BBS

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆

Housing affordability remains a growing concern in Bhutan’s urban centres, with many households spending a significant portion of their income on rent. During the National Council’s Question Hour session today, members sought updates on the implementation of the National Housing Policy 2020 and questioned the government on its plans to increase affordable housing across the country.

https://www.bbs.bt/243070/

𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟳𝟬 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗯 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗚𝗠𝗖 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

More than 70 of the 108 Jangchub Chortens planned for Gelephu Mindfulness City have already secured sponsorship. Sponsoring a single chorten costs USD 200,000, equivalent to about Nu 20 M. The sacred initiative continues to attract strong support from individuals, organisations, and institutions both within Bhutan and abroad.

https://www.bbs.bt/243050/

𝗠𝗣𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

The National Assembly members are calling for greater fiscal autonomy for local governments to respond faster to local needs. According to them, strengthening district-level financial committees is essential to improve efficiency and responsiveness in public service delivery. They also pointed out that the current framework governing budget management at the local level lacks clarity and limits effective decision-making.

https://www.bbs.bt/243048/

𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝘂𝗺𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀, 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀

Farmers of Dochhukha-Dzomlingthang-Ritsa Chiwog in Punakha’s Guma Gewog are enjoying their best chilli season in years, with timely rain delivering better yields and quality. What’s equally encouraging has been the prices, which, the farmers say, are better than the last season.

https://www.bbs.bt/243028/

The National Council adopted three Bills and the Agreement between the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Republic of Singapore on the Elimination of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance today.

The Livestock Bill of Bhutan 2025 was adopted with 18 votes in favour and four abstentions out of the 22 Members present. The Cooperative and Farmers Groups Bill of Bhutan 2025 was also adopted, receiving 21 votes in favour and one abstention.

The Financial Services (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan 2025 received unanimous support, with all 22 Members present voting in favour.

Similarly, the House unanimously adopted the Bhutan–Singapore Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, reaffirming its support for strengthening economic cooperation and facilitating cross-border investment and trade.

In accordance with constitutional procedures, the Financial Services (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan 2025 and the Bhutan–Singapore Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement will be submitted to the Druk Gyalpo for Royal Assent under Article 13(6) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan.

The Livestock Bill of Bhutan 2025 and the Cooperative and Farmers Groups Bill of Bhutan 2025 will be transmitted to the National Assembly for redeliberation as per Article 13(7) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Photo: National Council of Bhutan

Catch our LIVE current affairs panel discussion on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the ongoing debate on Bhutan’s reservations. Tune in tonight after the 9 PM news.

𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗰𝗵𝘂–𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗮𝘆

With the Gelephu Mindfulness City expected to bring more traffic to southern Bhutan, widening works have begun along a key section of the Tsirang–Sarpang Primary National Highway. The 33-kilometre stretch from Daraychu to Shaychamthang is being upgraded to improve safety and ease travel on a route long known for its narrow bends and bottlenecks.

https://www.bbs.bt/242997/

𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐁𝐒 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 𝟎𝟖/𝟎𝟔/𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 (𝐃𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐡𝐚 𝟔𝐏𝐌 𝐭𝐨 𝟗𝐏𝐌, 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝟗𝐏𝐌 𝐭𝐨 𝟏𝟏 𝐏𝐌)
https://youtu.be/WPV4tBIMHWc
#𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐮 #𝐛𝐛𝐬𝐛𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧 #𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐚 #𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐤 #𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 #𝐛𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧 #𝐛𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐡 #𝐛𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐚 #𝐛𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐲𝐜 #𝐛𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝 #𝐛𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 #𝐛𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞

During the redeliberation of the Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Tax Bill 2026 today, the National Assembly endorsed a recommendation from the National Council to create an inventory of goods that have already been imported and taxed under the existing law.

The recommendation is aimed at providing clarity on how such goods will be treated once the amended Act comes into effect. The finance minister said that the Ministry of Finance will consult the Department of Revenue and Customs to determine the mechanism for implementing the measure. The Bill will now be forwarded for Royal Assent.