KATHMANDU: Nepal News presents today’s snapshot of Nepal’s economic activities. Get quick updates on major market movements, policy shifts, and financial developments shaping the economy of Nepal. Here are the key economic highlights for today:

7 Provinces Table Annual Budgets Totaling Over Rs 291 Billion

Seven provincial governments presented their annual budgets for the fiscal year 2026/27 on Asar 1, totaling Rs 291 billion. Bagmati Province presented the largest fiscal blueprint at Rs 66.93 billion, followed by Madhesh Province at Rs 41.13 billion and Koshi Province at Rs 40.44 billion. Sudurpaschim Province allocated Rs 37.70 billion, Lumbini Province announced Rs 37.38 billion, and Karnali Province tabled Rs 35.39 billion, while Gandaki Province registered the lowest budget at Rs 32.99 billion.

NEPSE Decreases by 6.31 Points with Rs 4.04 Billion Turnover

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) declined by 6.31 points on Tuesday, closing at 2,705.45 points, down 0.23 percent from the previous trading day. Market turnover also fell to Rs 4.04 billion from Rs 4.41 billion on Monday. A total of 10.7 million shares of 355 companies were traded through 48,116 transactions. Among traded companies, share prices of 80 companies increased, 177 declined, and 15 remained unchanged. Of the 13 sectoral indices, only Mutual Fund and Trading posted gains, while the remaining 11 sectors closed lower. The Sensitive Index fell by 1.48 points to 464.64 points.

Oil Corporation Maintains Current Retail Prices for Petroleum Products

The Nepal Oil Corporation decided to maintain its existing retail prices for petroleum products despite ongoing price fluctuations across the international energy market. The decision was finalized during a board of directors meeting held on June 15, confirming that standard retail rates will remain unchanged starting Monday at 12:01 AM. Under the current price structure, petrol is priced at Rs 214.50 per liter for the first category, Rs 216 for the second category, and Rs 217 for the third category. Meanwhile, diesel and kerosene retail rates remain fixed at Rs 222.50, Rs 224, and Rs 225 per liter across the respective geographic tiers, placing the Kathmandu Valley under the third category.

Department Approves Foreign Investment of Rs 47.616 Billion in 11 Months

The Department of Industry approved Rs 47.616 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) commitments during the first 11 months of the fiscal year up to the end of Jestha. The investment pool includes Rs 7.716 billion approved via automatic channels and Rs 39.9 billion via the standard approval route across 914 total projects. Sectoral distributions show agriculture and forestry attracted Rs 22.088 billion, tourism secured Rs 12.997 billion, and services received Rs 4.59 billion, generating 25,450 projected local jobs.

Insurance Board Initiates Claims Settlement Process

The Health Insurance Board initiated administrative procedures to release Rs 911.8 million in pending medical insurance claims to 202 empaneled service provider hospitals. The fiscal release follows a series of state allocations managed by the Ministry of Health and Food Cleanliness to clear medical claims and fund treatment programs for impoverished citizens. Financial updates show the government settled Rs 1.032 billion on May 27, followed by Rs 321.3 million on June 4 and an additional Rs 273.7 million on June 10 to support healthcare accessibility.

Medical Education Commission Approves Scholarship Grant Procedure 2026

The Medical Education Commission has approved the Scholarship Grant Procedure, 2026, enabling grants to medical institutions offering free scholarships at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including DM and MCh programs. The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Monday, following approval from the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Ministry of Finance within 24 hours. The new framework resolves a legal gap after earlier guidelines became invalid under the Legislation Act, 2025, supported by amendments to the National Medical Education Act, 2019. The meeting was co-chaired by Health and Food Safety Minister Nisha Mehta and attended by commission officials, including Vice-Chair Prof. Dr. Anjani Kumar Jha.

Minister Sunil Lamsal Receives 4-Point Demand Letter From FCAN

The Federation of Contractors Associations (FCAN) submitted a formal 4-point demand letter to Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal to address ongoing operational challenges in the construction sector. The federation’s demands focus on immediate price adjustments for contracts hit by inflation, a blanket extension for delayed projects, scientific management for troubled contracts without blacklisting, and the withdrawal of impractical directives issued by the ministry. During the meeting, Minister Sunil Lamsal stated that the government remains sensitive to the challenges facing construction businesses and confirmed that the ministry is coordinating long-term practical solutions to support infrastructure development.

BYD Electric Vehicles Detained in Mustang Released

The Armed Police Force (APF) has released 775 BYD electric vehicles that were detained for two weeks in Mustang over suspected import irregularities. The decision follows a preliminary report from a Ministry of Finance investigation committee, which found no discrepancies in the procurement process by importer Simon Inc. Following central directives, the APF handed over the vehicles on Sunday evening, allowing customs-cleared units to head toward their destinations while the remaining vehicles complete their necessary paperwork.

Cyber Bureau Warns of Banking Frauds During 2026 World Cup

The Cyber Bureau of the Nepal Police issued a public security warning regarding active digital fraud syndicates targeting mobile banking users during the 2026 World Cup. Financial fraudsters are using misleading social media advertisements that offer free streaming links to trick individuals into installing malicious Android Application Package (APK) files. Once users grant system permissions, hackers gain full control of the mobile device to drain linked bank accounts. The bureau advised citizens to avoid suspicious file formats like .apk, .exe, .bat, or .sh and to report cybercrime incidents directly via the official hotline ‘9851286772’ or through the bureau’s verified electronic mail address.

