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National Assembly (NA) chair Narayan Prasad Dahal has stressed the need to pay attention to the protection and promotion of democracy achieved from the great sacrifices and struggles of the Nepali people.

While extending the best wishes on the occasion of National Democracy Day 2081 BS today, he said that adherence, protection and implementation of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal should be the main priority of the day.

Stating that today is a historic day to inspire forward-looking political change and to unite for the rights of the people, Chairman Dahal said that the change of 2007 BS in Nepal's political history was foundation stone for all movements.

"The significance of celebrating the Republic Day will be to take a pledge to move forward to protect and strengthen democratic values and make the democratic system effective and accountable to the people," Chairman Dahal said in a message.

He wished for moving forward united for the protection of democracy, freedom of expression and prosperity and development of the country.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 1, 100 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 170, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 169, 400 per tola on Tuesday.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,  195 per tola today.

Insurance companies have invested over Rs 30bn in the stock market.

According to the National Insurance Authority (NIA), life and non-life insurance companies have invested a combined Rs 30.16bn in the securities market. While life insurance companies have invested Rs 25.77bn in listed companies, non-life insurance companies have invested Rs 4.39bn as of mid-January of the current fiscal year.

The investment of life insurance companies in the stock market has increased by a whopping 97.66 percent over the past year. Such investments rose from Rs 13.37bn in mid-Jan 2024 to Rs 25.77b in mid-Jan 2025.

Ten life insurance companies have invested over Rs 1bn each in the secondary market. According to NIA, Himalayan Life Insurance has made the highest investment of Rs 7.33bn, followed by Nepal Life Insurance (Rs 3.81bn) and Suryajyoti Life Insurance (Rs 2.31bn).

Citizens Life Insurance increased its investment in the stock market by a staggering 507.4 percent during the review period. The company, which had invested Rs 141.8m as of mid-January last year, has increased its investment to Rs 861.3m. Rastriya Jeevan Beema Company kept its stock market investment unchanged at Rs 2.15bn over the one-year period.

investments by non-life insurance companies in the share market have risen by 26.24 percent over the past year. Non-life insurers had invested Rs 3.47bn in the stock market as of mid-Jan 2024.

Among non-life companies, Rastriya Beema Company (Rs 794.1m) has made the highest investment in the stock market as of mid-January, followed by Neco Insurance (Rs 605.1m) and Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance (Rs 533.7m).

NLG Insurance increased its stock market investment by 450 percent to Rs 128.7m over the one-year period. Sanima GIC Insurance also raised its investment in securities by 373.18 percent to Rs 344m as of mid-January.

The existing law allows insurance companies to invest up to 10 percent of their technical reserves in the secondary market. “Insurance companies can invest up to 10 percent of their total technical reserves in the ordinary shares of public limited companies listed on the securities exchange markets licensed by the Nepal Securities Board,” reads the Investment Guidelines, 2018, issued by Beema Samiti (now NIA).

The total investment of life and non-life insurance companies stands at Rs 772bn. This means insurance companies can invest a maximum of Rs 77.2bn in the stock market. However, they are investing less than 50 percent of the allowed limit in the stock market.

Insurance experts say there is room for insurance companies to invest another Rs 40bn in the secondary market.

CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal said it is the need of hour to move ahead with unison to transform the status of the people as per the changed political system.

Extending best wishes on the occasion of the National Democracy Day today, the former Prime Minister said it was the national task to lay the foundation of a socialism-oriented State through the implementation of the Constitution while protecting the achievements gained on the strength of the people's struggle.

"Democracy which was established on the sacrifices of the Nepali people has refined and modified itself and reached the glorious state of the federal democratic republic," he said, adding, "For these achievements, the people's struggle of 2007 BS, the movement of 2046 BS, the people's war, the historic people's movement of 2062÷63 BS and the movements of the oppressed classes, castes, regions, genders and communities for justice had a decisive role.

Former Prime Minister Dahal has wished that the Democracy Day would inspire everyone to overcome the challenges of the country and achieve the latest possibilities.

He paid deep tributes to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the establishment of democracy and expressed high respect to all the warriors of the democratic movement. 

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has said the National Democracy Day will inspire to remain committed to democratic values and ideals.

In a message of best wishes on the occasion of the National Democracy Day today, Speaker Ghimire paid deep tributes to the brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives to realize the dream of democracy, people's supremacy and civil liberties.

"The democratic movement of 2007 BS liberated the Nepali people from the darkness of autocracy and brought them to the light of freedom," reads the message.

"With the sacrifice of the martyrs, the country had embarked on the journey of republic along with democracy and civil liberties, the people's movement of 2062/63 BS heralded the era of federal democratic republic by ending monarchy," the Speaker said in the mesaage.

"The country has achieved significant success in political movements and revolutions, but there is still a lot of work to be done to bring about positive changes in the lives of the people", Speaker Ghimire noted in the message. 

The 75th 'National Democracy Day' is being celebrated in different parts of the country today by organizing various programmes.

President Ram Chandra Paudel is scheduled to attend a program to be organized by the Main Celebration Committee on the occasion of Democracy Day at Sainik Munch Tundikhel this morning.

On the occasion, tributes will be paid to the known and unknown martyrs who laid down their lives in various struggles for the establishment of democracy in the country.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is scheduled to address the democracy day celebrations.

The government has declared a public holiday today on the occasion of Democracy Day.

In the history of Nepal, 7 Falgun 2007 BS is considered as a glorious and epochal day for the abolition of the Rana regime and the emergence of democracy.

Issuing a message of best wishes on the occasion, President Paudel reminded the belief that the 'sovereignty of the country should rest in the people' was established as a notion through struggle and sacrifice of the martyrs. 

Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba has said the Ministry is constantly following up on the death of Nepali student Prakriti Lamsal and the developments thereafter.

Foreign Minister Rana has made it clear through social media X today that necessary initiatives are being taken to understand the condition of Nepali students in the hostels of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University in Odisha, India and to provide a safe environment for Nepali students in the college.

"Two senior officials of Nepal Police from the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi have reached the university this morning. I spoke to them on the phone and directed them to coordinate with the Indian security personnel for necessary investigation into the incident and with the university administration for necessary assistance to the Nepali students and their safe stay in the hostel. The Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi is already taking necessary initiatives in this regard," she said.

Foreign Minister Rana has made it clear that following the diplomatic efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately after getting the information, the college has appealed to the students to return to the hostel while the university has also informed through a public notice that action has been taken against the 'staff' who abused Nepali students.

In the context of this development, Foreign Minister Rana said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Nepal in Delhi are working in close coordination with the university administration and the Indian security officials.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 12. 68 points to close at 2,740. 59 points on Tuesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 0. 17 points to close at 459. 88 points.

A total 18,230,302-unit shares of 314 companies were traded for Rs 10. 43 billion.

Meanwhile, Wean Nepal Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (WNLB), Gurans Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (GLBSL) and Emerging Nepal Limited (ENL) were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Saptakoshi Development Bank Ltd (SAPDBL) and 10.25% KBL Debenture 2086 (KBLD86) were the top loser as its price fell by 10.00 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 54 trillion.