Red Cross asks clarifications to 7 provinces, 15 district committees

Kathmandu, Aug. 19

Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) has sought clarifications from the seven provincial and 15 district committees for their alleged involvement in political activities and failure to fulfill the duties mandated by the statute of the organisation.

Issuing letters on Wednesday, the NRCS ask for written clarification within three days as mandated by its Central Ad-hoc Committee meeting on Monday. It also asked them to clarify what reasons and circumstances led to involvement in activities contrary to maintaining transparency, acceptability, and integrity in the organisation.

In case of failure of the satisfactory response, the respective committees can be dissolved, according to the NRCS source. The district committees that are asked for clarifications are Sunsari, Rautahat, Sindhupalchok, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Kapilvastu, Bhojpur, Saptari, Sankhuwasabha, Rasuwa, Bara, Syangja, Kavrepalanchok, Tanahun and Parsa.

The letter read that contrary to the NRCS statute, office bearers and members of those committee have engaged with various political parties and their sister organisations, thereby violating the fundamental principles of the Red Cross.

"Serious challenges have emerged regarding maintaining the Society’s acceptability, transparency, and integrity. Vehicles, financial assets, and other resources have been misused," it said while adding that the repeated reminders issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross (Compliance and Mediation Committee) regarding integrity, honesty, and good governance within the NRCS have also been disregarded.

According to the NRCS, head office, those committees have also failed to update membership details, execute the central regulations and directives, abide by the central policies, and submit regular reports to the central office. 

Published in The Rising Nepal on 20 August 2026.   

Committee begins work to address Gen Z movement related demands

Kathmandu, Aug. 14

The government has formed a special coordination committee and begun work to address the demands of those injured in, and the families of those killed during, the Gen Z movement on 8 and 9 September 2025.

The Gen Z Agreement and Integrated Package Implementation Coordination and Facilitation Committee, formed under the coordination of Joint Secretary and Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Hemraj Aryal, will play a key role in implementing and coordinating the agreements reached between the government and the protesting side, said the Office. The committee has already held its first meeting.

According to the PMO, the committee has been entrusted with reviewing progress on the effective implementation of the agreement reached between the government and Gen Z representatives on 10 December 2025, as well as the Integrated Package on Coordinated Rehabilitation, Livelihood and Social Protection for Families of Gen Z Movement Martyrs and the Injured, approved by a Cabinet decision of 2 July 2026.

The committee will ensure coordination among various ministries for implementation of the package, said Aryal at a press meet held in Singha Durbar on Friday afternoon.

He said that the committee will serve as a direct point of contact for those injured in the movement and the families of those killed. In accordance with the provisions of the Cabinet-approved package, the committee has been mandated to coordinate and facilitate with various government agencies to implement sensitive issues affecting the families, including education, healthcare and employment.

The committee will identify necessary remedial measures and recommend them to the relevant agencies to address practical problems or complications that may arise during implementation of the agreement and package.

In carrying out its mandate, the committee may invite government or non-government representatives and subject experts to discussions and meetings. The committee includes Under Secretary-level representatives from seven ministries, including the Home and Finance ministries, as well as representatives from the Gen Z Martyrs' Family Welfare Society and Injured Gen Z Nepal, and head of the Provincial Coordination, National Security and Diplomatic Affairs Section at the PMO, Under Secretary Basudev Khanal.

 

Govt imposes tighter controls on foreign visits

Meanwhile, the government has introduced new standards imposing tighter controls on foreign visits by civil servants and other government employees.

The PMO informed that the new provisions are implemented to make foreign travel more systematic and cost-effective, while also adopting a stricter approach to their implementation.

It has issued a circular to all ministries, commissions and government agencies, directing them to obtain prior approval from the PMO before nominating any employee for a foreign trip. The new arrangement is being enforced to completely prevent foreign travel and nominations made without prior approval, informed Aryal.

The new provisions are intended to curb unnecessary overseas trips while making the purpose and outcomes of such travels more transparent.

The government has also tightened measures to ensure that lessons learned from foreign travels are institutionally utilised within the government system. Employees returning from overseas study visits, tours, training programmes, meetings, seminars, workshops or conferences are now required to share the knowledge, skills and good practices they have acquired with other employees.

Under the new standards, employees must conduct a knowledge- and experience-sharing session with colleagues at their respective offices within five days of reporting back to work after completing a foreign trip.

 

PMO collects strategic documents

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office is collecting documents from all ministries to systematically, centrally and regularly maintain documentation concerning Nepal's international obligations and their implementation.

Likewise, Aryal informed that there has been an approximately 350 per cent increase – on year-on-year basis – in the number of calls received by the Hello Sarkar call centre's toll-free hotline 1111 in recent times.

"People are increasingly using the multi-channel grievance management system to register complaints concerning public service delivery and matters of public concern, as well as to follow up on them," he said. 

  Published in The Rising Nepal on 15 August 2026.  

Liberty conference discusses entrepreneurship

 Kathmandu, Aug. 8

The 40th Liberty International World Conference began in Kathmandu on Friday, bringing together more than 100 participants, policy experts, economists, entrepreneurs and freedom advocates from around the world.

The three-day conference, is being held with a focus on strengthening individual liberty, promoting entrepreneurship, encouraging free-market values and expanding the movement for freedom across generations and regions, said the organisers in a statement.

The opening session featured remarks from Liberty International Board Members Per Bylund and Glenn Cripe, who emphasised that the organisation has spent nearly five decades promoting the ideals of liberty, individual rights and economic freedom across the world.

He said that the organisation now aims to expand its presence in South and Southeast Asia, believing that the region holds enormous potential for advancing the values of liberty and entrepreneurial development.

