A fifth of people in Nepal aged 15-24 are unemployed, according to the World Bank, with GDP per capita standing at just $1,447.

The appointment of Karki, known for her independence, came after intense negotiations by army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel and Paudel, including with representatives of “Gen Z”, the loose umbrella title of the youth protest movement.

Thousands of young activists used the Discord app to name Karki as their choice of leader.

Karki said Sunday that she had “not wished” to take the post, but that her “name was brought from the streets”.

She said her government would work “according to the thinking of the Gen Z generation”, saying that they were wanting “the end of corruption, good governance and economic equality”.