- Wednesday, 11 February 2026
Kathmandu, Jan 25: The prices of gold and silver have hit all-time high in the domestic market today, the first trading day of the week.
According to the Federation of Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of gold has been fixed at Rs 303,800 per tola (11.66 grammes) today against Rs 301,400 on Friday. It has increased by Rs 2,400 per tola today.
Similarly, silver price has increased by Rs 290 per tola today and it is being traded at Rs 6,480 per tola. The price of silver was Rs 6,190 per tola on Friday.
As per the international media, the gold price has been set at 4,987 US dollar per ounce and silver at 103 US dollar per ounce.
—
09 One killed in jeep accident
Damauli (Tanahu), Jan 25: A person died and another one was injured in a jeep accident at Mayde rural municipality-4 in Tanahu district this morning.
The deceased has been identified as Koiska Gharti, 13, of Kaledanda of Myagde-4, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Shrawan Kumar BK.
The accident took place when the jeep (Ga 3 Cha 5838) heading towards Thurpu from Kaledanda fell some 20 meters off the road.
Gharti was pronounced dead by a doctor at Province Hospital Damauli.
Similarly, 15-year-old Dipson Gharti of the same place, who was injured in the accident is receiving the treatment. Police have arrested 30-year-old jeep driver, Basanta Gharti, for investigation.
—
10- HoR election: 18 women candidates in fray in Sudurpaschim Province
Mahendranagar, Jan 25: Eighteen female candidates including two independents are in the electoral fray from Sudurpashchim Province in the upcoming election to the Member of the House of Representatives.
There are 16 House of Representatives electoral constituencies in the nine districts of this province.
Although women’s candidacy is low in the seven hilly districts of the province, there is significant participation of women candidates in Kailali and Kanchanpur among the Terai districts.
According to Dilip Bhat, spokesperson of the Provincial Election Office, the highest number of female candidates is in Kailali where 11 female candidates are contesting, followed by Kanchanpur, and one woman in Doti is preparing for the upcoming election.
Out of a total of 210 candidates in Sudurpaschim province, one person’s candidacy has been cancelled, and he mentioned that three people have withdrawn their candidacy.
Among the female candidates in Kanchanpur constituency No. 1, Bina Magar from the Nepali Communist Party, Sita BK from the Aam Janata Party, and Manjudevi Sunar and Rupadevi Bista as independents have filed their candidacy, spokesperson Bhat added.
Similarly, Premwati Rana from Nagarik Unmukti Party Nepal in Kanchanpur Constituency No. 2 and Lakshmi Kumari Bista (Bhatta) from the Janata Party in Constituency No. 3 are in the electoral race.
Likewise, Rupakumari Chaudhary from the Janata Party, Komal Gyawali from the Rastriya Swatantra Party and Sunita Bhandari from the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party are contesting the election in Kailali Constituency No. 1.
In constituency No. 2, Samjhana Bista Thapa of Miteri Party Nepal and Laxmi Pun Magar of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party have filed their candidacy. In Kailali constituency No. 3, Sushila Thapa Magar of Miteri Party Nepal and Junu Mahtara Shahi of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party are busy campaigning as candidates.
In the Kailali Electoral Constituency No. 4, Amrita Bhul of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, in Constituency No. 5, Radhika Kumari Karki from the Miteri Party Nepal, Shobhamani Joshi from the National People’s Front and Trishna Punmagar from the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party are contesting.
There is only one female candidate in Doti, one of the seven hill districts of the Sudurpaschim province. Saraswati Kumari Pal (Malla) of the Miteri Party Nepal has filed her candidacy from here.The Provincial Election Office has stated that there are a total of 1,716,660 voters in Sudurpaschim Province.
—
11- Betana wetland turning into tourism destination
Belbari (Morang), Jan 25: Betana Wetland with an abundance of natural beauty has become a favourite among domestic tourists.
Around five hundred domestic tourists visit this wetland daily during the winter months. Besides savouring nature, the visitors can also get to see migratory birds from Siberia and animals such as turtles, fish, crocodiles, and deer.
After travelling 16 kilometres east from Itahari Chowk in Sunsari, one is greeted by dense green forest and a few metres away is the Betana wetland along the East-West Highway in Belbari, Morang.
The area has started to become a favourite among domestic tourists especially because of the cold water, clean air and scenic views along with the presence of birds, fish and turtles, said Shambhu Bhattarai, the President of the Betana Wetland Community Forest User Group.
Rajan Prasai, the Group joint secretary, says that since the wetland area is connected to the highway, there is a daily rush of people coming for picnics in winter.
According to him, pedal boats are also available for tourists who want to enjoy boating in the lake of the wetland.
