SAF Alumnus Mr. Jagdishor Panday Appointed Press Adviser to Nepal's Foreign Minister

News Kathamndu, Nepal - 22nd July 2026

UMSAJ (2017–18) alumnus assumes a key leadership role in Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reinforcing the growing impact of the South Asia Foundation alumni network.

Jagdishor-Pandey-SAF-UMCSAJ The South Asia Foundation (SAF) family proudly extends its heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Jagdishor Panday, an alumnus of the UNESCO Madanjeet Centre for South Asian Journalism (UMSAJ) (Batch 2017–18), on his appointment as Press Adviser to the Honourable Foreign Minister of Nepal.

Approved by the Government of Nepal's Council of Ministers on 15 April 2026, Mr. Panday has been appointed Press Adviser to the Foreign Minister with the rank equivalent to a Special Class (Secretary-level) official. This prestigious appointment is a recognition of his distinguished contributions to journalism, diplomacy, and strategic communication, and marks yet another proud milestone for the South Asia Foundation alumni community.

Mr. Panday served as the Founding Editor of The Diplomat Nepal, a leading English-language publication focused on diplomacy, foreign policy, and international affairs. Earlier, he also served in senior editorial and reporting positions at Kantipur Daily and The Himalayan Times, where he covered foreign policy, defence, politics, international development, and regional affairs.

A respected voice in Nepal's diplomatic journalism, Mr. Panday has consistently contributed to informed public discourse on international relations and Nepal's engagement with the global community. His international exposure includes being a two-time recipient of the prestigious United Nations Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship (RAF), through which he reported from the 76th and 78th Sessions of the United Nations General Assembly. He has also reported from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), documenting Nepal's significant contribution to international peacekeeping.

Academically, Mr. Panday holds a Master's Degree in English Literature and a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature, Mass Communication and Journalism from Tribhuvan University. He further broadened his international perspective through postgraduate studies at the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre of South Asian Journalism (UMCSAJ), Asian College of Journalism, India, and specialised training at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.

His appointment reflects not only his professional excellence but also the long-term impact of the South Asia Foundation Scholarship Programme, which has empowered outstanding young leaders across South Asia to contribute meaningfully to their societies.

The South Asia Foundation extends its sincere congratulations to Mr. Jagdishor Panday and conveys its appreciation to the SAF-Nepal Chapter for yet another remarkable success story. We wish him every success in his new responsibilities and are confident that he will continue to strengthen Nepal's diplomatic engagement with the same professionalism, integrity, and commitment that have distinguished his career.

Editor's Note:This news has been prepared with information adapted from The Diplomat Nepal and other publicly available biographical sources. The South Asia Foundation gratefully acknowledges the original reporting by The Diplomat Nepal.