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National Council questions legality of GST Bill’s commencement date

The Members of Parliament (MPs) in National Council (NC) yesterday raised concerns on the legality of the adoption and proposed commencement date for the Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill 2025.

Jun 18, 2025 3 mins read
Govt. working on tackling youth unemployment: MoICE Minister

The government is accelerating efforts to address the pressing issue of rising youth unemployment in the country...

Jun 18, 2025 2 mins read
MP raises alarm over Bhutan’s sharp decline in global press freedom ranking

During the National Assembly’s Question Hour yesterday, Menbi-...

Jun 18, 2025 3 mins read
MP questions uneven enforcement of attic ban

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Lamgong-Wangchang called for a revision of the country’s building regulations after raising concerns about the inconsistent enf...

Jun 18, 2025 2 mins read
MP for Nganglam pushes iron poles to halt forest loss from prayer flag tradition

Concerned over the large-scale felling of trees for prayer flags to honour the deceased, Member of Parliament (MP)  for Nganglam proposed replacing wooden prayer flag poles with reusable iron or steel alternatives during the National Assembly’s Question and Hour session yesterday.

Jun 18, 2025 2 mins read
Living with wildlife: Bhutan tries new path to coexistence

At daybreak in Berti village, 65-year-old Wangpo walks the perimeter of his maize field, searching for signs of fresh d...

Jun 18, 2025 5 mins read
Chukha–Dagana road gets priority in 13th Plan, bridge at Badina not listed

Chukha—After years of delays and repeated appeals from local comm...

Jun 18, 2025 2 mins read
From devotion to disarray: Kuenselphodrang left reeking after major religious gathering

What lingers in Kuenselphodrang these days isn’t j...

Jun 18, 2025 2 mins read
His Majesty’s 28th Birthday Celebrated in Thimphu

The 28th, Birthday of His Majesty the King Jigme Singye Wangchuck was celebrated all over the country on November 11. 1983.

Nov 27, 1983 2 mins read
National Assembly passes 5 percent Goods and Service Tax

The National Assembly (NA) yesterday adopted the Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, reducing the applicable GST rate to...

Jun 17, 2025 3 mins read
Higher prices for tobacco, alcohol, soft drinks, cars to be cheaper

The National Assembly yesterday deliberated on the 207 sections of the Excise Tax Bill of Bh...

Jun 17, 2025 2 mins read
Pharmacy shortages in rural areas hinder access to medicines

Limited pharmacy services in several remote districts, including Zhemgang, Gasa, and Samdrupjongkhar, are restricting access to essential medicines and pushing residents to obtain drugs from across the border, raising concerns about safety and regulatory compliance, according to the Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (CCAA).

Jun 17, 2025 3 mins read
Bhutan embarks on second joint external evaluation to strengthen health security

Bhutan has officially embarked on its second Joint Ex...

Jun 17, 2025 3 mins read
Gelephu-Phulahari road upgraded to support major spiritual projects

Gelephu—A 6-kilometre road connecting Gelephu to Phulahari is currently being upgraded to im...

Jun 17, 2025 2 mins read
Pitching Bhutan onto international baseball stage

In 2021, Thinley Jamtsho took his first steps into baseball as a catcher for his school’s under-15 league team. At the time, he had little idea wh...

Jun 17, 2025 2 mins read
Drinchengang to become Bhutan’s first innovative model village

Wangdue—The centuries-old village of Drinchengang (formerly Rinchengang) in Wangdue is poised for a major transformation.

Jun 16, 2025 2 mins read
Gelephu’s modern check post nears completion

Gelephu—The new integrated check post (ICP) on the Bhutan-India border in Gelephu is a state-of-the-art facility featuring high-tech terminals, built in li...

Jun 16, 2025 2 mins read
Tourism crypto payment welcomes new vendors

The crypto payment system for international tourists is now open to new vendors, allowing more tourism businesses to offer cryptocurrency payment option.

Jun 16, 2025 2 mins read
Bhutan celebrates International Day of Play, emphasising right to play

Paro—Bhutan joined the global celebration of this year’s International Day of Play...

