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The Indian government’s budget for the Ministry of External Affairs for the fiscal year 2024/25 has increased allocations for Nepal and Sri Lanka while reducing support for other neighboring countries. Nepal stands out as a major beneficiary, poised to receive InRs 7bn, a substantial increase of InRs 1.5bn from the previous year’s revised budget of InRs 6.5bn. 

Sri Lanka’s allocation has also risen significantly to InRs 2.45bn, an increase of InRs 0.95bn from the previous year’s InRs 1.5bn. This boost is crucial for Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic recovery, supported by India’s previous $4bn aid. 

Afghanistan and the Maldives maintain their allocations at InRs 2bn and InRs 4bn, respectively. Afghanistan’s allocation remains stable despite last year’s revised budget of InRs 2.2bn. 

The Maldives saw a notable increase in its revised budget to InRs 7.7bn, indicating ongoing support for infrastructure projects. 

Meanwhile, Bhutan and Myanmar have seen reductions in their aid. Bhutan’s allocation decreased by InRs 3.3bn—yet it still receives the largest share at InRs 20.68bn. Myanmar’s allocation dropped by InRs 1.5bn to InRs 2.5bn, compared to last year’s InRs 4bn, with InRs 3.7bn utilized. Bangladesh’s allocation decreased by InRs 0.8bn to InRs 1.2bn, with only InRs 1.3bn of the previous year’s InRs 2bn utilized. 

Similarly, Iran’s Chabahar port project continues to receive a steady allocation of InRs 1bn, unchanged for the past three years, highlighting its strategic importance for India as a gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the first full-fledged budget of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led coalition government on Tuesday. From India Inc to the middle class and job seekers, everyone has high hopes for this budget. Additionally, some policy interventions could significantly boost the country’s economic growth and tackle the growing unemployment issue.

Ahead of the budget, Prime Minister Modi asserted that this budget will lay the foundation of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). He also said that this is an important budget for ‘Amrit Kaal’, which means ‘great leap’, and could propel India forward on all fronts.

Vishnu Kumar Agarwal is the Managing Director of the MAW Group of Companies and the Honorary Consul General of the Czech Republic in Kathmandu. He actively supports the bilateral relationship between Nepal and the Czech Republic. Agarwal is also the dean of the Honorary Consular Corps-Nepal (HCC-N), an organization of non-residential consuls. In this interview, Pratik Ghimire of ApEx talks to Agarwal about the role and work of Honorary Consuls. Excerpts:

What are the key responsibilities of Honorary Consuls?

Honorary Consuls play a crucial role in diplomacy. As the Honorary Consul General of the Czech Republic in Nepal, I represent the Czech Republic, which is a significant responsibility. If any Czech citizen encounters issues in Nepal, they should contact us for assistance. This is our primary objective. Additionally, we facilitate visits for Czech delegations and embassy officials.

Our role also includes developing relations between the Czech Republic and Nepal for mutual benefit. We promote cultural exchange, showcasing each country’s culture in the other. Furthermore, we foster trade, investment, and tourism between the two nations.

How do Honorary Consuls help in trade, investment, and tourism?

Honorary Consuls facilitate bilateral and multilateral agreements that promote regular discussions on trade and investment. Individually, we promote trade and investment through various means. For instance, my office has many Czech-related books and catalogs that we promote in Nepal.

For the Nepal Investment Summit 2024, we invited all Honorary Consuls and embassies. Through them, invitations reached the business community, resulting in significant participation from the sending countries. We also organize events to promote trade, investment, and tourism. Honorary Consuls in Nepal represent 63 countries, and about 15-20 percent of tourists visiting Nepal come from these nations. These countries also participate in trade fairs, education consultancy, and investment activities.

What were the key takeaways from the peace conclave in Lumbini in March 2024?

The two-day event, ‘Global Peace for Prosperity,’ in Lumbini was organized by HCC-N and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our goal was to highlight Nepal’s advocacy for peace and the importance of peaceful conflict resolution for a sustainable future.

We invited all ambassadors from the sending countries, and around 20 attended, along with 45 Honorary Consuls and Foreign Ministry officials. This gathering significantly improved diplomatic relations.

The event also aimed to showcase Lumbini, a significant yet underexposed tourist and historical site in Nepal. Many delegates visited Lumbini for the first time and were captivated by the Maya Devi Temple and the story of Lord Buddha’s birth in Nepal. We believe this exposure will boost tourism in the region.

Another objective was to attract participants for the Nepal Investment Summit. Sushil Bhatta, CEO of the Investment Board of Nepal, presented at the event, providing attendees with insights into the summit.

