Sharad Ojha Appointed as Chairman of Nepal Insurance Authority

Kathmandu – The government has appointed Sharad Ojha as the new chairman of the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) for the next four years. The decision was made during a Council of Ministers meeting held on February 24 under the leadership of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Ojha, a 33-year-old resident of Krishnapur-8, Kanchanpur, was selected in accordance with subsection (9A) of Section 8 of the Insurance Act 2079. With an educational background in Journalism and Law, he does not have prior experience in the insurance sector. However, he is an experienced journalist and currently serves as a special correspondent for Clickmandu.com. His work in investigative journalism has been recognized; on November 30, 2024, he was awarded NPR 100,000 for reporting on Section 57 of the Income Tax Act by former Finance Minister Barshaman Pun.

Earlier, National Planning Commission, Vice Chairman Shiva Raj Adhikari had recommended a shortlist of three candidates: Sharad Ojha, Ramsharan Pudasaini, and Dr. Damodar Basaula. The government finalized Ojha’s appointment from this list.

The selection process began on January 10, 2025, when the government invited applications for the position. Out of 12 total applicants, five were shortlisted for presentations: Chiranjibi Chapagai, Kamal Prasad Regmi, Dr. Damodar Basaula, Ramsharan Pudasaini, and Sharad Ojha. From these, the committee recommended three names, ultimately leading to Ojha’s appointment.