Jun 16, 2025 2 mins read
World Bank approves USD 34.5 million for job creation and green value chains

The World Bank has approved USD 34.5 million in financing for Bhutan, aimed at boosting employment and value addition within the agriculture, livestock, and forestry sectors under the new ‘Accelerating Bhutan’s Job Transformation through Renewable Natural Resource Value Chains’ Project on June 14.

Jun 16, 2025 2 mins read
Can Bhutanese transform Bhutan?

There is a special energy and stimulation when you sit with hundreds of smartly dressed graduates at their convocation. On June 12, graduates of the 11 colleges of the Royal University of Bhutan recei...

Jun 16, 2025 4 mins read
Koufuku International Limited redefines Bhutan’s dairy industry

Trashigang—Established as Bhutan’s first foreign direct investment (FDI) dairy venture, Koufuku In...

Jun 16, 2025 4 mins read
The Happiness Farm: A unique farm-to-table retreat

In the verdant hills of Paro, just six kilometres from Chudzom, The Happiness Farm blends sustainable agriculture, wellness, and authentic Bhut...

Jun 16, 2025 2 mins read
“Bhutan for Well-being”, more than a tagline

There are places where time slows because the soul is finally allowed to breathe. Yangthang, nestled in Haa, amidst pines and plains, was one such place. The Yangthang Plain, usually quiet except for the rustle of prayer flags and a distant glamping site, rarely attracts attention.

Jun 16, 2025 3 mins read
“Football development takes a village, a federation acting as one”

What does it mean to you to be elected as the first-ever female member of the SAFF...

Jun 16, 2025 5 mins read
MP’s arrest during session sparks debate on parliamentary immunity

The detention of the opposition MP facing child molestation charges during an ongoing par...

Jun 14, 2025 5 mins read
Critics foresee messy education system with cut-off reinstatement

The government’s decision to reinstate the Class X cut-off point, citing declining education quali...

Jun 14, 2025 4 mins read
NA unanimously passes budget for fiscal year 2025-26 and supplementary Bill

The National Assembly (NA) yesterday unanimously passed the Budget Appropriation Bill for the Financial Year 2025-26, amounting to Nu 138.55 billion, and the Supplementary Budget Appropriation Bill for the Financial Year 2024-25, totaling Nu 1.59 billion.

Jun 14, 2025 2 mins read
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“Bhutan for Well-being”, more than a tagline

There are places where time slows because the soul is finally allowed to breathe. Yangthang, nestled in Haa, amidst pines and plains, was one such place. The Yangthang Plain, usually quiet except for the rustle of prayer flags and a distant glamping site, rarely attracts attention.

Jun 16, 2025 3 mins read
“Football development takes a village, a federation acting as one”

What does it mean to you to be elected as the first-ever female member of the SAFF Executive Committee? I feel deeply ho...

Jun 16, 2025 5 mins read
MP’s arrest during session sparks debate on parliamentary immunity

The detention of the opposition MP facing child molestation charges during an ongoing parliamentary session has sparked...

Jun 14, 2025 5 mins read
NA unanimously passes budget for fiscal year 2025-26 and supplementary Bill

The National Assembly (NA) yesterday unanimously passed the Budget Appropriation Bill for the Financial Year 2025-26, am...

Jun 14, 2025 2 mins read
Critics foresee messy education system with cut-off reinstatement

The government’s decision to reinstate the Class X cut-off point, citing declining education quality, has sparked critic...

Jun 14, 2025 4 mins read
Govt. earmarks Nu 31.5 million for third child policy

The government has allocated Nu 31.5 million for third child policy, Finance Minister Lekey Dorji said during yesterday’...

Jun 14, 2025 2 mins read
Govt. vows to resolve toll fee issue along Indian highways within two months

The government has pledged to resolve the long-standing issue of double toll fee imposed on Bhutanese vehicles traveling...