He said that a water fountain is also being constructed there at a cost of Rs 2 million with the support of Koshi Province Government’s the Ministry of Tourism, Forests and Environment.
This wetland, covering an area of about 65 bighas, is home to birds coming from Siberia as well as 25 species of rare birds. In addition, more than two dozen individuals of the critically endangered the ‘Black Softshell’ turtles have been released in the pond, said Bhattarai, the President of the Betana Wetland Community Forest User Group.
According to him, the community forest user group is engaged in the conservation of flora and fauna found here. He said rare species of turtles, various types of fish, animals, and plants are found in this area.
According to Dil Prasad Rai, the head of Belbari Municipality, Betana Wetland will be developed as an important tourist destination in eastern Nepal.
In recent days, various biologists have also been coming to this wetland area for wildlife research, said Bhattarai.
“Since the protection of local wildlife is our primary responsibility, we have focused on their conservation,” he said.
—
12- 545 students graduated from Nepal Open University
Kathmandu, Jan 25: Prime Minister Sushila Karki has awarded degrees to the students of various faculties under the Nepal Open University in its first convocation ceremony today.
At a programme organised by the University, 545 students under various faculties—Science, Humanities, Education, Management and Law were graduated. Of the 545 students, 191 were present on the occasion.
Similarly, PM Karki, also the Chancellor of the University, presented the ‘chancellor medal’ to the top scorer students of Bachelor’s and Master’s Levels.
Educationist and former Vice Chancellor of the Tribhuvan University, Kedar Bhakta Mathema, was the chief guest of the programme.
Established in 2073 BS, the Open University has now been running Bachelor, Master, M Phil and Ph D educational programmes.
—
13- HoR election: Entrepreneurs demand long-term strategic plan with
candidates
Ranjha (Banke), Jan 25: Industrialists and entrepreneurs in Banke district have requested the candidates to the election for the House of Representatives to introduce long-term strategic plans in order to make the district prosperous.
They asked the candidates to bring such plan, citing the district’s business has been affected and many businessmen closed their business due to smuggling through Nepalgunj check point, the government did not make plan in construction of Naubasta-based industrial area and it has not been able to make any contribution to make district’s economy dynamic despite establishing integrated security post.
General-Secretary of the Nepalgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bhim Ranabhat, urged the candidates to bring long-term strategic plan as prosperity could be achieved only if environment in favour of industries is created.
“A long-term strategic plan making sustainable impact in overall development of the district is needed and such matters should be addressed with concrete decision on it after the victory,” he stressed.Ranabhat mentioned, “It is necessary to ensure victory of such candidate who works honestly for the economic development and prosperity of Banke.”
Similarly, former central committee member of the Federation of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Krishna Prasad Shrestha, pointed out the need of carrying out activities making a strategic plan for the overall development of the district as industries and business have not been developed economically despite physical development and construction of necessary infrastructures in Banke.
Suggesting to the people’s representatives to be elected from the district to draw the attention of the state towards the uplift of the people from the lower classes and to work for bringing about positive change in the country, Shrestha said, “Development is not just about physical infrastructure; it also refers to efforts that improve the standard of living of the people.”
He stated that Banke needs representatives who can pressure the government to quickly start the construction of the Naubasta industrial area, complete the unfinished work of the Sikta irrigation project, and operate the Nepalgunj Airport as an international airport.
Emphasising the need for infrastructure development to make the Banke National Park a centre of tourism attraction, Shrestha stressed the need to make policy provision to address the increasing damage to property caused by wildlife in the district.
Bhaskar Kafle, a hotel entrepreneur from Nepalgunj, mentioned that although there is immense potential for the hotel and tourism industry in the district, businesspeople are discouraged due to unstable politics, and therefore, it is necessary to elect candidates with comprehensive development plans.
Mohammad Ishtiyak Rai of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), who is a candidate from Banke Constituency No. 2, expressed his commitment to work to improve people’s living standards along with physical infrastructure if elected.
Recalling the development works he carried out when he was a minister, he said that his focus as a people’s representative if elected would be on the development of sectors such as the economy, education and health for economic prosperity.
—
14 – NEPSE index surges by 57 points
Kathmandu, Jan 25: A notable improvement has been seen in both the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index and trading volume today.
NEPSE index has increased by 57.55 points, reaching 2,772.17 points. This is a 2.12 percent increase.
Today, 30,915,183 units of share of 331 companies were traded 133,529 times, with the transaction amounting to Rs 13 billion 785 million 729 thousand 645.05.
The sub-indices of all groups have increased today. In today’s trading, eight companies’ share prices have hit the upper circuit.
