Press Release

The National Council of Bhutan will conduct a press conference on 20th June 2017 at 2 p.m. in the adjacent room of the Convention Center. The conference will be chaired by the Deputy Chairperson to share the resolution passed by the House in the 19th Session.

The House ratified two international agreements namely the Paris Agreement and Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit between the Royal Government of Bhutan and Government of the Republic of India.

Since 2008, the National Council originated around 16 bills and in this session the house originated and passed the Audit Bill of Bhutan 2017, which will be sent to the National Assembly for deliberation in the winter session .

Two recommendations were passed on the Anti-Corruption Commission report. Similarly, the house passed several recommendations on issues related to preservation and promotion of Cultural Heritage that includes traditional architecture, performing arts, vernacular languages and Driglam Namzha.

The House deliberated upon National Budget for the Financial Year 2017-18 which includes Budget and Appropriation Bill 2017-2018, Supplementary Budget Appropriation Bill for the financial year 2016-17 and Fiscal Incentives Bill of Bhutan 2017. The House passed the Supplementary Budget Appropriation Bill for the financial year 2016-17; and the Budget and Appropriation Bill for the Financial Year 2017-18 along with nine recommendations. However, for the first time the Fiscal Incentives Bill of Bhutan 2016 which is a Money Bill was rejected  by the House  based on four general and ten specific objection.

The House also deliberated on the Third Pay Commission Report and passed it with five recommendations. 

Besides, the House also passed a resolution to initiate the process of drafting the Impeachment Bill and the amendment of the Mines and Mineral Management Act 1995.

Five question hour sessions were conducted on issues related to tourism policy, foreign labour and illegal immigrants; education related matters; Samrang Mega Farm/Integrated Livestock project; and construction of the Shingkhar-Gorgan highway.

The Joint sitting of Parliament passed nine of the eleven recommendations proposed by the Public Accounts Committee on the Performance Audit Reports and deferred the ratification of Motor Vehicle Agreement between  Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal.

A brief resolution of the National Council will be uploaded on our website. Follow us on  Facebook- National Council of Bhutan, Twitter- @ NCBhutan and www.nationalcouncil.bt