Opinions

Seventy years of service, beyond the crown

As we commemorate the 70th birth anniversary of the greatest leaders of our time, our Great Fourth, an occasion to reflect not upon the duration of his reign, but upon a life principled by values transcending personal ambition.

Nov 08, 2025 2 mins read 314 views
A visit beyond diplomacy

Thimphu is currently immersed in an atmosphere of profound spiritual devotion and festivity. The country is hosting the Global Peace Prayer Festival, bringing together eminent Buddhist masters representing nearly every sc...

Nov 08, 2025 5 mins read 2,267 views
What is reductionism in Buddhist philosophy?

What is common to many writings on conflicts and violence is the issue of culture and identity. This is a theme explored in many books including that of Sen (200...

Nov 03, 2025 5 mins read 852 views
Renewing our bond together in gratitude to His Majesty

As we celebrate the 17th Coronation of His Majesty today, our hearts swell with gratitude for a leader whose steadfast commitment t...

Nov 01, 2025 2 mins read 1,319 views
Congregation of Bodhisattvas in Thimphu:

Zamling (the World) is grappling with myriad pressing problems created by its inhabitants, Homo Sapiens’. A cycle of Ned-mu-ge-mag-thrug—disease, epidemics, internal strife,...

Nov 01, 2025 3 mins read 1,022 views
A ritual at the centre of Bhutan’s call for Global Peace

Catherine Bell (1953–2008), a religious studies professor, once wrote that humans have been performing rituals since th...

Oct 27, 2025 4 mins read 2,150 views
Watching the watchers

In an era shaped by digitalisation and social media, the judiciary’s legitimacy depends not only on the soundness of its judgments, but also on its capacity to communicate with citizens transparently. Article 1(13) of the Constitu...

Oct 25, 2025 3 mins read 886 views
Judicial wisdom in an era of misinformation

The judiciary's credibility is tested not only inside courtrooms but also in the court of public opinion. The recent decision on sexual harassment is one example wh...

Oct 18, 2025 2 mins read 2,559 views
Turning disaster into opportunity

When the Indian Ocean tsunami reached Myanmar’s coast in 2004, the Moken people had already sought safety on higher ground. They had no written records of tsunamis. What guided them were oral histories of an ancient wave — stories passed through generations that saved lives centuries later.

Oct 14, 2025 3 mins read 479 views
Let us be better together

This year’s World Food Day marks 80 years since the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), whose mandate from the outset has been to ensure humanity’s freedom from want.

Oct 15, 2025 3 mins read 646 views
The Bhutanese spirit thrives

It is with an immense sense of relief and more than a little excitement that we follow the most recent developments of the Gelephu Mindfulness City. As much as the scale and complexity of the Royal foresight w...

Oct 13, 2025 5 mins read 2,288 views
Call for citizen vigilance to fight scams

This week, a TikTok user reported a potential scam where promoters lure her participants into a "learn and earn" programme promising foreign currency earnings through min...

Oct 11, 2025 3 mins read 7,608 views
Home office: An untapped remedy for Bhutan’s silent crisis?

My son, barely nine, has a recurring question as I head out the door each morning: “Apa, will you be home befo...

Oct 11, 2025 3 mins read 2,842 views
GMC: Aligning urban development with GNH — A model for SAARC

Bhutan’s development philosophy, Gross National Happiness (GNH), foregrounds human wellbeing over narrow GD...

Oct 11, 2025 11 mins read 2,872 views
The Royal Australia visit revitalises the enduring bond between the People’s King and His people

On October 13, 2024, Canberra became the backdrop...

Oct 19, 2024 3 mins read 1,527 views
GMC heralds a new chapter in Bhutan's constitutional journey

The Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) initiative, further elaborated during His Majesty's Royal Visit to Australia t...

Oct 19, 2024 2 mins read 1,530 views
Dasho Nado Rinchhen: A pioneer in the sector noble, and beyond…

Dasho Nado Rinchhen first featured in my little universe back in my village school during a Genera...

Oct 17, 2024 4 mins read 1,380 views
Bhutan Toast: History of Bhutan’s spirits

In 1956, His Late Majesty the Third King envisioned a new industry that would transform the kingdom’s economy. Under this vision, the Bhutan Central Distillery was...

