- Wednesday, 24 December 2025
Kathmandu, Dec 23: The government has scrapped the increased health examination fee for the Nepali workers going for foreign employment.
Following the withdrawal, the government decided to reinstate the previous fee at Rs 6,500 person which is hailed by the foreign employment entrepreneurs as a ‘welcome step’.
It may be noted that the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on November 16 had hiked the fee to Rs 9,500 per person, drawing widespread criticism from the foreign employment entrepreneurs.
Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Rajendra Singh Bhandari, here today confirmed that the fee has been revoked and it has been maintained at Rs 6,500 per person.
Government had expanded the scope of medical examinations tests to 34 types and considered a hike in the examination fee which, Bhuwan Singh Gurung, Chairperson of Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Association, said was not necessary.
“The government had unnecessarily increased the expenses of the foreign bound workers,” opined Gurung.
He lauded, “It is commendable that the government has decided to roll back the decision as the decision is in the interest of the Nepali workers seeking greener pastures.”
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23- ‘Centralized mindset obstacle to deliver results’
Kathmandu, Dec 23: Chief Minister of Gandaki Surendra Raj Pandey has said that the centralized mindset of the political and administrative leadership stands as an obstacle in delivering results in line with the people’s aspirations.
At a program organized by the Federalism and Localization Center here today on ‘National Assembly in Strengthening Federalism’, he said that limited resources and legal hurdles have made it difficult to increase the effectiveness of the services provided by the provincial government.
The National Assembly, as the guardian of the provincial and local level governments, should rise above partisan interests and help accelerate the lawmaking process, especially those related to the list of exclusive and concurrent rights.
National Assembly Vice-Chairperson Bimala Subedi suggested that political parties should nominate thematic experts and experienced candidates in the upcoming National Assembly elections.
Various speakers at the programme including parliamentary committee chairs, former Constituent Assembly members, former MPs emphasized that the political leadership lacks willpower and support from the bureaucracy, women’s representation at the provincial and local levels is weak compared to the federal level, and that the National Assembly should be active in strengthening the interrelationship between the center, provinces, and local levels.
It may be noted that elections for one-third membership of the 69-member National Assembly are being held on coming January 25.
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24- Commemorative postal stamp issued honouring spiritual guru Swami Paramananda Saraswati
Kathmandu, Dec 23: The Government of Nepal has officially issued a commemorative postal stamp in honour of renowned spiritual leader, educationist, and social reformer Swami Paramananda Saraswati Maharaj. The stamp recognizes his lifelong contributions to Sanatan Vedic philosophy, Sanskrit education, and social service.
The stamp was approved and published by the Department of Postal Services following a comprehensive evaluation process in line with the Postal Stamp Publication Directives.
The decision to this effect was endorsed at the ministerial level, acknowledging Swami’s exceptional role in preserving Vedic traditions, promoting Gurukul-based education, and strengthening Nepal’s spiritual and cultural heritage, shared Hari Prasad Kandel, Secretary at Shree Paramananda Sansyas Ashram, Ramkot, Bihun, Baglung.
Born in Baglung district on 18 Asoj 1994 BS, Swami Paramananda Saraswati devoted his life to spiritual practice, education, and social reforms from an early age.
He established and guided several 39 religious and academic institutions across Nepal, including Vedic schools, temples, ashrams, and Sanskrit learning centres, providing free education, accommodation, and meals to hundreds of students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Under his leadership, institutions such as Shree Paramananda Sanskrit Gurukul, Shree Tripureshwor Mahadev Temple, and various ashrams emerged as important centres for Vedic learning and cultural preservation.
Many of his students today serve as scholars, educators, civil servants, religious leaders, and social workers in Nepal and abroad.
The postal stamp, designed and printed with official approval, carries his portrait and symbolises national recognition of his enduring spiritual and educational legacy.
The first cancellation mark on the stamp was attached at a ceremony held at Shree Harihar Sanyas Ashram (Temple) in Tokha Municiplaity-6, on 4 June 2025 in the presence of senior government officials, postal authorities, representatives of religious institutions, scholars, and journalists, informed Dharma Chapagain, manager of the temple.
Manamaya Pangeni Bhattarai, Director General of the Department of Postal Service, stated that the stamp reflects the state’s respect for individuals who have made outstanding contributions to national identity, moral values, and cultural continuity.
The publication of the stamp also aims to introduce younger generations to Nepal’s rich spiritual and educational traditions, Pangeni added.
Swami Paramananda attained brahmalin (samadhi) on Magh 18, 2053 BS, and the commemorative stamp marks a significant posthumous honour, reaffirming his influence on Nepal’s religious, educational, and social landscape.
The stamp is now available through official postal channels and can be used for domestic and international correspondence, it is stated.
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24- Wider reforms including risk-based regulation to rural loan recommended for banking sector
Kathmandu, Dec 23: Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank of Nepal, has unveiled the report submitted by the Banking Sector Reforms Recommendation Taskforce.
