40 percent budget spent by mid-Magh; capital expenditure Llmited to 15 percent

Kathmandu – Both government revenue and expenditure have remained weak during the first seven months of the current fiscal year 2082/83. According to the Office of the Financial Comptroller General, government revenue collection has reached only 44 percent of the annual target, while overall expenditure stands at 40 percent during this period.

For the current fiscal year, a total budget of Rs 19 trillion 64 billion 11 crore has been allocated. By the end of Magh (mid-February), the government had spent Rs 8 trillion 1 billion 37 crore 49 lakh, which amounts to 40.8 percent of the annual allocation.

Under the recurrent expenditure heading, Rs 11 trillion 80 billion 98 crore was allocated for the year, of which 47.62 percent—equivalent to Rs 5 trillion 62 billion 37 crore 15 lakh—has been spent.

In contrast, capital expenditure has remained significantly low. Of the Rs 4 trillion 7 billion 88 crore 80 lakh allocated under the capital heading, only 15.62 percent, or Rs 63 billion 72 crore 99 lakh, has been utilized so far.

Expenditure under the financial management heading stands at 46.71 percent. Out of the allocated Rs 3 trillion 75 billion 24 crore 20 lakh, a total of Rs 1 trillion 75 billion 27 crore 35 lakh has been spent by mid-Magh.

The government had set a revenue collection target of Rs 15 trillion 33 billion 44 crore 69 lakh for the current fiscal year. By the end of Magh, 44.49 percent of the target had been achieved, with total revenue collection amounting to Rs 6 trillion 82 billion 16 crore 73 lakh.

Of this, tax revenue accounts for 45.21 percent of the annual target, equivalent to Rs 5 trillion 99 billion 31 crore 46 lakh. Non-tax revenue collection has reached 42.55 percent of the annual target, totaling Rs 65 billion 71 crore 3 lakh.

The government had also aimed to mobilize Rs 53 billion 44 crore 69 lakh in foreign grants during the current fiscal year. However, by mid-Magh, only Rs 12 billion 83 crore 79 lakh—representing 24.02 percent of the annual target—had been received, according to the Office.