The Government of Nepal has unveiled a budget of NPR 1.964 trillion for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel presented the annual revenue and expenditure estimates in a joint session of the Federal Parliament. Compared to the current year, the budget has increased by NPR 104 billion.

Budget Structure:

Total Budget: NPR 1.964 trillion
Current Expenditure: NPR 1.180 trillion (60.1%)
Capital Expenditure: NPR 407.89 billion (20.8%)
Financial Management: NPR 375.24 billion (19.1%)
Fiscal Transfer (to provinces and municipalities): NPR 417.83 billion

Revenue Sources:

Internal Revenue: NPR 1.315 trillion
Foreign Grants: NPR 53.45 billion
Internal Loans: NPR 362 billion
External Loans: NPR 233.66 billion

Key Announcements:

No change in tax on electric vehicles.
Historic rise in capital expenditure focusing on infrastructure.
Establishment of an Asset Management Company to manage bad loans.
Launch of a Neo Bank – a fully digital banking institution.
Start of bond secondary market trading.
National ID mandatory for all financial transactions.
30% of Nepal Telecom shares to be divested to the public.
Non-resident Nepalis to be allowed to invest in the secondary market.
Cybersecurity insurance program to be introduced.
Nepal Stock Exchange to undergo restructuring.
Inflation allowance raised to NPR 5,000; salary unchanged.
Land registration and clearance process to go online.

Social Allocations:

Midday meal program: NPR 10.19 billion for 2.8 million students up to grade 5.
Free sanitary pads: NPR 1.29 billion for 1.3 million female students.
Free company registration and renewal for women entrepreneurs.
SEE exams to be conducted at the provincial level.
Scholarships for marginalized groups like Musahar, Dom, and Chamar.

Education, Agriculture, Energy & Industry:

Establishment of a "Teacher Bank" to fill gaps in English, Science, and Math teachers.
Promotion of virtual learning through a digital learning portal.
Measures to reduce crop damage from wild animals.
Land ownership documents to be distributed to 500,000 landless families.
‘Make in Nepal, Made in Nepal’ campaign to boost domestic products.
Electricity tariff to vary by time of use.
Promotion of electric stoves as an alternative to LPG.

Investment and Structural Reforms:

NPR 700 billion worth of project agreements with the private sector.
Up to 25% of export earnings allowed for foreign investment.
Legal recognition of sweat equity.
No changes in electric vehicle tax brackets.

This budget emphasizes economic growth through infrastructure development, education, health, social security, digital transformation, financial transparency, and collaboration with the private sector.