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Editorial

For inclusive healthcare

A recent medical and dental camp organised by the Ability Bhutan Society (ABS), in collaboration with DANTAK healthcare professionals, offers a small but powerful glimpse of what inclusive healthcare can and should look like in the country. Held in Babesa in Thimphu, the one-day outreach served children with disabilities who are too often left behind by mainstream services.

Apr 24, 2025 2 mins read
Let profits trickle down to the masses

At last, the government has managed to persuade Bhutan Telecom to reduce mobile data charges by 50 percent.  From July 1, data charges will be cheaper by 50 percent. In other word...

Apr 23, 2025 2 mins read
The future is ours

A remarkable transformation is unfolding in the southern plains of Bhutan. The quiet frontier town of Gelephu is now emerging as the beating heart of a national dream—the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC). This visionary project, led by His M...

Apr 22, 2025 2 mins read
When the forest burns and no one knows why

More than 70,000 acres of forestland have been lost to fire in the country in just five years. This is not merely a statistic—it is a serious problem. The country has...

Apr 21, 2025 2 mins read
In search of quality

As Thimphu Thromde undergoes a flurry of repairs and maintenance in preparation for an upcoming VIP visit, the city’s transformation offers more than just a polished façade. It is a good time to pause and reflect on the overall quality of our urban centres.

Apr 19, 2025 2 mins read
Life after kidney transplant

For a person diagnosed with kidney failure, a transplant gives a new lease of life. However, a study published in the Bhutan Health Journal reveals that many kidney transplant recipients in the country are liv...

Apr 18, 2025 2 mins read
Inflation may be easing, but the pain still lingers

The Asian Development Bank forecasts that inflation in Bhutan will cool to 4.2 percent this year. That is welcome news. After years of high...

Apr 17, 2025 2 mins read
A knockout triumph

Bhutanese boxers, over the weekend, not only excited spectators at the clock tower square, but also made the country proud by dominating the Four Nations Boxing Championship. In what was an achievement worth noting, all 16 Bhutanese boxers...

Apr 16, 2025 2 mins read
Strengthening ties on steel rails: New chapter in Bhutan-India friendship

The decision to integrate the Gelephu-Kokrajhar cross-border railway into the development of the Gelephu Mindfulness City marks more than just an infrastructure milestone. It reflects the growing depth and maturity of Bhutan-India relations which is anchored in trust, shared vision, and long-term co-operation.

Apr 15, 2025 2 mins read
National problem that demands urgent attention

Mental health is emerging as one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Globally, it accounts for one in six years lived with disability, with people...

Apr 14, 2025 2 mins read
What are we hiding?

In recent months, Kuensel and other media outlets have raised critical questions about the government’s Nu 15 billion Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP). These inquiries focus on who benefits from the fund, how much has been disbursed to...

Apr 12, 2025 2 mins read
Building stronger shield against forgery

A  quiet but powerful step is being taken to strengthen Bhutan’s national security. Fifteen police officers from across the country are undergoing specialised training to de...

Apr 11, 2025 2 mins read
Beware of get-rich-quick scams

It is said that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many Bhutanese who have fallen victims to the QNet scam are painfully realising the wisdom behind this old adage. After Kuensel’s recent exposé on the QNet scheme, more victims are coming forward to share their heartbreaking stories—tales of regret, betrayal, and financial loss.

Apr 10, 2025 2 mins read
What plans for urban roads?

The Thimphu-Babesa expressway is undergoing a facelift, perhaps to welcome a VIP. While this may be welcome news , the traffic disruptions it causes indicate that there is something seriously wrong with our urban...

Apr 09, 2025 2 mins read
Prevention must lead our health response

Bhutan is facing a silent but dangerous health crisis. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory conditions—h...

Apr 08, 2025 2 mins read
Investing in food security

Food prices in Bhutan have been rising steadily, making it harder for families to afford what they need. Recent data shows that food inflation reached 5.45 percent in February this year, with the cost of food and no...

Apr 07, 2025 2 mins read
Saving our crafts

There are growing concerns in the arts and craft business. Those in the business are increasingly alarmed by the influx of cheaper—sometimes better-finished—imported crafts that are flooding the local market. A walk through any craft bazaar or handicraft market will reveal this reality.

