The Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC) along with the Ministry of Finance (MoF) is currently in the midst of reworking the revenue figures for the 12th plan which had earlier been projected at Nu 251 bn out of a plan size of Nu 300 bn. The GNHC Secretary Thinley Namgyel, …

India’s Central Electricity Authority (CEA) earlier this year cleared the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the 2,560 MW Sunkosh reservoir project. This is significant as Indian officials until recently have parried questions on the status of the mega reservoir project saying that the DPR is still with the CEA. Now …

When the Doklam crisis first hit the international headlines Bhutan’s worst fears had come true with the troops of two effective superpowers, India and China, facing off each other on Doklam, a disputed territory claimed by Bhutan. Bhutan, it seemed, had nothing to gain and everything to lose in this …

The latest issue of ‘The Week’ magazine, a national magazine in India, led to a stir among many Bhutanese not only due to its front cover portraying Bhutan as a Takin being licked by a Chinese Panda, but also for its stories on Bhutan claiming it to be in the …

The final Supreme Court review verdict on the Aum Tandin Bidha and her daughter Dr Shacha Vs Ap Sonam Phuntsho case was delivered by a three judges bench of Chief Justice Tshering Wangchuk, Justice Kuenlay Tshering and Justice Norbu Tshering. The Chief Justice had abstained from earlier cases to avoid …

The quality of Bhutan’s education and also the related issue of the inability of educated youth to go beyond government jobs has been two much discussed issues. Two domestic assessments showed that not only is the quality of education in Bhutan  below par, but that our students lack adequate application, …

The Bhutanese government around two months ago, through diplomatic channels, sent a letter to the Indian government over Bhutan’s various concerns over the Cross Border Trade in Electricity (CBTE) guidelines issued on 5th December 2016. The CBTE guidelines, though meant to govern electricity trade between India and its neighbors, had …

The Prime Minister outlined both challenges and opportunities for Bhutan due to GST in India A presentation by the Ministry of Finance for the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) showed that the government would forego Nu 14 bn in total revenue due to India’s Good and Services Tax …

The 1,200 MW Punatsangchu I and 1,020 MW Punatsangchu II is headed for more delay and cost escalations after a report by the Norwegian Geological Institute (NGI) recommended additional measures to strengthen the sliding right bank of P I, and approved the proposed works for the collapsed roof of the …

Bhutanese businesses and consumers expecting a dramatic drop in the price of GST item goods like cars, electronic and machinery items and most consumer goods from India will not see it happen until Bhutan gives the go ahead to the Indian government. There is an official understanding between the two …