Nepal, Feb. 10 -- The government has started discussions on the budget for 2026/27, focusing on downsizing recurrent expenditures that have kept increasing every year. The Ministry of Finance has started consultations with ministries, constitutional bodies, and major spending agencies, especially those that absorb the largest share of regular expenses. The discussions focus on salaries, pensions, allowances, office operations, social security payments, and the minimum funds needed to keep institutions functioning. The stated aim is to trim avoidable administrative costs, use public money better, and discourage routine budget demands that rise every year without improving services or results. This effort comes at a difficult moment. Recurr...