Apr 05, 2025 2 mins read
Scamming at next level

A banker in Turkey died after the Covid-19 pandemic. His “head of finance" is reaching out to people so that she can share the fortune, as the banker had no children or  kith or kin to claim the heritage. She claims it is total...

Apr 04, 2025 2 mins read
Address teacher shortage issue urgently

The shortage of over 1,100 teachers in our schools is not just a staffing issue—it is a crisis threatening the country’s education system and, by extension, our future. The Min...

Apr 03, 2025 2 mins read
Ensuring quality of public infrastructure

Public infrastructure serves as the backbone of national economy, influencing everything from economic productivity to social well-being. Yet, for too long, quality contr...

Apr 02, 2025 2 mins read
Media must first hold itself accountable

The media serves as a watchdog of society, holding institutions and individuals accountable for their actions. It plays an important role in upholding democracy, exposing corruption, and ensuring transparency in governance. However, as much as the media demands the highest ethical and professional standards from others, it must also hold itself accountable. This is even more relevant at a time whe

Apr 01, 2025 2 mins read
Waste problem demands urgent action

We are at a crossroads in our fight against waste. The country, known for its pristine environment and Gross National Happiness philosophy, is now grappling with an escalating waste crisis...

Mar 31, 2025 2 mins read
Clearing speedbumps along the EV road

The call for privatising or establishing a public-private partnership (PPP) to develop and maintain electric vehicle (EV) charging stations is valid, given the crucial role of infras...

Mar 29, 2025 2 mins read
Urgent need for more EV charging stations

Bhutan’s ambitious target of replacing 70 percent of its vehicles with electric ones by 2035 is a visionary step towards sustainability. However, without a well-planned a...

Mar 28, 2025 2 mins read
Investing in our children’s future through play

In Bhutan, where strong family values and community ties form the foundation of society, the way we raise our children defines our future. Yet, a recent report on the Prescription to Play (P2P) programme has revealed a worrying reality—many young children, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, lack opportunities for playful interactions that are crucial for their development.

Mar 27, 2025 2 mins read
Hitting boulders along the export highway

The boulder trade emerged as a boon for Bhutanese businessmen and the economy. With Bangladesh experiencing a surge in construction demand and Bhutan being rich in stones...

Mar 26, 2025 2 mins read
Saving our rivers

From a distance, our glacial-fed rivers appear pristine. But a closer look along the riverbanks , especially in urban areas, reveals quite a different picture. Plastic waste, discarded garments, pet bottles, and human waste, among others, pol...

Mar 25, 2025 2 mins read
Tuberculosis: Growing threat demands urgent action

Tuberculosis (TB) seems to be quietly spreading across the country, posing a serious public health issue. Despite medical advances, this diseas...

Mar 24, 2025 2 mins read
Real dangers over our heads

For years, the Royal University of Bhutan’s conference hall in Thimphu has hosted policymakers, intellectuals, and experts discussing visions, future plans, and innovative ideas.

Mar 22, 2025 2 mins read
Browse Archives
Dhamdum Industrial Park allots plots to 63 industries, employment on the rise

Samtse—Two months after its inauguration in February, Dhamdum Industrial Park in Samtse has allotted plots to 63 industries and continues to expand its industrial footprint and employment prospects.

Apr 22, 2025 2 mins read
Thailand leads Bhutan’s agro-export markets beyond India and Bangladesh

Thailand emerged as Bhutan’s one of the top agricultural export destinations, importing goods worth Nu 83.21 million las...

Apr 22, 2025 2 mins read
Gangtey-Phobji biking trail poised for revival

Wangdue-Once a favourite among biking enthusiasts, the Gangtey-Phobji Biking Trail is gearing up for a much-anticipated...

Apr 22, 2025 2 mins read
Bhutan-Thailand celebrate friendship through football

To mark the Royal visit of Thailand’s King and Queen on April 25, a highly anticipated under-17 (U-17) football match be...

Apr 22, 2025 1 mins read
Empowering parents of children with disabilities

The Draktsho Vocational Training Centre for Children and Youth with Disabilities is launching a major initiative to trai...

Apr 21, 2025 2 mins read
Bhutanese teen helps build satellite in Australia

Pema Tsho Sakhu, a 13-year-old Bhutanese student living in Perth, Australia, is already reaching for the stars, literall...

Apr 21, 2025 3 mins read
Maedgang farmers thrive with poultry and pig farming boom

Samtse—Poultry and piggery farming has become a primary source of livelihood for many farmers in Maedgang, under Norbuan...

