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As banks and financial institutions (BFIs) increasingly turn to artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline operations and improve customer service, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has drafted a comprehensive set of AI Guidelines and circulated them among stakeholders for feedback. The guidelines intend to ensure safe, transparent and responsible use of AI across the financial system at a time when digital technologies are rapidly reshaping service delivery.

The proposed guidelines are designed for all institutions regulated by NRB, including commercial banks, development banks, finance companies, microfinance institutions, Nepal Infrastructure Bank, and payment system operators and service providers.

According to NRB, the primary objectives of the guidelines are to promote the adoption of AI tools in a way that enhances operational efficiency, innovation and customer experience, while safeguarding financial stability and institutional resilience. 

The guidelines state that AI-driven decisions of licensed institutions must remain transparent, explainable, fair and accountable to ensure that customer rights and data privacy are protected and that no discriminatory outcomes arise from automated systems.

The central bank has also warned licensed institutions to mitigate a wide range of risks associated with AI, including operational, ethical, systemic, model-related and cyber risks. To address these issues, all licensed institutions are required to define their AI-related risk tolerance as part of their broader risk management structure and establish strong governance mechanisms with clearly assigned roles and responsibilities.

As per the guidelines, licensed institutions must develop a comprehensive AI strategy accompanied by an integrated governance framework. This should include detailed policies, procedures and internal controls to guide the secure development, deployment and monitoring of AI models. They must also ensure that AI systems can maintain critical services during disruptions and have mechanisms in place to detect faults, restore operations and minimize service impacts.

To strengthen oversight, the guidelines require listed institutions to set up a cross-disciplinary AI steering committee—or designate an existing committee—to guide strategy, risk oversight and compliance. The committee should include senior management members with adequate expertise in technology and AI-related risks, and the overall AI framework must be approved by the Board of Directors.

The guidelines also distinguish between internal use of third-party AI tools and formal outsourcing. While internal use of ready-made AI tools for tasks such as drafting, summarizing or analysis will not be treated as outsourcing, BFIs must still follow their own risk and compliance policies. However, any AI-enabled service provided by an external vendor will require full outsourcing procedures, including due diligence, board approval and formal notification to NRB.

Licensed institutions are required to submit annual reports to the central bank, detailing AI use, risk controls and customer impacts, and maintain documentation—including data sources, algorithms and decision-making processes—for all AI systems.

Non-life insurance companies have so far paid out only 18.7 percent of the total claims filed for losses arising from the GenZ protests of Sept 8 and 9, according to updated figures from the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA). The two days of violent unrest, marked by arson, vandalism and clashes between security forces and protesters, resulted in extensive damage to public property, business establishments, vehicles and private homes.

Of around 3,300 claims amounting to approximately Rs 23.44bn received by insurers, companies have made advance and parietal payments totaling Rs 4.38bn to policyholders, the NIA said.

Property insurance has accounted for the largest share of losses. Out of 710 property claims worth Rs 19.88bn, insurers have so far settled about Rs 3.21bn. Similarly, out of 2,308 motor insurance claims valued at Rs 3.47bn, payments totaling Rs 1.08bn have been made as of Dec 3..

Engineering and contractor’s risk policies have seen 225 claims worth Rs 555.5m, of which insurers have settled Rs 68.1m. Transport insurance accounts for 12 claims valued at Rs 16.8m, with payouts of Rs 6.6m. Under the “other” category, insurers have paid Rs 4.9m against 45 claims totaling Rs 384m.

According to the NIA, 1,984 of the total claims are linked directly to arson and vandalism in Kathmandu and several districts. Seventy-four people were killed in the protests, which escalated after police used excessive force to disperse crowds. Hotel Hilton Kathmandu alone reported damages of around Rs 8bn, making it one of the largest individual losses.

All fourteen non-life insurance companies and four microinsurers have reported exposure to losses from the protests. Seven companies have liabilities exceeding Rs 1bn each.

Oriental Insurance has received the highest claim totaling Rs 5.14bn from 40 policies, followed by Siddhartha Premier Insurance with Rs 4.93bn across 258 claims. Shikhar Insurance ranks third in terms of claim value, with 366 cases totaling Rs 2.39bn. IME Prudential Insurance has 24 claims worth Rs 1.59bn, while Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance has reported 233 claims amounting to Rs 1.47bn.

