- Friday, 1 May 2026
Kathmandu, July 16: Meetings of four parliamentary committees are scheduled for Wednesday.
The meetings of the Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee, Public Policy and Delegated Legislation Committee, Federalism Enablement and National Concerns Committee and State Directive Principles, Policies and Obligation Monitoring and Evaluation (Joint) Committee are taking place today.
The meetings of the National Assembly and House of Representatives are set to be held on July 22 and 23, respectively.
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Heavy rainfall likely in some places of five provinces today
Kathmandu, July 16: Currently there is an influence of monsoon winds across the country and the monsoon’s low pressure line is situated near the average location in the west and slightly north from the average location in the east, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said.
The weather will be generally cloudy across the country this afternoon with chances of light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder and lightning in many places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces, as well as some places in other provinces.
According to the Department, there is a possibility of heavy rainfall in some places of Koshi province.
As predicted, heavy rainfall will also occur in one or two places in Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces.
Light to moderate rain and snowfall are expected in some areas of the high hills and mountainous regions of the country.
There is also a possibility of winds in the Terai region of Koshi province and some places in Madhes province.
Likewise, there will be partial to generally cloudy weather across the country tonight.
There is chances of light to moderate rain along with thunder and lightning in some areas of the hilly regions, including Koshi, Madhes, and Sudurpashchim provinces, as well as in some other provinces.
The regular weather bulletin issued by the Department at 6:00 am today stated that there is a possibility of heavy rain in one or two places in the Koshi, Madhes, and Sudurpashchim provinces.
Additionally, there is a possibility of light to moderate rain and snowfall in some areas of the high hills and Himalayan regions of the country.
The strong wind is predicted in some areas of Madhes province.
The Department has warned of the risk of floods, landslides, and river overflow due to potential rainfall and has urged residents of urban and Terai areas to adopt necessary precautionary safety measures.
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Minor dies after falling into a septic tank
Chitwan, July 16: A girl child died after falling into a septic tank of the Bharatpur Hospital.
According to Deputy Superintendant of Police (DSP) at District Police Office Rabindra Khanal, Bikas Magar’s five-year-old daughter, Anjana, died after she fell into the tank. Magar is the employee of the same hospital, it is learnt.
The minor had fallen into the septic tank on Tuesday afternoon while playing. She was immediately rescued and admitted to the hospital where she was pronounced dead in the evening.
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Nine kilometer road blacktopped
Damauli (Tanahun), July 16: A nine-kilometer road from Byas Municipality-5, Ranitari to Myagde Rural Municipality-4, Ghumti has been blacktopped.
The raw road has been blacktopped and upgraded, aiming to develop it as an alternative route of the Prithvi Highway.
Chief of the Infrastructure Development Office, Rabindra Tiwari informed that the blacktopping has been carried out a year prior to the completion time.
The office had awarded a contract of Rs 366.29 million for the up-gradation of the road. The distance from Ranitari to Ghumti is 9.2-km. Out of the total distance, 7.3 km has been blacktopped with the use of asphalt technology while RCC has been done on 1.9-km.
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Drinking water facility to 900 households
Myagdi, July 16: The drinking water facility, including ‘one house, one water tap’ has been expanded to 900 households in the district.
According to Division Chief Jhalak Mohan Ojha said that the Drinking Water, Water Resource and Irrigation Division Office expanded access to drinking water of 931 households from the projects operated in the fiscal year 2081/82 BS.
Out of a total of 1,283 taps installed, 931 have been connected with meters. Through the project, 3,119 meters of main pipeline, 106 meters of branch pipeline, 22 reserve tanks with a capacity of 4,072 cubic meters, and 277 other structures have been built.
A budget of Rs 69.8 million has been allocated for 36 schemes of the provincial government, with 35 schemes implemented and Rs 67 million or 96.09% of the allocated money spent.
The federal government has appropriated a budget of Rs 5.1 million for five schemes, with three implemented and Rs 4.39 million or 86.19% spent, Ojha informed.
This year drinking water facilities have been expanded at Dawa, Histaan Aula, Pulachaur, and Baranjako Dah-Kharka.
Chairperson of the Gharamdi Drinking Water Project users’ committee, Dilprasad Phagami stated that drinking water is being distributed installing pipes with meters to every household.
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Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA): Essential But Underutilized
Kathmandu, July 16: When citizens are systematically excluded from planning, implementation, and monitoring processes, particularly in areas like public auditing, the legitimacy, transparency, and effectiveness of governance are fundamentally compromised. Yet, in practice, citizen participation in public audit remains a critically neglected domain in Nepal.