According to NEPSE, based on the transaction amount and the number of shares traded, the Aankhukhola Hydropower Company Limited recorded the highest number of shares – one million 668 thousand shares worth Rs 435 million 933 thousand and 162 – traded today.
—
15- Anomalies seen in country should be ended through mutual
cooperation: PM Karki
Kathmandu, Jan 25: Prime Minister Sushila Karki has expressed the view that evils, aberrations, and corruption should be ended through mutual cooperation and collaboration.
At the first convocation ceremony of the Nepal Open University organised here today, PM Karki, also the Chancellor of the University, stressed the need of resolving existing problems by creating employment opportunities in the country through an excellence in higher education.
“We should build our country by ending anomalies and corruption. I urge the graduated students to collaborate in the campaign of nation building. The university should impart productive-oriented education in order to stop brain drain of students, address the changing scenario of today’s youth as well as create an environment where produced human resources can contribute in the nation,” she mentioned.
Similarly, educationist and former Vice Chancellor of the Tribhuvan University, Kedar Bhakta Mathema, argued that it is the responsibility of the students of Open University to engage on lifelong learning and giving continuity to the learning even in difficult situation.
Likewise, Vice Chancellor of the Open University, Dr Shilu Bajracharya, shared that the Open University has been imparting higher education to the people, who have been spending their busy lives through the medium of distance learning, in a convenient manner.
A total of 545 students from various faculties were graduated from the Open University.
—
16 – High tendency of agriculture dependency worrying
Rajaram Karki/RSS
Kathmandu, Jan 25: Rice production has decreased by four percent in Nepal this year. Government officials have stated that rice production has decreased due to factors such as increasing migration to urban areas, construction of industrial and other physical infrastructures on arable land, rapid urbanisation, shortage of agricultural labour, irrigation problems, climate change, uncertainty of profit for farmers, and the migration of youths abroad.
Based on data obtained from the agriculture-related officials in all the seven provinces, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development published this figure after estimating the area of paddy cultivation, considering last year’s data on area under rice cultivation, changes in irrigated area, and interactions with farmers.
Rice is the main food crop of Nepal. Rice cultivation contributes 12 percent to the domestic production of the agricultural sector. According to the National Statistics Office, in the fiscal year 2081/82, the agricultural sector contributed 25.16 percent to the total domestic production.
Dr Januka Pandit, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, shared that this year, the reduction in production in the areas where rice was planted was due to farmers not having sufficient availability of improved seeds and fertilisers within the planting period, and the adverse weather and drought during the rice planting season in the Madhesh Province.
According to data prepared through the joint efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), in the current fiscal year, rice could not be cultivated on 3.8 percent of the land, leaving it fallow.
The ‘Agriculture Diary’ published annually by the ministry states that about 3.1 million hectares of land is considered cultivable. Nepal’s Sixth Agricultural Census mentions that two million 525 thousand 639 hectares of land is cultivable.
The Sixth Agricultural Census was conducted in 2011. In Nepal, an agricultural census has been conducted every 10 years. The agricultural census started in 1961. One hectare of land is equivalent to 20 ropanis.
Rice cultivation can be done on about 50 percent of the land in Nepal. It is estimated that rice was cultivated on only 1,376,872 hectares of land this year. Last year, rice was cultivated on 1,402,063 hectares of land.
Spokesperson Dr Pandit said it has been estimated that paddy production would be decreased by 4.2 per cent in the current fiscal year. A total of 5.7 million metric tonnes of paddy would be produced this year against 5.9 million metric tonnes in the last fiscal year.
Around 6.2 million metric tonnes of paddy is needed for the current population of the country. Now, Nepal has around 30 million population. The import of rice has increased due to Nepalis habit of having rice on both meals.
As per the National Statistics Office, the area of agricultural land is decreasing in recent years. As per Agro Census-2068 BS, the agricultural land was 2.525 million hectares while it decreased to 2.218 million hectares in 2078 agro census.
Paddy plantation takes place from mid-June to mid-August and it is harvested from harvested from mid-October-mid December every year in Nepal. A large number of the country’s population still depends on agriculture.
As per the Agricultural Census-2078 BS, 4.130 million people are depend on agriculture. Of them, 483,208 people have taken agriculture loan. Though the state has been providing concessional loan to farmers for agriculture purpose, 88 per cent farmers still have not got such facility.
The Ministry Spokesperson opined that Nepal could be self-sufficient on fruits, vegetables and food crops if the farmers involved in traditional agriculture could be made commercial.
According to the Department of Customs, the country imports different agricultural products worth around Rs 5 billion every month. —
