Bidya Devi Bhandari

Bidya Devi Bhandari, born on June nineteenth, nineteen sixty-one, is a prominent Nepali politician who made history as the first woman to serve as the President of Nepal from two thousand fifteen to two thousand twenty-three. Her political journey is marked by significant roles, including her tenure as the Minister of Defence, where she broke barriers as the first female to hold this position from two thousand nine to two thousand eleven.

Before ascending to the presidency, Bhandari was actively involved in various political and social initiatives. She served as the Minister of Environment and Population in nineteen ninety-seven and was the vice-chairperson of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist). Additionally, she chaired the All Nepal Women's Association, advocating for women's rights and environmental awareness throughout her career.

Her commitment to environmental issues was highlighted during her visit to the International Union for Conservation of Nature headquarters in Gland, Switzerland, in June two thousand seventeen, where she engaged in discussions on sustainable development and nature conservation with director general Inger Andersen.

In recognition of her influence, Forbes ranked her fifty-second on its list of the world's one hundred most powerful women in two thousand sixteen, underscoring her impact on both national and global stages.