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:

NRB Mandates National ID Card Verification for Digital Wallets

The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) instructed all payment service providers to verify digital wallet users against national identity card records, according to its unified directives. Wallet providers must obtain self-declarations from users regarding national identity cards and update electronic records by October 17 this year. Users lacking identity cards must be reminded monthly through mobile apps to complete Know Your Customer updates, while citizens residing abroad or vulnerable individuals unable to care for themselves may open wallets using alternative documents provided details are updated within 35 days of returning to Nepal.

NEPSE Rises 7.90 Points with Rs 6.26 Billion Turnover

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 7.90 points on Friday to close at 2,734.63, while daily turnover increased to Rs 6.26 billion from Rs 4.67 billion the previous day. Share prices of 143 companies advanced, 118 declined, and 15 remained unchanged. The Banking sector led gains, followed by Development Banks and Hotels and Tourism, while Trading, Manufacturing and Processing, Hydropower, Finance, and Others declined. Ridi Power Company, NRN Infrastructure and Development, Kumari Bank, Ankhukhola Jalvidhyut Company, and Reliance Spinning Mills led trading by turnover. Everest Color Company was the day’s top gainer with a 15 percent rise, while Corporate Development Bank posted the biggest loss, falling 7.38 percent.

Diesel Imports Reach Over Rs 172 Billion

The country imported Rs 172.42 billion worth of diesel during the fiscal year 2025/26, making it the country’s highest imported petroleum product, according to the Department of Customs. Following diesel, imports included crude soybean oil at Rs 132.76 billion, petrol at Rs 77.26 billion, liquefied petroleum gas at Rs 60.28 billion, and semi-processed iron at Rs 58.52 billion. Meanwhile, soybean oil topped exports at Rs 128.74 billion, while trade deficits reached Rs 951.95 billion with India and Rs 423.35 billion with China.

Smartphones Imports Reach Rs 48 Billion in FY 2025/26

The country imported 2,267,419 smartphones worth Rs 48.693 billion during the fiscal year 2025/26, marking a 37 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Department of Customs. Generating Rs 9.082 billion in state revenue, imports were led by China with 1,889,664 phones valued at Rs 36.792 billion, followed by India with 364,842 phones worth Rs 10.99 billion, and the United States with 1,789 units.

Govt. Firm on Rs 2.5 Million Mandatory Deposit for Educational Consultancies

Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel has stated that the government will not back down from the mandatory deposit requirement of Rs 2.5 million set for educational consultancy entrepreneurs. Speaking at Singha Durbar, Minister Pokharel clarified that the provision under the Educational Consultancy, Language Teaching, and Preparation Class Operation and Management Regulation 2026 will not be withdrawn. He also urged full utilization of the two-day weekly weekend off provision for educational institutions and government offices, while confirming ongoing discussions with Dr. Govinda KC.

Health Insurance Board Clears Rs 2 Billion in Claim Payments

The Health Insurance Board disbursed Rs 2.048 billion for approved health insurance claims covering mid-January this year, depositing funds directly into the bank accounts of service-providing healthcare institutions. Bringing cumulative payments up to date through January 14, 2026, for the fiscal year 2025/26, the board emphasized its ongoing commitment to maintaining regular, transparent, and phased claim settlements for partner hospitals and clinics across the country.

SSF Reports Low Regular Contributions from Overseas Workers

Approximately 92 percent of migrant workers registered with the Social Security Fund (SSF) fail to make regular monthly contributions after obtaining labor permits, leaving over Rs 5 billion uncollected monthly, according to fund statistics. While 2,332,000 overseas workers are registered, only 8 percent maintain regular deposits, generating a cumulative Rs 651 million vastly lower than the Rs 116.469 billion collected from 716,000 formal sector workers as most migrant workers treat registration merely as a mandatory formality for labor approval.

Sudurpashchim Exceeds Revenue Target with Rs 1.898 Billion

Sudurpashchim Province collected Rs 1.898 billion in internal revenue during the fiscal year 2025/26, exceeding its target of Rs 1.65 billion by Rs 248 million. According to the Provincial Treasury Controller Office, the surplus was driven largely by insurance claim payouts for government vehicles damaged during the Gen Z protest on September 9, 2025, keeping annual internal collections below the Rs 2 billion threshold for consecutive years.

Madhesh Collects Nearly Rs 130 Million in Traffic Revenue

Madhesh Province collected Rs 111.5 million in revenue from 110,755 traffic rule violations during the fiscal year 2025/26, alongside Rs 15.4 million from 848 overloaded vehicles penalized through transport offices. Although overall collections dropped due to a two-month disruption from the Gen Z protest and improved compliance, traffic accidents rose to 11,416 across eight districts while fatalities decreased by 30 to 534. Motorcycles accounted for the highest share of violations and accidents at 7,851 cases, prompting authorities to conduct 26,883 awareness programs involving 1,424,844 participants.

Gandaki Allocates Rs 20 Million for Youth Loan Subsidies

Gandaki Province has allocated Rs 20 million under its Return to Village program to provide interest subsidies on agricultural loans for youths returning from foreign employment or urban centers to start farming enterprises. The Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives announced the initiative alongside an additional allocation of Rs 10 million for agricultural ambulance support and Rs 26 million for organic fertilizer subsidies and production incentives, aiming to boost local employment and agricultural output.

