in law from Tribhuvan University in 1978. She began her legal career in 1979.
3. She also served time in prison for participating in the 1990s movement to overthrow the monarchy-led Panchayat regime. Karki became a senior advocate in 2007 and was appointed as an ad-hoc judge in the Supreme Court in 2009. She became a permanent judge in 2010.
4. As Chief Justice of Nepal, Karki’s decisions were lauded by Gen-Z but questioned by lawmakers. In 2017, the Prachanda-led government filed an impeachment motion against her for an alleged biased judgement, sparking widespread protests. The motion was later withdrawn.
5. In her role as judge, Karki had delivered a landmark verdict that significantly advanced women empowerment in the country by ruling that Nepali women could pass citizenship to their children, which was previously only allowed for men.

A Big Responsibility

Karki now faces the mammoth task of rebuilding the country, which was rocked by violent protests over deep-rooted corruption, poor economic development and rising unemployment. Many see Karki as a crusader against corruption.

Following her appointment, Sushila Karki will take on the task of forming and leading the interim Council of Ministers. Preparations are already in progress at Sheetal Niwas, with Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal supervising the drafting of the appointment letter, the swearing-in ceremony, and the first Cabinet meeting. As part of the agreement, Nepal’s Parliament will be dissolved.

Although a small cabinet is expected at the outset, the names of its members are being kept confidential, sources told CNN-News18. Karki’s interim premiership is expected to be the centre of increased scrutiny as the country attempts to steer out of the current crisis.

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...Read More

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...

Read More

News world From BHU To Nepal's First Female Prime Minister: 5 Things About Sushila Karki

Read More