Customs Enforcement Drives Revenue Growth at Nepalgunj Office

The Nepalgunj Customs Office recorded an increase in monthly revenue collections following the strict enforcement of a mandatory customs duty on cross-border goods valued over Rs 100. The regulatory push led to higher revenue collections, yielding Rs 1.933 billion from mid-February to mid-March, Rs 2.142 billion from mid-March to mid-April, and Rs 1.842 billion from mid-April to mid-May. Total collections reached Rs 16.739 billion over ten months, hitting 68.2 percent of the Rs 24.545 billion annual fiscal target.

Valley Traffic Police Penalize Over 2K Drivers within 24 Hours

The Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office penalized 2,299 motorists for violating traffic regulations during a coordinated 24-hour enforcement sweep, generating more than Rs 2.1 million in state revenue. Official citations included 95 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol, 99 for unauthorized ride-sharing operations, 129 for traffic light violations, and 147 for speeding. Additional penalties were issued to 108 drivers for lane discipline infractions, 115 for blowing horns in restricted zones, 87 for sidewalk parking, and 98 for driving down one-way streets, alongside 1,421 general traffic violations across the capital city.

Bank Establishes Disaster Management Fund Across All Local Units

All eight local government units in Banke have launched a Disaster Management Fund along with policies aimed at reducing disaster risks and strengthening emergency response capacity. Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City has deposited Rs 12 million into the fund, followed by Kohalpur Municipality with Rs 1.3 million, Baijanath Rural Municipality with Rs 8.1 million, Janaki Rural Municipality with Rs 1.2 million, Duduwa Rural Municipality with Rs 1 million, Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality with Rs 273,000, and Narainapur Rural Municipality with Rs 500,000. Officials said the funds have been operationalized considering the rising risk of natural disasters in the district, including fire and flooding incidents that frequently affect areas like Narainapur. Authorities also confirmed that disaster response materials, 19 helipads, and 12 rubber boats are in place for rescue operations across local government units.

DAP Fertilizer Shortage Hits Paddy Farmers in Kanchanpur

A shortage of DAP (diammonium phosphate) fertilizer has emerged in Kanchanpur as farmers begin paddy cultivation, raising concerns over timely access to agricultural inputs. The Krishi Samagri Company branch office reports that local cooperatives are distributing supplies, but the available stocks of DAP have not met the demand. The branch has already distributed 450 metric tons of DAP and 500 metric tons of urea this season. DAP is being sold at Rs 2,394 per bag, while urea is priced at Rs 944 per bag. Officials estimate the district faces an annual fertilizer deficit of around 400 metric tons. The shortfall has led some farmers to seek fertilizer from across the open border with India to meet cultivation needs.

Budget Cuts Leave 28 Projects Incomplete in Biruwa

Biruwa Rural Municipality in Syangja reported that 28 out of 254 proposed infrastructure projects for the fiscal year 2025/26 have been left stranded due to funding shortfalls. The project delays occurred after the federal government slashed its fiscal equalization grant by nearly Rs 20 million from the original Rs 84.6 million budget. Despite the funding cuts, the local administration successfully moved 226 projects into implementation and completed 176 schemes, utilizing a Rs 13.49 billion capital budget to finish a strategic road network connecting all eight local ward offices to boost the economy.

Tanahun Office Distributes 50 Beehives Under 50% Subsidy Plan

The District Agriculture Development Office in Tanahun distributed 50 beehives under a 50 percent financial subsidy program to local farmers in Kholagaun, located within Anbu Khaireni Rural Municipality-2. The agricultural equipment transfer was organized through the Rodikhola Farmers Group, operating under the annual guidelines of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management, and Cooperatives of Gandaki Province for the fiscal year 2025/26. The grant scheme is designed to expand commercial beekeeping, protect indigenous crops, deploy climate-resilient farming tools, and boost export-oriented crop production to increase household incomes and support local agricultural biodiversity through enhanced bee pollination.

Local Units in Kanchanpur Imposed Ban on Riverbed Extraction

Local municipalities across the Kanchanpur district implemented a complete ban on the extraction, collection, and transport of riverbed materials, including stones, gravel, and sand. Operating under Section 4, Subsection 16 of the Stone, Gravel, and Sand Extraction, Sales, and Management Criteria-2020, Bhimdatta, Bedkot, Shuklaphanta, and Krishnapur municipalities have halted all extraction activities since yesterday until the end of mid-September this year. The mandatory regulatory closure is enforced annually during the monsoon season to preserve natural river flows, protect local watersheds, reduce downstream flooding hazards, and maintain environmental stability across regional river systems like the Mahakali River.

10 Tippers Impounded for Illegal Transport of Sand

Police here have impounded 10 tippers and an excavator that were used to illegally extract and transport sands and aggregates from various places in Siraha district. A joint team of police from the Area Police Office of Golbazar Municipality and the Armed Police Force seized the excavator from Kamala River at Gamhariya of Siraha Municipality-13 and eight tippers from Gagan River at Golbazar Municipality-3. Officiating information officer at District Police Office, Naresh Limbu, informed that the police, acting on a tip-off, reached the sites where illegal extraction was taking place unchecked. Some vehicles were already loaded with aggregates. As soon as the police reached the site, all tipper drivers and excavator operators fled the scene. Police, however, took control of the vehicles, said Limbu.

Gold Traded at Rs 298,500, Silver at Rs 4,990

Gold prices in the market have increased today. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of gold today increased by Rs 300 per tola (11.66 grams) and is being bought and sold at Rs 298,500 per tola. On Monday, gold was traded at Rs 298,200 per tola. Similarly, the price of silver has decreased by Rs 25 per tola. The Federation stated that the price of silver has been fixed at Rs 4,990 per tola. On Monday, silver was traded at Rs 5,015 per tola.