- Saturday, 28 February 2026
Kathmandu, Feb 27: There is slight change in the price of gold and silver in the domestic market today.
The price of gold has slightly declined in the domestic market today. However, price of silver has increased today.
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, gold is being traded at Rs 314,900 per tola (11.66 grammes) while the price of silver has been fixed at Rs 5,740 per tola today.
The price of gold has decreased by Rs 500 per tola and silver increased by Rs 15 per tola today, added the Federation.
Gold was traded at Rs 315,400 per tola and silver at Rs 5,725 per tola on Thursday. According to international media, the price of gold has been fixed at 5187 US dollar per ounce and silver at 90 US dollar per ounce in the international market today.
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481 licenced firearms handed to administration in Madhes
Janakpurdham, Feb 27: Four hundred and eighty-one firearms (guns) have been handed to the district administration in Madhesh Province, in response to the notice issued targeting the House of Representatives elections.
According to the Madhesh Province Police Office, Janakpurdham, weapons have been received in that number to date following the notice issued by the district administration offices under the province to conduct the election in a free and fearless environment.
Although there are records that various individuals in eight districts in the Province have obtained 2,531 licensed firearms, the office has stated that only 481 have been received so far. There are still 2,050 firearms remaining to be surrendered.
The local administration had issued a notice to surrender weapons to the nearest police unit or district police office.
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Tipper driver dies from electrocution in Siraha
Siraha, Feb 27: A tipper driver died after accidently receiving electric shocks while lifting the hydraulic of the vehicle on the road leading to Gurudham at Golbazar Municipality-2 in Siraha district.
According to the District Police Office, Siraha, the deceased has been identified as Santosh Sah, 43, originally from Golbazar Municipality-3 and had been residing at ward no 2 of the municipality.
The incident took place while Sah was cleaning the rear part of the tipper with the registration no Pra 2-0-001 Ka 0045, said Ramesh Bahadur Pal, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) at the District Police Office, Siraha.
When he raised the hydraulic, it came into contact with an overhead electricity transmission line, causing electrocution and a fire in the vehicle, added DSP Pal.
Sah, who was also the owner of the vehicle, was seriously injured in the incident. He was immediately rushed to the local healthcare facility for treatment where doctors declared him dead, informed DSP Pal, also Information Officer.
Police reached the accident site immediately after receiving information and brought the fire under control. The body has been sent to Ramkumar Umaprasad Provincial Hospital in Lahan for post-mortem examination, police said.
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221 thousand employees deployed for conducting HoR election
Kathmandu, Feb 27: Two hundred and twenty-one thousand employees are going to be deployed across 165 constituencies throughout the country for conducting the House of Representatives election to be held on March 5.
This many employees are to be deployed at 23,112 voting centres in 165 electoral constituencies and 143 temporary voting centres for proportional voting only in the 77 districts across the country.
Election Commission Assistant Spokesman Prakash Neupane, said that arrangements have been made to deploy nine staff members in voting centres with over five hundred voters and eight staff members in centres with fewer than 500 voters.
The Commission has stated that after training the election officers and assistant election officers assigned to polling centres, the election officers themselves will train other staff assigned to the centres.
The Election Commission has stated that election materials and ballot papers have reached all 165 electoral constituencies across the country by Thursday.
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‘Madana Chanchar’ surprises ornithologists with its presence in Shuklaphanta
Kanchanpur, Feb 27: For the first time, the ‘Madana Chanchhar’ bird has been spotted in Shuklaphanta National Park, which is rich in biodiversity.
This bird, usually found in the mid high hilly and Himalayan forest areas, being found in the flat Tarai tropical region is considered significant in terms of conservation.
The Madana Chanchar was recorded for the first time in the park by a team including senior ornithologist Hirulal Dagaura, Dilip Chand Thakuri, Suman Chaudhary, Dr Bikalpa Pandey and others from the Bird Conservation Society Nepal (BCN) during bird observation in the park.
The scientific name of ‘Madana Chachar’ is Turdus boulboul. It is a bird belonging to the thrush family. Although the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed it globally as ‘Low Concern’, meaning it is common, it is considered a completely new and rare species for Shuklaphanta, according to ornithologist Dagaura.
