Nepal, March 27 -- The government led by senior Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leader Balendra Shah has streamlined its cabinet by merging several ministries, reducing the total number to 16.

Prime Minister Shah retained the Defence and Industry and Commerce portfolios himself, while the remaining 14 ministers took their oath from the President.

Key ministry mergers include: Youth and Sports Ministry merged with the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, with Sasmita Pokharel assuming charge; Drinking Water Ministry merged with the Ministry of Health and Population, now led by Nisha Mehta; Forest and Environment Ministry, abolished for the first time, merged into the Ministry of Agriculture, headed by Gita Chaudhary; Ministry ...