Lumbini Lions reached the final of the ongoing second edition of Nepal Premier League (NPL). 

Lumbini secured their place in the final, defeating Biratnagar Kings by 40 runs in qualifier 2 held on Thursday. 

They will take on Sudurpaschim Royals in the final match on Saturday. 

Invited to bat first after losing the toss at TU International Cricket Ground, Lumbini Lions made 134 runs in the allotted 20 overs losing eight wickets. 

Chasing the 135-run victory target, Biratnagar Kings made 94 runs in 17.4 overs at the loss of all wickets. 

For Biratnagar, Sam Heazlett scored the highest 34 runs and Naren Bhatta 21 runs.

In the bowling, Tilak Bhandari took three wickets, while Ruben Trumpelmann, Abhishesh Gautam and JJ Smit took two wickets each.

Earlier, batting first, Lumbini's D'Arcy Short top-scored with 45 runs off 41 balls while Rohit Kumar Paudel, Niroshan Dickwella, Ruben Trumpelmann (not out) collected 34 runs, 29 runs and 11 runs respectively.

Biratnagar's Subash Bhandari and Pratish GC took three wickets each while Sandeep Lamichhane took two wickets.

Sardor Mirzayusupovich Rustambaev, the Non-Resident Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Nepal, has presented his letters of credence to President Ram Chandra Paudel.

Nepal and Uzbekistan established formal diplomatic relations on 27 January 2018. Speaking at a roundtable discussion with Kathmandu-based businessmen, Ambassador Rustambaev highlighted Uzbekistan’s ongoing efforts to diversify its economy. “We cannot say that we rely on one or two major sources of income,” he said, stressing that both countries can cooperate in areas such as fertilizer, agriculture, labor, tourism, and more.

He also informed participants that discussions are underway to establish an air bridge between Nepal and Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan, one of the fastest-growing economies, is projected to record a GDP growth of 7.5 percent in 2025, according to an analysis by the Center for Economic Research and Reforms of Uzbekistan, as reported by local media. The forecast was revised upward by 0.8 percentage points from the June estimate. Over the first nine months of this year, the Uzbek economy expanded by 7.6 percent, driven by stable growth in industry, services, agriculture, construction, and foreign trade.

Ambassador Rustambaev encouraged Nepali businesses to explore investment opportunities in Uzbekistan, noting that the two countries are not competitors but can complement each other. He acknowledged, however, that current bilateral trade remains minimal.

MAEDA Toru, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal on Thursday called on Foreign Secretary Amrit Rai.

According to Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, various matters of Nepal-Japan relations including celebrating the 70^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2026 were discussed during the meeting.  

The government has decided to implement the 10-point agreement signed with Gen Z representatives on Wednesday. 

The agreement was signed on December 10 at the Office of the Prime Minister, Singha Durbar.

A Cabinet meeting held on Thursday decided to publish the agreement in the Nepal Gazette, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel confirmed.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki and Bhoj Bikram Thapa, on behalf of those who attained martyrdom and were injured during the Gen Z movement, signed the pact. 

Likewise, Minister Kharel said that the Council of Ministers decided to expand the scope of the Investigation Commission formed by the Government to probe the incidents of the Gen-Z Movement of September 8 and 9. 

Asked about the presence of then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to record his statement in the Probe Commission, Minister Kharel said the jurisdiction of the Commission was expanded and the Commission will perform its job in accordance with the laws.

Forty-six thousand and twenty new voters have been registered in Sudurpaschim Province. 

Prem Raj Bhatta, Head of the Sudurpaschim Province Election Office, said that there has been an increase in young voters for the House of Representatives elections to be held on March 5.

"Election material management and voter list updating works are going on. A deadline until Friday has been given for registering objections on the voter list and correction of any errors," Bhatta added.

He said the highest number of new voters was added in Kailali with 18,213 and the lowest in Bajura with 1,517 from September 26  to November 21, during the period opened for registering for the voter list.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 1. 66 points to close at 2, 607. 37. 03 points on Thursday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index, however, increased by 0. 11 points to close at 446. 30 points.

A total of 7,768,601-unit shares of 326 companies were traded for Rs 3. 49 billion.

Meanwhile, Swastik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SWASTIK) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Muktinath Krishi Company Limited (MKCL) was the top loser as its price fell by 8. 42 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 47 trillion.