Onlinekhabar is publishing the list of the 50 most influential Nepali women for the year 2025 on Thursday. The second edition of the special feature on 50 influential women is set to be released.
Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari will unveil the list and honour the selected women at a ceremony to be held in the capital on Thursday.
This year’s selection committee is coordinated by former Justice Mira Khadka, with members including Dr Sangita Kaushal Mishra, Secretary at the Ministry of Health, former President of the Federation of Industry and Commerce Bhavani Rana, and Chief Editor of Onlinekhabar Shiva Gaunle.
Onlinekhabar has been releasing the list of 50 influential women on the occasion of International Women’s Day since 2024.
Selection Process
For this year’s list of ‘50 Influential Women,’ Onlinekhabar made a public call for name submissions. Individuals were invited to recommend names of those who had made significant contributions in their respective fields. People had the option to nominate themselves or others.
Along with this public call, Onlinekhabar also gathered potential names from its central newsroom in Kathmandu and correspondents across all seven provinces. Experts and sources from various fields were also consulted for suggestions and assistance.
From these two sources, more than 460 names were collected. The newsroom categorised them into different fields, including politics, society, arts/literature, culture, youth and sports, science and technology, entrepreneurship, and the diaspora.
Considering geographical and societal diversity, the list was then narrowed down to 200. Further evaluation based on contributions, impact, and the potential for others to learn from their work reduced the list to 100. This final list was then presented to the jury.
On January 21 (8th Magh 2081), the jury selected 50 names. The primary criteria for selection were the individuals’ contributions and their broader social impact while ensuring diversity.
The jury panel consisted of former Supreme Court Justice Mira Khadka (chairperson), former President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Bhawani Rana, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Health Dr Sangita Kaushal Mishra, and Onlinekhabar’s Editor-in-Chief Shiva Gaunle. The overall coordination of the selection process was handled by Associate Editor Sudarshan Khatiwada.
The jury also prepared a list of five alternate candidates in case some nominees were unavailable, unwilling to participate, or if discrepancies were found during verification. This year, three names from the alternate list were included.
Objectives of the selection
The initiative aims to recognise and honour the contributions of women active in various sectors. It seeks to document their unique contributions, leadership, and social impact as part of the country’s achievements.
Selection criteria
- Women who have made a remarkable contribution to social transformation in the past year.
- Women who inspire and influence society through their actions, thoughts, and leadership, with stories that can create a significant positive impact.
- Women who have demonstrated continuous dedication and struggle in a specific field, making an outstanding contribution to their communities.
- Women who have challenged harmful traditional beliefs and practices, bringing positive changes to society.
- Women with innovative ideas and best practices whose work has not yet received mainstream recognition.
- Women selected with consideration for Nepal’s diverse social fabric, including factors such as geography and age.
