KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle has described the current budget as the most disciplined in the past 12 years, highlighting its reduced size relative to the size of the economy.
Speaking during a discussion on the Appropriation Bill, 2026, in the National Assembly on Monday, Minister Wagle said the size of the announced budget stands at 28.5 percent of projected GDP, which he claimed is the smallest ratio in over a decade.
He urged lawmakers not to express doubts over the implementation of the budget, adding that the system of routing files through multiple ministries has been reduced. According to him, authority over several financial decisions, including reallocations, has been delegated to the respective ministries instead of being concentrated at the Ministry of Finance.
Wagle also clarified that certain taxes have been introduced on education, health, and electricity in the interest of citizens, arguing that the budget is aligned with an ambitious economic growth target.
The meeting of the National Assembly also passed the proposal to consider the Appropriation Bill, received with a message from the House of Representatives. The next meeting of the National Assembly has been scheduled for July 1.
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