KATHMANDU, Oct 2: The National Assembly held 52 meetings and conducted parliamentary business for 98 hours and 10 minutes during its 21st session, which ran for 145 days from May 11 to October 2.
Presenting a summary of the session at its conclusion, National Assembly Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal said 40 meetings included zero-hour sessions, during which 45 lawmakers spoke for a total of five hours and 56 minutes.
Similarly, 47 lawmakers used 21 hours and 10 minutes during special-hour sessions spread across 17 meetings.
Dahal said 27 lawmakers used five hours and 27 minutes during provincial concerns sessions held in four meetings, while 22 lawmakers used one hour and 56 minutes during emergency sessions held in nine meetings.
Of the eight ordinances introduced by the government during the session, the National Assembly endorsed the Public Procurement (Second Amendment) Ordinance, the Prevention of Money Laundering (Third Amendment) Ordinance, the Cooperatives (First Amendment) Ordinance and the ordinance amending certain Nepal laws concerning health science academies.
Three bills originating in the National Assembly, the Intangible Cultural Heritage (Protection) Bill, 2024, the Infectious Animal Diseases (Control) Bill, 2026, and the Liability of Domestic Air Services Bill, 2026, were passed and sent to the House of Representatives with messages, Dahal said.
The National Assembly also endorsed the National Forensic Science Laboratory (Establishment and Operation) Bill, 2024, after it was returned by the House of Representatives with amendments.
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“Six bills replacing ordinances were passed and sent back to the House of Representatives, and they have also been authenticated. The Appropriation Bill, 2026, Finance Bill, 2026, and Public Debt Management Bill, 2026 were passed by both houses and authenticated,” Dahal said.
The Alternative Development Finance Mobilization Bill, 2025, received from the House of Representatives with a message, was also tabled in the National Assembly and authenticated during the session.
Special measures on disaster management
The National Assembly unanimously passed a special resolution expressing sorrow over the loss of lives and property caused by the Bhotekoshi flood.
It also paid tribute to those who died in the Bhotekoshi River flood in Rasuwa on August 26 and expressed condolences to bereaved families. The resolution called on the government to give special attention to rescue, relief, rehabilitation, the search for missing people, free treatment of the injured, management of bodies and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.
Dahal said the National Assembly also urged the government to adopt effective measures to reduce disaster risks in the future and coordinate among the federal, provincial and local governments while working with civil society, the private sector, development partners and the international community.
The Assembly also unanimously endorsed a motion drawing the government’s attention to preparedness for monsoon-related disasters and directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to implement the measures as a priority.
A parliamentary special committee was also formed to study and monitor disasters affecting the Bhotekoshi and Kaligandaki corridors.
35 oral questions answered
The National Assembly conducted 35 oral question-and-answer sessions concerning 15 ministries during the session. Ministers also tabled written responses to three questions concerning the ministries of Foreign Affairs; Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs; and Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
Responses to seven oral questions and one written question concerning the ministries of Finance, Home Affairs and Infrastructure Development that could not previously be answered in the National Assembly were also tabled.
The Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on preventing and controlling technology-facilitated gender-based violence, protecting women’s rights and ensuring access to justice. It also unanimously passed a resolution calling for legislation to regulate the use of assisted reproductive technology.
Dahal said the government had set a priority to submit 166 bills to the Federal Parliament during the current fiscal year.
Although the government had prioritized submitting 64 bills during the first four months of the fiscal year, only 24 bills have been registered in the Federal Parliament so far, including 22 in the House of Representatives and two in the National Assembly, he said.
Dahal said the National Assembly had prioritized discussions on government bills and passed them promptly, but its work had been affected by the limited number of bills submitted to the chamber.
At the conclusion of the session, Dahal thanked the vice-chair, committee chairs, lawmakers, the Federal Parliament secretary-general, National Assembly secretary, parliamentary secretariat staff, the government, media, civil society and the public for their support in conducting the session.
He expressed hope that all stakeholders would play a greater role in enhancing the dignity and effectiveness of the National Assembly.
Dahal also extended greetings to Nepalis at home and abroad on the occasion of upcoming festivals including Dashain, Tihar, Chhath, Nepal Sambat and Eid, and expressed hope of meeting again in the 22nd session.
