While the total budget for the 12th FYP is Nu 310B, the government has already exhausted around 89% of the budget with one fiscal year still remaining for the FYP to end By Tashi Namgyal By the end of this fiscal year, Bhutan would have exhausted about 89 percent of the 12th Plan’s capital budget and only a meager 11 …

BITS and GST softwares will ensure all aspects of the supply chain are recorded and tax leakages are sealed By Tashi Namgyal As a measure to seal tax leakages in the future, two new softwares will be developed by the Department of Revenue and Customs (DRC) next year. Bhutan Integrated Taxation Systems (BITS), and Goods and Services Tax (GST) softwares …

Royal Audit Authority issued 412 audit reports and revealed irregularities amounting close to Nu 2000 million during the past year By Rinzin Norbu The past year saw unresolved irregularities amounting to Nu 2,051.233M showing an increase of 44.95% as compared with 2019. Most increases were noted in non-performing loans of the financial institutions, Northern East West Highway (NEWH) construction and …

FM maintains his stance in the Nu 19M GR Fund saga By Tashi Namgyal The Opposition Party expressed dissatisfaction over the reprioritization of the 12th Plan activities and also lambasted the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) government of ‘policy corruption’ and ‘polarized politics’ amidst the usage of Nu 19M General Reserve (GR) Fund by the finance minister. “The Opposition Party has …

The Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) charged Penjore Penjore for defamation citing three Sections of the Penal Code of Bhutan 2004 By Tashi Namgyal In a breakthrough court trial session, the media was allowed to attend for the first time when the Thimphu District Court’s Bench II presented the charges that was submitted by the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) against Penjore …

Climate Smart Agriculture in South Asia: Fostering regional cooperation for sustainable and resilient agricultural adaptation Dhaka, Bangladesh, 24 November 2021: The International Fund for AgriculturalDevelopment (IFAD), SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), International Food PolicyResearch Institute (IFPRI) and SAARC Development Fund (SDF) have launched apartnership for Scaling-up Climate Smart Agriculture in South Asia. The central objectiveof the partnership is to develop evidence-based …

By Phurpa Wangmo Thimphu To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of India’s Independence, the Indian Embassy  in collaboration with the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India,  the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI),  the Society of Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI) organized a virtual Buyer-Seller Meet on Thursday  between Indian …

Health Ministry made the pledge during World Toilet Day in 2020 By Phurpa Wangmo Coinciding with the observation of World Toilet Day 2021, three more dzongkhags and 26 additional gewogs achieved 100% improved sanitation coverage in 2021 and have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF). With 129 gewogs and eight dzongkhags achieving ODF status, Bhutan has reached the 62 percent …

The FM and GRF – abuse, accountability, civil service reform I do not know if it is the same case. During the question answer session of the Finance Minister in the National Council (NC) in the last session of the parliament, NC member from Trashigang, Lhatu, asked the Finance Minister about more funds given to Paro. Before even answering the …

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has blatantly accused the finance minister of ‘siphoning money and political gratification’ over the Nu 19 million General Reserve Fund issue By Tashi Namgyal People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in a press release this week drew nationwide attention and stated that the finance minister has recklessly misused Nu 19 million (M) from the General Reserve (GR) …