"We believe entrepreneurship is one of the strongest pathways to creating better lives and stronger societies," the organizers said, adding that promoting the language of liberty and empowering individuals to become agents of economic change remains central to the organization's mission.

Speaking on the occasion, entrepreneur Sujeev Shakya said Nepal's geographic position offers significant opportunities to become a regional trade and investment hub connecting India and China.

According to Shakya, Nepal's biggest challenges today include increasing migration of young people abroad, limited employment opportunities and low public expectations from government institutions. However, he argued that these challenges can be transformed into opportunities through economic reforms, entrepreneurship and greater private-sector participation.

Another key discussion at the conference focused on constitutional implementation, where international and Nepali panelists emphasized that strengthening federalism and ensuring effective governance are essential for achieving political stability, economic prosperity and long-term democratic development.

The conference includes international sessions, discussions on constitutional implementation, rebuilding economies after socialism, entrepreneurship, liberty movements and global democratic values. The conference will conclude on Sunday. 

Books donated to mark Nepal-China ties

Kathmandu, Aug. 2

On the occasion of the 71st anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China, Fu Qiang, a Chinese citizen living in Nepal, together with his friends, donated books worth about Rs. 250,000 to help Nepali readers gain a better understanding of China.

The books were purchased in China, transported to Nepal, and donated to the Nepal-China Friendship Association Lumbini Library, the Faculty of Medicine of Lumbini Buddhist University, Himalaya Book Store, and the Jibaraj Ashrit Foundation.

Fu, who was appointed International Education and Cultural Exchange Ambassador of Lumbini Buddhist University in April this year, said the donation was fully funded by Chinese individuals who support Nepal-China people-to-people ties.

Most of the donated books are officially published English-language books about China, together with a smaller number of Chinese-language books.

Dr. Sagar Neupane, Head of the Faculty of Medicine at Lumbini Buddhist University, said the donation of books on Chinese medicine is highly valuable for the university.

Following the book donation ceremony, Chairman of Nepal-China Friendship Association in Lumbini Manish Kumar Joshi expressed hope that more Chinese tourists and investors would come to the region in the future.

The donors of the books include Fu, Sun Mingqiang, Song Xiangmin, Zhu Hongxin, Xun Siyun, Liang Mingzhe, Lv Xinyuan, Wang Zezhen, Ye Zhenyu, Hu Bo, and Li Lili. The Tank Road Book Club, together with several other organisations and individuals, also contributed to this donation.

 Published in The Rising Nepal on 3 August 2026. 

Red Cross to have a woman leader every third term

Kathmandu, Aug. 1

The recent amendment of the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) statute has ensured that women would reach the top leadership of the organisation. The amended statute has introduced a provision reserving one out of every three leadership terms exclusively for women.

With the implementation of the revised statute, only women will be eligible to contest the presidency of the federal committee during every third term.

The new provisions will come into effect from the upcoming elections at the provincial and local levels, ensuring that women assume the position of chairperson in accordance with the rotation system, said the NRCS on Friday.

Based on the alphabetical order of the provinces' names, four provinces will field only female candidates for the chairperson's post from this year's elections, while the remaining three provinces will have open competition. At the local level, only women will be eligible to contest the chairperson's post in 50 per cent of local units in each district, selected according to alphabetical order, while the remaining local units will hold open contests.

The statute also guarantees that women will make up at least 33 per cent of every organisational structure within the NRCS. According to its President Dr. Bishal Kumar Bhandari, the provision was introduced because women remain significantly underrepresented in leadership positions at the local, district, provincial and federal levels throughout the organisation's history.

"From the perspective of social transformation and women's participation, the NRCS's statute is historic. It has been redesigned with the aim of increasing women's participation in humanitarian service. Women involved in the Red Cross movement will now have the opportunity to lead the organisation," he said.

The amended statute retains the existing provision that only women may contest the posts of vice-president at the local, provincial and federal levels. It also ensures the participation of young women in every organisational structure.

 

No political involvement for its office-bearers

The NRCS has made a series of governance and electoral reforms to its statute through the 19th amendment, including restrictions on political involvement.

Following the amendment to the Nepal Red Cross Society Statute, 2020 (18th Amendment), individuals holding positions in political parties or their affiliated organisations, as well as elected representatives at any level of government, will be barred from serving on any committee or commission of the society.

The amendments to the statute were approved by the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, on Tuesday.

Any office-bearer found supporting or campaigning for a political party while holding a Red Cross position will be suspended immediately.

The amendment has also reduced the size of committees, strengthened accountability and aligned its governance framework with international Red Cross standards.

Likewise, the amendment has introduced a four-year term for elected bodies, in line with the model statute of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Similarly, the 'one person, one post' principle is adopted across all three organisational levels. However, local committee office-bearers and members can continue to serve on coordination committees in line with constitutional provisions.

Dr. Bhandari said that the amendments were made to the statute to implement transformations in the institution and make it more inclusive.

Following the amendment, NRCS bars office-bearers and members who have completed a term at a higher-level committee from contesting positions at the same or lower level.

Committee sizes will also be significantly reduced. A 15-member body will replace the current 35-member federal committee, while provincial and local branch committees will each consist of 13 office-bearers and members.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 2 August 2026. 

Passport Department to open applications until Monday

Kathmandu, July 30

The Department of Passports (DoP) has decided to keep passport application forms open until Monday, August 3, to facilitate public service delivery. It has extended the application period to cover the public holidays on Saturday and Sunday, accordingly, ensuring that applicants continue to have access to the service.

The decision also takes into account the notice issued by the Department of Foreign Employment on Thursday extending the application deadline under South Korea's Employment Permit System (EPS). In view of the extension, the DoP has decided to continue accepting passport applications for the time being, it said in a statement.

