Nepal Development Research Institute (NDRI) successfully hosted the National Budget Analysis Press Meet 2025 on June 2, 2025, to provide an independent, evidence-based assessment of the Government of Nepal’s National Budget for the Fiscal Year 2082/83. The event gathered economists, sectoral experts, and journalists for a critical discussion on Nepal’s fiscal direction, development priorities, and budgetary challenges. 

The press meet opened with a welcome address by NDRI’s Executive Director, Dr. Shikha Thapa Magar, who highlighted NDRI’s longstanding commitment to contributing to national discourse through research-based insights. 

Dr. Rudra Suwal, Lead/Coordinator of the Economic Development Program at NDRI, presented a macro-level analysis of budgetary trends over the past decade. He noted the increasing reliance on debt financing, ballooning recurrent expenditures, and limited capital expenditure growth. He raised concerns about growing fiscal deficits, unsustainable borrowing patterns, and weak investment mobilization. Dr. Suwal called for structural correction through improved revenue mobilization, selective import substitution, and a performance-based budgeting system. 

Dr. Krishna Pahari, President and Lead of Livelihood and Food Security Program at NDRI emphasized the critical role of agriculture in ensuring food security. While acknowledging budgetary allocation for fertilizer subsidies and Chaite Dhaan (Spring Rice) production, he noted the continued gap between policy ambition and implementation. Dr. Pahari stressed the need for better governance, irrigation infrastructure, and support to farmers to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production. 

Dr. Divas Basnyat, Lead of Water and Climate Program at NDRI, analyzed the budget from a climate and disaster risk reduction lens. He pointed out the mismatch between Nepal’s growing vulnerability to climate-induced disasters and the limited investment in resilience infrastructure. Dr. Basnyat highlighted the need for strategic integration of disaster preparedness, renewable energy investment, and climate justice in budgeting processes. He also critiqued the slow pace of climate finance utilization despite Nepal’s international commitments under the NDC and NAP. 

Dr. Jaya Kumar Gurung, Lead of Health, Education and Environment Program at NDRI, provided an overview of the education and health sectors. He critiqued the politicization of the education budget, noting that much of the allocation remains locked in recurrent expenditures, with little attention to infrastructure or innovation. He advocated for results-oriented, technology-led education systems, health infrastructure development, and sustainable financing in light of declining international donor support. 

Dr. Manjeshwori Singh, Lead of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Cross-cutting Program at NDRI, examined the budget from a GESI perspective. She raised critical questions on the effectiveness of gender-responsive budgeting and called for more strategic and transformative approaches to women's economic empowerment, particularly through local health systems and skill-building programs for women-led enterprises. 

The session featured a vibrant exchange with members of the press and guests. Questions covered a range of topics from rice self-sufficiency and plastic regulation to capital expenditure efficiency and the role of civil society in governance accountability. 

Closing the session, Dr. Krishna Pahari emphasized that while budgetary goals are often ambitious, real impact depends on execution, coordination, and accountability. He reaffirmed NDRI’s commitment to fostering evidence-based policy dialogues and interdisciplinary collaboration to drive Nepal’s sustainable and inclusive development. 

To view the Press Release for the National Budget Analysis 2082/83, kindly click here. 

Media Coverage: 

Arthik Plus: https://aarthikplus.com/2025/06/03/119684/