Kathmandu: The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has made public the asset details of ministers, including Prime Minister Balendra Shah, on Sunday evening.

Prime Minister Balen’s Assets
According to the disclosed details, Prime Minister Balen has reported significant earnings, including over one crore rupees generated from social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Spotify, and iTunes.

His family assets include 190 tolas of gold and silver, declared as ancestral property. He has also listed:
-9 bighas of ancestral land in Mahottari
-1.2 bighas of land in Dhanusha
-5 aana of land in Kathmandu

Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle
Swarnim Wagle has disclosed ownership of houses and apartments in Lalitpur, Kavre, Sanepa, and Bandipur. He stated that these properties were acquired for a total of Rs 127.5 million.

Home Minister Sudhan Gurung
Sudhan Gurung has reported land holdings across multiple districts:
-30 kattas in Chitwan
-221 ropanis in Gorkha
-19 ropanis in Dhankuta

He has also disclosed possession of 89 tolas of gold and 6 kilograms of silver, along with deposits in various banks.

Legal Requirement and Context
The asset disclosures were made in accordance with Section 50 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2059, which requires public officials to submit their property details after assuming office.

The Balen-led government had faced criticism for not releasing these details immediately after taking the oath of office and secrecy on Chaitra 13. However, the recent disclosure addresses those concerns and marks a step toward transparency.

Notably, members of the previous Council of Ministers had not made their asset details public, making this disclosure a significant move in terms of accountability and governance.