The taskforce was formed by the central bank under the leadership of Dr Rewat Bahadur Karki to recommend comprehensive reforms in order to resolve the critical problems emerged in banking sector due to slack economy, high liquidity, increasing passive loan and non-banking properties.
The taskforce has put forward several agendas for reforms ranging from banking policy, regulation, credit flow, rural economy, merger, grey list and stock market.
It has drawn a conclusion that structural reforms are inevitable in the context when the economy has not turned fully functional, investment flow has become weak and liquidity is dumping in a passive state.
The report has laid high emphasis on ensuring effective supervision and oversight based on risks by making the banking policy regulation liberal but prudential. It is recommended to execute different directives by categorizing banks and financial institutions into three classes based on the standards.
The report has suggested reviewing the regulated lending policy, increase credit flow to the education, health, transport and green sectors and develop an integrated mechanism to comparatively see the cost and interest of the banking service.
Likewise, the taskforce has identified a need to put in place a separate regulatory for microfinance institutions for its separate nature.
As the report states, there is a need of separate regulator for the non-banking institutions such as the Employees’ Provident Fund, Citizen Investment Trust, and Social Security Fund when their investment flow is on the rise.
The taskforce has advised to restructure the loan, immediately place subsidiary loan programme, make arrangements of additional loan for revitalizing small-scale entrepreneurship keeping the interests of the depositors at the centre.
Among other recommendations include implementing ‘Rastra Bank in Rural Area’, policy amendment on credit demand after comprehending possibilities and challenges, identifying potential industries, advancing merger and acquisition, and making central bank’s role further effective in baling the country out from Grey List.
The report has also recommended recalling the central bank representative from NEPSE, adopting best global practice in margin lending, facilitating the NRNA in secondary market and coordinating with Securities Bond of Nepal for the development of bond market including green bond.
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25- Major parties and government reach agreement on making elections successful
Kathmandu, Dec 23: The government and major political parties in the country have reached an agreement on creating an environment conducive for the upcoming March 5 elections to the House of Representatives.
The agreement was reached during a discussion held at the call of President Ramchandra Paudel at the Rastrapati Bhawan, Sheetal Niwas, on Tuesday afternoon, between Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (UML) Chair and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, and Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) Coordinator and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.
According to the President’s Press Advisor Kiran Pokharel, an agreement has also been reached to hold detailed discussions later to create an environment for elections. “The election has been announced to provide a solution to the serious and sensitive situation in the country. Keeping this seriousness in mind, it is the responsibility of all of us to make the elections successful,” Press Advisor Pokharel, quoted President Paudel as having said in the meeting.
On the occasion, President Paudel also urged the top leaders of the three major political parties, including the Prime Minister, to make the upcoming House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5 a success. Elections are the only suitable option to resolve the current complex circumstances facing the country.
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26 – ‘Political parties are committed to elections’, says Comms Minister Kharel
Kathmandu, Dec 23: Minister of Communications and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel has said that reaching out to the offices of political parties was to convey a clear message that the government is trying to hold elections honestly. “This is positive pressure on political parties for the elections and that we have prepared for the elections.”
Talking to media persons after inspecting the offices of political parties damaged during the Gen-Z movement in the federal capital today, Minister Kharel, who is also the government spokesperson, said that he has assured the leaders of the political parties that the government is committed to holding the election. “The government will create an environment conducive for the election, and that the election will be held on the scheduled date.”
Minister for Communications and Information Technology Kharel and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Anil Kumar Sinha visited the offices of the Nepali Congress in Sanepa, the CPN (UML) in Chyasal, Lalitpur, and the Communist Party of Nepal in Parisdanda and took details of the damage caused there and held discussions with the party representatives.
The team is scheduled to visit the offices of Janmat Party, Rastriya Prajatatra Party and Rastriya Swantatra Party tomorrow.
On the occasion, Law Minister Sinha said there was no alternative to going to the election through a political dialogue. “Various questions have been raised about election security during discussions with party office bearers. But there is no dispute over the fact that there is no alternative to elections.”
Minister Sinha also said that since the major parties’ contacts are at the grassroots level a request has been made to help create an electoral environment by taking the election slogans to the grassroots level.
The visits were made as per a decision taken at the political dialogue committee formed by the government under the coordination of Minister Sinha to discuss about the preparations for the election and the initiatives taken by the Election Commission towards that end.
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27- Prudent use of political freedom only ensures freedom in every sector:
Minister Kharel
Patan (Lalitpur), Dec 23: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel has said that prudent use of political freedom would only ensure freedom in every sector.
At the greetings exchange programme organized here today by the National Christian Federation Nepal on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity, he stressed the need to open up new doors of prosperity in the country through the upcoming March 5 elections.
