Security budget for 2025/26 up by Rs. 11.52 billion

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 2: Placing a strong emphasis on internal security and national defence, the government has increased the budget allocations for the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Defense for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26. 

In his budget speech on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel announced that the government aims to equip security agencies with necessary arms and other essential security apparatus.

For the current fiscal year 2024/25, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been allocated Rs. 198.87 billion. This has now been increased to Rs. 208.62 billion for the fiscal year 2025/26, a rise of Rs. 9.74 billion compared to the current fiscal. 

Likewise, the budget for the Ministry of Defence has also seen an increase. In the current fiscal year, the Ministry was allocated Rs. 59.87 billion. For the coming fiscal year, the allocation has been raised to Rs. 62.01 billion, an increment of Rs. 2.14 billion. 

The two crucial security-related ministries received Rs. 270.63 billion budget allocations for the new fiscal year. For the current fiscal year, the government had allocated 259.11 billion for the two ministries. Compared to the current fiscal year, the government has increased the security budget by Rs. 11.52 billion.

Two years ago, during the fiscal year 2023/24, the security budget was at Rs. 240.97 billion, with allocation of Rs. 185.94 billion for the Ministry of Home Affairs and Rs. 55.03 billion for the Ministry of Defence.

Underscoring the government’s strategic priority in strengthening the country’s security infrastructure amid evolving national and regional challenges, the government has gradually been increasing the budgets of these two important ministries.

National security and peace and order

The government has aimed at protecting Nepal's sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, freedom, and national pride. Social harmony and national unity will be strengthened, the budget speech stated.

Security agencies will be made strong, capable and professional by equipping them with adequate resources and means. Necessary military supplies, weapons and security equipment will be arranged for the security forces, read the budget book.

It was said that the capacity of the Nepali Army will be enhanced and mobilised for national security, development works and disaster management. "From Bunker to Barracks" programme for the army has been given continuity.

To maintain peace, order and security in the country, the local administration will be strengthened and the Nepal Police will be empowered for peacekeeping and crime control. 

The Armed Police Force, Nepal, will be mobilised for border security, disaster management and peacekeeping. The investigation capacity of the National Investigation Department will be developed, said the budget booklet. 

The immigration system will be upgraded, with online payment systems and online visa services being made available. Residential visas will be provided free of cost to experts and investors working in startup businesses, and digital nomad visas will be issued to individuals working remotely for foreign companies while residing in Nepal.

The scope and effectiveness of the National Cadet Corps will be expanded. Awareness programmes will be conducted in collaboration with communities to protect youth and children from drug abuse and addiction.

To transform prisons into correction facilities, physical infrastructure will be developed, skills-based training will be provided, a supportive environment for entrepreneurship will be created, and psychosocial counseling will be made available. The concept of open prisons will be implemented. The infrastructure of prisons under construction will be completed and brought into operation, the budget speech read.