The essence of democracy lies not merely in the right to vote but in the continuous engagement of citizens in public affairs. This engagement can be both indirect (through elected representatives) and direct (through active participation in decision-making, planning, and oversight). Unfortunately, despite strong constitutional and legal provisions, direct citizen engagement in Nepal’s governance landscape—especially in audit processes—is weak and sporadic.
The Participation Gap in Nepal
A comprehensive survey carried out in all 13 local levels of Kavrepalanchok district under the Local Accountability and Transparency Initiative Projectimplemented by Samudayik Sarathi revealed troubling statistics. Over 79% of respondents had not participated in local planning processes, 85% were absent during policy formulation, and 83% had not taken part in any form of monitoring or oversight. These figures are indicative of a broader national trend—where citizen engagement remains largely symbolic or limited to electoral participation.
Even in the national electoral process, participation is far from optimal. In the last federal elections, only 61% of eligible citizens voted. The lack of legal provisions for absentee voting continues to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of Nepalis living abroad. Moreover, the absence of a “None of the Above” (NOTA) option discourages participation among voters dissatisfied with the available candidates, further suppressing civic engagement.
According to TheGlobalEconomy.com, Nepal ranks 38th out of 171 countries on the Civil Society Participation Index, scoring 0.851. However, this ranking masks deeper structural issues. The 2023 Open Budget Survey by the International Budget Partnership scored Nepal a mere 31 out of 100 on public participation in budget processes—placing it in the “limited” category. This underscores the need for urgent, systemic interventions to improve civic engagement in fiscal oversight.
The Value of Citizen Participation
“Leave No One Behind” (LNOB) is the core slogan of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This phrase encapsulates the overarching commitment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to ensure the citizen engagement in all segments of the development process.
Citizen participation in governance is not a luxury—it is a necessity. As defined by development theorists like Bryson (2016), participation refers to the direct involvement of people in decisions that impact their lives. In governance, it implies that stakeholders—either directly or through representatives—are involved in shaping policies, plans, and programmes. Participation fosters ownership, enhances accountability, and builds trust between citizens and the state.
In her seminal 1969 paper “A Ladder of Citizen Participation,” Sherry R. Arnstein argued that participation must go beyond tokenism. She defined eight levels of engagement, only three of which, namely partnership, delegated power, and citizen control, constitute genuine participation. These are the levels where power is shared, citizens influence decisions, and institutional mechanisms respond to their voices.
Globally, the concept of Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA) is increasingly gaining traction. Institutions such as the United Nations and the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) have long recognized CPA as a tool for enhancing transparency, improving governance, and combating misuse of public funds.
A 2011 joint UN/INTOSAI report emphasized that engaging citizens in audits not only increases the legitimacy of audit findings but also builds trust between citizens and the state.
Strong Legal Provisions—Weak Implementation
Nepal’s Constitution robustly endorses citizen participation. The very preamble speaks of sovereignty, autonomy, and self-rule. Article 51 (c) commits the state to ensure citizen participation in development processes. Furthermore, the 16th Five-Year Plan prioritizes inclusive participation in planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation—particularly for targeted groups.
The Local Government Operation Act (2017) obliges local governments to coordinate with civil society, the private sector, and community organizations in development and service delivery. It mandates citizen participation in project selection. Similarly, the Monitoring and Evaluation Act (2023) encourages inclusion of both service providers and recipients in evaluation activities.
The Good Governance Act (2007) and accompanying regulations require stakeholder consultation and citizen ownership in project implementation. Public hearings are enshrined as formal mechanisms for citizen feedback. Despite this strong legal scaffolding, participation in practice remains fragmented, underfunded, and under prioritized.
Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA): An Overlooked Opportunity
Auditing is typically viewed as a technical activity conducted by financial experts to examine expenditures and detect anomalies. However, the concept of Citizen Participatory Audit (CPA) offers a transformative shift. It integrates citizens—especially civil society actors—as partners in the audit process. Their involvement can enrich audits with on-the-ground insights, enhances the credibility of findings, and foster public trust in oversight mechanisms.
Nepal initiated CPA in 2013 (2070 B.S.) through a virtual exchange with the Commission on Audit of the Philippines, supported by the World Bank. This led to the development of a CPA Operational Directive in 2016 and its inclusion in the five-year strategy of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). In 2017, CPA was piloted in eight earthquake-affected districts in collaboration with eight civil society organizations.