Oct 15, 2024 6 mins read 1,523 views
‘Living’ sculpture: A conscious shift

The eight stacked bowls are an auspicious gift from His Majesty the King, embodying the eight supreme qualities of an exemplary leader.

Oct 14, 2024 3 mins read 1,454 views
“Let’s get work done” – A reflection on His Majesty’s Royal Audience to Bhutanese in Sydney, Australia

On October 12, 2024, over a thousand Bhutanese res...

Oct 14, 2024 5 mins read 1,521 views
Are we a drop in the ocean of nature conservation?

Nature is disappearing at an alarming rate and the earth is on the brink of several tipping points which, if current trends continue, will have...

Oct 12, 2024 4 mins read 1,488 views
Sunlight is not only the best disinfectant; it also begets public trust in judiciary

In a landmark event that underscored the shared co...

Oct 12, 2024 3 mins read 1,442 views
Is ESP a social media storm or a social justice crisis?

The Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), conceived as a national recovery initiative, is increasingly being overshadowed by sensat...

Oct 06, 2025 2 mins read 4,891 views
Honouring our elders, strengthening our future

Every year, on 1 October, the world observes the International Day of Older Persons- a moment to reflect invaluable contributions made by our senior citize...

Oct 01, 2025 4 mins read 2,348 views
Supporting the hotel sector is not only for hotel owners

There is a perception that government support, or discussion on support rather, for hotels—through policy incentives or fa...

Sep 30, 2025 4 mins read 4,065 views
Made in India coaches and Indian technology all set to facilitate cross border rail link with Bhutan

India today reaffirmed its “very special relations...

Sep 30, 2025 3 mins read 955 views
changer in public service delivery?

Our beloved nation has embarked on a transformative journey led by the Golden Throne, promising to make our country more prosperous and our people happier, while also preparing us to face...

Nov 23, 2024 5 mins read 2,061 views
Starving public service will starve our country too

As Bhutan aspires to become a developed nation by 2034, it must confront a critical challenge threatening this ambitious goal: the continuou...

Nov 23, 2024 3 mins read 2,065 views
Our crumbling cities and our municipalities

Bhutan's urban centres like Thimphu and Paro face a critical tipping point with crumbling roads, unmarked pedestrian hazards, and overflowing drainage creating daily dangers, foul odours, and poor aesthetics.

Sep 27, 2025 3 mins read 3,199 views
Browse Archives
Alcohol hoarding fuels shortage, drives up prices

Gelephu—With a revised alcohol taxation policy due to take effect in just two months, alcohol that was once readily available is now in short supply in the market, driving prices to record highs.

Nov 03, 2025 4 mins read 2,071 views
Govt. stands by plan to upgrade Samtse Hospital despite challenges

Samtse—As industrial and development projects expand across Samtse, the rising population has created a growing demand f...

Nov 03, 2025 3 mins read 911 views
Debsid community frustrated by poor roads and drainage

Residents of Debsid in Thimphu are growing increasingly frustrated with deteriorating road conditions that have made dai...

Nov 03, 2025 3 mins read 821 views
Eleven justice sector agencies embark on reform journey

In a collective tribute to mark the 70th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, a pledge ceremony for...

Nov 03, 2025 2 mins read 1,520 views
Govt. readies National Housing Strategy to bridge homeownership gap

The government is formulating a comprehensive National Housing Strategy (NHS) designed to tackle the growing challenge o...

Nov 03, 2025 2 mins read 1,399 views
Hoteliers blame SDF for empty hotels in Phuentsholing

Phuentsholing—Hoteliers in Phuentsholing say the government’s plan to offer Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) loans at t...

Nov 01, 2025 3 mins read 9,756 views
E-cigarette imports soar 300-fold in two years

E-cigarette imports have surged 290-fold in just two years, with numbers soaring from just 994 units in 2022 to 288,939...

Nov 01, 2025 3 mins read 1,129 views
Govt. to establish Tourism Mission Board to drive sector reforms

The government will establish a time-bound Tourism Mission Board, chaired by the Prime Minister, to address structural i...

Nov 01, 2025 2 mins read 1,860 views
RAA to conduct special audit on failed BITS-1 project after Nu 119 M loss

The Royal Audit Authority (RAA) will conduct a special audit of the Bhutan Integrated Tax System (BITS) after the projec...

