Himal Hub / Nepal’s House of Representatives has unveiled its parliamentary calendar through Ashar 15, but one constitutionally significant feature is missing — the Prime Minister’s direct question-answer session with lawmakers.
Despite a mandatory provision under Rule 56 of the House Regulations, no schedule has been allocated for the Prime Minister to face Parliament in either Jestha or Ashar, raising fresh concerns over executive accountability during the crucial budget session.
The regulation clearly states that the Speaker “shall” allocate the first hour of a meeting during the first week of every month for lawmakers to question the Prime Minister on issues directly linked to his responsibilities. The rule further mandates that if the session cannot be held on the designated day, it must take place in the next immediate sitting.
However, the newly published calendar contains no such provision until Ashar 15.
As per parliamentary rules, the Prime Minister should have appeared twice during this period — once in Jestha and once in Ashar. Yet both sessions have quietly disappeared from the schedule.
Parliament Secretariat spokesperson and Joint Secretary Ekram Giri said the omission was due to the heavy concentration of budget-related discussions in the ongoing session.
According to the calendar, discussions on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill (excluding tax proposals) will begin on Jestha 4 and continue on Jestha 5. Responses to lawmakers’ concerns will be addressed on Jestha 6.
The government is scheduled to present the Economic Survey for fiscal year 2082/83 on Jestha 13, while the annual revenue and expenditure estimates for fiscal year 2083/84 will be tabled on Jestha 15, alongside the Economic Bill.
Comprehensive budget deliberations will begin from Jestha 18. On Jestha 20, Finance Minister will respond to discussions on the annual budget estimates, while the Appropriation Bill and Public Debt Raising Bill will also be presented.
Detailed debates on expenditure headings under the Appropriation Bill are slated to begin from Jestha 27, including proposals for spending cuts.
From Asar 1 onward, ministers will begin responding to lawmakers’ questions raised during budget deliberations. On Asar 2, all spending-cut proposals are scheduled for decision, followed by the passage of the Appropriation Bill.
Further discussions on the Economic Bill and the Public Debt Raising Bill are scheduled for Asar 3, while clause-wise deliberations and endorsement of both bills are expected on Asar 8.
The absence of the Prime Minister’s accountability session amid Nepal’s most important fiscal discussions is likely to intensify debate over parliamentary oversight and executive transparency.
