Kathmandu – Vice Chairperson of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr. Prakash Kumar Shrestha, is set to participate in the ‘Special Duologue’ session of the Third Insurance Discourse 2026. The event is being jointly organized by Banking Samachar and News of Insurance and will be held on Magh 7.

Dr. Shrestha will take part in a special session focused on the Economics of Insurance. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Mathematics from Patan Multiple Campus and completed his Master’s degree in Economics from Tribhuvan University in 1996. He later earned another Master’s degree in Economics from Curtin University, Australia, in 2004, followed by a Master’s degree in Finance and a PhD from The New School University, New York, in 2012.

With extensive experience in the banking sector, Dr. Shrestha has received several awards and scholarships throughout his career. He began his professional journey at Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) 27 years ago as an Assistant Director on Mangsir 23, 2054 BS. He was promoted to Deputy Director eight years later and subsequently became a Director. During his tenure at NRB, he also served as the SAARC Finance Coordinator.

Dr. Shrestha has previously served as Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Finance of Lumbini Province and as Vice Chairperson of the Provincial Planning Commission. At Nepal Rastra Bank, he held the position of Executive Director and led several departments, including the Microfinance Supervision Department and the Economic Research Department. He has also served as an advisor to the Minister of Finance.

In addition, Dr. Shrestha has worked as Chairperson of the National Banking Institute and as a Board Member of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON). Internationally, he has served as a researcher at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP). Academically, he has taught Financial Economics to MPhil students at the Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University, and has also worked as a Teaching Assistant at The New School for Social Research, New York.

The Insurance Discourse will be held on Magh 7, 2082, at Hotel Yak & Yeti, Kathmandu. The event will be attended by representatives from regulatory bodies, insurance companies, banks and financial institutions, insurance experts, and other stakeholders. Key discussion themes will include bancassurance: policy, regulation, and market realities; access to healthcare and the future of health insurance in Nepal; insurtech innovation and transforming insurance into a lifestyle necessity; and the roadmap for restructuring and transforming the insurance industry for modern lifestyles.