DEMOCRACY IN ACTION

Last year, the National Assembly (NA) adopted the Amendment to the Reservation on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) during the 7th Sitting of the Fourth Parliament, following objections raised by 11 countries to Bhutan’s reservations on certain provisions of the Convention.  The reservations of the …

Last year, the cut-off point for the Preliminary Examination (PE) of the Bhutan Civil Service Examination (BCSE) saw an unexpected revision.  While the usual benchmark is 50 percent, the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) announced on the day of result declaration that the PE pass mark had been raised to …

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Gangzur Minjey constituency, Loday Tsheten, raised concerns in the National Assembly regarding currency depreciation risks and the sustainability of the country’s external debt portfolio, particularly non-hydropower debt denominated in convertible currencies. Citing the Debt Situation Report, the MP stated that Bhutan’s total public debt …

During the second round of the Question Hour session, the Member of Parliament (MP) of Shompangkha constituency, Dr Tek Bahadur Rai, questioned the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Lyonpo Gem Tshering on the issue of human-wildlife conflict and how it leads to destruction of crops, property, and at times, …

The Thrimshing-Kangpara MP Damche Tenzin asked a question on measures by the government to reduce government fuel expenditure through use of electric vehicles and restriction of government vehicle usage. The MP said the Prime Minister, during the press release on 16th May 2026, informed the public about the growing fuel …

During the parliamentary session, Pemagatshel MP Dr Jamyang Namgyal raised concerns over the low participation of the youth in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs, and questioned how well the courses are aligned with global job market demands. The MP said that although there are various skills training …

The Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Republic of Singapore was introduced as an urgent Bill in the National Assembly on 18th May by Finance Minister Lyonpo Lekey Dorji. The agreement outlines how different types of income will be taxed in both countries to prevent …

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Amendment Bill of Bhutan was introduced as a Money Bill in the National Assembly by the Finance Minister, Lyonpo Lekey Dorji, on 18th May. The Amendment Bill was introduced under Section 30 of the Goods and Services Tax Act of Bhutan 2020, which empowers …

After concerns and challenges raised by Dzongkha Contract Teachers regarding shortened contract terms and the lack of contract extensions, several Dzongkha Regular Contract Teachers (RCTs) with Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) backgrounds have also approached the paper. The teachers voiced that despite possessing the required qualifications and teacher-training backgrounds, …

During the follow-up resolutions of the 36th Session of the National Council (NC), Member of Parliament (MP) Sonam Tenzin from Trashiyangtse, representing the National Council, presented eight recommendations proposed by the NC to the Ministry of Health (MoH) on strengthening the healthcare system. Among these, recommendation eight drew particular attention, …