The DoP had previously opened additional passport application slots in response to the high number of Nepali applicants seeking passports for EPS applications. According to it, applicants who secure an appointment under the current arrangement must visit the department on the date and at the time specified in their application to receive passport services.

The department has requested all applicants to attend the DoP strictly on the date and at the time stated in their application forms.

It said the arrangement has been introduced to streamline service delivery while addressing the needs and convenience of service seekers.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 31 July 2026.         

NTB, UNDP launch wellness therapy training for sexual minorities

Kathmandu, July 15

A 28-day Wellness Therapy Training for members of the LGBTIQ+ community has begun in Kathmandu, on Wednesday.

The training has brought together nine participants with the shared aspiration of building professional skills, enhancing their livelihoods, and contributing to Nepal's emerging wellness tourism sector, according to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

The training is organised with the support of the Sustainable Tourism Project (STP), a joint initiative of the NTB and UNDP Nepal in coordination with the Blue Diamond Society (BDS).

“The initiative reflects the project's commitment to creating equitable employment opportunities and ensuring that women, youth, persons with disabilities, and sexual and gender minorities are able to participate meaningfully in Nepal's growing tourism economy,” read a statement from the organisers.

The 28-day intensive programme combines both theoretical knowledge and practical hands-on training. Participants will develop a foundational understanding of human anatomy and physiology, professional ethics, client care, hygiene and safety standards, and wellness service delivery.

The practical component equips trainees with market-oriented skills in full-body massage, foot massage, head and shoulder massage, and other therapeutic techniques designed to meet the evolving needs of the wellness and hospitality industry.

The initiative comes at a significant time as the government has declared 2027 as ‘Nepal Wellness Year’, reaffirming its commitment to positioning the country as a premier global wellness destination.

The initiative also seeks to diversify Nepal's tourism offerings beyond trekking and mountaineering while generating dignified employment and sustainable income opportunities for local communities.

The government has recently developed a National Wellness Tourism Strategy and Action Plan. The strategy aims to establish quality standards, strengthen professional competencies, promote ethical and safe wellness practices, and elevate wellness therapy into a recognised, respected, and decent profession capable of creating sustainable employment across the country.

By equipping LGBTIQ+ individuals with professional wellness skills, the training contributes directly to the broader objectives of Nepal Wellness Year 2027 by expanding the country's skilled wellness workforce while promoting social inclusion and economic empowerment.

Speaking on the occasion, Hikmat Singh Ayer,  CEO of the NTB, said that through the training initiative, they are ensuring that the members of the LGBTIQ+ community are not only beneficiaries but active contributors to Nepal's evolving wellness tourism industry.

"Nepal's vision for Wellness Year 2027 is founded on the principle that the benefits of tourism must reach every community. Wellness tourism presents new opportunities for dignified employment, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic growth,” he said.

According to him, the NTB is committed to promoting tourism that is inclusive, respectful, and accessible to all. Empowering marginalised communities through professional skills development strengthens both social equity and the competitiveness of Nepal's tourism sector.

The National Project Manager of STP, Dharmaraj Dawadi, said that inclusive skills development remains central to the project's approach.

"Creating pathways to decent employment for marginalised communities is fundamental to sustainable tourism development. By investing in professional wellness skills, we are supporting individuals to build confidence, access dignified livelihoods, and contribute to Nepal's growing wellness tourism market,” he said. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 16 July 2026.         

Higher Study Choices

 

Until 2000, students securing good grades in SLC (now SEE) would choose Science as their priority subject in intermediate or 'plus two' level. Science was, and is, a gateway to engineering, medicine, and other areas that would yield better incomes to professionals. Those not wanting to join the stream would opt for Maths or English as their major in Humanities. Subjects like Nepali Literature, Political Science, and Economics were treated as inferior ones. 

Education as a stream at the university would be ranked at the bottom in terms of the student choices, while Management was something that society would mention in an adage, 'A wayward son ends up in commerce, while a wayward daughter becomes a staff nurse'. The second part of the saying had its roots in social concepts that daughters should be limited to household chores, not work outside. 

Sociology never received the respect from the students and society. For many, pursuing disciplines like Sociology was just a 'timepass'. As the country entered a liberal economic regime in the early 1990s, attraction to management and commerce studies went up significantly, with many pursuing BBA or MBA. For several decades, higher study was pursued generally by a few motivated individuals whose primary intention was to broaden their knowledge and contribute to society, if possible. 

However, in modern times, education has become a tool to satisfy individual economic needs through high-income jobs. Those who pursued general subjects in Social Sciences and Education would ultimately curse themselves for choosing subjects that didn't lead to high-earning jobs. It has a significant repercussion on their psychology, confidence, and social positioning.  

Societies in the Indian subcontinent have greater respect for a few so-called 'high-profile' subjects. The society has long been disgracing its own youngsters based on the disciplines they pursue in their university courses. Parents, therefore, guide or force their kids to take up subjects that command respect from society. Likewise, there is another section that had interest in humanities but pursued engineering, and failed to excel in either of them. A Bollywood blockbuster '3 Idiots' has beautifully portrayed it by telling a story of a youth who wanted to be a photographer, but his family forced him to join engineering. 

As a result, we have unsatisfied professionals and employees who keep complaining about their job mismatch, low pay, unfit/unsuitable environment for their nature. They keep on boasting that they would have done a lot better in other sectors. While a few of them have managed to satisfy their 'first love' subject/work with a part-time job or training, many have failed their employers, families, and themselves. 

In Nepal, thousands of high school science students don't join medicines or engineering in their bachelor's degrees but enroll in management, economics, or other subjects in humanities, commerce, or social science. In particular, the number of students pursuing BBA instead of medicine or engineering is increasing after completing high school in science. 