What are the key objectives of the gathering on July 23?

The 17th General Assembly and Charter Day of HCC-N will take place on July 23, where we will hand over leadership. HCC-N, established on July 23, 2007, brings together all Honorary Consuls and Honorary Consul Generals and is affiliated with FICAC, a global network of consular associations. This network allows us to collaborate effectively and address common challenges.

HCC-N has been very successful, especially in facilitating aid during the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2015 earthquake. The Dean serves a one-year term based on seniority among Honorary Consuls.

How are you coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA)?

Our engagement with MoFA is extensive. We work closely with MoFA whenever delegates arrive or when individuals from the sending countries need assistance or coordination. MoFA acts as our patron, and we collaborate closely with them. We have received excellent support and assistance from MoFA. Our work indirectly supports and complements MoFA’s efforts.

What are your expectations with the new Minister for Foreign Affairs?

I believe the new Minister is highly experienced in foreign affairs. She has been in public service for a long time and understands diplomacy well. I am confident that under her leadership, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will achieve new heights in both bilateral and multilateral relationships. Her extensive experience in dealing with people will likely be transformative for MoFA.

Eating healthy reduces your risk of heart disease, stroke, and many other diseases. But it’s not something most of us are able to do, given our busy schedules and the one too many cravings that seem to hit us when we are bored and uninspired. But it’s not impossible or even that difficult to make the right kind of food choices. This week, we bring you five basic ideas that you can incorporate in your lifestyle with minimal effort. Before you know it, you will be making healthy choices and enjoying its many rewards.

 Eat home-cooked meals

We all know this but we push the thought to the corner of our minds as we go about our days. Who has the time to pack lunch or snacks every single day? It’s much easier to step into the local sandwich shop and grab a bite to eat. But if you are serious about eating healthy and staying fit, make it a priority to eat at home or home-cooked food as much as possible. You have control over the ingredients, can ensure the food is fresh, and prepared the way you like it. A bonus is that you will save quite a bit of money. Learn to make simple meals from some basic ingredients that you always have in your pantry and you will be sorted. Celebrity chef Ranveer Brar recommends always having boiled potatoes in your fridge. You can whip up a delicious meal in minutes with this one ingredient. Brar has plenty of recipes on his YouTube channel.

 Check your portions

Most of the time what leads to weight gain is not what you eat but how much you eat. We don’t mean you can eat anything but even healthy foods can lead to weight gain if you have too much of it. So, portion control is important. Get a smaller plate so that you don’t heap food when you serve yourself. Learn about portion sizes so that you can measure and thus control how much you eat. Also, if you are craving something, have it. But have a small piece. You don’t have to eat an entire bar of chocolate to satiate your craving for something sweet. Have a small piece and take time to savor it.

Have fruits, seeds, and nuts daily

Nuts and seeds are a powerhouse of vitamins and antioxidants. The fiber in them will also keep you feeling full for longer. Have a handful of nuts and seeds every day. Carry a small ziplock bag with some raisins, dates, cashews, almonds etc. and snack on them when you aren’t really hungry but want to munch on something. Let’s be honest, we all have those moments. Have soaked nuts first thing in the morning. It’s the healthiest habit you can adopt. Most dieticians advise eating a fruit every day and trying to eat it in the afternoons, as a snack, if possible. Have the whole fruit instead of juices so that the fiber can keep you full and help regulate your bowels as well.

Check the package label

As far as possible, refrain from buying anything that comes in plastic or cardboard packages. But if you must, compare nutrition facts labels on food products and select products with the lowest amounts of sodium, added sugars, saturated fat and trans-fat, and no partially hydrogenated oils. The food label will provide information on what you are putting into your body. You must also learn to read the labels and educate yourself. For example, there are many sources of sodium. Ingredients can contain ‘hidden’ sources of sodium such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) or trisodium phosphate. You will only be able to make good choices if you know what you are looking for and what to avoid.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Many a times we tend to mistake thirst for hunger so make sure you are drinking enough water. If you suddenly have a craving, try drinking a glass of water. Chances are the craving will go away. It’s also important to replenish your body from time to time so add some lemon and salt or some electrolytes in your regular water. Carry a water bottle with you so that you always have water on hand and don’t find yourself reaching for a can of soda or ordering some other sugary drink like lattes and iced teas when you feel hot and want something to drink.

Darshan Parajuli, from Hetuada, started his education at Nepal Police School. He pursued management for his higher education. His interest then shifted to development studies, which he pursued at the Asian College of Journalism. This marked a significant turning point in his career.

