April 9: The Ministry of Finance has asked for suggestions for the budget of the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2023/24). The ministry has formed a budget drafting team and the team has asked to seek suggestions from all stakeholders and the general public for the budget.

The five-member budget drafting team has been formed under the coordination of Joint Secretary Bhupal Baral. According to a ministerial decision of the ministry on March 8, the team will draft the principles and priorities of the appropriation bill. The budget drafting team consists of joint secretaries Anand Kafle, Dhaniram Sharma, and Janakraj Sharma and joint secretaries Uttar Kumar Khatri and Baburam Subedi.

Formal suggestions for the budget can be given before April 28. The notification issued by the ministry reads, "The work related to the budget formulation of the Government of Nepal for the fiscal year 2023/24 has already started. Please provide valuable suggestions to this ministry by April 28, regarding the topics suitable to be included in the budget and program for the next fiscal year.”

The ministry has asked various associations, organizations, intellectuals, experts, political parties, businessmen, social workers, professionals, employees, media and the general public to submit their suggestions. Such suggestions can be given through the budget suggestions tab on the ministry's website or through email.

Newly appointed Finance Minister Dr Praka Sharan Mahat has said that while making the next budget, he will give priority to increasing capital expenditure while adopting austerity measures in general expenditure. The National Planning Commission has also fixed the ceiling of the budget and sent it to the Ministry of Finance. According to the constitutional provision, the federal government should draft the budget by April 28.