The Intermediate Group from the Nepali Newsroom profile Sushila Karki, the country’s new PM
Interim Prime Minister of Nepal Sushila Karki.
26 December 2025
Who is the first female prime minister of Nepal?
Sushila Karki was appointed Nepal’s interim prime minister on 12 September 2025, following the Gen Z-led protests that rocked the country and led to the resignation of the previous prime minister, KP Sharma Oli. At 73 years old, she has made history twice: first as Nepal’s first female chief justice and now as the country’s first female prime minister.
Karki is a highly experienced Nepali leader who has workedfor many years in law and justice. She started her career as a lawyer in Biratnagar. Her honesty and hard work helped her become a supreme court justice, and in 2016 she became chief justice.
During her time as chief justice (2016–17), she worked hard to stop corruption in the government, and cancelled harmful government appointments when they were not done fairly. She punished officials who were doing unlawful actions, no matter how powerful they were. She also ordered police to investigate serious crimes involving important people.
Many politicians tried to influence her decisions, but she always stayed fair and honest. She made many bold decisions that other people were afraid to take. She did not give special treatment to anyone. Her brave work made people respect her a lot. She showed that everyone must follow the law equally.
Karki believes that law is the same for everyone, whether they are rich or poor, powerful or common people. This made her very popular among Nepal’s citizens, but not among some powerful people.
She is one of the most highly respected women in Nepal’s legal field. Her appointment as chief justice was a big achievement not only for her but for all Nepali women. It shows that women can reach the highest position in any field if they work hard. She has protected women’s rights and made sure women got justice in court. She has upheld democracy by making sure the law was followed properly.
Born in 1952 in Kathmandu, Sushila Karki was raised in Biratnagar, in the eastern part of Nepal. She grew up in an agricultural family and was the eldest of seven children. She earned a bachelor’s degree in arts from Mahendra Morang College in her home town, a master’s degree in political science from Banaras Hindu University in India, and a law degree from Tribhuvan University in Nepal.
In 2018, she published her autobiography, Nyaya (meaning ‘justice’), describing her life, struggle and experiences. She also wrote a novel, in 2019, called Kara (meaning ‘prison’), which was inspired by her time in jail during Nepal’s political unrest in the 1990s.
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As head of Nepal’s interim government, she has been prioritising the upcoming elections – slated for 5 March 2026 – and fulfilling the demands of the Gen Z protesters. Immediately after her appointment as PM, she promised to meet the protesters and to continue the fight against corruption. “We have to work according to the thinking of the Gen Z generation,” she said.
On 10 December, she met with representatives from the Gen Z movement to sign a ten-point agreement. These points include eliminating corruption, improving the electoral system, the formation of a Gen Z council, and other improvements to Nepal’s governance.
Karki said that she wishes the youth to take charge of the country. “I am the mother of Gen Z leaders,” she said during the meeting.
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