Government Spends 58.75% of Budget in 10 Months of FY 2082/83

Kathmandu. With 10 months of the current fiscal year 2082/83 coming to an end, the government has spent 11 kharba 53 billion rupees. According to the Office of the Controller General of Accounts, which keeps track of government income and expenditure, the government has spent 58.75 percent of the 19 kharba 64 billion budget allocated for the current fiscal year.

Out of the total budget, the government has spent 8 kharba 9 billion rupees from the 11 kharba 80 billion rupees allocated for current expenditure. This expenditure is 68.04 percent of the budget allocated for this heading. According to the office, the largest portion of the allocated budget has been spent on current expenditure. Current expenditure is the expenditure incurred for the government's daily operations and regular activities. This expenditure does not create new assets or provide long-term returns. Generally, this ranges from 58-62 percent of the total budget. 

Similarly, the government has spent 1 kharba 9 billion rupees out of the 4 kharba 7 billion allocated for capital expenditure in the current year. This expenditure is 26.87 percent of the budget allocated for this heading. 

The government has not been able to spend much on capital expenditure. Capital expenditure is spent on the construction of long-term infrastructure such as roads, bridges, school buildings, hospitals, irrigation, and hydropower. Expenditure has not been made in this heading. Especially, due to the tension seen in the Middle East, construction entrepreneurs are facing a shortage of bitumen fuel. The impact of this is seen in capital expenditure. 

Likewise, for financial management, the government has spent 2 kharba 40 billion rupees out of the 3 kharba 75 billion rupees allocated. This expenditure is 64.16 percent of the budget allocated for this heading. According to the Office of the Controller General of Accounts, the budget allocated by the government for public debt management this year is also large. The budget allocated under this heading is used by the government to pay the principal and interest of previously taken loans. 

The government's income also does not appear to be encouraging. The government had set a target of collecting 14 kharba 80 billion rupees in revenue, but has collected 9 kharba 70 billion rupees.