Govt issues 73-point guidelines to regulate budget implementation

KATHMANDU: The government has issued 73-point guidelines to regulate budget implementation. These guidelines apply to all ministries, provinces, and local governments.

The Ministry of Finance made public the circular that aims to promote frugal budget spending and enhance effectiveness.

The guidelines cover topics including budget spending authority, project approval and allocation, project handover and enforcement, budget transfers, amendments, reporting, fiscal transparency, accountability, and monitoring.

According to the circular, government bodies allocated budget funds for implementation in partnership should notify the Ministry of Finance and the relevant Comptroller's Office regarding their budget share and expected outcomes.

Likewise, the work procedures for budget implementation must be prepared this month. They should be updated on the website within a week of receiving the endorsement.

In case of the work procedure requiring long-term liability, approval from the Finance Ministry is made mandatory. 

Projects of national priority are advised to adopt a two-shift work schedule.

To ensure effective project implementation, the project leader should be selected through internal competition.

Criteria should be established to discourage the transfer of project leaders during the project term. However, those who perform poorly in evaluations will not be exempt.

Any activities not covered by the budget should not be considered.

Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini informed that the guideline will be useful to meet the liability incurred at the end of the fiscal year.