Now, we have fewer historians, linguists, geologists, and geographers. The economy is not only run by the doctors, engineers, or managers alone; it also needs sociologists, economists, linguists, educationists, planners, psychologists, and whatnot. But sadly, universities in Nepal are shutting down the departments of many such disciplines. Lower payment, lower job satisfaction, and a lack of specific skills have frustrated both the employees and employers. A change in the social mindset and workplace attitude is needed to bring about change in the scenario. There is diversity in society and in the economy, so there should also be diversity in education and disciplines. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 29 June 2026.       

ActionAid Nepal continues working with women, marginalized groups

Kathmandu, July 4

Throughout 2025, ActionAid International Nepal (AAIN) continued working to advance dignity, equality, and justice of women, informal and gig workers, survivors of violence and other marginalised communities.  

The year also saw the continued implementation of its two signature campaigns on decent work and climate justice, AAIN informed during its 22^nd national audit organised in Kathmandu on Friday.

This year’s social audit provided an opportunity to share the impact of our collaborative work, achievements, lessons, challenges, and financial performance of ActionAid International Nepal during 2025, said Sujeeta Mathema, Executive Director of the organisation.

This event marked the launch of AAIN's Annual Reflection and Learning Document (ARLD) 2025, which highlighted overall works, collaboration and impact last year.

The document focuses on how communities across Nepal strengthened their agency, claimed their rights, and led change in areas including women’s rights, decent work, quality public education, climate resilience, humanitarian response, and local governance.

The event was attended by members of parliament including Renuka Kaucha, Sajida Khatun Siddiqi, Ganesh BK, Bharat Bahadur Khadka, Radhika Ramtel and former member of NPC Dr. Dilli Raj Khanal, Deputy Mayor from Shankharapur Municipality Samita Shrestha, and Association of International NGOs (AIN) Chariperson Sanjay Karki.

Likewise, Sajina Chepang, labour activist from Dhading and Babu Dumi Rai, activist from LGBTQIA+ community also shared their insights on social justice. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 5 July 2026.       

Discrimination at workplace must be eliminated: Justice Phuyal

Kathmandu, June 25

Justice of the Supreme Court Hari Phuyal stressed that all forms of violence and discrimination at the workplace should be eliminated and that all stakeholders should work for the same.

Speaking at ‘National Dialogue on Business and Human Rights (BHR)’ organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with LAHURNIP in Kathmandu on Wednesday, he said, “Workers should be considered as partners in profits and be well treated.”

According to him, it is equally important to protect the rights of future generations to natural resources. Humans don’t have exclusive rights over natural resources. Phuyal also said that the functioning of business should not impact the community, culture and lives negatively.

Likewise, Dipak Kafle, secretary of the Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment, said that the Ministry will work with the stakeholders in implementing the BHR National Action Plan.

NHRC chairperson Top Bahadur Magar stated that more sensitivity towards human rights is needed in both the public and private sector corporations. “There should be greater dialogues among the stakeholders so that BHR is not compromised,” he said.

Sita Ghimire, deputy director of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said that about 90 per cent of the businesses in operation in Nepal are micro-small-medium enterprises, so they should be facilitated in implementing the rights of workers, communities and environment while protecting their business interests. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 June 2026.   

Over 99% people have access to electricity

Kathmandu, May 27

Access to electricity in Nepal has reached 99.1 per cent of the population by mid-March 2026.

According to the Economic Survey 2025/26 presented at the Parliament by Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle, total installed electricity capacity stands at 4,105 megawatts, including 3,798 MW hydropower and 142 MW solar energy.

Likewise, electricity generated by the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre is 106.24 MW, thermal energy (thermal plant) is 53.4 MW, and electricity co-generated through the sugar mill co-production method is 6.0 MW.

In the first eight months of the current Fiscal Year 2025/26, about 2,918 GWh of electricity was exported to India while 590 GWh of electricity was imported.

Last year, Nepal electricity export was 2,332 GWh, and import stood at 1,712 GWh.

It is estimated that an additional 666 MW of electricity will be generated from the construction of various projects by mid-July 2026. It will bring Nepal's electricity capacity to 4,626 MW.

“With the increased use of electricity, the consumption of petroleum products has slightly decreased. By mid-March of this fiscal year, imports of petrol and diesel decreased by 10.0 per cent and 9.9 per cent, respectively, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year,” noted the survey.

85^th in SDG ranking

According to the survey, in 2025, Nepal ranked 85^th among 167 nations by achieving a score of 68.58 on the Sustainable Development Goals Index. In Nepal's context, the ‘spillover score’ related to the SDGs is 94.85.

To achieve the SDGs, Nepal needs to make an annual average additional investment of 755 billion during the remaining period (about five years).

By mid-March, the number of beneficiaries receiving social security allowances had reached 3.6 million which includes 46.14 per cent senior citizens above 70 years of age.

Likewise, in the contribution-based Social Security Fund, 2.85 million workers have been registered. But more than three-quarters of these are Nepali migrant workers.

The government has collected the details of 21 million citizens for National Identity Cards, while only 4.03 million cards have been distributed.

Social indicators improve

The report maintained that social sectors indicators are showing positive improvements, with absolute poverty having dropped to 20.27 per cent and multidimensional poverty to 17.4 per cent, and the Gender Development Index standing at 0.885.

Nepal's Human Development Index (HDI) stands at 0.622. The average life expectancy of Nepalis has reached 71.3 years. The youth (15-24 years) literacy rate is 94.2 per cent.

The number of government health institutions has reached 8,976. The maternal mortality rate per 100,000 live births has dropped to 151, the infant mortality rate to 27 per 1,000 live births, and the under-five child mortality rate to 31.