Dang District Collects Rs 4.99 Billion in Revenue

Dang district collected Rs 4.998 billion in revenue during the fiscal year 2025/26, marking a decrease of Rs 550.8 million compared to the previous year. According to the District Treasury Controller Office, 42 federal offices contributed Rs 4.051 billion, led by the Inland Revenue Office, Dang, with Rs 3.693 billion, while 22 provincial offices raised Rs 946.8 million, spearheaded by transport management offices with Rs 560.1 million.

Oil Corporation Clarifies No LP Gas Shortage in Surkhet

The Nepal Oil Corporation Surkhet branch clarified that there is no shortage of Liquefied Petroleum gas in Birendranagar, attributing recent distribution issues to panic buying and hoarding. Office head Dipak Kumar Ghimire stated that regular imports continue from India, and the corporation has introduced a “One Person, One Cylinder” rule. Under this arrangement, 2,922 cylinders will be distributed through authorized dealers at Rs 2,060 per cylinder, while urging consumers to avoid unnecessary hoarding and report overcharging.

Harichowk-Yamdi Road Expanded into 4-Lane Highway for Rs 480 Million

The Harichowk-Yamdi road section in Pokhara has been expanded into a four-lane highway following repeated pressure from local residents, including a protest where locals planted paddy on the muddy road on National Paddy Day on June 29, 2024. The 2.2-kilometer stretch forms part of the Bhupi Sherchan Highway and Mid-Hill Highway. Upgraded by Motidan Construction Sewa under a contract awarded on July 30, 2022, for Rs 480 million, the project was completed following three deadline extensions through mid-May 2026.

Jhapa’s Food Grain Production Declines, Cultivated Area Shrinks

The district produced 761,433 metric tons of food grains in the fiscal year 2025/26, down from 852,208.25 metric tons a year earlier, as the area under cultivation continued to decline. According to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, food crops were cultivated on 130,386 hectares during the year, compared with 145,326.06 hectares in 2024/25, a decrease of nearly 14,940 hectares. The district produced 377,534.35 metric tons of monsoon paddy, 89,655.30 metric tons of spring paddy, 283,187.88 metric tons of maize, along with millet, buckwheat, wheat, and barley. The center said both cultivated land and food grain production have been declining in recent years.

NTA Blocks Over 200,000 Illegal Betting Apps

In a massive crackdown on digital financial crimes, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) has blocked over 223,000 websites and mobile applications linked to illegal online betting and financial scams. Prompted by government directives and heightened risks during the FIFA World Cup, the authority deployed a dedicated task force alongside Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to actively hunt and block illicit URLs in real time using specialized threat intelligence tools. Despite the ongoing challenge of operators launching new domains to bypass restrictions, officials emphasize that continuous monitoring, continuous URL tracking, and crowdsourced reporting via GitHub remain actively deployed to dismantle these illegal digital networks.

Guthi Corporation Initiates Search for Encroached Lands in Janakpur

Investigations and search operations have been launched to identify and reclaim encroached lands belonging to religious trusts and the Guthi Corporation, following a task force notice issued under administration chief Dhruba Ghimire. A seven-day public notice was issued in Janakpurdham instructing occupants to vacate illegal structures built on trust properties. According to Janakpurdham branch head Kishor Kumar Jha, an estimated 148,000 to 169,000 square meters of trust land have been encroached, including five ponds that have completely disappeared and built-up areas at Ratna Sagar and Belakutti.

NRB to Begin Exchange of INR 200 and 500 Banknotes

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has decided to provide exchange facilities for INR 200 and INR 500 banknotes following discussions with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The move comes as the use of the denominations has increased, particularly after the government allowed individuals to carry up to INR 25,000 in INR 200 and INR 500 notes from mid-November. Under existing rules, Nepali and Indian citizens may carry, exchange, or transport up to INR 25,000 in these banknotes issued after November 9, 2016. NRB said the ban on old INR 1,000 and INR 2,000 banknotes remains in force.

US Hands Over USD 1 Million Health Equipment to Nepal

The United States handed over a USD 1 million package of maternal, newborn, and child health equipment, along with a refrigerated freezer van, to support the healthcare system and national immunization program on Friday. US Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Scott Urbom joined government officials at the Department of Health Services in Teku for the handover, according to the US Embassy. The freezer van will transport vaccines at minus 20 degrees Celsius from the Central Vaccine Store to all seven provinces, while the health equipment will be distributed to provincial, district, and tertiary hospitals.

Department Files 7 Money Laundering Cases in FY 2025/26

The Department of Money Laundering Investigation filed 7 prosecution cases involving 121 defendants and claimed recovery amounting to approximately Rs 118.05 billion during the fiscal year 2025/26. Operating through specialized investigation branches alongside legal, administrative, and coordination units, the department investigates financial crimes related to revenue leakage, customs evasion, and illicit wealth accumulation, having intensified its investigative procedures and screening operations over the past year.

Gold Traded at Rs 285,500; Silver at Rs 4,350 Today

Gold and silver prices dropped in the local market today. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of gold plummeted by Rs 5,800 per tola (11.66 grams) to settle at Rs 285,500. On Thursday, gold was trading at Rs 291,300 per tola. Similarly, the price of silver also saw a decline today, dropping by Rs 155 per tola to trade at Rs 4,350. On Thursday, silver was priced at Rs 4,505 per tola.