According to him, this bird mainly inhabits moist forests in the mid-hills and Himalayan regions. Generally found at altitudes of 1,800 to 2,700 metres, this species may migrate to slightly lower altitudes during winter. However, ornithologist Dagaura stated that its presence in the flat plains of the Tarai can be considered unusual.
“Although common globally, seeing it at Shuklaphanta is a locally rare event. It indicates changes in environmental conditions or migration patterns,” he said. The Madana Chanchar is about 28–29 centimetres long.
He said that the appearance of this bird species, considered to inhabit in the hilly areas from Nepal to northern Vietnam, in the Tarai indicates the impact of climate change or changes occurring in the ecological system.
According to ornithologist Dagaura, the fact that a bird considered to live in the hilly region is found in the Tarai indicates that the range of biodiversity in Shuklaphanta is expanding further. With the arrival of this new bird species in Shuklaphanta, the number of birds in the sanctuary has increased further.
It is believed that the recording of this hill region bird in Shuklaphanta will help establish this park as a more important destination for bird watching and scientific research.
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Voters in Madhesh Province fully aware, enthused about upcoming HoR election: GEOC
Kathmandu, Feb 27: Voters in Madhesh Province have demonstrated comparatively greater awareness and enthusiasm for the upcoming March 5 election to the House of Representatives, revealed a survey by the GEOC.
The survey conducted by the General Election Observation Committee (GEOC) in Madhesh Province found that around 55 percent of voters in Madhesh Province are very enthusiastic about the upcoming election compared to previous ones.
According to GEOC’s General-Secretary, Krishna Man Pradhan, the finding of the survey indicates that the upcoming election is being viewed as distinct and significant, particularly as it is being held in the aftermath of the Gen-Z movement taken place on September 8 and 9, 2025.
Pradhan noted that public excitement towards the election is notably high as this is the first election post the Gen-Z movement.
The survey also unveiled that 79.2 percent of the 100 voters surveyed in Madhesh Province expressed their confidence over the upcoming election, the highest level of public’s confidence recorded in the survey.
The GEOC survey states: “The younger generation has considered this election different from the previous ones while the general voters are confident that the election will be conducted within the stipulated time in a free, free, fair and fear-free environment.”
Among the 100 voters surveyed by GEOC, most respondents responded that they were fully aware about the March 5 election.
The survey report further shows that among the surveyed voters, 34 percent reported being highly influenced by political forces while 50 percent admitted they experienced moderate influence.
The report estimates that the impact of the Gen-Z movement could slightly bring forth changes the election results compared to previous outcomes.
Although peace and security have been identified as potential challenges to successful conduct of the election, the GEOC stated that that enabling environment created in the recent times has been brushing aside such concerns.
However, it cannot be ruled out that dispute among political parties’ cadres could create minor security challenges in some areas.
The survey also disclosed that 21 percent of respondents acknowledged the influence of social media on their voting decisions.
Gender-wise, 24 percent of men and 21 percent of women reported being influenced by social media when it comes to choosing whom to vote.
The report also mentions that however the younger generations are adept in using technology, they are equally influenced by social media.
Misuse of money and influence has been identified as the major challenge in ensuring that the election is conducted in a free, fair, fearless and cost-effective manner.
Cautioning that the misinformation could negatively affect the election security, the report emphasized implementation of timely preventive measures.
As the day of election is drawing closer, the report notes that an enabling election environment has been created while the enthusiasm among the voters is running high.
Furthermore, the report states that signs of the emergence of new political forces are visible and there are plenty of rooms for post-election reforms and changes.
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March 5 HoR election will be held in impartial, fear-free atmosphere: Home Minister
Kathmandu, Feb 27: Minister for Home Affairs Om Prakash Aryal has asserted that the upcoming election to the House of Representatives scheduled for March 5 would be held in a fair, impartial and fear-free environment.
