The House of Representatives unanimously approved sending three crucial economy-related bills to parliamentary committees for clause-by-clause discussion on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle presented the Employees Provident Fund (Tenth Amendment) Bill, 2083; the Citizen Investment Trust (Third Amendment) Bill, 2083; and the Payment and Settlement (First Amendment) Bill, 2083 to the house. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal presented the proposals for decision, and they were passed without any opposition from the lawmakers present.
This unanimous approval means the bills will now undergo detailed study, discussion, and amendment processes among lawmakers in the relevant committees.
The Payment and Settlement (First Amendment) Bill, 2083 is deemed essential to address the rapidly evolving financial technology (fintech) landscape and international practices. It aims to modernize and formalize the economy, broaden the scope of the payment system, ensure consumer data protection, and mitigate systemic risks. The bill also introduces a ‘regulatory sandbox’ concept for testing new financial technologies.
The Citizen Investment Trust (Third Amendment) Bill, 2083 seeks to update the Citizen Investment Trust Act, 2047, remove practical hurdles, and strengthen the fund’s financial base by increasing its authorized capital to Rs 10 billion. It also paves the way for investing in innovative and secure financial instruments.
Meanwhile, the Employees Provident Fund (Tenth Amendment) Bill, 2083 proposes contemporary improvements in the fund’s operation and management. It aims to modernize and expand its investment framework, allowing investments in private equity, venture capital, housing projects, energy production, agricultural development, tourism, and large infrastructure projects. This bill is intended to implement policy provisions outlined in the budget statement for the fiscal year 2082/83.
Following their passage, these bills will proceed to the respective subject-specific committees for detailed clause-by-clause study, discussion, and amendment. The federal parliament’s summer session is scheduled to conclude on Friday, October 2, 2026. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal is expected to hold a press conference on Friday afternoon to provide information on the proceedings of the budget session.
It is not yet clear which specific parliamentary committees these three bills have been assigned to, nor has a definite timeline been set for the completion of their detailed discussions and amendment processes within the committees.