The health insurance programme has expanded to all local levels. Up to mid-March, the number of citizens enrolled in this programme is more than 2.14 million.

Access to basic drinking water has reached 97.0 per cent of the population, but access to safe drinking water is limited to only 29.0 per cent.

Similarly, in the academic session 2025, the net enrollment rate at the basic level (grades 1-8) is 97.8 per cent, and secondary level (grades 9-12) 51.6 per cent. In terms of net enrollment rates, the Gender Parity Index is 1.02 per cent for the basic level and 0.9 for the secondary level.

Likewise, irrigation facilities are expanded to 44.6 per cent of agricultural land and 62.6 per cent of irrigable land. Now, forest covers 46.08 per cent of the total land area of Nepal while the global ratio is 32.0 per cent of the total land area.

Meanwhile, the number of members associated with a total of 32,325 cooperative societies reached 11 million. Those cooperatives are expected to mobilse savings of Rs. 1,029 billion.

Rs. 625 billion foreign investment approved

The government has approved investments worth Rs. 492 billion by mid-March, consisting of Rs. 389.74 billion from the Department of Industries and Rs. 02.26 billion from the Investment Board Nepal. Along with this, total approved investment in the industrial sector has reached Rs. 5444.06 billion.

Foreign investment worth Rs. 625.58 billion has been approved at the Department of Industries for a total of 7,951 projects. Among the approved foreign investments, the highest is in service industries at 28.3 per cent, and the lowest is in mineral industries at 1.3 per cent.

The number of registered companies reached 369,646, of which private limited companies are 97.5 per cent, while other companies comprise 2.5 per cent.

As public investment in the physical infrastructure sector increases gradually, the density of blacktopped roads built by the federal government has reached 138.7 meters per square km. A total of 104,906 km of roads have been expanded across the nation.

The report also mentioned that financial access is expanding. The number of deposit accounts in banks and financial institutions reached 620.06 million, while the number of loan accounts reached 2.04 million. Mobile banking users reached 29.4, while internet banking users reached 2.37 million.

For this year, the National Accounts Office has estimated the growth rate of 3.85 per cent while the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors are estimated to contribute 24.0 perc ent and 76.0 per cent respectively. With this, the Gross Domestic Product of the current fiscal year is estimated to be Rs. 6600.09 billion.

The survey also noted that the share of consumption in Nepal's economy remains high. The share of consumption is estimated to be 90.3 per cent this year. Within total consumption, the shares of the private sector, government sector, and non-governmental sector are estimated to be 91.26 per cent, 6.62 per cent, and 2.12 per cent, respectively.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 28 May 2026.  

BFIs directed to run disability-friendly bank branch, ATM in each local unit

Kathmandu, May 24

The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has directed the banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to collaborate with one another to make at least one branch and one ATM disability-friendly in every local level.

Earlier, such provision would apply if there were more than five branches of BFIs in any local body.

The disability-friendly ATM should be equipped with Braille signs, control buttons, and audio support, in locations featuring ATM lounges. The details of such branches and ATMs must be published on their websites.

Amending its Integrated Directives 2082 – issued for the commercial banks, development banks and financial institutions, the NRB has added new provisions to the arrangements regarding simplified banking and added new provisions on additional office hours.

The BFIs must develop their websites and mobile banking applications in a manner that ensures they can also be used by persons with visual impairments. They must include blind-friendly tactile features on the debit and credit cards they issue.

The central bank has maintained earlier provision that the BFIs should mandatorily maintain special and designated counters for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and illiterate individuals, giving them special priority to ensure easy access to banking facilities.

"If a person with a disability makes a self-declaration stating that they can independently use financial services such as ATMs, mobile banking, and internet banking, the licensed institution must make those services available to the individual," reads the directives.

Similarly, regarding additional office hours (overtime), the NRB directed the BFIs that if they deploy employees to work beyond standard office hours, they must provide additional remuneration (overtime pay) in accordance with the prevailing provisions.

However, employees should not be deployed forcefully to work beyond standard office hours.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 May 2026.  

Experts urge 55% tax hike on cigarette in upcoming budget

Lalitpur, May 24

Experts have demanded a raise in cigarette excise duty by 55 per cent in the upcoming budget of 2026/27, and recommended continuing with annual tax increase above inflation on all tobacco products.

This will increase the government revenue by Rs. 11-12 billion and is likely to be a catalyst in reducing tobacco use, according to estimates.

"Simplify the 5-tier cigarette tax structure and gradually move toward a uniform specific excise tax system," they said while speaking at a policy dialogue on 'Rationalising tobacco, alcohol and sugary drink taxes' organised by Nepal Development Research Institute (NDRI) in Lalitpur on Sunday.

The NDRI said that the country should aim for strong reduction in tobacco use with ambitious tax rates.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended raising tobacco excise duties up to 70 per cent of the retail price. But Nepal is lagging much behind this target.

The tobacco tax activists also suggested to introduce a licensing system for tobacco retailers and distributors through local governments. Currently, any retailer, individual or café can sell tobacco products while licensing is implemented in case of alcohol distributors and retailers.

Dr. Jaya Kumar Gurung, Coordinator of Tobacco Control Programme at the NDRI, said that the government, in the past three years, has raised tax on tobacco and alcoholic products by 2-5 per cent making negligible increase in the overall retail price. This rate is also way below the average annual inflation rate which generally hovers above 5 per cent.

It means, tobacco and alcoholic products are actually becoming cheaper.

Demanding for a system to automatically adjust the excise duty on alcoholic products in line with the Consumer Price Index, the NDRI said, "Currently, due to tax rate adjustments made through the annual budget in Nepal, excise duty rates are failing to keep pace with the rate of inflation. As a result, it appears that alcoholic products are becoming even more accessible and affordable over time."