In course of inspecting the voting centres of Baiteshwor Rural Municipality in Dolakha district today, Home Minister mentioned that the election would be made fair and impartial this time by correcting the past weaknesses.
He also directed the concerned officials to create such environment where voters could cast vote peacefully with confidence.
On the occasion, the Home Minister urged all concerned sides to involve in preparation of their respective election constituencies being aware about the wrong, misleading and misinformation disseminated in social platforms.
A team comprising Home Minister Aryal and Acting Chief Election Commissioner, Ram Prasad Bhandari, inspected the voting centres of the rural municipality and discussed about election security.
Inspector General of the Armed Police Force, Raju Aryal, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General, Pradip Jung KC, Additional Inspector General of Police, Ganesh Thada Magar, Spokesperson of the Home Ministry, Ananda Kafle, Assistant Spokesperson Rama Acharya, Chief District Office of Dolakha, Hari Prasad Ghimire, Chief Returning Officer, Ram Prasad Neupane, among others were present on the occasion.
The team enquired about local level election and election to the House of Representatives held in 2079 as well as election security plan for the upcoming HoR election, shared Assistant Spokesperson Acharya.
It was shared that security has been tightened at different borders in view of sensitivity and problems surfaced in the voting centre in past.
Similarly, Acting Chief Election Commissioner Bhandari requested all stakeholders for their active participation in order to hold the election in fair, impartial and fear-free environment.
He also directed to ensure election security by carrying out preparation of the election, finding out possible problems keeping past election sensitivity in mind.
Briefing about the present election situation of the district, Chief Returning Officer Neupane and Chief District Officer Ghimire informed that coordination among security bodies was underway.
Likewise, Inspector General of APF, Aryal, briefed about district security. There are eight voting centres, 21 polling stations and 18,422 voters in Baideshowr rural municipality.
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DAO, Kathmandu urges celebrating Holi indoors and avoiding using political symbols
Kathmandu, Feb 27: The District Administration Office (DAO), Kathmandu has urged the public to maintain peace and order and be mindful about the upcoming election while celebrating Holi festival.
The election to House of Representatives is scheduled on March 5 while the Holi, festival of colours, in hilly area is on March 2 and in Terai region on March 3.
Issuing a notice here today, the DAO, Kathmandu also appealed to the people to not to organise huge gatherings, organize celebratory programmes on streets and sale and distribute alcohol in public places during the Holi.
The local administration clarified that celebrating Holi culturally and religiously within the premises of one’s house with family and friends will not be restricted.
The DAO, Kathmandu has urged full compliance with the Election Code of Conduct enforced by the Election Commission of Nepal in view of the upcoming election.
The notice issued by Assistant Chief District Officer, Muktiram Rijal, states that it is prohibited to use election candidates’ election symbols, flags, stickers or any materials displaying symbols, including caps, t-shirts, jackets, bags or other items during rallies, mass gatherings or election campaign related activities.
The administration has requested the public not to engage in activities that violates the Election Code of Conduct by using such materials.
The notice also cautions that forcibly throwing colours or splashing water on someone against their will, consuming alcohol and disrupting public order, creating excessive noise and engaging in any unruly activities are considered unlawful.
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Revenue Advisory Committee formed to suggest on next year’s tax policy
Kathmandu, Feb 27: The process for formulating the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2026/27 has been formally proceeded ahead.
A Revenue Advisory Committee was formed by the ministerial decision on February 11 with the objective of collecting concrete suggestions on revenue policy, tax structure, customs rates, revenue administration, and macroeconomic reforms before the budget formulation.
The Finance Ministry Spokesperson Tanka Prasad Pandey said that a committee has been formed under the coordination of the Secretary (Revenue) of the Ministry and the committee has started its work.
The Committee includes representatives from the government, the central bank, academic sector, and private sector institutions. The Committee members include the Head of the Central Department of Economics at Tribhuvan University or the designated senior professor, the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank, and two experts (an economist and a tax expert) appointed by the Ministry of Finance.
Similarly, there is representation in the Committee also from the umbrella organisations of the private sector. The Committee includes the presidents or designated senior officials of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Nepal Economic Association, the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), the Nepal Chamber of Commerce, Nepal Federation of Industries and Trade, and the Federation of Nepal Small and Cottage Industries as members.
