Mahabir Pun Appointed Nepal's Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation — Why This Is a Defining Moment for Nepal Tech

On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, Mahabir Pun was sworn in as Nepal's Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation — a newly created ministry that did not exist six months ago. He assumed office at Singha Durbar the same day, making it clear he intends to move fast.

For anyone who follows technology in Nepal, this is not just another cabinet reshuffle story. Mahabir Pun is arguably the most recognized and respected name in Nepali grassroots innovation. His appointment signals that the government may finally be serious about treating science and technology as a standalone national priority — not an afterthought tucked inside the education or communications ministry.

Here is who Mahabir Pun is, what the new ministry controls, what he has pledged to do, and why this appointment matters for every Nepali who works in or uses technology.

Who Is Mahabir Pun — And Why His Background Matters

Mahabir Pun is not a career politician. He is an independent Member of Parliament from Myagdi who built his reputation on the ground — literally.

In 2002, Pun launched the Nepal Wireless Networking Project, connecting remote villages in the Annapurna region to the internet using homemade wireless relays. At a time when even Kathmandu had limited connectivity, his team was beaming internet across mountain ridges to schools, health clinics, and community centers. The project eventually connected over 200 villages and earned him the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2007 — often called Asia's Nobel Prize.

He then founded the National Innovation Center (NIC), a nonprofit that gives Nepali inventors, engineers, and tinkerers the space, tools, and funding to build products for local problems — from agricultural equipment to medical devices. The NIC has become the symbolic heart of Nepal's maker and hardware-startup movement.

He previously served as Minister of Education in the Sushila Karki-led government (2016–2017), where he gained firsthand experience with how government ministries operate — and how slowly they move. That experience appears to shape his approach now: he publicly stated he will serve no more than three years, even though the government's term is five, and that he wants to lay a foundation others can build on.

"Advancement of science and technology is not possible in a slow pace. So activities will be carried out round the clock to spur its development." — Mahabir Pun, upon assuming office

The Ministry Itself: What It Controls

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation was established by the Council of Ministers on May 13, 2026 — less than a month before Pun's appointment. Until now, Prime Minister Balendra Shah held the portfolio himself.

The ministry's jurisdiction is remarkably broad. According to the government's Division of Work Regulations, it is responsible for:

• Science and technology policy, law, and standards — the ministry will write the rules that govern Nepal's entire tech ecosystem
• Nuclear energy policy and regulation — including nuclear materials management and waste resources
• Space science and astronomy — research, ozone layer studies, solar radiation measurement
• Scientific data and statistics — collecting, processing, and setting standards for S&T data
• Biological and nuclear technology — use, promotion, control, and regulation
• Chemical substances — use and regulation
• Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 — study, research, and application in goods, services, and processes
• Innovation and industrial modernization — technological development and modernization

The ministry also oversees three key institutions:

• Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST)
• Nepal Forensic Science Laboratory
• Planetarium, Observatory, and Science Museum

This is a serious portfolio. The ministry has legal authority over everything from AI governance to nuclear materials — and Pun, who spent two decades building technology with his own hands in Nepal's villages, now sits at the center of it.

Why This Appointment Matters for Nepal's Tech Ecosystem

1. A Practitioner, Not a Generalist

Most Nepali ministers who have overseen technology portfolios came from legal, administrative, or general political backgrounds. Pun is different. He has built internet infrastructure from scratch. He has run a research lab. He understands what it takes to procure equipment, train technical staff, and sustain projects beyond the ribbon-cutting ceremony. That practical knowledge could translate into more realistic policies and faster execution.

2. The Ministry Now Has Political Weight

The new ministry was created in May but lacked a dedicated minister — the Prime Minister held it as an additional portfolio, which meant it got part-time attention. With Pun's full-time appointment, the ministry now has an accountable leader who can advocate for budget, push legislation, and make decisions. For a sector that has long complained about being an afterthought in government planning, this is significant.

3. Alignment With the Budget's Tech Ambitions

Pun's appointment comes just two weeks after Nepal's 2026/27 budget allocated funding for a sovereign AI computing center in Kathmandu, a 50% income tax exemption on IT exports, and Rs 5 billion for digital infrastructure. With Pun at the helm of the science and technology ministry, there is now a clear institutional home for executing these ambitious plans — someone who can coordinate with the finance ministry, the telecom regulator, and the private sector to turn budget lines into functioning projects.

4. A Bridge Between Government and Grassroots Innovation

The National Innovation Center has been largely self-funded and donation-supported. With its founder now inside the government, there is potential — though no guarantee — for stronger policy support for homegrown R&D, maker spaces, and hardware startups. Pun knows firsthand that Nepal's innovators do not just need inspirational speeches; they need labs, equipment, prototyping grants, and a regulatory environment that does not punish experimentation.

What to Watch in the Coming Months

• The AI computing center: Will Pun's ministry take the lead on the sovereign AI infrastructure project announced in the budget? If so, how quickly can procurement and site selection begin?
• Nuclear energy framework: The ministry's jurisdiction over nuclear energy is notable. Will Nepal begin serious exploration of nuclear power, or will this remain a paper mandate?
• Startup and innovation policy: Will the ministry push for a dedicated innovation fund, R&D tax incentives, or streamlined regulation for tech startups?
• NAST reform: The Nepal Academy of Science and Technology has long been criticized as under-resourced and under-performing. Pun's leadership could either revitalize it or expose its structural limitations.
• His three-year deadline: Pun has set his own clock. If he delivers visible progress within that window, he will have set a new standard for ministerial accountability in Nepal's tech sector.

The Bottom Line

Mahabir Pun's appointment as Nepal's first dedicated Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation is the most symbolically significant tech-policy event in Nepal this year. It pairs the country's most ambitious technology budget with a minister who has spent his career building technology from the ground up — not just talking about it.

Whether that combination produces real results will depend on bureaucratic cooperation, budget execution, and political stability. But for the first time, Nepal has a science and technology ministry with a clear mandate, a dedicated minister with deep technical credibility, and a budget that actually allocates money for AI, digital infrastructure, and IT sector growth.

The pieces are on the board. Now the real work begins.

Published: June 10, 2026
Written by Basanta Sapkota