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Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said the budget for the upcoming fiscal year would be allocated by keeping Karnali, Sudurpaschim and Madhes, the provinces which are backward in the Human Development Index (HDI), at the center. PM Dahal said this during a meeting with a delegation including Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim Province Kamal Bahadur Shah at the Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar today. The Prime Minister asserted that the development of all these three provinces would be kept in priority in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. On the occasion, the delegation briefed the Prime Minister about the overall economic situation of the province and the ongoing development and construction activities there, urging him to give special priority to the province in the appropriation of the budget. Prime Minister Dahal said some special provisions centering on Sudurpaschim Province have been made in the government's policies and programs and it would be kept in priority in the budget as well, according to Govinda Acharya, the PM's press advisor. The delegation also called attention of the Prime Minister on the reduction of the equalization grants to the province in the current fiscal year. The delegation also separately met with National Planning Commission (NPC) Vice-Chairman Min Bahadur Shrestha and Finance Minister Dr Prakash Saran Mahat on Tuesday.

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RRP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane said that a parliamentary special committee should be formed to investigate the fake Bhutanese refugee scam. During a Parliament meeting held on Wednesday, Lamichhane expressed his doubt that the ongoing investigation into Bhutanese refugee case would satisfy the public. "The Parliament should form a special probe committee to deal with the issue," he said, adding, “Corruption has been the concern of the party since its establishment.” "We doubt the intentions of frequent sittings among three political parties since the scam came to light. Now, many political parties have been alleged of having a role in the scam,” he said. “The role of state bodies including those responsible for preventing corruption is questionable. Under all these circumstances, we are not convinced that the ongoing investigation into the scam would be concluded impartially. So, it is a must to handle the case by a specific parliamentary committee," Lamichhane added.  

President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed minister Birendra Prasad Mahato amidst a special ceremony at Sheetal Niwas on Wednesday. The Head-of-the-State administered the oath of office and secrecy in accordance with Article 80 of the Constitution of Nepal. On the occasion, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed Minister of State Pramila Kumari in accordance with Article 80 of the Constitution of Nepal. Mahato was appointed the Minister for Forest and Environment and Pramila was appointed the Minister of State for Education, Science and Technology on Tuesday. With this, a 25-member Council of Ministers has come to a complete shape.  

Newly appointed Minister Birendra Prasad Mahato and Minister of State Pramila Kumari are scheduled to take the oath of office and secrecy on Wednesday. Mahato and Pramila are to be inducted in the Cabinet on behalf of the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP). According to the JSP sources, the newly appointed ministers are taking oath of office at a program to be held at the President's Office this morning. Mahato was appointed the Minister for Forest and Environment and Pramila was designated the Minister of State for Education, Science and Technology on Tuesday. President Ram Chandra Paudel, on the recommendation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, had appointed Mahato and Pramila as the minister and state minister on Tuesday. With this, a 25-member Council of Ministers has come to a complete shape.