 

Positive impact on revenue

In FY 2021/22, the government increased the excise duty on tobacco products by 25 per cent which resulted in a rise of Rs. 4.1 billion in government revenue. The following year, excise duty went up by another 17 per cent.

Statistics have shown a positive impact of alcohol on revenue – in the last decade the sector saw about three-time growth in such revenue. Currently, Nepal is implementing the lowest tax (41 per cent) on cigarettes while it is 58 per cent in India, 61 per cent in Pakistan, 73 per cent in Bangladesh and 68 per cent in Sri Lanka.

A raise of 10 per cent in retail price of alcoholic products will send down its consumption by 5-8 per cent. For example, alcohol's consumption had decreased by 64 per cent in Sri Lanka after the country increased tax rate by 20 per cent in 2023. However, it should also be noted that the country was trying to come out from a disastrous economic recession then.

The NDRI recommended that adopting the WHO's '3 by 5' initiative, tax on alcoholic products should be increased by at least a significant percentage. Token tax increases, such as the current 2 per cent, cannot bring about any significant reduction in alcohol consumption, instead, the state is losing out on the opportunity to collect large amounts of potential revenue.

Likewise, a demand was also made to expand the tax base to carbonated, non-carbonated drink, energy drink, sweet tea/coffee and flavoured milk and syrups.

Tax expert Dr. Rup Khadka suggested an administrative setup to effectively implement the tax rise while consumption discouragement campaigns should also be carried out at the same time.

Economist Professor Shiva Raj Adhikari said that the high tax on tobacco and alcoholic drinks not only reduces the consumption but also increases savings of the family, and they need to spend less on such products and health treatment.

"The tax hike decreases consumption of tobacco and alcohol especially in youth and low-income group," he said.

According to recent statistics presented by the NDRI, Nepal has 34 per cent tobacco use prevalence in above 15 years age. This means 6.7 million Nepalis consume tobacco. It kills 39,200 lives each year.

 

Sin-tax to health insurance

Speaking at the programme, former health minister Dr. Toshima Karki said that the government is in discussion if the revenue raised from 'sin-tax' could be mobilised in health insurance programmes.

Lawmakers from various political parties said that the government should implement step-wise taxation, via the budget of FY 2026/27, on tobacco and alcohol to make it 75 per cent in the next few years. Children should be strictly prohibited from buying and consuming such harmful products, they said while adding, "Government's focus should be public health and greater social benefit, not the revenue."

According to them, it is high time to raise tax on tobacco, sugar and alcoholic products. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 May 2026.  

Four-day public holiday

Kathmandu, May 23

With the government's announcement of public Holiday on Thursday, May 28, there will a four-day public holiday until May 31.

The Ministry of Home Affairs informed on Friday that there will be a holiday on May 28 on the occasion of Bakr Eid (Eid al-Adha).

The Ministry said that according to the notice published in the Nepal Gazette in March this year, there is a provision for a public holiday on the occasion of the festival of Bakar Eid (Eid-ul-Adha) for followers of the Islamic faith.

In this context, as the information from the Muslim Commission that Bakar Eid (Eid-ul-Adha) falls on Thursday, public holiday is announced. On May 29, the country celebrates the Republic Day which is a public holiday. The government also presents the budget for the next Fiscal Year 2026/27. 

Likewise, the following two days are weekend. Citing the short-supply of petroleum fuel, the government has been implementing a two-day weekend.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 May 2026. 

A Master's degree course launched with classes in mountains, hills, Tarai

Kathmandu, May 9

Nepal Communiversity, in partnership with Kathmandu University (KU), has launched a Master’s in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MSIE) programme aimed at integrating community-based learning into higher education.

The programme was officially launched at a programme attended by educators, entrepreneurs, media representatives, students and corporate professionals in Lalitpur on Friday.

The MSIE programme is scheduled to begin in October 2026 with an intake of 30 students from interdisciplinary academic backgrounds.

According to the organisers, the course is based on 'community-as-curriculum' and experiential learning models, under which students will engage directly with communities across Nepal’s Himalayan, hilly and Tarai regions.

The curriculum has been divided into three trimesters to be conducted in Mustang, Chitlang and Janakpur, followed by a final capstone semester in Kathmandu. During each trimester, students will participate in community-based projects in coordination with local residents. The programme combines entrepreneurship, social sciences and technology with a focus on wellbeing and community engagement.

Speaking at the launch event, President of Nepal Communiversity Narottam Aryal said the programme aims to develop education that is locally grounded while remaining globally relevant. "The institution seeks to prepare individuals who understand their communities, develop practical skills and adopt entrepreneurial approaches," he said.

Dr. Uttam Babu Shrestha, Founding Director of the Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (GIIS), said the programme places emphasis on communities, nature and villages at a time when societies are increasingly shaped by technology and urbanisation. He urged students to balance entrepreneurship with ethical responsibility.

Dean of the Kathmandu University School of Arts, Prof. Dr. Uddab Pyakurel, said the collaboration would help students identify opportunities within Nepal and address practical challenges through community-oriented solutions.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 10 May 2026.           

Youths call to increase women's representation to 50%

Kathmandu, May 9

A call has been made for the government to increase women’s representation to 50 per cent.

Speaking at an interaction programme on “Future Strategic Priorities for Promoting Gender Equality and Ending Gender-Based Violence”, organised by Sancharika Samuha Nepal with support from the United Nations Population Fund in Kathmandu on Friday, youth leaders urged the government to set a global example by increasing women’s representation.

Bandana Rana, a member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, said that Nepal’s Gen-Z movement has drawn global attention. “In other countries, Gen-Z movements failed. But in Nepal, it not only succeeded, but it also overthrew the government and assumed leadership itself. Such strong leadership should increase women’s representation from 33 per cent to 50 per cent,” she said.

