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Approximately 80,000 children across Nepal participated in a tree-planting initiative on World Environment Day under the nationwide campaign “One Child, One Tree.” The initiative was led by the World Vision International Nepal in collaboration with local governments, schools, and community stakeholders.

The campaign was conducted across 46 municipalities in 17 districts, spanning various ecological regions including the hills, mountains, and the Terai plains. Participating districts included Udayapur, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Rautahat, Sindhuli, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Lamjung, Jumla, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Achham, Doti, Dailekh, Jajarkot, Banke, and Bajhang.

According to organizers, children planted thousands of saplings—including fruit-bearing and locally suitable species such as mango, litchi, guava, and orange—in schools, residential areas, communities, and ward offices. The initiative also recorded the participation of 573 children with disabilities.

The implementation of the campaign involved coordinated schedules throughout the day, supported by local governments, schools, community forest groups, families, and 27 local implementing partner organizations.

To support the survival and growth of the saplings, the organizers stated that they are working with families and local stakeholders to provide follow-up care, including the distribution of organic fertilizers.

Prakash Tiwari, Associate Director of Technical Programmes and Head of Resilience & Livelihoods at World Vision International Nepal, stated that the campaign aims to address environmental degradation and climate change by fostering environmental awareness and responsibility among youth. Roslyn Hanson Gabriel, National Director of World Vision International Nepal, concluded that the successful execution of the project highlights the impact of integrated planning and cross-community collaboration in addressing environmental challenges through youth engagement.

Local government representatives and educators noted both the environmental and educational aspects of the initiative.

Dip Narayan Mandal, Chairperson of Ekdara Rural Municipality, remarked that the distribution of fruit saplings like mango and litchi serves to promote conservation while supporting future food security and nutrition. Ram Ishwor Mandal, Principal of Rastriya Basic School in Baheda, added that providing fruit saplings integrates practical environmental education into the school system.

Similarly, Yagya Prashad Neupane, Ward Chair of Tikapur-7, highlighted that the activities encourage children to understand environmental protection from an early age.

Children and parents from various districts expressed their engagement with the program. Young participants, including Roshani Yadav (8), Gautam Sah (14), Vivisha Chaudhary, Astha RC, Shruti Bhandari, and Elisa, shared their intentions to care for the saplings they received and noted that the experience increased their interest in nature.

Basmati Budha, a 34-year-old parent from Jumla, observed that the hands-on event allowed children to gain practical environmental knowledge and take a leadership role in field activities.

The government is going to promote Nepal as a destination for 'wellness tourism' in the international tourism market.

Presenting the annual estimates (budget) of revenue and expenditure for the fiscal year 2026/27 in the joint house of the federal parliament today, Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle said that the government has given high priority to the development of the tourism sector.

Accordingly, financial incentives will be given for the construction of luxury resorts and hotels to promote tourism.

He also mentioned that the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal will be restructured within mid-January next year to improve Nepal's position in the European Union's aviation safety list. The CAAN will be divided into separate regulatory and licensing bodies.

The Finance Minister said that the Lumbini-Muktinath religious road, Shaligram road and meditation/yoga center will be developed. He mentioned that the government has set a goal to integrate yoga, meditation, spiritual practices as well as Buddhist and Vedic philosophy. This will help introduce the Himalayan cultural experience to the world.

The government has forwarded a plan to set up a sovereign wealth fund by utilizing foreign currency reserves.

Presenting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, 2026/27 in the joint meeting of the federal parliament today, Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle said that artificial intelligence (AI), clean energy, digital infrastructures and financial sector reform were in government priority. A strategic plan is afoot to develop Nepal as a regional technical hub, he shared.

The climate fund would be utilized to the extent possible while diaspora bond and clean energy bond shall be issued, he said, adding that establishment of an AI factory was another scheme.

In order to curb exchange risk associated with foreign loan or investment, a hedging service would be launched next year, according to him.

Utmost efforts would be made to lift Nepal out of the grey list; a favorable atmosphere would be created to improve credit sovereign credit rating.

Moreover, the government is for increasing government funds in Rastriya Banijya Bank under the reform of corporation/authorities, while Nepal Airlines would be transformed into a company and run in a partnership model.

As per the budget speech, the government issued shares of Rastriya Jeevan Bima Company and Bishal Bazar Company to the general public. Keeping 66 percent of its share to the government, remaining shares would be sold to the general public within mid-January next year. The amount generated from it would be spent to make Nepal a tech hub.

Foreign investment would be open for expansion of IT and a clear legal provision for remote work- from Nepal to the foreign companies. IT software to be used in government services will be purchased from the same agency, according to Minister Wagle.

The finance minister further announced that a fintech marketplace would be established under Nepal Rastra Bank's supervision as part of digital public infrastructures. Dozens of government services would be linked to Nagarik App.

The budget further mentioned the establishment of a sovereign AI compute center for the first time in Nepal. With this numerous AI industrialists and startups would be provided computing at a subsidized rate by purchasing thousands of AI processing units.

Dr Wagle also announced that at least 15 Nepali researchers working in internationally acclaimed AI companies would be provided fellowships in a bid to contribute to Nepal. 

AI-related education including mathematics is accorded utmost priority by the government as the Minister shared through budget speech.

The government is set to proceed with the restructuring of the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE).

Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle said so while presenting the budget for fiscal year 2083/ 84.

The government has increased the salaries of government employees.

Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle said that the salaries of government employees have been increased by 21 percent.

He said that the new salary of government employees has now been fixed at a minimum of 40,000 to 100,000.

The government has announced plans to run programs in four categories of medical education at the Shaheed Dashrath Chand University of Health Sciences in Geta, Sudurpaschim Province.

Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle said so while presenting the budget for fiscal year 2083/ 84.

The government has announced that it will provide free treatment of cancer to the children at government hospitals.

Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle said so while presenting the budget for fiscal year 2083/ 84.

The government has allocated Rs 2.18 billion for the education sector.

Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, while presenting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, said that the education sector has been given priority.