The Joint Secretary of the Revenue Management Division of the Ministry of Finance has been designated as Member-Secretary of the Committee.
Spokesperson Pandey said that the Revenue Advisory Committee was given a mandate to provide suggestions on policy and legal reforms related to income tax, value added tax (VAT), excise duty, education service fee, digital service tax, taxes applicable to e-commerce, and other domestic taxes according to the financial law.
He stated that the committee has also been given the responsibility to recommend on the revision of tax rates, simplification of processes, improvement of the tax system, as well as necessary improvements in revenue administration and organisational structure.
Similarly, the Committee will also present suggestions for policy and legal reforms regarding industrial promotion and protection, import–export services, service trade, investment promotion, supply management, and tax and non-tax incentives.
The Committee’s scope of work also includes reviewing customs duties, measures for the protection of domestic production, improving the valuation system, trade facilitation, border management and customs administration reforms.
It shall study and provide suggestions on issues related to revenue leakage control, curbing smuggling of goods, foreign exchange regulation, economic crime control, investigation of money laundering, and the necessary legal and organisational reforms for these purposes.
Revenue and policy reforms in the fields of agriculture, energy, tourism, civil aviation and natural resource management are also included in the Committee’s scope of work.
The Committee would recommend about the problems seen in banks, financial institutions, remittance, share market and real estate sectors and also recommend their solution, including issues related with revenue mobilization.
It has got the mandate to give suggestion in order to identify new areas of non-tax revenue, rate determination and revision, solutions to problems of tax duplication, tax between federation-province and local levels and reforms on inter-government revenue management and revenue disbursement.
The Committee would give suggestions on the issues related to economic development making comparative analysis about international, regional and national economy. According to the Finance Ministry, nine different thematic sub-committees have also been formed for Committee’s effective work.
The Inland Revenue Sub-Committee shall work on the issues including inland tax including income tax, VAT, excise duty and digital tax while Customs Sub-Committee would prepare suggestions focusing on customs tax, assessment system, trade facilitation and border management.
Likewise, Revenue Leakage Control and Investigation Sub-Committee would work on analyzing leakage trend, measures to control it, foreign exchange and financial crime control while Industry, Commerce, Investment and Export Promotion Sub-Committee would recommend the issues like industrial protection, trade policy-level reforms.
Similarly, Agriculture, Energy and Tourism Sector Sub-Committee would study about reforms related to commercialization of agriculture, power production, tourism promotion and natural resources management.
The Bank, Financial Institution, Insurance, Cooperative and Share Market Sub-Committee would provide suggestions about relations between problems of financial sector and revenue mobilization while the Non-Tax and Inter-Government Revenue Management Sub-Committee would work on sources and rate of non-tax revenue and solution to tax duplication in federal structure.
The Macroeconomic Sub-Committee would analyze economic indicators, revenue potentials and projection while Anti-Money Laundering and Investigation Sub-Committee would analyze risk along with a strategy to exit from ‘grey list’ of FATF recommend and measures of improvement.
Suggestions have been sought from concerned government bodies, representative organisations of the private sector, academic sector, stakeholders and general people regarding tax policy to be adopted through budget of coming fiscal year, mentioned the Finance Ministry.
The Sub-Committees would present their reports before the main committee within April 13. The main committee would submit the final report within mid-May.
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Election security preparations completed in Koshi Province
Biratnagar, Feb 27: All security preparations have been completed in Koshi Province for the upcoming House of Representatives elections, said Binod Ghimire, Chief of the Koshi Province Police Office Biratnagar.
He stated that the security committee has made all preparations to prevent any untoward incidents during the elections.
Ghimire said that special monitoring and police deployment would be carried out based on the security strategy by assessing sensitive, highly sensitive locations and security challenges.
According to Office Chief Ghimire, to conduct the election in a peaceful environment, 12 thousand Nepal Police and 23 thousand election police personnel, among others, will be deployed in Koshi Province.
