Balen’s Border Clarification + Jumla Budgets: What’s next in politics? 🗳️

Today’s news is shaped by legal and political developments alongside local governance updates and shifting economic indicators.

Politics & Governance

Prime Minister Balen Shah clarified his earlier remarks on the border dispute with India, saying both sides are working through diplomatic dialogue. He also said Nepal does not seek third-party mediation, including from Britain, and framed the issue as one to be resolved through direct discussion. The clarification followed opposition backlash that had questioned the nationalism implications of his comments. Prime Minister Balen clarifies remarks on border dispute

In Jumla, all eight local levels have unveiled budgets for the upcoming fiscal year aimed at local development and improved public services. The announcements reflect local planning for the FY that starts soon. All eight local levels in Jumla unveil budget for upcoming FY

Courts & Accountability

Nepal’s constitutional bench has upheld the decision concerning a writ petition challenging the appointment of Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana. The ruling effectively confirms the legality of his appointment amid the wider controversy around it. Constitutional bench upholds writ petition against Chief Justice Sharma's appointment

Separately, police have taken CPN-UML vice-chairman Bishnu Paudel from Surkhet to Kathmandu for further investigation related to money laundering inquiries. Authorities plan to present him in court to seek an extension of detention tied to investigations into share transactions and asset sources. This comes after police conducted a raid at his residence. Bishnu Paudel to Kathmandu for further investigation

Economy & Business

The Nepal Rastra Bank has introduced a five-year concession for merged wholesale lending institutions and retail microfinance companies, allowing merged entities to continue wholesale lending for a transition period. The measure, introduced via amended unified directives, is intended to support restructuring of microfinance portfolios after mergers while preserving long-term retail operations. It is not described as a permanent exemption from regulatory objectives. Five-year concession on wholesale loans

On market indicators, domestic gold prices fell by Rs 3,600 per tola to Rs 283,500 on Wednesday. Silver prices also dropped by Rs 105 per tola to Rs 4,485. Gold price drops by 3, 600 per tola on Wednesday

Society & Community

A report urges Nepal’s tourism sector to move beyond focusing only on visitor arrivals and instead prioritize the value created by each visitor. It highlights quality of experiences, local community benefits, and sustainable practices, suggesting new success metrics such as visitor spending and length of stay. The report also calls for diversifying offerings beyond established hotspots. Rethinking tourism success in Nepal

Another analysis criticizes Nepal’s human trafficking legal framework as outdated and poorly aligned with contemporary forms of exploitation. It argues that the 2007 Human Trafficking and Transportation Act does not adequately reflect modern forced-labor scenarios and warns that proposed changes could further blur trafficking with smuggling. The critique emphasizes the risk of criminalizing victims rather than protecting them. Trapped in the statutes: How Singhdurbar fails the exploited

Date: June 25, 2026 (AD) | B.S.: Asar 11, 2083

Top News

1. Police bring Bishnu Paudel to Kathmandu for further investigation into asset sources (english.onlinekhabar.com)

CPN-UML Vice-Chairman Bishnu Paudel, arrested in Surkhet, has been taken to Kathmandu for further investigation by the Department of Money Laundering Investigation. Authorities plan to present him in court to request an extension of his detention related to inquiries into his share transactions and asset sources. Prior to his arrest, police conducted a raid at his residence.

2. प्रधानन्यायाधीश शर्माको नियुक्ति विरुद्धको रिट दरपीठको निर्णय संवैधानिक इजलासबाट सदर (www.onlinekhabar.com)

The constitutional bench has upheld the decision regarding the writ petition against the appointment of Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana. This ruling confirms the legality of his appointment amidst ongoing controversies.

3. Prime Minister Balen clarifies remarks on border dispute (english.onlinekhabar.com)

Prime Minister Balen Shah clarified his earlier remarks on Nepal's border dispute with India, stating that both countries are working towards resolving the issue through diplomatic dialogue. His comments, which suggested that Nepal has also encroached on Indian land, faced backlash from opposition parties and sparked a debate on nationalism. Shah emphasized that Nepal does not seek third-party mediation, particularly from Britain, and expressed his commitment to resolving the matter through direct discussions with India.

4. All eight local levels in Jumla unveil budget for upcoming FY (risingnepaldaily.com)

All eight local levels in Jumla have announced their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. The budgets are aimed at addressing local development needs and improving public services in the region.

5. RSP General Convention: First round of voting continues (risingnepaldaily.com)

The first round of voting at the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) General Convention is currently underway. Delegates are casting their votes to elect new party leadership.

6. Beyond arrivals: Rethinking tourism success in Nepal (theannapurnaexpress.com)

Nepal's tourism sector is urged to shift its focus from merely increasing visitor arrivals to enhancing the value created by each visitor. A value-based approach emphasizes the quality of experiences, local community benefits, and sustainable practices, rather than just the quantity of tourists. To achieve this, Nepal must diversify its tourism offerings beyond popular areas and adopt new metrics for success, such as visitor spending, length of stay, and regional tourism distribution.

7. Trapped in the statutes: How Singhdurbar fails the exploited (theannapurnaexpress.com)

Nepal's legal framework for combating human trafficking is criticized for being outdated and ineffective, particularly in addressing modern forms of exploitation. The 2007 Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act fails to align with contemporary human rights standards, leading to a disconnect between statutory definitions and actual trafficking practices, which often involve non-sexual forced labor. Recent legislative proposals risk further conflating human trafficking with human smuggling, potentially criminalizing victims instead of protecting them.

8. Gold price drops by 3, 600 per tola on Wednesday (theannapurnaexpress.com)

Gold prices in the domestic market fell by Rs 3,600 per tola on Wednesday, now trading at Rs 283,500 per tola, down from Rs 287,100 on Tuesday. Silver also saw a decline, dropping by Rs 105 per tola to Rs 4,485.

9. थोक कर्जामा पाँच वर्षको सहुलियत (nepalnews.com)

The Nepal Rastra Bank has introduced a new provision to facilitate mergers and acquisitions between wholesale lending institutions and retail microfinance companies, allowing merged institutions to continue wholesale lending for five years. This change, part of an amendment to unified directives for class 'G' microfinance institutions, aims to ease the transition and management of loan portfolios post-merger while maintaining a focus on retail operations in the long term. The provision is not a permanent exemption but is designed to support the restructuring of the microfinance sector without deviating from regulatory objectives.

Forex

Metal Prices (International)

Metal Prices (Nepal)

Disclaimer

• Forex rates are sourced from the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).
• International gold and silver prices are sourced from swissquote.
• Nepal gold and silver prices are sourced from Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association.

Prices are provided for informational purposes only and may be delayed, or inaccurate.