Despite these pioneering efforts, CPA has yet to be institutionalized. While the OAG conducted 15 performance audits in the last fiscal year, civil society participation in these processes remains negligible.
Challenges of CPA
Despite the promising potential of citizen engagement in auditing processes, several interlinked challenges continue to inhibit meaningful participation. A primary barrier is the perception of auditing as a highly technical field, often seen as the exclusive domain of financial experts and government officials.
This perception discourages ordinary citizens and even community-based organizations from getting involved, assuming they lack the required expertise. Compounding this is the limited public awareness about citizen participatory audit (CPA)—its purpose, scope, and entry points. Public outreach and communication regarding CPA opportunities remain minimal, and as a result, most citizens are unaware that such engagement is not only possible but also legally and institutionally encouraged.
There also exists a significant trust deficit. Many citizens are skeptical about whether their participation will have any tangible impact or lead to greater accountability. This cynicism is rooted in historical patterns of poor responsiveness from government institutions and a lack of visible consequences for corruption. Unrealistic expectations from government institutions further undermine participation. The Office of the Auditor General (OAG), for instance, often expects civil society organizations (CSOs) to volunteer their time and resources for audits without offering financial support or compensation. Such expectations are impractical and unsustainable, especially considering the time, expertise, and logistical coordination that quality participation demands.
Another major constraint is the imbalance in support structures. While international development partners have invested significantly in public sector reforms, they have largely neglected the capacity-building and mobilization needs of CSOs that are crucial for grassroots accountability.
As a result, while public institutions are strengthened, the civic actors meant to complement them remain under-resourced and underprepared. Finally, the procedural complexity of participating in audits discourages potential contributors. The current CPA framework requires civil society actors to submit proposals, undergo selection, participate in training, and enter into formal agreements—all of which demand time, resources, and institutional maturity. With no direct benefit or clear recognition, many capable organizations choose not to engage.
Way Forward
To unlock the full potential of citizen participatory auditing in Nepal, a multi-pronged strategy must be adopted—one that simplifies access, strengthens capacity, and ensures institutional ownership. First, the participation process must be simplified. The Office of the Auditor General should review and streamline existing CPA procedures, enabling concerned citizens and local organizations to raise audit issues and submit supporting documentation without being subjected to excessive bureaucracy. This would lower entry barriers and encourage broader engagement, especially from smaller, community-based organizations.
Second, technology must be leveraged to bridge the gap between central institutions and remote communities. User-friendly digital platforms can facilitate the submission of citizen reports, provide access to audit findings, and serve as two-way communication tools between auditors and the public. Such platforms would also enhance transparency and inclusiveness in real time.
Third, a nationwide awareness and communication campaign is needed to inform the public about the rights, opportunities, and mechanisms of CPA. This can be done through mass media, social media, community radio, and grassroots engagement, ensuring that citizens from all walks of life understand how they can play a role in improving governance through audits.
Fourth, it is essential to incentivize citizen engagement. Participatory auditing should be recognized as a form of professional civic service. Citizen auditors and CSOs must receive appropriate training, resources, and compensation to participate meaningfully and sustainably. Without adequate support, expectations of voluntary involvement are unrealistic and counter-productive.
Fifth, development partners must work in closer partnership with the state and civil society. Donors such as the World Bank and bilateral agencies should allocate specific funding to bolster CSO participation in oversight mechanisms. Their investments should not only target state reforms but also empower civic actors who can ensure those reforms are effectively implemented and monitored.
Finally, the Office of the Auditor General must take full ownership of this agenda. It must develop a clear and well-resourced strategy to institutionalize citizen participation as a core element of its auditing framework. This includes building strategic partnerships with civil society, organizing joint training programmes, and establishing mechanisms for continuous feedback and improvement. Through such measures, participatory auditing can become a credible, impactful, and sustainable pillar of public accountability in Nepal.
It is time for Nepal’s public institutions, civil society, and international development partners to move from token participation to meaningful collaboration. The policy framework exists. The civic energy exists. What are needed now are leadership, investment, and institutional commitment to scale up citizen participation in audit and build a more accountable, transparent, and inclusive state.
[The author is the Executive Director, Samudayik Sarathi]
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Madhes Province Chief authenticates two bills
Mahendranagar (Dhanusha), July 16: Chief of Madhes Province, Sumitra Subedi Bhandari, has authenticated two bills that were passed by the Madhes Province Assembly.