Nov 01, 2025 1 mins read 2,175 views
MoIT requests Nu 533 million to rebuild flood-hit bridges and road

MoIT has requested Nu 533.5 million from the finance ministry through the Disaster Restoration Fund to restore bridges a...

Nov 01, 2025 2 mins read 4,384 views
Navigating Bhutan’s migration challenge

The recent World Bank report “Migration Dynamics in Bhutan: Recent Trends, Drivers, and Implications”, has brought to light a phenomenon many Bhutanese have quietly known for years. Our educated youth and professionals are increasingly leaving for opportunities abroad, particularly Australia. While the findings may seem self-evident, they underline a growing crisis which, if left unaddressed, coul

Oct 02, 2025 3 mins read 1,881 views
A railway to the future

The decision by India to approve two major railway projects linking Bhutan with Assam and West Bengal marks a turning point in Bhutan’s modern history. For decades, the idea of connecting B...

Oct 01, 2025 2 mins read 1,085 views
Antimicrobial resistance: Bhutan’s hidden threat and the global fight to stop it

A silent crisis threatens to undermine global health systems and food security: antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Nov 29, 2024 2 mins read 1,805 views
The Bhutanese identity transcends borders

The eight-day visit to Australia by His Majesty The King and the Royal family has redefined the convention of Royal visits, State visits, and international diplomacy.

Oct 19, 2024 3 mins read 1,567 views
Battle against tobacco far from over

Our bold decision to ban the sale of tobacco in 2004 was a moment of international acclaim. As the first country to take such a step, the nation set a remarkable precedent in the global fight against tobacco-related health issue...

Oct 18, 2024 2 mins read 1,607 views
Hybrid approach perhaps the best?

Venture capital (VC) is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it offers the promise of innovation, job creation, and economic diversification, key drivers in advancing an economy.

Oct 17, 2024 2 mins read 1,483 views
An honorary doctorate?

“Let us help you achieve the ideal Honorary Doctorate title - Simply share your CV, resume, or work profile…”

Oct 16, 2024 3 mins read 1,490 views
Giving private sector a space in healthcare

Free healthcare is the cornerstone of Bhutan’s health system.

Oct 15, 2024 2 mins read 1,470 views
Tobacco issue: Balancing act urgent

We have long prided ourselves on our progressive stance against tobacco.

Oct 14, 2024 2 mins read 1,484 views
What His Majesty’s visit to Australia means

"To our fellow Bhutanese living abroad, know that you are always in my thoughts. Even though you are away from home, I k...

Oct 12, 2024 2 mins read 1,379 views
Fighting corruption, both real and perceived

The Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) recent investigation into the Paro Dzongkhag engineering cell has once again reve...

Sep 30, 2025 2 mins read 3,070 views
A workable solution with public trust

When the late Zimpon Dorji Gyeltshen chose modern incineration over traditional cremation, it was seen as a personal cho...

Sep 27, 2025 2 mins read 2,643 views
On the world stage: Leading on the lead

The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly may be remembered for many speeches on war, climate, and inequal...

Sep 26, 2025 2 mins read 2,203 views
Why agriculture matters

Since time immemorial, agriculture has shaped our landscapes and our way of life. Even today, more than 40 percent of ou...

Sep 25, 2025 2 mins read 2,276 views
Bridging the gap

At one point, “narrowing the gap” was a national mantra of sorts, fervently chanted by our political leaders. A few year...

Sep 23, 2025 2 mins read 3,195 views

Recents

Parliament to deliberate five bills in winter session

The upcoming fourth session of the Fourth Parliament will deliberate on five bills and ratify several agreements, including one new agreement. The session is tentatively scheduled to commence on November 27. The National Assembly recently held its preliminary session in preparation for finalising the agenda for the fourth session.

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Court judgements still out of public reach

Every year, courts across the country deliver thousands of judgements. Yet, for the public, much of the judiciary’s work remains hidden behind courtroom walls. On the official website of the judiciary, only six judgements have been uploaded for public access. This limited disclosure is in clear contrast to what the law requires.

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Should we control social media?

The news of Australia passing a social media ban for children under 16 has sent ripples across the globe, igniting similiar conversations amongf Bhutanese parents. Some are talking if Bhutan should follow suit.

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