Kathmandu: The Government of Nepal has officially announced that one percent of the total capital expenditure will be dedicated to the fields of science, technology, research, and innovation.
This major commitment was unveiled by Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Waglé while presenting the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84 during a joint session of the Federal Parliament on Friday. By earmarking a fixed portion of the development budget for R&D, the government aims to foster a culture of technological advancement and modern problem-solving within the country.
This policy decision marks a significant victory for science advocates, most notably Mahabir Pun, a prominent member of the House of Representatives and a social entrepreneur. Pun had spent years campaigning for the state to invest at least one percent of its capital budget into research and innovation to drive national development, even resorting to public protests to highlight the cause. With this formal budgetary provision, the government has finally addressed a key demand from the scientific community, signalling a strategic shift toward supporting home-grown technological solutions and evidence-based growth.
Comment Here