Introduction / Context:
Neighbouring countries of India, such as Nepal, often feature in current affairs questions. Knowing who holds the office of President or Prime Minister in these countries during a given period is considered essential general knowledge. This question asks about the President of Nepal in the context of the time at which the question was set, when Bidya Devi Bhandari was in office.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question refers to the President of Nepal during a recent period of general knowledge testing.
- Options list several political figures who have held high office in Nepal.
- We assume awareness of the fact that Nepal became a republic and created the post of President.
- The task is to identify the person serving as President in that timeframe.
Concept / Approach:
After Nepal became a republic, Ram Baran Yadav served as the first President. Later, Bidya Devi Bhandari became the President and was noted as the first woman to hold that office. She featured prominently in regional news and international visits. Other names in the options have served as Prime Ministers or heads of interim governments, but not as President during the period referenced. Recognising this helps in eliminating incorrect options and choosing the correct answer.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Bidya Devi Bhandari assumed the office of President of Nepal after the first President, Ram Baran Yadav.
Step 2: She is widely recognised as the first woman President of Nepal.
Step 3: Option a, Bidya Devi Bhandari, therefore matches the description of the serving President during the relevant general knowledge period.
Step 4: Option b, Ram Baran Yadav, was the first President but had completed his term before this question context.
Step 5: Khil Raj Regmi and Girija Prasad Koirala served in different capacities, including as heads of government, but not as President in this specific time frame.
Step 6: Madhav Kumar Nepal was a Prime Minister, not the President.
Step 7: Thus, Bidya Devi Bhandari is the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
As a verification step, learners can remember that news about a woman President of Nepal receiving visiting leaders from India and other countries featured widely in media. This was Bidya Devi Bhandari, and such coverage helps fix her role and title. Combining this with knowledge that Ram Baran Yadav was the first President but had completed his term clarifies the timeline and confirms that Bidya Devi Bhandari is the correct answer for the period in question.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option b is wrong as the answer here because Ram Baran Yadav was a former President, not the current one in this context. Option c, Khil Raj Regmi, held an interim executive role but not the long term presidency in this period. Option d, Girija Prasad Koirala, was an important political leader and Prime Minister but not President in the modern republican framework. Option e, Madhav Kumar Nepal, also served as Prime Minister instead of President.
Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is confusion between President and Prime Minister roles in parliamentary systems. Another error is failing to track the transition from the first President to the later leadership and mixing up the names. To avoid such mistakes, students should prepare simple chronological lists of key leaders in neighbouring countries, clearly separating Presidents from Prime Ministers. Remembering the distinctive fact that Bidya Devi Bhandari was the first woman President of Nepal makes this question easier to answer correctly.
Final Answer:
During the period referred to in this question, the serving President of Nepal was Bidya Devi Bhandari.
Discussion & Comments