The front pages of all national daily newspaper, this morning, had the identical headlines with similar notion of “The Full Budget.” Finally, by the end of the 9^th month of the fiscal year 2069/70, the Interim Election Government on Tuesday had presented a full adjusted national budget worth NPR. 404.82 billion. Out of the total budget, NPR. 14 billion has been allocated only for the ‘much hyped’ election-6 billion solely for election and a whopping 8 billion for security related expenses.

Despite the budget has finally arrived, all the Nepalese, mostly economists, diplomats and private sector, are very much worried about the utility of the budget. As the budget has been presented at the end of the third quarter of the fiscal year, the doubts and dilemma concerning the utilization and productivity of the budget is trending like a ‘hot cake’ in the market.

Out of the total budget, NPR. 279.1 billion has been allocated for recurrent expenditure while NPR. 66.13 billion and NPR. 59.67 billion have been allocated for capital and financing expenditures respectively. Amidst the limited time frame for the budget implementation, Finance Minister, Mr. Shankar Prasad Koirala, while presenting the budget on Tuesday in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, had highlighted the fact that new programs and policies would not be appropriate taking into account the number of remaining months in the current fiscal year. The Finance Minister had also focused on the issues and importance relating to the sought Constituent Assembly Election during the ceremony.       

Evident to all, as the country has been going through severe political crisis and transition, the promulgation of the budget has at least given some hope and relief to 20 million plus Nepalese. Time will only tell whether the government would be able to make full utilization of the budget and support the economic growth rate of the country or act passive, making this budget only a replica of fiscal requirement.

For the time being, at least, let’s celebrate this budget and hope for the maximum out of this budget!