January 1: The accumulated public debt of the Government of Nepal stands at Rs 2007.84 billion in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (FY 2022/23).

According to a report published by the Public Debt Management Office of the Government of Nepal, the country’s public debt declined by 0.27 percent in mid-October compared to mid-July this year.

The total public debt of the government was Rs 2013.29 billion in mid-July.

According to the Public Debt Management Office, the country’s outstanding foreign debt in the first quarter of the current fiscal year is Rs 1050.23 billion while the internal debt is Rs 957.61 billion.

Comparing this figure with the data of mid-July,  the country’s external debt has increased by Rs 24.38 billion while the internal debt has declined by Rs 29.83 billion.

In the first three months of the current fiscal year, the government has received foreign loans worth Rs 24.7 billion. The government has not collected any internal loan during this period. Meanwhile, the government paid back foreign loans worth Rs 5.84 billion during the first quarter. The government also paid back internal loans and interest worth Rs 29.83 billion during the review period.

The Public Debt Management Office said that the government has to pay an additional amount of Rs 5.52 billion in the review period because of the change in foreign exchange rate.

The country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at present is Rs 4851.62 billion. Compared to the  GDP, Nepal’s public debt stands at 41.38 percent.