“Citizens’ rights and existence exist only when there are opportunities for country to prosper. Then, our fundamental rights and religious freedom are guaranteed. Due to wrong political situation, our younger generations had to resort to go abroad. To stop this situation, the history and Gen Z revolution have offered us an opportunity to select ideal leaders and leadership. Let us utilize the opportunity”, Kharel noted.
He accused the traditional political parties of failing to address corruption, anomalies, injustice, bad governance, irregularities and inequality plaguing the country. “Now is the time for results. Let us remain aware while casting votes and do not allow the situation to abuse political parties within five years”, he asserted.
Nepal is a country where diverse castes, religions, cultures and traditions are living together in an amicable manner, he said, stressing we should move ahead by preserving the hard-earned shared values.
“Each religion has talked about humanity. Humanity is the greatest religion for me. I respect humanity. All should work by embracing the spirit of their religions”, the minister emphasized.
Extending best wishes on the occasion of Christmas, the Christian leaders had highlighted the ideal messages specified in the Bible.
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28 – NC ready to contest in election: Leader Dr Koirala
Kathmandu, Dec 23: Nepali Congress (NC) leader Dr Shekhar Koirala said that Nepali Congress is ready to contest in the upcoming March 5’s election, provided there is a guarantee of peace and security.
The leader articulated readiness of the country’s oldest democratic party for the impending House of Representatives’ election at a programme organized here on Tuesday to mark the 102 birth anniversary of NC leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai (Popularly known as Kisunji in the political sphere).
Stating that over 5000 prisoners were currently walking free outside the prison and more than 500 police’s weapons have been looted, leader Koirala cautioned that no one has right to win the election by rigging in the election.
Koirala was referring to the untoward turn of the events that unfolded during and in the wake of the Gen-Z revolt on last September 8 and 9. During the unrest, widespread prison-breaks were reported while police stations across the country were set on fire and weapons were looted.
The leader saw the urgency to boost the morale of the police.
Speaking in the similar vein, he attributed the untoward situation on September 8 and 9 to the weak nationalism. He, thus, asserted that the political stability should be the major priority at present.
He said that his core agendas -good-governance and curbing corruption- aligned with the aspirations of the Gen-Z generation.
Stating that the country is in a difficult situation at the moment, Koirala observed that the need of the hour is to conduct the impending election and usher country on the path of development and prosperity.
He hinted at the possibility of the delay in holding NC’s national congress, citing that the party’s central working committee’s decision came late and thereby causing a delay in sending the active membership forms to villages across the country.
On a different note, Dr Koirala underscore more research and study into NC’s founding leaders such as BP Koirala, Ganeshman Singh, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Subarna Shumsher Rana among others.
He pledged utmost support and cooperation from his side for the same.
Also speaking in the programme, constitution expert Prof Dr Bipin Adhikari recalled that Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was a fellow to BP Koirala as well as a democratic leader, writer and a politician of principles.
He commended Kisunji as a visionary leader.Likewise, Spiritual leader Swami Ananda Arun hailed austerity of Kisunji and said he was a simple and idealistic personality who, despite being such a great personality, had conceded defeats for thrice in the election.
Sant Neta Krishna Prasad Bhattarai Kendra’s Chairperson Lokesh Dhakal voiced his concern that the Nepali Congress has not been able to give Kisunji, a leader with integrity, high morality, values and ideals, his due.
On a different note, he suggested that the NC should run for the election by changing its leadership and policies.
On the occasion, ‘Kisunji Preranadayi Prasanga’, a book jointly penned by Rabindra Uprety and his spouse Deva Upadhyay, was unveiled.
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29 – ‘Tiger Cup’ Volleyball from January 23
Kaski, Dec 23: The 6th edition of ‘Tiger Cup’ National/International Invitational Open Club Championship Volleyball Tournament is set to begin from January 23, 2026.
A total of 14 teams, including seven women and seven men, will compete in the tournament. Four foreign teams, including two from Thailand for the women’s team and two including one from the Maldives and one from Gujarat, India, will participate in the men’s team, according to Narayan Prasad Sharma, Chairman of the organizer, Tiger Group.
Among the women volleyball clubs taking part in the tournament are United Passion Volleyball Club Thailand, Thailand Queens, Nepal Police Club, Nepal Army Club, APF Club, Tiptop New Diamond Youth Sports Club and Everest Volleyball Club Rupandehi.
Similarly, Maldives Volleyball Association, Gujarat Volleyball Club of India, Gandaki Province Volleyball Association, Parbat District Volleyball Association and departmental teams Nepal Police, Nepal Army, and Armed Police Force will participate in the men’s category.
The women’s and men’s teams that win the sixth edition of the championship will receive Rs. 666,666, a trophy and a medal. The runner-up will receive Rs. 366,666 and the third-place team will receive Rs. 166,666.
Stating that the tournament will cost around Rs 18 million, Chair Sharma called on all volleyball lovers at home and abroad to support the tournament. He mentioned that the money saved from the tournament will be spent on education, health and social development.
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