Apr 21, 2025 2 mins read
Heli Bhutan to begin operations this month

Bhutan’s first private helicopter operator, Heli Bhutan Private Limited (Heli Bhutan), will begin its operations by the...

Apr 21, 2025 2 mins read
Blazing cost of forest fires

Forest fires have destroyed around 70,696 acres of forest land across the country in the past five years, according to records with the Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS).

Apr 19, 2025 3 mins read
Bhutan medical relief team returns after successful mission in Myanmar

“Working among the 87-member Bhutan Medical Relief Team (BMRT) in Myanmar for 18 days, I realised that co-operation, dis...

Apr 19, 2025 3 mins read
New vegetable market under construction in Samtse

Samtse—For many years, farmers in Samtse have sold vegetables from under makeshift tents, battling monsoon rains and blazing heat. Now, that chapter is finally closing.

Apr 17, 2025 2 mins read
Organic vegetables provide new livelihoods for Kochin farmers

Tashichoeling, Samtse — For 78-year-old Kamala Tamang of Kochin in Tendruk, saving money in a bank had been unimaginable...

Apr 16, 2025 2 mins read
Major financial sector reforms crucial to realising 13th Plan goals

Sweeping reforms in the financial sector are essential for the country to achieve the ambitious goals of its 13th Plan,...

Apr 14, 2025 3 mins read
AmA by Deki Natural Dyes

In an age dominated by fast fashion and synthetic dyes, a Bhutanese entrepreneur is turning to the past to craft a more sustainable future using natural dyes.

Apr 09, 2025 3 mins read
BOB introduces flexible credit line and premium cards

The Bank of Bhutan (BoB) unveiled two financial products—Credit Line Limit (CLL) and BOB Premium Card—at a networking ev...

Mar 31, 2025 2 mins read
Online potato auction boosts trade and revenue

Potato trade has seen a major transformation since the launch of the online auction system under the Bhutan Commodities...

Mar 31, 2025 2 mins read
Mountain Hazelnuts secures USD 7.9M investment for climate-resilient farming

Mountain Hazelnuts, one of Bhutan’s first fully foreign direct investment (FDI) companies, has secured USD 7.9 million e...

Mar 31, 2025 1 mins read
Bhutan auctions wine on global stage

For the first time, Bhutanese vintage wine will go under the hammer on the global stage, marking a historic moment for the country’s nascent wine industry.

Mar 28, 2025 2 mins read
Soyalla: The Bhutanese tofu maker

In much of the world, plant-based diets are gaining traction for their health benefits and environmental sustainability. Yet in Bhutan, where traditional cuisine is deeply rooted in meat and dairy, soy-based products like...

Mar 21, 2025 3 mins read
PHPA-II commissions third unit, adding 170 MW to national grid

Wangdue—The third unit of Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project was commissioned yesterday, boosting the plant’s total gen...

Mar 20, 2025 2 mins read
Ask Mr Bhutan

As a collective, humanity has never been richer, more connected, more informed, and more protected from all cause disease and mortality. Yet it is very clear that this new reality has not translated into a happier existence. More is not the answer.

Apr 12, 2025 2 mins read
Ask Mr Bhutan

A significant portion of our youth’s challenges stems from our shortcomings as responsible, patient, and mindful elders. We should minimize criticism and punis...

Mar 22, 2025 1 mins read
Happiness with Mr Bhutan

Mar 15, 2025 4 mins read
For inclusive healthcare

A recent medical and dental camp organised by the Ability Bhutan Society (ABS), in collaboration with DANTAK healthcare professionals, offers a small but powerful glimpse of what inclusive healthcare can and should look like in the country. Held in Babesa in Thimphu, the one-day outreach served children with disabilities who are too often left behind by mainstream services.

Apr 24, 2025 2 mins read
Let profits trickle down to the masses

At last, the government has managed to persuade Bhutan Telecom to reduce mobile data charges by 50 percent.  From July 1, data charges will be cheaper by 50 percent. In other words, we will get more data with the same price.

Apr 23, 2025 2 mins read
The future is ours

A remarkable transformation is unfolding in the southern plains of Bhutan. The quiet frontier town of Gelephu is now emerging as the beating heart of a national dream—the Gel...

