Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The government spent Rs 926.59 billion in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, even as its total receipts stood at Rs 765.10 billion during the period.
With just four months in the current fiscal year remaining, the government has mobilized just over half of its annual revenue target, while total spending from the treasury has remained below 50% of the target.
According to the Financial Comptroller General Office (FCGO), total government receipts stood at Rs 765.10 billion as of mid-March of the current fiscal year, which began in mid-July last year. This represents 49.89% of the total revenue target of Rs 1,480 billion set in the fiscal budget. The total collection, however, is 58.94% of the revised target of Rs 1,298 billion set through the mid-term review of the budget last month.
Total government receipts during the period are 3.04% higher compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year. In the first eight months of 2024/25, total receipts stood at Rs 729.65 billion. Growth rates of customs revenue stood at 8.13% in the current fiscal year, VAT at 7.35%, excise duty at 10.55%, and non-tax revenue at 13.31%.
Out of the total revenue collection during the review period of 2025/26, Rs 676.58 billion came from tax revenue, Rs 70.69 billion from non-tax revenue, Rs 13.24 billion from grants, and Rs 4.57 billion from other receipts. Progress in the mobilisation of grants remained at a disappointing 24.78 per cent in mid-March. Similarly, progress in tax revenue and non-tax revenue stood at 50.49% and 51.04%, respectively, in mid-March.
On the expenditure side, the government spent Rs 926.59 billion from the treasury during the review period. This represents 47.18% of the total annual budget outlay of Rs 1,964.11 billion for the current fiscal year. Compared with the revised spending target of Rs 1,688 billion made through the mid-term review, progress in government spending stands at 54.89%.
The government has spent Rs 642.15 billion under the recurrent budget. However, capital expenditure stood at a disappointing Rs 78.49 billion, or just 19.24% of the total budget allocated for capital expenditure.
Similarly, progress in financial management, funds set aside to service domestic and foreign debts, stood at 54.89%. Out of Rs 375.24 billion allocated for this purpose in the current fiscal year, Rs 205.95 billion had been spent by mid-March.
