# Sumana Shrestha

Sumana Shrestha (Nepali: सुमना श्रेष्ठ, IPA: /sumʌna sresʈʰʌ/ ) is a Nepalese politician and former Minister of Education, Science and Technology. Since 2022, she has served as a member of the Federal Parliament in the House of Representatives, representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party, for which she holds the post of Joint Secretary. Additionally, Shrestha is a member of the Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee of the House of Representatives. Within the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), she is a member of the Central Committee and serves as the chairperson of both the Education Department and the Science, Communication, and Information Technology Department.

## Early life and education

Sumana Shrestha was born on 1 October 1984, in Kathmandu. She attended Saraswati Boarding Higher Secondary School in Chhetrapati, where she completed her School Leaving Certificate. Subsequently, she pursued her A-Levels in Economics and Mathematics at Budhanilkantha School. After graduating from high school, Shrestha continued her studies at Bryn Mawr College and Haverford College in the United States.
In 2007, she graduated magna cum laude from Bryn Mawr College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Mathematics. Shrestha then enrolled at the MIT Sloan School of Management, where she earned her Master of Business Administration.

## Political career
### Member of Parliament

On 14 December 2022, Sumana Shrestha was elected as a member of the House of Representatives of Nepal as a proportional representative. On 22 December 2022, she took her oath in Nepal Bhasa along with other representatives, thereby formally assuming her role in parliament.
Shrestha gained national recognition following her inaugural parliamentary address on 21 January 2023. In her speech, she introduced herself as a management consultant and advocated for the establishment of a parliamentary calendar to improve legislative efficiency. Her closing remarks—where she criticized fellow members for referring to women representatives as “cheli”—garnered significant attention and made national headlines. Additionally, Nepal Communist Party (Unified Marxist Leninist -UML) Chairperson KP Sharma Oli criticized her personal life and labeled her a “tourist minister,” alleging that she visited Nepal as a tourist after marrying a foreign citizen before assuming ministerial office.
Throughout her tenure, Shrestha has actively contributed to legislative reforms. On 15 February 2023, she proposed an amendment to the Food Hygiene and Quality Bill, 2077. Three days later, on 18 February 2023, she submitted a comprehensive set of 34 proposed amendments to the Federal Parliament Secretariat. These amendments emphasized expert participation in parliamentary committees, the streamlining of business procedures for enterprises, and the categorization of businesses based on their capital. Subsequently, on 22 February 2023, a bill to amend certain acts related to the Prevention of Money Laundering and the Promotion of Business Environment, 2079, was introduced in the House, against the backdrop of Nepal facing the risk of being greylisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

### Minister

Sumana Shrestha was appointed Minister of Education, Science and Technology in the coalition government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on 6 March 2024.

## Political agenda
### Parliamentary calendar

Shrestha has been a vocal advocate for establishing a mandatory parliamentary calendar within the House of Representatives. She articulated her stance in an article published on 18 January 2023, emphasizing the critical role that good governance should play, beginning with the House itself. She has consistently authored media articles and participated in interviews to underscore the importance of such a calendar. On 30 January 2023, she took a proactive step by presenting a model format of the parliamentary calendar during a meeting of the Parliamentary Drafting Committee. Nearly two months later, on 22 March 2023, she further pursued her goal by submitting an amendment proposal to the House of Representatives Rules, 2079, advocating for the implementation of a mandatory parliamentary calendar; however, her proposal was ultimately rejected by the majority.

### Education reform

Shrestha has consistently raised concerns on behalf of students regarding the Non-Objection Certificate from the Ministry of Education and the equivalence certificate from Tribhuvan University, both within parliamentary chambers and in public discussions. She introduced an amendment to streamline the equivalence procedures. Subsequently, Tribhuvan University revised its equivalence procedures to simplify the process for graduates from the top 500 universities, as ranked by the Times Higher Education Rankings.

### Bill Hackathon

Shrestha has also advocated for the direct involvement of the general public in the legislative process. In an article published on 16 February 2023, she proposed the concept of a "Bill Hackathon" as a means to engage citizens more directly in lawmaking.

## Sumana Shrestha Secretariat

The Sumana Shrestha Secretariat was established to support Shrestha’s role as a Member of Parliament. It plays a crucial role in providing research and organizational assistance. The secretariat has demonstrated a proactive approach by arranging policy dialogues and seminars in both physical and virtual formats. Its members have created a virtual platform using Google Docs to actively solicit public feedback during the amendment process of bills. They provide essential research support by gathering information and data to bolster Shrestha's contributions during parliamentary discussions. The media have lauded the secretariat for its efforts, acknowledging its role in enhancing the effectiveness of her presentations and garnering appreciation from various quarters.