KATHMANDU, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Balendra Shah, senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, was sworn in as Nepal's prime minister on Friday at a special ceremony held at the President's Office in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal.

Nepali President Ram Chandra Poudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Shah during the ceremony.

Hours before the swearing-in, Shah was appointed the country's 47th prime minister as per the Constitution of Nepal.