Jun 14, 2025 3 mins read
Unlocking agrifood potential through strategic financing and GI

In a stride toward revitalising rural livelihoods and strengthening the agri-food sector, the government launched the co...

Jun 14, 2025 4 mins read
Bhutan in final phase to achieve malaria-free status by year-end

Gelephu—With no indigenous malaria cases reported since November 2021, Bhutan is making the final push to achieve malari...

Jun 14, 2025 3 mins read
NC makes 10 recommendations to unlock forestry sector’s potential

The National Council (NC) yesterday unanimously adopted the review report on the forestry sector’s contribution to gross...

Jun 14, 2025 2 mins read
Outmigration: Bhutan’s existential dilemma

The sharp rise in Bhutanese outmigration since the Covid-19 pandemic is no longer just a trend; it has become a full-blown national crisis. Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has rightly called it an existential crisis, one that threatens the very foundation of our country’s future if left unaddressed.

May 30, 2025 2 mins read
Our human development rank deserves a closer look

Our global brand—Gross National Happiness—is envied and admired. Yet our ranking in the Human Development Index (HDI) te...

May 29, 2025 2 mins read
A bold tax reform

Even before the Economic and Finance Committee could review the Excise Tax Bill and Income Tax Bill 2025 presented by the finance minister on the first day of Parliament’s...

May 28, 2025 2 mins read
Complacency is a luxury we cannot afford

The recent surge of Covid-19 sub-variants in India—LF.7 and NB.1.8—serves as a warning that the pandemic, while quieter, is far from over. We must resist the tempting lull of complacency.

May 27, 2025 2 mins read
Don't let consultancy firms exploit our youth

As traditional education destinations like Australia and Canada tighten student visa regulations, Germany and other Euro...

May 26, 2025 2 mins read
The stick should work where the carrot failed

Finally, we are on the right path toward a lasting solution to keep our surroundings clean and green. If the Clean Thimp...

May 24, 2025 2 mins read
A silent emergency—Media gasping for air

Bhutan’s media landscape is facing a serious problem that strikes at the core of its democratic ideals. Once seen as a p...

May 23, 2025 2 mins read
Youth unemployment —A crisis of will, not just economy

Bhutan’s rising youth unemployment is no longer a “ticking time bomb”—it is a full-blown crisis. Beneath the surface of...

May 22, 2025 2 mins read
Assurance through insurance?

The government’s approval of the National Crop and Livestock Insurance Scheme—a long-awaited initiative to shield farmers from losses caused by climate change and wildlife depredation—marks a critical step f...

May 21, 2025 2 mins read
No more WOW

Launched in May 2020, the Wobthang Organic Wonders (WOW) farm in Bumthang was supposed to be a model of sustainable agriculture, innovation, and communit...

May 20, 2025 2 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 t...

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....

Mar 21, 2025 3 mins read
A nation’s promise to its smallest citizens

In an age when many countries are content with meeting global benchmarks, Bhutan has chosen to raise the bar—not just fo...

May 19, 2025 2 mins read
A feather in the cap of Bhutanese engineers

The 18MW Suchhu Hydropower Project in Sombaykha, Haa will be remembered as a monumental milestone not only for the peopl...

May 17, 2025 2 mins read
Time to rebuild our health system around excellence

Our healthcare system stands at a dangerous crossroads. What was once held up as a model of free, accessible care for al...

May 16, 2025 2 mins read
Religious gatherings must be organised better

If the concept of civic cleanliness is lacking in our culture, it becomes glaringly evident when the mass gathers for an...

May 15, 2025 2 mins read
Allow private participation in healthcare sector

For many decades, Bhutan has taken great pride in providing free healthcare to all its citizens. This noble mandate has...

May 14, 2025 2 mins read

Recents

Taxes alone cannot control alcohol or tobacco

Alcohol, tobacco, carbonated drinks, and other non-essential or harmful products will become more expensive starting January 2026, with the National Assembly deciding to increase taxes on these items. If the National Council passes the Excise Tax Bill of Bhutan 2025 in its current form, about 170 items will be subject to higher taxes.

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