‘Bill designed to implement the proposal related to finance of the Madhes Province government’ and ‘Bill designed to make arrangement to allocate and spend amount from Madhes Province Reserve Fund for fiscal year 2082/83’ were authenticated.
Bhandari certified both bills in accordance with Article 201(2) of the Constitution of Nepal.
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Freedom fighter Kushwaha no more
Mahottari, July 16: Ramchandra Singh Kushwaha, a veteran freedom fighter of the country’s democratic movements, passed away on Tuesday night.
Kushwaha was long suffering from cancer and breathed his last at Bir Hospital while availing treatment.
He is survived by wife, two sons and two daughters. His body has been brought to his residence at Padariya in Mahottari district and his final rites would be performed today itself.
In separate condolence messages, Nepali Congress Mahottari district President Nageshwor Yadav, Communist Party of Nepal (UML) Mahottari’s Chairperson Baliram Yadav and CPN (Maoist Centre)’s district In-Charge Prakash Hari Pokharel expressed their deep sorrow over the demise of Kushwaha.
They also extended condolence to the bereaved family, friends and well-wishers.
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Kagbeni-Korala road obstructed due to landslide
Mustang, July 16: The Kagbeni-Korala road under the national pride project, Jomsom-Korala road, which connects the north and south of the district, has been blocked due to a landslide.
According to the District Police Office of Mustang, the Korala road has been blocked since early this morning after a landslide, along with rocks, fell onto the road in Manebhir following last night’s rainfall.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Chhiring Kippa Lama of the District Police Office said the road was blocked after a landslide with rocks fell from above the road in the Manebhir area of Korala road, about 200 metres north of Kagkhola located in Kagbeni.
He stated that necessary human resources along with bulldozers has been sent to clear the road which has been blocked for some time.
After the Kagbeni-Korala road was blocked in Mustang, vehicles commuting to Upper Mustang have been halted. Lama said a landslide has caused large boulders to fall from above, and it may take some time to clear the road.
He mentioned that the landslide removal work was carried out to allow the immediate use of motorcycles and light vehicles.
With the rain last night in Mustang, the water level of the Kali Gandaki River has risen significantly. The district administration office has urged the settlements in the coastal areas to remain alert.
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Nepal-India border points in Baitadi, Darchula to remain closed on July 24 and 28
Baitadi, July 16: The bordering points in Baitadi and Darchula district are to be closed on coming July 24 and July 28 in view of the Panchayat election in the Uttarakhand State of India.
The Panchayat election in the State is being held in two phases: July 24 and July 28.
Chief District Officer of Baitadi, Punya Bikram Poudel, shared that it has been decided to close the border checkpoints in Baitadi and Darchula keeping in mind the impending election in the neighbouring Indian state.
CDO Poudel informed that the Pulghat check point in Darchula district will be shut down from the evening of July 21 upto the morning of July 24.
Similarly, The Jhulaghat check point in Baitadi will be closed from the evening of July 25 till the morning of July 28.
If these check points need to be opened for any contingency or emergency situation during this period, it could be done in mutual consent of the both countries, he added.
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Dillydallying in making laws creates obstacles to achieve national goal: President Paudel
Kathmandu, July 16: President Ramchandra Paudel has said dillydallying in making necessary acts and laws from the parliament would create obstacles to achieve national aspirations.
During the meeting with journalists associated to the Journalists Society for Parliamentary Affairs (JSPA) Nepal at the Office of the President today, President Paudel opined that necessary discussion, consensus and collaboration would make parliamentary activities more people- oriented and instill people’s trust towards parliament, preventing a deadlock situation in the parliament.
He laid emphasis that all sides should play their respective roles being united in favour of the democratic system as it is the best system, saying democratic practices have been exercised less in Nepal.
Sharing that Parliament in democratic governance system is the place to raise voices of the people and making necessary laws, the President expressed the view that the role of media persons is significant to make the act and laws making process more transparent and accountable by disseminating factual news.
President Paudel expressed the belief that there would be support and cooperation with warning from media persons writing on the parliamentary affairs beat in order to make laws in favour of the people, to raise contemporary and burning issues, to make parliamentary practice more effective and accountable through the parliament and parliamentary committees.
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Lumbini Buddhist University senate meeting: Budget of over Rs 490 million passed
Kathmandu, July 16: The 18th senate meeting of the Lumbini-based Lumbini Buddhist University today has approved the proposed budget of over Rs 490 million.
The meeting presided over by Prime Minister and Chancellor of the University KP Sharma Oli at his official residence at Baluwatar approved the budget. The budget was presented by University’s Registrar Dr Tilakram Acharya.
