Nepal government announces NPR 2.124 trillion budget for fiscal year 2083/84

The government has unveiled a budget of NPR 2.124 trillion for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84.

Of the allocated budget, NPR 1.27 trillion is estimated for recurrent expenditure, NPR 431 billion for capital expenditure, and NPR 422 billion for financial management.

Looking at the ministry-wise allocation, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development has received the highest budget of NPR 302.83 billion this year.

Similarly, the Ministry of Education and Sports has been allocated NPR 218.30 billion, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare NPR 122.61 billion, the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation NPR 114.02 billion, and the Ministry of Home Affairs NPR 108.32 billion.

The Ministry of Health and Population will receive NPR 96.43 billion, while the Ministry of Finance has been allocated NPR 84.73 billion. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment has been given NPR 73.12 billion, and the Ministry of Defence NPR 64.96 billion.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance has also set aside an additional NPR 90.42 billion under miscellaneous headings, which are not disclosed in the regular budget. Economists have been cautioning the government against allocating budget under such non-transparent headings, arguing that it allows the ministry to spend at its discretion.

However, the Ministry of Finance maintains that such a budget is necessary to address unforeseen natural disasters and emergencies.

Other ministry budget allocations include:

– Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation: NPR 14.94 billion
– Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation: NPR 10.53 billion
– Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies: NPR 9.34 billion
– Ministry of Foreign Affairs: NPR 8.73 billion
– Ministry of Information and Communications: NPR 5.93 billion
– Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation: NPR 4 billion
– Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment: NPR 3.62 billion
– Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs: NPR 580 million