His exposure to development, business, and economics during his studies, coupled with his involvement in organizing events and motivational seminars, cemented his interest in entrepreneurship. It ultimately led to the founding of Offering Happiness in 2017.

In 2020, Parajuli traveled to the US to attend the UN Youth Assembly. He got a chance to explore various parts of the country and observe the advancements in development and technology. As a student with a background in social studies, he pondered how these innovations could impact society, especially considering the digital divide between Nepal and the US. During his visit, he toured renowned tech companies such as Apple, Google, and Facebook, gaining firsthand experience in cutting-edge AI technology. It sparked his curiosity in the field.

“It was an incredible opportunity to experience something that felt so realistic, as if it were right in front of you,” says Parajuli.

After spending a year in the US, he returned to Nepal. He wanted to do something to close the digital gap in Nepal. During that time, Parajuli received a scholarship from the South Asian Foundation and attended the Asian College of Journalism. There he says he was surrounded by brilliant minds and had the chance to meet Devdas Rajaram, the co-founder of Now Age Storytelling, who remains his mentor to this day.

“He taught me about future technological advancements and everything related to AI,” says Parajuli.

At the Asian College of Journalism, he studied cutting-edge technology and global journalism trends, which significantly broadened his perspective. It was here that he first encountered ChatGPT prior to its official release. “It was an experience that influenced my understanding of AI,” he says.

While continuing to explore new opportunities, Parajuli conceived the idea for TeachMe AI. The organization’s mission is to build an AI community in Nepal, aiming to make AI technology easy and accessible. He believed that this was an especially thrilling and transformative era for technology, particularly in the context of Nepal’s advancements.

As a developing nation, Nepal had been lagging behind, but with the advent of the internet, new information became instantly accessible to the public. Recognizing the digital gap between Nepal and the West, Parajuli saw AI as a powerful tool to bridge this divide.

With this vision, TeachMe AI was officially launched in February 2023.

Since its inception, the organization has been working to raise awareness about AI in Nepal, where discussions on the subject have been sparse. TeachMe AI aims to educate people on how AI can simplify lives by conducting workshops and seminars and advocating for a Nepali version of ChatGPT.

However, the organization faces challenges due to stereotypes surrounding AI usage. Parajuli says, “When people use or get help from something like ChatGPT, many consider it a form of cheating and tend to hide it. They don’t recognize that, when used correctly, AI can make tasks much easier.”

Promoting AI in Nepal comes with significant challenges, he adds. Little has been done in this area. Many people in Nepal aren’t ready to accept AI, and there is a notable absence of a strategic plan for AI development. Despite numerous attempts to prompt government action, there has been little progress in establishing a robust AI policy. Nonetheless, Parajuli believes Nepal should strive for greater advancements in AI.

“One of the major challenges we face is keeping up with the exponential growth in this sector,” he says. “Even as someone working in AI, staying updated on the latest developments is difficult.”

Parajuli says he believes that AI will revolutionize education. Over time, AI will transform the teaching and learning processes. With AI, acquiring knowledge becomes more accessible and faster through advanced language models. Additionally, AI can assist teachers in focusing on individual students, tailoring their support to each student’s unique needs and difficulty levels.

One of the primary goals of TeachMe AI is to support the implementation of AI policies. By doing so, the organization aims to educate students on the ethical use of AI. TeachMe AI seeks to empower students through a variety of courses, literacy workshops, and educational programs that emphasize ethical considerations in AI. This approach ensures that students learn how to use AI responsibly and effectively, enhancing their educational experience.

As the founder, Parajuli is working towards building a dedicated team to implement his knowledge and experiences in Nepal. He is optimistic about the future, believing that AI can become a reality in Nepal just as it did in the Silicon Valley. Although it will take some time due to the current knowledge gap among people, he remains hopeful that AI will eventually be embraced and developed in Nepal. His vision includes not only the technical implementation of AI but also fostering a deeper understanding and acceptance of AI technologies.

Many people today are concerned that AI, as a rapidly advancing technology, might soon take over numerous jobs. This worry looms at the back of everyone’s mind. However, Parajuli offers a different perspective. “People are discussing how AI might replace their jobs, but no one is talking about how many new jobs AI is creating. The number is five hundred million.”

“When something new is introduced, it's natural for people to question it. Think of AI as your friend and use it as your co-pilot. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll find that AI actually makes everything easier,” he says. The key, he adds, is to view AI as a tool that can augment human capabilities, making tasks more efficient and creating new kinds of work that didn’t exist before.