During the meeting, Registrar Dr Acharya apprised the meeting that the University’s arrear stood at the 0.5 per cent as of the end of the current fiscal year 2024/25.
The senate meeting of all universities and health institutions are being summoned in a short notice after the instruction of Chancellor Oli to get their proposed budget and annual programmes endorsed before the new fiscal year that begins from tomorrow.
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Chandragiri Municipality’s budget for FY 2025/26 is Rs 2.93 billion
Kathmandu, July 16: The municipal assembly of Chandragiri Municipality has approved a total budget of two billion 934 million 600 thousand for the fiscal year 2082/83 (2025-26) by a majority.
The 16th session of the municipal assembly has brought the budget with current expenditure of Rs one billion 227 million 800 thousand and a capital expenditure of Rs one billion 706 million 800 thousand.
In the meeting, the municipality’s spokesperson Krishna Prasad Khadgi presented the budget and programmes.
Mayor Ghanshyam Giri said that the budget and programmes for the fiscal year 2082/83 BS have been approved by a majority, expressing confidence that the budget will address the demands of the residents.
He clarified that the budget is implementation-oriented and urged all to unite for the prosperity of the city through consensus, cooperation and unity.
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Five Nepali workers rescued from Gujarat in India
Rajbiraj (Saptari), July 16: Five Nepali workers facing severe hardships in their workplace in Gujarat, India have been rescued and reunited with their families, according to Tirahut rural municipality in Saptari district.
They were employed at a cold store at Johorapur in the Gujarat State where they reportedly endured physical assault and mental torture by their employer, said Bijay Yadav, Chairperson of Tirahut rural municipality.
The workers hailing from Saptari district were also denied the wages they had been promised and were threatened and exploited, said Chairperson Yadav.
The rescued workers were Sakaldev Sada, 60, of Tirahut rural municipality and 28-year-old Chandan Khang and Shailendra Sada of Hanumannagar Kankalini municipality and three others, according to Yadav.
He further shared that the rescue operation resulted in a success due to the active initiation of cyber security analyst and media person Abhinav Kumar and in coordination with the Nepal National Mushahar Association.
Association’s Saptari chapter Chairperson Shivadev Sada mentioned that the rescued operation was carried out in coordination with the local authorities at Jodhpur in Gujarat as well the Chairperson of the Tirahut rural municipality.
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‘Cooperation among three-tier governments in disaster management necessary’
Kathmandu, July 16: Minister for Home Affairs, Ramesh Lekhak, has pointed out the need of coordination and cooperation among three-tier governments in disaster risk reduction and management.
At a programme organised at the Home Ministry today, Minister Lekhak opined that disaster management falls under the jurisdiction of three levels in the allocation of jurisdiction of federal, province and local governments.
“We are in a high-risk geography. So, coordination and cooperation among the three-tier government is a must for disaster preparedness and management,” he mentioned.
Stating that all seven provinces have emergency warehouses, the Home Minister shared that such warehouses have already been handed over in order to operate them by the province government. According to him, the Disaster Management Authority has the responsibility of warehouse of Kathmandu Valley.
He laid emphasis on the need of making such emergency warehouses capable up to lower levels for disaster management by establishing it in local levels as local people’s representatives are closest to the citizens.
Collaboration and cooperation of all was necessary in early warning of disaster and in post-disaster search, rescue and rehabilitation, the Home Minister argued.
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Dengue awareness drive to begin from tomorrow
Kathmandu, July 16: The Ministry of Health and Population here today declared that upcoming Nepali month of Shrawan will be observed as the Dengue Awareness Drive.
Minister for Health and Population Pradip Paudel made the announcement about the campaign that will officially begin from tomorrow.
“Since the dengue cases surge and reaches its peak during the Shrawan, the month has been declared as the Dengue Awareness Drive to spread awareness about the mosquito-borne infection from the beginning,” said Minister Paudel.
Additionally, the ‘Search and Destroy’ campaign will be launched every Friday at 10:00 AM from Nepali month of Shrawan to end of Kartik (mid-November) considering the higher risk of dengue during this period.
“Shrawan month usually reports highest infection rate. If precaution is observed, the infection can be reduced. The campaign is launched to control the potential risk,” explained Minister Paudel.
Stating that dengue infection cannot be reduced by the government’s sole effort, the Minister called for collaborative efforts to minimize the risk on the infection.
Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Bikash Devkota, urged everyone to adopt measures to prevent water from accumulating in their surroundings, especially with the heavy rainfall during the Shrawan month.
