Nepal Mandates Prior Approval for Publication and Distribution of Almanacs and Calendars

Kathmandu. The government has made prior approval mandatory for the publication and distribution of almanacs (panchang) and wall calendars.

The Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Bikas Samiti, under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, informed journalists in Kathmandu on Monday that almanacs and calendars cannot be published and distributed without prior approval.

According to Executive Director Laxman Panthi of the committee, this arrangement has been made in accordance with the Formation Order 2079 and the Internal Management Directive-2079, which mandate that individuals, associations, publishers, and distributors must obtain approval from the committee before publishing almanacs (panchang) and wall calendars.

He noted that errors found in details such as dates, tithis, and public holidays in some almanacs and calendars entering the market have caused confusion and inconvenience to the general public, and he drew the attention of stakeholders to this issue.

The Executive Director Panthi informed that a committee has been formed under the coordination of the Chief of the Culture Division of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to monitor whether prior approval has been obtained. This committee has been authorized to confiscate materials published without approval and recommend necessary action.

He directed all stakeholders to obtain prior approval from the committee before publishing wall calendars and expressed the expectation of cooperation from the District Administration Offices for the implementation of this directive.