Kathmandu, November 9
More than half of Nepal’s total budget expenditure goes towards general public services and social protection, according to official data.
According to the Financial Comptroller General Office, budgetary entities spent a total of Rs 1.20754 trillion on services and functional activities in the last fiscal year 2025/26. Of this amount, Rs 488.15 billion was spent on general public services and Rs 199.61 billion on social protection.
Expenditure on general public services stood at Rs 469 billion in the previous fiscal year 2024/25. Social protection expenditure includes spending on family and child welfare, unemployment programmes and social security schemes.
In addition, Rs 214.51 billion was spent on economic affairs, the office said while publishing its Integrated Statement of Central Accounts for fiscal year 2025/26.
Expenditure under economic affairs includes spending on agriculture, forestry, fuel, energy, transport, communications, mining, manufacturing and construction, among other areas.
According to the office, Rs 87.69 billion was spent on public order and safety during the fiscal year. This category includes expenditure on police services, fire protection, courts and prisons.
The data also show that Rs 60.71 billion was spent on health and Rs 57.37 billion on education. The government spent Rs 62.93 billion on defence during the same fiscal year. Meanwhile, expenditure on environmental protection amounted to just Rs 3.34 billion, including spending on sewerage management.
The office’s data show that Rs 29.61 billion was spent on housing and community amenities, while Rs 3.58 billion went towards recreation, culture and religion.
Budgetary entities are organisations included in the government’s budget system that receive allocated budget funds and operate under the government’s direct control.
The authority to manage their budgets and exercise financial and administrative control over them rests with central government agencies. Ministries, departments, programmes, projects and offices fall under this category.
The government implemented a total budget of Rs 1.96411 trillion in fiscal year 2025/26, of which total expenditure amounted to Rs 1.56139 trillion. During the same fiscal year, Rs 355.34 billion was transferred as fiscal transfers.
