Biswo Nath Poudel | |
|---|---|
| Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank | |
| Assumed office 20 May 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Maha Prasad Adhikari |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Nepali |
| Education | B.E. China Textile University, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley |
| Occupation | Economist |
| Profession | Professor |
Biswo Nath Poudel is a Nepali economist and academician who is serving as the 18th Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank of Nepal. [1] He previously served as Vice Chairperson of the National Planning Commission [2] and has held positions in national and international institutions. [3]
Poudel was born in Chitwan District, Nepal. He completed his undergraduate degree in computer science and engineering from China Textile University, Shanghai, China. Influenced by his experience in China, he developed an interest in economics and later pursued a Master’s and Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. [4] [5]
Poudel served as an economic advisor at Nepal’s Ministry of Finance and held roles with the International Labour Organization and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. [6]
He was a member of the Board of Directors of Sanima Bank from 2012 to 2013. [3]
He has also taught at the Kathmandu University School of Management. [5]
In July 2021, Poudel was appointed Vice Chairperson of the National Planning Commission during the administration of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. His tenure included efforts to expand domestic production, restructure development planning, and enhance the use of data in policymaking. [6] [2] [ promotion? ]
On 20 May 2025, Poudel was appointed as the 18th Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank. The Governor Recommendation Committee had shortlisted three names including Acting Governor Neelam Dhungana Timilsina and former secretary Dinesh Bhattarai. [1] [7] [8] [9] [10]
The Supreme Court had earlier cleared the legal way for the appointment after addressing constitutional issues. [11] [12]