Rana emphasised that at a time when violence against women has shifted into digital spaces, journalists, lawyers and civil society must play a key role in regulating social media.

Likewise, Advocate Sabin Shrestha, Chairperson of the Forum for Women, Law and Development, stated that gender-based violence discussions must place greater emphasis on sexual and reproductive health issues.

He said that women are often used by the state whenever there is a need to increase or reduce the population.

“How many children a woman chooses to have should be her own decision. But it appears that the government itself imposes various policies and regulations on women depending on whether population growth is desired or not. The state itself is committing violence against women,” said Shrestha.

According to data from the Nepal Police, 91 per cent of violence is committed by people known to the victim. Based on overall incidents of violence in Nepal, 29 per cent are cases of gender-based violence.

Shrestha also informed that surrogacy is still being carried out secretly in Nepal, which, he argued, represents interference by others in women’s reproductive rights. Likewise, he called for addressing legal complexities surrounding live-in relationships, stating that women in such relationships are often subjected to severe exploitation.

Similarly, senior advocate Mira Dhungana complained that although Nepal has enacted many laws for women, victims still lack access to justice. She said that because of the complexity of the law, many women cannot even approach the courts. Victims are often unable even to file complaints with the police. Even in serious crimes, women are forced into reconciliation. All of this stems from a lack of legal literacy.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 10 May 2026.           

Asset Investigation Commission begins its work

 Kathmandu, Apr. 22

The government-formed Asset Investigation Commission, established with the objective of ending widespread corruption and impunity in the country, has formally commenced its work from Wednesday.

A Cabinet meeting on April 15 had constituted the five-member commission under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court Justice Rajendra Kumar Bhandari. The commission’s office has been set up at Keshar Mahal.

Bhandari, took the oath of office and secrecy on Wednesday before Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla. He subsequently administered the oath to other members - former Chief Judge of the Appellate Court Purushottam Parajuli, former High Court Judge Chandi Raj Dhakal, former Deputy Inspector General of Police Ganesh KC, and Chartered Accountant Prakash Lamsal.

The commission, mandated to operate in accordance with the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1969 (2026 BS), has already had its Terms of Reference approved. With a tenure of one year, it will collect and conduct detailed investigations into the assets held within Nepal and abroad in the names of current, retired, or former public office holders and their family members.

As per the provision, the commission must submit a report to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers immediately upon completing an investigation of any individual, and the government is required to implement it within 45 days.

The commission has pledged to function in a fully independent, impartial, and professional manner, free from any external pressure or influence.

It will accept complaints through written, verbal, electronic means, social media, or any other medium.

While the commission may seek expert advice from various sectors as necessary during its work, strict provisions prohibit the engagement of experts with conflicts of interest, it said in a statement.

The formation of the commission aligns with the government’s anti-corruption commitment outlined in point 43 of the 100-point Governance Reform Agenda approved by the Cabinet on  March 26.

Currently, the OPMCM is screening 32 personnel required for the commission.

According to the commission, to ensure transparency, staff deployed to it will also be required to publicly disclose their asset details within one week of assuming their duties.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 April 2026.         

Green Home opens first childcare centre in Sudurpaschim

Kathmandu, Feb. 14

At a time when many female workers employed in factories and industries are leaving their jobs, citing their inability to find time to care for their children while industries and factories have also been reluctant to hire women who have young children, an industry in Kailali has found an alternative solution to address both problems.

Dinesh Lamsal, General Secretary of the Kailali Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has established a childcare centre, primary treatment facility, and breastfeeding room within the premises of Green Home Pvt. Ltd., which he founded in Lalpur, Godawari-6, Kailali.

The facility was inaugurated at a programme by the Treasurer of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Bharat Raj Acharya on Friday.

Acharya said that this was the first time in Sudurpashchim Province that a childcare centre, primary treatment facility, and breastfeeding room had been established within an industrial structure.

“The biggest challenge for female workers was the obligation to care for their children while working. The industry has now addressed this issue,” he said. “This practice, which has begun with this industry for the first time in Sudurpashchim Province, should be adopted by all industries.”

Built with an investment of around Rs. 1 million, the facility allows female employees with children to care for them at regular intervals. The centre is equipped with essential facilities for nutritious food and play materials for children.

Likewise, Lamsal said the childcare centre was established after experienced female workers began leaving their jobs due to childcare difficulties, with the aim of providing a supportive environment for their children within the workplace.

According to him, the industry currently employs 92 female and 32 male workers. The female workers, who earn around Rs. 20,000 per month on average, have expressed enthusiasm at being able to care for their children at their workplace.

Hari Paudel, Assistant Director of FNCCI, said that the childcare centre would support children’s learning through play.

The industry has created physical infrastructure for the childcare centre, breastfeeding room, and dressing room, while FNCCI provided the necessary internal equipment with financial and technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) Nepal.

The facility provides arrangements for children under four years of age to play, learn, and eat, and the industry has stated that a facilitator will also be appointed to support them.

FNCCI Sudurpashchim Vice-President Anil Kumar Bhojaniya and ILO's National Programme Coordinator Tara Kandel said that this initiative launched in Kailali is necessary and should be replicated in industries across the region.  

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 15 February 2026.    

Nepal's social media platform, Global Diary, launched

Kathmandu, Feb. 11

Global Diary, a social media platform designed by Nepali professionals, was launched in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

The developers termed it a complete digital ecosystem designed to connect people, communities, businesses and government institutions in a single, verified environment. "The platform addresses major gaps in Nepal’s digital landscape, including fragmented social media, business listings, news, jobs, and event services," said CEO and Founder of the Global Diary Bhagwan Das Agrahari. 