He believed that if the ‘Search and Destroy’ campaign is effectively launched in every offices and neighbourhood from Shrawan to Kartik month, it would significantly reduce the threat of dengue.
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Nepal Sanskrit University senate meeting approves budget of Rs 1.31 billion
Kathmandu, July 16: The 78th meeting of the Nepal Sanskrit University (NSU) Senate has approved a budget of Rs 1.31 billion and programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26.
The budget for income and expenditure based on the physical development targets and programmes presented by the Registrar, Prof Madhav Adhikari, has been passed in the meeting chaired by Prime Minister and NSU Chancellor KP Sharma Oli at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar today.
In the meeting, Chancellor Oli said that since Sanskrit is a rich heritage of Nepal, it is the special responsibility of this university to provide quality education along with the preservation and promotion of this heritage.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Dr Dhaneshwar Nepal stated that the concept of ‘One University: One Model Gurukul’ has been proposed in all seven provinces to preserve the Gurukul system and ensure a permanent student source for the university.
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Government makes public decisions of cabinet meeting, 16th of Saun to be marked as National Millet Day
Kathmandu, July 16: The government has decided to observe the 16th of the Nepali month of Saun every year as the National Millet Day.
Releasing the decisions of a Cabinet meeting held on July 7 today, Spokesperson of the government and Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, shared that permission was granted to Vice-Chairperson of the National Planning Commission, Prof Dr Shiva Raj Adhikari, to participate in a meeting of high-level political mechanism for sustainable development organised in New York from July 14-24, to given permission to Chief Minister of Gandaki Province for China visit from July 22-28 on the occasion of 70th anniversary of establishment of Nepal China diplomatic relations.
Similarly, the government also decided to approve the image and size of bank note in order to introduce new bank notes of Rs 1,000 denomination from Nepal Rastra Bank.
Similarly, the meeting decided to approve additional 10.8 million US dollar grant assistance to be received from World Bank for School Sector Improvement Programme, to transfer 37 Lieutenant Generals, to provide land of national forest located at Resunga municipality-8 in Gulmi district for the construction of jip line and sky cycling in Resunga municipality, and to give permission to Forest and Environment to attend Norway to Strengthen Cooperation Programme scheduled in Norway from July 25-30, he added.
Minister Gurung shared that the government also decided to give permission to renew the memorandum of understanding signed between the governments of Nepal and Japan on March 20, 2019 to certain skilled workers to Japan for five years, to approve O&M of the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat and subordinate offices, to approve Casino Regulations, 2082′ and National Census Policy, 2082.
During the press conference, Minister Gurung stated that the decisions of the Council of Ministers’ meeting held on July 14th have also been made public.
He said that the government’s decision is to grant approval for Dr Jaya Bahadur Tandon, a member of the National Planning Commission, to participate in the Second UN Food Systems Summit Stock Take (UNFSS +4) event to be held in Ethiopia on July 27-29.
According to him, a committee has been formed under the chairmanship of former High Court Judge Krishna Giri to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the conduct and performance of and adherence to official responsibilities by Sharad Ojha, the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nepal Insurance Authority, which includes members Jivan Prakash Sitoula and Kapildev Oli.
It has been decided to appoint the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Sewantak Pokhrel, to act as the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nepal Insurance Authority until the investigation is completed and another arrangement is made.
The Cabinet meeting decided to accept the additional concessional loan assistance of 5.7 billion Japanese yen to be received from the Government of Japan for the construction of the Nagdhunga Tunnel project, and to grant approval to Nepali Ambassador to South Africa, Prof Kapilman Shrestha, to participate in the ‘First Global SME Ministerial Meeting’ to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa on July 22-24.
The government also decided to approve the use of 2-6-1-2 ropani of land registered in the name of the District Coordination Committee of Dadeldhura for the construction of a multipurpose building, to appoint Dr Khagaraj Sharma from Rupandehi to the vacant post of chairperson of the National Cooperative Regulatory Authority, and to extend the term of the Phapla International Cricket Ground and Sports Infrastructure Development Committee for four months starting from July 13.
The government spokesperson informed that the Cabinet meeting has decided to grant approval to Minister for Communication and Information Technology to participate in the ‘World Artificial Intelligence Conference – 2025’ to be held in Shanghai, China from July 26 to 28, and also to grant approval to Health and Population Minister Pradip Paudel to attend the ‘Global Health Forum (GHF) – 2025’ conference in Beijing, China on July 24 and 25.
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