Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) on Sunday decided to pull out of the government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. All minister representing the RSP submitted their resignation to Prime Minister Dahal on Sunday itself. Although the party has decided not to immediately withdraw its support to the government, the decision of the RSP to quit the government barely 41 days in office has raised concerns over the possibility of a fresh round of political instability in the country.

A functioning democracy is built on the foundation of transparency, without which it cannot truly be called a democracy. The people choose democracy as their system of governance because it empowers them with the right to know and understand the actions of their elected representatives.

The Chitwan incident serves as a wake-up call for all stakeholders concerned to take immediate action to ensure fair prices for farmers.This is not only a moral obligation but also a matter of economic and social justice. The government must take the lead in this regard and implement policies and programs that will empower farmers and help them thrive. Consumers also have a role to play and must be conscious of the choices they make in their daily lives. By working together, we can create a brighter future for farmers in Chitwan and beyond.

Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) positioned himself as a champion of the impoverished during his mayoral campaign for the May 13 local elections last year. ‘Garib ko chameli bolidine kohi chhaina’ (there is no one to speak for the poor!). The remix rap version of this popular song sung by KMC Mayor Shah was widely circulated on social media and in the door to door canvassing. There is no denying that the emotionally-charged song garnered significant support for Shah during the local elections.

Despite having the grand portfolios, the state-owned corporations assume almost no responsibility toward the general public. They should internalize in practice the principle of accountability, independence, integrity, transparency and professionalism by conducting their financial audits on time, if good governance is to be instilled in these public institutions.

The onus also lies on the ordinary citizens to end the corruption. All citizens should demand accountability and transparency from their elected representatives and institutions. Together, we must create a culture of zero tolerance towards corruption, and work towards a more fair and just society. Nepal's future depends on the actions we take today. It's time for the country to move beyond just lip-service and take decisive steps to combat corruption and build a brighter future for all.

Lamichhane’s citizenship saga continues to raise questions and curiosity. In 2018, he renounced his US citizenship after courting controversy. However, before that, he obtained a Nepali passport using his invalid citizenship certificate in 2015. Between 2016 and 2018, he held passports from at least two countries – the US and Nepal.

The government of Nepal is facing a significant challenge in terms of revenue collection. According to recent figures, the total expenditure estimate for the current fiscal year stands at NPR 1,790 billion, of which NPR 1,180 billion is allocated for recurrent expenses and NPR 380 billion for capital expenses. As of Friday, the government’s expenditure was recorded at Rs 613.64 billion, while the total revenue collection was just Rs 507.52 billion. The shortfall of over Rs 100 billion is set to exert pressure on the government to manage the government’s day to day expenditure. This situation highlights the urgent need for the government to diversify its revenue sources in order to sustain economic growth and development. At present, the government's revenue collection is heavily dependent on taxes, which account for the majority of its income. However, this dependence on taxes has led to a narrow revenue base, leaving the government vulnerable to economic downturns and fluctuations in tax revenues.

Nepal engages in international trade with as many as 141 countries of the world. However, the country has a trade deficit with 113 of these countries. Neighboring India is Nepal’s biggest trade partner. However, the trade between the two countries is highly in favor of India.

State Minister for Health and Population, Dr Toshima Karki on Friday announced that preparations are being made to increase the budget allocated for the health sector. Addressing a press conference organized at the ministry, Minister Dr Karki revealed that they are working to formulate a new health finance strategy in order to increase the budget meant for the health sector.