Nepal's Government Revenue and Expenditure Lagging in First Seven Months of Fiscal Year

Kathmandu. Both government revenue collection and expenditure have appeared weak in the first seven months of the current fiscal year 2082/83. According to the Office of the Auditor General, revenue collection reached 44% of the annual target, while expenditure stood at 40% during this period.

Out of the total budget allocation of Rs 19 kharba 64 arba 11 crore for the current fiscal year, Rs eight kharba one arba 37 crore 49 lakh has been spent by the end of Magh. This accounts for 40.8 percent of the annual allocation. For current expenditure headings, out of the allocated Rs 11 kharba 80 arba 98 crore for this year, Rs five kharba 62 arba 37 crore 15 lakh, equivalent to 47.62 percent, has been spent.

Similarly, out of the Rs four kharba seven arba 88 crore 80 lakh allocated for capital expenditure, Rs 63 arba 72 crore 99 lakh, or 15.62 percent, has been spent. Expenditure under the financial management heading as of the end of Magh stands at 46.71 percent. Out of the allocated Rs three kharba 75 arba 24 crore 20 lakh for this heading, Rs one kharba 75 arba 27 crore 35 lakh has been spent.

The government had set a target to collect revenue amounting to Rs 15 kharba 33 arba 44 crore 69 lakh for this fiscal year, and by the end of Magh, 44.49 percent progress has been made. So far, revenue collection has reached approximately Rs six kharba 82 arba 16 crore 73 lakh.

In terms of tax revenue, 45.21 percent of the annual target, or Rs five kharba 99 arba 31 crore 46 lakh, has been collected, while non-tax revenue collection reached Rs 65 arba 71 crore three lakh, which is 42.55 percent of the annual target.

The government's target was to receive foreign grants amounting to Rs 53 arba 44 crore 69 lakh in the current fiscal year. The office stated that by the end of Magh, Rs 12 arba 83 crore 79 lakh, equivalent to 24.02 percent of the annual target, has been received.