Nepal PM Balen Shah approves government jobs for families of students killed in 2025 Gen Z protests

Kathmandu: Newly-appointed Prime Minister Balendra “Balen” Shah has swiftly acted to fulfill a key election promise, approving government jobs for the families of 27 students killed during Nepal’s 2025 Gen Z protests. According to India Today, the decision was implemented immediately after Shah and his Cabinet were sworn in.

In a decisive first move, the Nepal Electricity Authority issued a public notice listing eligible family members of the slain students and outlining the recruitment process. One qualified relative from each household will be offered a position in the electricity department within their home districts. Appointees must meet the required qualifications, and families are asked to verify their relationship and collect appointment letters within 35 days.

The announcement comes as part of Shah’s broader effort to address youth grievances and deliver justice for students killed in protests, signalling a new era of government accountability and youth-focused policies in Nepal.

The 2025 Nepalese Gen Z protests erupted on September 8, 2025, initially triggered by a short-lived social media ban but quickly escalating into nationwide demonstrations fueled by public anger over corruption and economic hardship. In clashes with police, at least 76 people, including 27 students, lost their lives, and thousands were injured. The protests culminated in widespread unrest, with parliament and government buildings set on fire, ultimately leading to the collapse of the KP Sharma Oli government.

Shah, a former rapper and ex-Kathmandu mayor, campaigned on promises to support the victims’ families and implement reforms addressing youth concerns. The rapid approval of jobs for protest victims’ families is seen as a first step in fulfilling those commitments.