Shakti Bahadur Basnet, born on May 11, 1969, in Kalegaun, Jajarkot, Nepal, is a senior politician from the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre). He holds a Master's degree in Political Science and is pursuing a Ph.D. Mr. Basnet has held several key ministerial positions, including Minister of Forest and Environment (2018-2020), Minister of Home Affairs (2015-2016), and Minister of Health and Population (2011). He is currently the Minister of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation (since March 31, 2023). He is a life member of the Nepal Red Cross Society and has interests in environmental protection, energy security, and internal security and defense. He is married to Satya Pahadi, a Member of the Interim Legislative Constituent Assembly, House of Representative and former Minister of Peace and Reconstruction and blessed with one daughter. He resides in Harihar Bhawan, Pulchowk, Lalitpur, and has traveled to various countries, including Austria, Bahrain, Cambodia, China, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Qatar, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, the U.K., the U.S.A., and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).