Today’s developments center on party politics and governance alongside accountability investigations, education outcomes, and social indicators.
Politics & Governance
Rastriya Swatantra Party leaders launched the first national general convention in Chitwan, with RSP President Rabi Lamichhane and Prime Minister Balendra Shah jointly inaugurating the event and setting the stage for leadership elections. Delegates are set to discuss policy direction and leadership approaches during the convention’s sessions, while the agenda also includes disciplinary and financial reports. first general convention RSP does not engage in politics of vengeance Raswapa Mahadhiveshan policy and leadership discussion
At the same time, governance messaging continues around government implementation. Prime Minister Balendra Shah said the government will stop its efforts only after reaching its destination goals, framing progress in terms of an “express train.” Government's express train will stop only after reaching its destination: PM Shah
Courts & Accountability
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority has expanded its probe into e-passport procurement, including former Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, as part of allegations of irregularities linked to contracts and inflated costs. The investigation reportedly focuses on the roles of individuals connected to the Mühlbauer and Veridos procurement process, with arrests already made and a short timeline targeted for conclusion. CIAA widens e-passport probe to include former Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba
Economy & Business
Education results and social progress indicators are also coming through government systems and provincial reporting. The National Examination Board published Class 12 results 40 days after exams, raising the pass rate to 69.75%—an increase of 8.58 percentage points from the previous year. Class 12 pass rate jumps 8.58 points as NEB publishes results in 40 days
Meanwhile, Bagamati Province reported a literacy rate of 82.1% that exceeds the national average, alongside poverty reductions to below national figures. Literacy rate reaches 82.1 percent in Bagamati Province, poverty rates fall below national figures
Society & Community
The convention in Chitwan has also surfaced practical concerns among delegates, including reactions to a NPR 5,000 fee charged for food and refreshments. Some delegates raised complaints about costs and limited facilities, while others said the fee reflects an effort to self-fund and avoid corruption risks tied to donations. representative complains that the 5000 fee is expensive but says we will spend it ourselves to stop corruption
Separately, the death of former Minister Kharel was reported, though the cause of death and funeral details were not disclosed in the brief. Former Minister Kharel passes away
Date: June 22, 2026 (AD) | B.S.: Asar 08, 2083
Top News
1. Literacy rate reaches 82.1 percent in Bagamati Province, poverty rates fall below national figures (risingnepaldaily.com)
Bagamati Province has achieved a literacy rate of 82.1 percent, surpassing the national average. Additionally, poverty rates in the province have decreased to levels lower than the national figures.
2. CIAA widens e-passport probe to include former Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba (english.onlinekhabar.com)
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has expanded its investigation into the e-passport procurement process to include former Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba. The CIAA is examining allegations of irregularities in the contract awarded to Mühlbauer and Veridos, which reportedly inflated costs to the state treasury by nearly one billion rupees, and has arrested several officials involved in the process. The investigation is ongoing, with a goal to conclude within a week, as the CIAA seeks to clarify the roles of various individuals, including Arzu Rana Deuba and her son Jayveer.
3. RSP President Lamichhane, senior leader Shah jointly inaugurate first general convention (theannapurnaexpress.com)
The first general convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is being held at Guesthouse Ground in Bharatpur City, Chitwan, inaugurated by RSP President Rabi Lamichhane and Prime Minister Balendra Shah. The convention, which will run until June 23, aims to elect new party leadership and includes notable attendees such as Gagan Kumar Thapa and former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai.
4. ५ हजार शुल्क महँगो भएको प्रतिनिधिको गुनासो, तर भन्छन्, ‘भ्रष्टाचार रोक्न आफैँ खर्च गर्छौं’ (www.ratopati.com)
At the ongoing national convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in Chitwan, a fee of NPR 5,000 has been charged for food and refreshments, leading to mixed reactions among the 4,211 delegates. While some representatives have complained about the high cost and limited facilities, others view the fee as a positive step against corruption, emphasizing the party's effort to self-fund rather than relying on donations like traditional parties. Some delegates argue that the financial burden is significant, especially for those traveling from remote areas, and they hope the party leadership will address these concerns.
5. रास्वपा प्रथम महाधिवेशन : बन्दसत्र सुरु हुँदै, यस्तो छ आजको सम्भावित कार्यसूची (rajdhanidaily.com)
The first national convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (Raswapa) commenced its closed session at 8:30 AM at the Exhibition Center in Chitwan. Key agenda items include presentations and discussions on reports from the disciplinary commission, financial reports, and organizational updates, with candidate nominations for elections set to begin at 1:00 PM, followed by voting on Tuesday morning for one chairperson and 99 central committee members.
6. Government's express train will stop only after reaching its destination: PM Shah (theannapurnaexpress.com)
Prime Minister Balendra Shah stated that the current government will continue its efforts until it achieves its goals, likening its progress to an express train. He emphasized the Rastriya Swatantra Party's commitment to addressing issues like state asset abuse and cooperative fraud while asserting that Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, and Lipulekh are recognized as Nepali territory. Shah also urged party unity and a focus on innovative agendas rather than factional politics as the RSP moves forward.
7. Nepal’s class 12 pass rate jumps 8.58 points as NEB publishes results in 40 days (english.onlinekhabar.com)
The Class 12 board exam results show a pass rate of 69.75%, an increase of 8.58 percentage points from last year. A total of 332,241 students took the exam, with 231,770 receiving grades, while 100,471 were non-graded. The National Examination Board published the results 40 days after the exams, ahead of the government's 45-day deadline, attributing the improvement to hard work from students and teachers, as well as effective pre-exam preparations.
8. रास्वपा महाधिवेशन : नीति र नेतृत्वबारे के भन्छन् प्रतिनिधि ? (www.onlinekhabar.com)
Raswapa's Mahadhiveshan (General Convention) focuses on discussions regarding policies and leadership. Representatives are expressing their views on the party's direction and leadership strategies.
9. Former Minister Kharel passes away (risingnepaldaily.com)
Former Minister Kharel has passed away. Details regarding the cause of death and funeral arrangements have not been disclosed.
10. RSP does not engage in politics of vengeance: President Lamichhane (theannapurnaexpress.com)
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane stated that the party will not engage in politics of vengeance during the inaugural ceremony of its first national general convention in Chitwan. He emphasized the importance of unity within the party and urged other political parties, including the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, to resolve their internal issues for the betterment of national politics. Lamichhane also affirmed that the current government, led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, is adhering to previous agreements and is responsible for achieving its goals.
Forex
| Currency Pair | Rate (NPR) |
|---|---|
| USD → NPR | 151.22 |
| CAD → NPR | 106.84 |
| AUD → NPR | 106.05 |
| GBP → NPR | 200.12 |
| JPY → NPR | 9.37 |
Metal Prices (International)
| Metal | Price (USD/oz) | Price (NPR/tola) |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | $4187.12 | NPR 237,440.85 |
| Silver | $65.68 | NPR 3,724.54 |
Metal Prices (Nepal)
| Metal | Price (NPR/tola) |
|---|---|
| Fine Gold (9999) | NPR 288,700.00 |
| Silver | NPR 4,730.00 |
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.