The platform enables businesses to upgrade their digital presence to a website-level platform, reduce marketing costs, and communicate directly with customers, thereby supporting business growth and promotion.

"As it allows businesses to connect directly with consumers, marketing expenses are expected to drop significantly, and other operational costs may also decrease. As a result, both businesses and consumers are expected to benefit directly, according to the press release distributed at the event," said Agrahari.

According to him, the platform is not merely a social media network, an e-commerce portal or a job platform, but a comprehensive digital ecosystem. He stated that it helps citizens find verified service providers, read reviews, and make informed decisions based on their needs. It has options to create and manage pages for government agencies as well.

Agrahari also claimed that the platform’s advanced AI capabilities assist users in discovering relevant services, job recommendations and verified local businesses, while also preventing fraudulent activities and ensuring data privacy, making it a secure, trustworthy and multifunctional digital platform.

The company informed that around 350,000 users are now part of Global Diary. Members can create digital identities, discover verified services, find jobs and freelance opportunities, promote skills, and connect with local events - all in one platform.

Likewise, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) gain free digital presence, affordable promotion, direct customer reach, hiring support, brand building, and marketplace selling. Global Diary replaces the need for multiple platforms with a single solution, said Agrahari.

He also added that advanced AI ensures users discover relevant services, job recommendations, and authentic local businesses while reducing spam and fake activity. Data privacy is a top priority, user data is never sold.

Speaking at the programme, Dr. Binod Atreya, Managing Director and CEO of Banking Finance and Insurance Institute of Nepal (BFIN), noted that it integrates the features of multiple social media platforms to create opportunities and organise the public through trade and services.

Shekhar Aryal, Chairperson of Global Diary, said that the app has been developed as a national pride platform aimed at expanding Nepal’s international digital outreach. He emphasised that the platform will benefit consumers, business communities, media and government alike, and urged all stakeholders to join. He further stressed the need to make such initiatives successful to drive economic prosperity through digital technology.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 12 February 2026.   

Patan Hospital becomes first fully digital govt hospital

Kathmandu, Feb. 6

In a milestone move, the Patan Hospital has digitalised all of its services including emergency, outpatient department and inpatient department.

The hospital located in Lagankhel of Lalitpur has emerged as the country’s first state-run multi-speciality hospital to fully digitise its services, marking a major transformation in public healthcare delivery.

Minister for Health and Population Dr. Sudha Sharma Gautam launched the digital services at the 18^th anniversary programme of the Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS) organised at the hospital in Lalitpur on Friday.

Developed over a decade through sustained effort and close collaboration with medical professionals, the hospital’s integrated digital system streamlines everything from administration to clinical treatment into a single platform.

With the launch of digital services, patients' records maintained in the past seven decades could be accessed via mobile devices or computers. The system is developed and maintained by D-Code, a Nepali software developer company.

"One of the most notable changes is the introduction of mobile-based access to prescriptions and medical reports. After consultation, patients can now view prescriptions, medication details, and test results directly through their online accounts or mobile applications, eliminating the need to carry physical files," Registrar of the PAHS Prof. Dr. Paras Kumar Acharya said at the programme.

The hospital has also implemented an online payment system, allowing patients to settle bills using QR codes and cards. This removes the need to queue at cash counters and enables patients to proceed directly to pharmacies or diagnostic services after consulting doctors.

Another feature allows patients to download X-ray, CT scan, and MRI reports remotely through a digital portal. This reduces congestion in radiology department and offers greater convenience—an innovation considered groundbreaking among Nepal’s public hospitals, the hospital informed.

The system further integrates major government service platforms, including Health Insurance, the Social Security Fund (SSF), supports schemes for underprivileged citizens and the Inland Revenue Department’s API (Application Programming Interface).

"This integration enables eligible patients to access government benefits without additional paperwork or administrative delays," said the developer.

D-Code said that the software used in the PAHS is free and open-source platform as per the policy of the government.

The hospital has made both the software and its source code publicly available, allowing other public and private hospitals to adopt, customise, and implement the system at no cost.

“This is not just software; it reflects 10 years of institutional experience and operational learning. Other hospitals no longer need to invest millions in research—they can adopt our model and digitise their services immediately," said a member of the development team.

Designed to manage the daily load of more than 2,000 OPD visits and over 600 admitted patients, the system is now expanding towards artificial intelligence (AI) integration. The hospital has begun incorporating AI tools to enhance disease diagnosis, workflow efficiency, and medical data research.

Patan Hospital is also preparing to launch its own mobile application, which will further improve patient access to healthcare services.

Dr. Acharya informed that the digitalisation of the health services at the PAHS was conceptualised one and a half decades ago in 2011. He also appealed to all public and private health institutions in Nepal to use the open-source software and save a large amount of budget and effort to create another one.

Addressing the anniversary programme, Minister Dr. Gautam appreciated the quality human resources production and service delivery of the PAHS.

She said that while basic health services are guaranteed by the constitution and its responsibilities are lied at the local governments, they are yet to realise this responsibility and act accordingly.

"It is unfortunate that insurance payment is due for the last three years at the Patan Hospital. I request all the governments to make their contributions to the insurance fund in order to make the programme a success," said the Minister.

The hospital is waiting to receive Rs. 311.24 million in insurance dues from the government. Other dues include Rs. 56.88 million for services to the poor people.

Meanwhile, the PAHS has earned Rs. 3.08 billion in the last Fiscal Year 2024/25 and made a profit of Rs. 163.61 million.

The hospital is set to launch bone marrow transplant service from this year. A recently prepared master plan of the hospital also includes launching cardio-thoracic surgery, radiation therapy and transplant services in the near future. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 7 February 2026.