Bidya Devi Bhandari

President of Nepal

Bidya Pandey 19 June 1961 Mane Bhanjyang, Nepal

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Incumbent

Current president of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari (Nepali: विद्यादेवी भण्डारी , pronounced  ; born 19 June 1961) is a Nepalese politician, serving as the 2nd President of Nepal, in office since 28 October 2015. She is the first woman to hold the office in the country. She served as the vice-chairperson of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) and was the chair of the All Nepal Women's Association before being elected president. She is accused of being supportive to Oli and CPN(UML) while in office. Bhandari previously served as the Minister of Defence, the first woman to hold the office, from 2009 to 2011. She also served as the Minister of Environment and Population in 1997, and has been an active campaigner for environmental awareness and women rights in Nepal. In June 2017, she visited the headquarters of the IUCN in Gland, Switzerland and met with the director general Inger Andersen to discuss about enhanced collaboration on nature conservation and sustainable development. In 2016, Forbes placed her on number 52 in their list of the world's 100 most powerful women.