Apr 22, 2025 2 mins read
When the forest burns and no one knows why

More than 70,000 acres of forestland have been lost to fire in the country in just five years. This is not merely a stat...

Apr 21, 2025 2 mins read
In search of quality

As Thimphu Thromde undergoes a flurry of repairs and maintenance in preparation for an upcoming VIP visit, the city’s transformation offers more than just a polished façade. It is...

Apr 19, 2025 2 mins read
Life after kidney transplant

For a person diagnosed with kidney failure, a transplant gives a new lease of life. However, a study published in the Bhutan Health Journal reveals that many kidney transplant recipients in the country ar...

Apr 18, 2025 2 mins read
Inflation may be easing, but the pain still lingers

The Asian Development Bank forecasts that inflation in Bhutan will cool to 4.2 percent this year. That is welcome news....

Apr 17, 2025 2 mins read
A knockout triumph

Bhutanese boxers, over the weekend, not only excited spectators at the clock tower square, but also made the country proud by dominating the Four Nations Boxing Championship....

Apr 16, 2025 2 mins read
Strengthening ties on steel rails: New chapter in Bhutan-India friendship

The decision to integrate the Gelephu-Kokrajhar cross-border railway into the development of the Gelephu Mindfulness Cit...

Apr 15, 2025 2 mins read
National problem that demands urgent attention

Mental health is emerging as one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Globally, it accounts for one in six years...

Apr 14, 2025 2 mins read

Stock Today

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Manufacturing sector at a crossroads

The country’s economy, facing nearly three decades of premature de-industrialisation, requires a targeted industrial pol...

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Pioneering organic glass noodles

Forty-year-old entrepreneur Sonam Zangmo from Wangdue is pioneering organic glass noodles (Finn) made from buckwheat and...

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Agricultural exports surge to Nu 3.51 billion despite production challenges

Bhutan’s agricultural exports saw a strong performance last year, generating Nu 3.51 billion from both primary and proce...

Mar 18, 2025 2 mins read
Agenda Chikha commits USD 8 million to strengthen disability inclusion

Agenda Chikha, a collaborative initiative between the government and key stakeholders, has committed USD eight million t...

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Building startups for Gelephu Mindfulness City

After a four-year hiatus, the National Startup Weekend is back, aiming to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with essential sk...

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The rise in youth crimes in Bhutan stems from various causes, requiring a multifaceted solution. My experiences living i...

Feb 08, 2025 1 mins read
Ask Mr Bhutan

The rise in youth crimes in Bhutan stems from various causes, requiring a multifaceted solution. My experiences living i...

Feb 08, 2025 1 mins read
What are we hiding?

In recent months, Kuensel and other media outlets have raised critical questions about the government’s Nu 15 billion Ec...

Apr 12, 2025 2 mins read
Building stronger shield against forgery

A  quiet but powerful step is being taken to strengthen Bhutan’s national security. Fifteen police officers from across...

Apr 11, 2025 2 mins read
Beware of get-rich-quick scams

It is said that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many Bhutanese who have fallen victims to the Q...

Apr 10, 2025 2 mins read
What plans for urban roads?

The Thimphu-Babesa expressway is undergoing a facelift, perhaps to welcome a VIP. While this may be welcome news , the t...

Apr 09, 2025 2 mins read
Prevention must lead our health response

Bhutan is facing a silent but dangerous health crisis. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—such as heart disease, stroke, d...

Apr 08, 2025 2 mins read

Recents

For inclusive healthcare

A recent medical and dental camp organised by the Ability Bhutan Society (ABS), in collaboration with DANTAK healthcare professionals, offers a small but powerful glimpse of what inclusive healthcare can and should look like in the country. Held in Babesa in Thimphu, the one-day outreach served children with disabilities who are too often left behind by mainstream services.

Read More

Changyuel-Ritsa irrigation scheme offers lifeline to farmers

Punakha— As the paddy cultivation season nears, farmers in Guma gewog in Punakha, long plagued by water shortages, are seeing a glimmer of hope. The Changyuel-Ritsa lift irrigation project has been officially approved, offering a lifeline to two of the gewog’s most agriculturally dependent villages.

Read More

Brazil to pilot GNH framework

Gross National Happiness (GNH) is making its way to Brazil. The Centre for Bhutan and Gross National Happiness Studies (CBS) has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Brazilian organisations to adapt and implement the country’s pioneering GNH framework in Brazil.

Read More