The Armed Police Force Koshi Province Office in Sunsari has stated that 2,561 armed police and 5,649 election police from the armed forces have been deployed for the election.
The province has 28 House of Representatives electoral constituencies. There are three million 574 thousand and 286 voters here, including one million 749 thousand and 73 women, one million 828 thousand and 213 men and 24 other voters. According to the election office, Koshi has 4,270 polling centres and 1,907 polling stations.
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Only 1,670 election candidates open bank account for election purpose
Kathmandu, Feb 27: Of the total 3,406 candidates contesting the March 5 election to the House of Representatives under the first-past-the-post (direct) electoral system, only 1,670 candidates have so far opened bank accounts, according to the Election Commission (EC).
Similarly, out of the 65 political parties in fray in the upcoming election, only 11 have opened bank accounts for election spending purpose as of now.
According to Sita Pun Shrees, Assistant Spokesperson of the Commission, the parties that have opened bank accounts are the Nepali Congress, Rastriya Janamorcha, CPN Unified, Nepali Communist Party, Nepal Ka Lagi Nepali Party (Nepali Party for Nepal), Janata Samajwadi Party, Samyukta Nagarik Party and Miteri Party.
Likewise, Nepal Janata Sanrakshyan Party, Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party and Rastriya Janamukti Party have opened bank account.
As per the House of Representatives Member Election Campaign Bank Account (Operation and Management) Procedures-2082 BS, all political parties, candidates and independent candidates registering their candidacies with the Election Commission to contest under the proportional representation and First-Past-The-Post system are required to open bank accounts for election campaigning purposes.
They are also mandated to manage their income and expenses through these accounts.
The provision seeks to ensure transparency in financial assistance received by them during the election by adhering to set expenditures ceiling and thereby prevent overspending.
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Coordination meeting between APF Nepal and SSB India held
Mahendranagar, Feb 27: A DIG-level coordination meeting between the Armed Police Force Nepal and India’s Seema Surakshya Bal (SSB) was held at Champawat of Uttarakhand in India.
During the meeting held on Thursday, discussion was held to control possible illegal entry of people at border areas, smuggling and drug trafficking in the context of upcoming election to the House of Representatives, according to APF Nepal.
An understanding was reached between the both sides to exchange information by carrying out monitoring to stop anti-election activities, possible illegal activities and effectiveness of border closure during the election ‘silent period’.
Similarly, discussion was held to strengthen joint and parallel border patrolling in order to address possible security challenges during election period.
Both sides have agreed to direct their subordinate units for continuous collaboration to control possible illegal activities, illegal entry of citizens of third countries, trafficking of drugs, human trafficking, trade of fake currency notes and smuggling of weapons at border areas.
A Nepali delegation led by Acting Brigade Commander of APF Nepal No 7 Baidhyanath Brigade Headquarters, Attariya, Senior Superintendent of APF Nepal, Digbijay Subedi, had participated in the meeting.
DIGs Sudhansu Nautiyal and Anil Kumar Sharma from Sector Headquarters Almora and Pilibhit, among others from Indian side were present in the meeting.
Different coordination meetings are being held between SSB India and APF Nepal in centre, province and district level.
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Home Minister urges voters to confidently take part in voting
Kathmandu, Feb 27: Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has urged people to participate in the voting with confidence.
Minister Aryal, who visited Okhaldhunga to acquire information about the preparations for the general election, urged the concerned parties and the electorate to vote with confidence as the arrangements for peace and security have been strengthened in collaboration with the concerned bodies including the District Security Committee, heads of major political parties in the district, and the chief election officers.
The Home Minister emphasised the need to make the election fair, expressing commitment to bring those engaging in illegal activities within the purview of the law.
He stated that all sections of society must contribute from their own positions to maintain religious and social harmony.
Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari emphasised that those who violate the election code of conduct would be brought within the legal framework.
Chief District Officer of Okhaldhunga, Mekh Bahadur Mangranti had provided information about the overall peace and security situation in the district.
Chief Election Officer Hari Prasad Koirala stated that the District Election Office is working in coordination with the leaders of political parties.
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