Where five percent hurts most

Prices in most shops have jumped five percent overnight. In Changzamtog, a couple sits at their tiny wooden table, counting what little money they have left. The husband, the sole breadwinner, earns Nu 17,000 at a convenience store. Rent takes Nu 5,500. Electricity bill, another about Nu 1,500. That leaves about Nu 10,000 for groceries, school fees, internet charges, and survival.

How excise tax reshapes prices of sin goods

The new excise tax (ET) framework, effective from January 1, has led to price increases for alcohol, tobacco, carbonated...

New income tax law widens relief for families and households

The government has introduced a range of tax relief measures for individuals under a new income tax framework rolled out...

GST drives shoppers across the border in Phuentsholing

No timeline yet for GST refunds to tourists leaving Bhutan

The government is yet to announce when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) refund mechanism for tourists and short-term vis...

Consumers foot the bill as double taxation bites during GST transition

Consumers are facing short-term price increases as the country transitions to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system, w...

Second Bhutan International ESG Alliance forum kicks off

Police refute allegations of torture claims in custodial death of Biren Kafley with CCTV footage evidence

Former BIG regional manager sentenced to nine years for embezzlement

Bumpa Wangmo, former regional manager of Bhutan Industrial Gas (BIG), has been sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment aft...

Dzongkhags rally to attract local tourists

A common destiny, a collective future

The 118th National Day of Bhutan, celebrated in the sacred Bumthang Valley at the historic Wangduechoeling Palace grounds, was more than a commemoration of nationhood. It was a moment of collective reflection and renewed purpose, set against a landscape that embodies Bhutan’s spiritual origins and continuity.

A historic National Day

Some historic events are planned, others unfold as if by destiny, arriving at the opportune time for a profound reason. Today, as His Majesty the King addresses the nation from the Wangduec...

The true measure of public service

The civil service is the backbone of our nation’s development. From remote gewogs to the capital, civil servants have played a key role in keeping the government running and serving citizens every day. The Royal Civil Serv...

Impact Finance Forum: A promising start

The recently concluded SDG Impact Finance Forum showed the potential for global investments in the country.

Restore or lose it altogether

The country’s plan to restore 50,000 hectares of degraded forests, farmlands, and urban lands is not simply an environmental initiative. It is a national ultimatum. We are standing at a point where the land...

Zero tolerance for online crimes

This week, Australia enforced the ban on social media access for children under 16. This is unprecedented and bold. While some critics have labelled the ban harsh and even draconian, this new law is anchored in the p...

Will our education transformation be equitable?

The government’s allocation of Nu 30 billion for education transformation in the 13th Plan, second only to the economic...

The never-ending tourism debate

The discussion on tourism policy is like Atsara Phentho’s chham. In other words, a lot of motion without progress. On Monday, members of Parliament demanded accountability for the reforms they recommended after re...

Ready to take off from GMC

The launch of the Gelephu–Kolkata international air route marks far more than the addition of a new flight on the country’s aviation map. It is a statement of intent – a signal of where we are heade...

Why we must invest in Research & Development

Bhutan is not short of ideas, intellect or institutions. What it lacks is a strong, working bridge between research, pol...