DEMOCRACY IN ACTION

The Education Minister Lyonpo Yeezang De Thapa said that the final outcome of the Lungtenzampa Middle Secondary School case will be determined by the relevant law enforcement and judicial authorities, clarifying that school disciplinary action and criminal proceedings follow separate processes. The clarification comes after questions were raised over the …

As Bhutan doubles down on securing its digital future against potential blackouts and single-route vulnerabilities, the much-anticipated Third International Internet Gateway (3IIG) project is navigating regulatory checks with an eye toward an early 2027 operational rollout. While the strategic project is primarily built to safeguard e-resilience, particularly for national nodes …

Business licence holders across the country have called for the introduction of a single-window licensing system that would allow multiple business licences to be processed under one roof, saying the current system is time-consuming, costly and inconvenient. The concerns were raised during the consultation meetings on the Business Regulatory Process …

Despite Bhutan’s efforts to improve access to education, factors such as poverty, family migration, household responsibilities, geographical barriers and learning difficulties continue to affect children’s ability to remain in school. To understand the reasons behind school dropout, repetition and non-enrolment, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) conducted the …

Revised School Discipline Guidelines to introduce stronger accountability measures and clearer procedures for bullying and violence cases Nearly a month after videos of bullying and violent incidents involving students circulated across Bhutan, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) says disciplinary action against students involved will be determined by …

His Majesty The King granted Dhar to appoint the new secretary of the National Land Commission, as well as to formally appoint the newly elected Thimphu Thrompon and Phuentsholing Thrompon on 31 July 2026. The new secretary of the National Land Commission Secretariat is Geley Norbu, who was formerly serving …

Official rules from the Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority (BCTA) are clear: overcharging passengers carries strict penalties, from fines to license cancellations. But away from the rulebooks, the daily reality on Thimphu’s streets reveals a more complex narrative where commuters face shifting fare expectations, and drivers are grappling with the …

Residents and commuters in Thimphu are increasingly frustrated with how some parking fee collectors allegedly use underhanded means to charge inflated parking fees. Drivers and commuters who have had bad experiences of being overcharged or encountering issues such as ticket misuse and extended parking times shared their experiences. Dorji said he experienced ticket collectors overcharging him even though he had parked in a town area for only thirty minutes. “I was sure that …

Samtse tops the list, followed by Paro, Trashigang, Sarpang and Wangdue Phodrang, according to the Budget Report Bajo Town Samtse Trashigang Town Samtse has received the highest budget allocation among the 20 dzongkhags for the 2026–27 fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Finance’s Budget Report. The total allocation for …

The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) declared the official results for the Fourth Thromde Elections on 16th July 2026. Deepen Ghallay has been elected as the new Thrompon for Phuentsholing. In the capital city, Ugyen Dorji emerged victorious to lead the Thimphu Thromde. A total of four candidates contested for …