- Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Chitwan, June 22: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has made amendments to its statute, aiming to make the party more inclusive.
According to Ganesh Parajuli, a member on the party’s statute amendment committee, the new amendments provide for the election of three vice-presidents, including at least one woman, along with two general secretaries and five joint general secretaries. Among the joint general secretaries, there shall be at least one woman. The measures are taking to ensure greater representation of women in the party’s leadership, it is said.
Likewise, one treasurer, two joint treasures, one spokesperson, and three joint spokespersons will be nominated.
The central committee shall have 151 members, including 99 elected members and one president elected through internal elections, while 51 members shall be nominated by the president through an inclusive process. The vice-presidents from the seven provinces are to serve as ex-officio members.
Prior to this, the statute allowed the president to appoint only one treasurer and spokesperson. The new amendments expand this authority, permitting the president to also pick one vice-president, one general secretary, and two joint general secretaries.
“The amendments have addressed the spirit of inclusion,” Parajuli said, adding that women’s participation has been ensured at all levels.
Among the 99 directly elected central committee members, five members will be elected from each province. Of these, at least two from each province must be women.
Similarly, based on provincial demographic composition, the statute ensures mandatory inclusive representation: one Indigenous representative each from Gandaki and Koshi provinces, one Dalit representative each from Sudurpashchim and Koshi provinces, one Tharu representative from Lumbini Province, and one Madheshi Dalit representative from Madhesh Province.
The statute also ensures the automatic inclusion of senior leaders in the party structure.
The closed session of the three-day general convention, which began on Sunday in Chitwan, is being held today.
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Eight-year-old drowns in Rukum East
Tribeni (Rukum West), June 22: An eight-year-old girl drowned in a pond at Sisne Rural Municipality-5 in Rukum East on Sunday.
The District Police Office, Rukum East confirmed that the incident occurred while the girl was swimming. The deceased has been identified as Sahasi Roka, of Kharabang of Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality-9.
Though the girl was rescued alive by the police, she died while undergoing treatment at the District Hospital, Rukum East, according to DPO’s information officer and police inspector Lal Bahadur BK said.
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Three families displaced by landslides in Sankhuwasabha
Kimathanka (Sankhuwasabha), June 22: Three families have been displaced by landslides in Khandbari Municipality and Sabhapokhari Rural Municipality in Sankhuwasabha.
The landslides triggered by incessant rains displaced two four-member families- that of Dhana Bahadur Bishwakarma, and that of Shantiram Pokhrel- in Dhupu of Sabhapokhari-1
Likewise, a six-member family of Yar Bahadur Tamang from Khanidanda of Khandbari Municipality-6 has also been affected, the District Police Office Sankhuwasabha confirmed.
The affected families are presently taking shelter at their neighbours’ homes.
According to police, arable land in Dhupu has been buried by the landslide. Families at risk have been evacuated to safety by a police team from the Dhupu Police Beat.
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Budget discussions in Lumbini Province Assembly from today
Lumbini, June 22: The Lumbini Province Assembly is to begin discussions on the principles of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year starting today.
As per the schedule, the 10th session of the Lumbini Province Assembly will initiate discussions on the government’s estimates of revenue and expenditure (budget) for the fiscal year 2083-84 BS (2026-27).
According to the tentative agenda, Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning, Dhanedra Karki, will propose the session to begin discussions on the budget principles. Province Assembly members will express their views on the proposal, and the minister will respond to the concerns raised during the deliberations.
The Province Assembly Secretariat said that in the meeting, Minister Karki is also scheduled to present a ‘bill designed to make provisions for the expenditures and appropriation of certain amounts from the Province Consolidated Fund’ for the services and functions for the fiscal year 2083-84 BS.
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Former Minister Kharel passes away
Kavrepalanchowk, June 22: Former Minister Rajendra Kharel passed away last night at the age of 80.
He, who was also regarded as a ‘simple’ leader of the Nepali Congress, had been suffering from asthma for the past few years. His son Mahesh Kharel, who is also the mayor of Panchkhal Municipality, confirmed that he died last night at Frontline Hospital in Baneshwor, Kathmandu.
Kharel, born in 2003 BS as the second child of Mukunda Kumari Kharel and Devi Prasad Kharel at Kharelthok of Kavrepalanchowk, was elected to the House of Representatives (HoR) during the 2056 BS (1999) election from the district.
During his parliamentary career, he served as the Minister of State for Education, and as Minister for Children and Social Welfare.
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Literacy rate reaches 82.1 percent in Bagamati Province, poverty rates fall below national figures
Bagamati, June 22: The literacy rate in Bagamati Province has reached 82.1 percent, exceeding the national literacy rate of 76.2 percent.
Likewise, the province is expected to achieve 5.40 percent economic growth, higher than the national target of 3.85 percent for the current fiscal year.
According to Province Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Prabhat Tamang, the province is expected to contribute 36.7 percent (around Rs 2,423 billion) to the country’s total GDP of Rs 6,600 billion.
Likewise, while the national per capita income stands at 1,535 US dollars, the province is projected to record the highest per capita income of 2,644 US dollars among all provinces.
Compared to the national figures of 20.27 percent absolute poverty and 17.4 percent multidimensional poverty, the province records 12.59 percent and 7 percent, respectively, it is said.
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Over Rs 1.53 million collected in traffic fines in Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu, June 22: Traffic police booked and fined 2,076 vehicles violating traffic rules across the Kathmandu Valley over the past 24 hours, collecting more than Rs 1.53 million in revenue.
According to Traffic Police Spokesperson and Superintendent of Police (SP), Naresh Raj Subedi, the violations include 88 incidents of drunk-driving, 93 of ride- sharing against the rules, 117 of traffic signal violations and 228 incidents of over-speeding.
Likewise, 129 cases were recorded for breaching lane discipline, 57 for honking in prohibited areas, 90 for parking on roadsides, 88 for violating one-way traffic rules and 1,186 other violations, added SP Subedi.
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Gold, silver prices rise in domestic market
Kathmandu, June 22: Prices of gold and silver increased in the domestic market today.
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of precious yellow metal rose by Rs 1,400 per tola (11.66 grammes) while that of silver rose by Rs 40 per tola.
With the rise in the price, gold is being traded at Rs 288,700 per tola and silver at Rs 4,730 per tola today.
On Sunday, the price of gold was fixed at Rs 287,300 per tola while silver of the same quantity stood at Rs 4,690 per tola.
In the international market, gold is being traded at US 4,188 per ounce (31.103 grammes), according to the international media reports.
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Two killed in separate tipper accidents
Kavrepalanchowk, June 22: Two people died in separate tipper-related accidents in Kavrepalanchowk district on Sunday.
According to Rabin Bista, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) at District Police Office, Kavrepalanchowk, an assistant-driver, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, died after being trapped between the two tippers at Betini riverbank of Indrawati river at Mandendeupur rural municipality-12.
In another accident, Devendra Tamang, 19, of Hokse, Paanchkhal municipality-8, lost his life after being fatally trapped between tippers (Ba 4 Kha 9825 and Ba 4 Kha 9909) while one of the vehicles was reversing after loading sand.
Police said that one of the drivers fled the scene following the accident while the other has been taken into custody.
Further investigation into both incidents is underway, police said.
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