Balen Shah on the List of the World’s 100 Most Influential People

Kathmandu — The famous American magazine Time has included Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world for 2026. Prime Minister Balen is ranked 14th on the list of influential leaders. Time depicted the 35-year-old Shah, who entered politics from rap music, as a symbol of youth rebellion and a powerful emerging leader.

In this prestigious list released on April 15, Shah's rise is described as a strong response to the ancient and dynastic politics of South Asia.

What did Time Magazine say?

Time wrote in Balen's profile, "Balen's victory last March came at a time when the Gen-Z generation was protesting across the country against corruption and old political styles. The performance of this engineer—who once rapped that money grows on trees for those who sell their integrity—as the Mayor of Kathmandu has brought him to the position of leading 30 million Nepalis today."

The magazine mentioned him as a devotee of American rappers like Tupac Shakur and 50 Cent, stating that the global community is interested in his ability to take the improvements he made at the local level in waste management, education, and health to a national scale.

In the general election held on March 5 (Falgun 21), the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) led by Balen achieved a historic victory with 182 seats in the House of Representatives. Balen shocked everyone by defeating former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Jhapa-5 by a heavy margin of votes.

The RSP, which moved forward with the slogan of displacing the old generation and establishing good governance, succeeded in taking the reins of power within just three years of its establishment.

Hope of the New Generation

Balen once wrote on social media, "Whether new or old, all politicians are thieves." Time Magazine concluded its report by saying, "Now all Nepalis are hoping that he himself proves the statement he once wrote to be wrong."

This Time list also includes famous world artists such as Luke Combs, Keke Palmer, and Jennie. This honor makes it clear that the global stage is watching Nepal's recent political changes very seriously.