Prakash Sharan Mahat

Prakash Sharan Mahat
प्रकाश शरण महत
Minister of Finance
In office
31 March 2023[1] – 4 March 2024[2]
PresidentRam Chandra Poudel
Prime MinisterPushpa Kamal Dahal
Preceded byBishnu Prasad Paudel
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
4 August 2016[3] – 31 May 2017
PresidentBidya Devi Bhandari
Prime MinisterPushpa Kamal Dahal
Preceded byKamal Thapa
Succeeded byKrishna Bahadur Mahara
Minister of Energy
In office
2010–2011
Member of the House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office
14 December 2022
Personal details
PartyNepali Congress
Known forEconomic policy, fiscal management, foreign policy, energy development

Prakash Sharan Mahat is a Nepali politician and economist. He is a senior leader and spokesperson of the Nepali Congress.[4][5] He has served as Minister of Finance, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Energy of Nepal.[6]

Career

Mahat has been active in Nepali politics since his student years. During the Panchayat era he participated in pro democracy student movements. He later joined the Nepali Congress and became involved in party organisation and policy work.

Mahat was a member of the Interim Legislative Parliament from 2006 to 2008. He was subsequently elected to the 1st Nepalese Constituent Assembly and the 2nd Nepalese Constituent Assembly through the proportional representation list of the Nepali Congress. He is currently a member of the House of Representatives under the proportional representation system.[7]

Ministerial career

Mahat served as Minister of Energy from 2010 to 2011. Contemporary reporting during his tenure discusses the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project in the context of government energy policy and load shedding reduction plans.[8] The Nepal Electricity Authority annual report for fiscal year 2009 to 2010 lists him as Minister for Energy and Chair of the Authority in its introductory pages.[9]

As Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mahat led Nepal’s delegation to the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly and delivered Nepal’s statement in New York in September 2016.[10][11]

Mahat was appointed Minister of Finance on 31 March 2023.[12] Reporting at the time described the appointment as occurring amid financial strain and low private sector confidence, and noted that he formed a task force to manage government cash flow.[13]

In the budget speech for fiscal year 2080/81, the Ministry of Finance published the official budget statement delivered by Mahat in May 2023. The statement sets out budget size and spending priorities for that fiscal year.[14]

Mahat left office on 4 March 2024 amid a change in coalition arrangements, with Reuters reporting that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal intended to remove several ministers including Mahat.[15] The Kathmandu Post also reported on Dahal’s preparations for a cabinet reshuffle that included the finance portfolio in early March 2024.[16]

Mahat has been associated with academic and policy discussions on economic development, governance, and Nepal’s peace process. He has also spoken publicly about economic conditions during his tenure as finance minister.[17]

Personal life

Mahat is married to Bina Mahat, and they have two children.[18]

References

  1. ^ "Newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister and ministers sworn in". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  2. ^ "Nepal PM forms new coalition, dumps old allies". Reuters. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  3. ^ "13 new ministers take oath from President". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Prakash Sharan Mahat appointed Nepali Congress spokesperson". The Kathmandu Post. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Deuba picks Prakash Sharan Mahat as NC spokesperson". Setopati. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister and ministers sworn in". The Himalayan Times. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Nepali Congress recommends 32 names as proportional representation lawmakers". The Kathmandu Post. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  8. ^ "14-hour power cut daily in 2011". Republica. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  9. ^ Nepal Electricity Authority Annual Report 2009/10 (PDF) (Report). Nepal Electricity Authority. 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Statement Delivered by the Hon. Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of Nepali Delegation to the 71st session of the UNGA". United Nations. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Statement by Hon. Foreign Minister of Nepal at UNGA-71". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  12. ^ "Newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister and ministers sworn in". The Himalayan Times. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Newly-appointed finance minister Mahat forms task force to manage the govt's cash flow". Republica. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  14. ^ "बजेट वक्तव्य २०८०/८१". Ministry of Finance, Nepal. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  15. ^ "Nepal PM forms new coalition, dumps old allies". Reuters. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  16. ^ "Prime Minister Dahal begins groundwork for Cabinet reshuffle". The Kathmandu Post. 3 March 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  17. ^ "Economy returning to normalcy: Finance Minister Mahat". The Himalayan Times. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  18. ^ "Nepal for friendly ties with India, China: Prakash Sharan Mahat". The Indian Express. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
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