The government has not implemented performance-based financial incentives for civil servants due to resource constraints, while employees rated Partially Meeting Expectations (PME) are to receive feedback, training and guidance to address their performance gaps. The Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) Commissioner Dr Tshering Cigay said the Performance-Based Variable Incentive (PBVI), …

A year ago, Pelsung was an idea. Today, 981 young Bhutanese have passed through its first three cohorts, 44 alumni are in recorded employment, 15 Pelsups have been selected to develop potential ventures, and the program is preparing to change the way it develops talent for Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC). …

Bhutan continues to face shortages of doctors and nurses against the staffing requirements approved by the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) for the 13th Five-Year Plan (FYP), with a gap of 366 nurses, 120 general doctors and 139 specialists. According to the approved staffing requirements, the country needs 376 specialists, …

Patients seeking specialized dental treatment at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) face waiting times of up to three to four years for new orthodontic cases, as demand for specialized dental care continues to exceed the available specialist workforce. The Ministry of Health (MoH) acknowledges that waiting times …

Civil servants have existing procedures to appeal administrative decisions, but an independent Administrative Tribunal, which would provide a separate avenue to challenge such decisions, has yet to be established despite being provided for in the Constitution. Royal Civil Service Commission Commissioner Tshering Cigay said civil servants dissatisfied with decisions made …

Bhutan has no psychiatrist specialised in old-age mental health, even as the country’s ageing population is increasing and older persons account for a disproportionate share of depression and dementia cases. Presenting on “Caring for Bhutan’s Older Persons” at the Fourth PEMA Symposium, Dr Sonam Wangchuk, Psychiatrist, Department of Psychiatry, JDWNRH, …

Students in Classes IX and XI are piloting Bhutan’s revised school curriculum this year using digital copies and printed chapter-wise materials, as the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) continues to develop and test the full textbooks before large-scale printing. A total of 143 textbook titles from Pre-Primary to …

A 13-year-old boy allegedly stabbed his classmate at a school in Wangdue on 26th September. The Bhutanese contacted the school, where a school authority said the incident occurred during normal class timing. He said the students had become sleepy and asked the teacher if they could go outside to refresh …

Bhutan’s health workforce has expanded in recent years, with the number of doctors and nurses reaching their highest levels in seven years, according to the Annual Health Bulletin 2026. However, the number of Health Assistants (HAs) has declined from its 2021 peak. According to the bulletin, the number of doctors …

Australia has announced stricter visa rules for international students, including restrictions on bringing dependants, and tighter requirements for students seeking to extend their stay. The changes, announced on 17th September by Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, are part of the government’s efforts to increase control over migration and reduce …