RSP pledges doorstep state services, law repeals and pro-business reforms in election manifesto

KATHMANDU: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has unveiled a wide-ranging election commitment document promising to repeal laws seen as obstructing economic growth, expand digital public services, and deepen private-sector partnership to accelerate Nepal’s development.

The party released its manifesto on Thursday at a public gathering in Surkhet in the presence of party president Rabi Lamichhane, senior leader Balen Shah, vice-president DP Aryal, and economist-leader Swarnim Waglé.

Private sector positioned as growth partner

The party said it would treat the private sector as a central partner in economic transformation and move to eliminate nearly two dozen laws it considers outdated or harmful to productivity and investment.

According to the manifesto, cumbersome legal provisions and discretionary administrative procedures would be either repealed or amended in phases to reduce production costs, improve the business climate, and attract domestic, diaspora, and foreign investment.

The party stated that decisions on legal reform would draw on recommendations from recent economic reform studies as well as inputs from business associations.

Ambitious growth and income targets

RSP has set an economic target of maintaining an average annual growth rate of 7 percent over the next five years, laying the foundation for Nepal to graduate toward middle-income status.

The party claims that this growth trajectory could push per capita income above USD 3,000 within five to seven years and bring Nepal’s economy close to the USD 100 billion mark.

To achieve this, the manifesto emphasises policies that are simultaneously pro-growth, pro-business, and oriented toward social justice.

‘Government at your doorstep’ pledge

Vice-president Waglé said the party intends to reverse the traditional administrative culture in which businesses and citizens must chase state offices for approvals.

Instead, the party promises a governance model where public services are delivered digitally and locally, minimising physical queues and bureaucratic hurdles.

The manifesto pledges online service expansion, simplified taxation, and stronger trust-building measures between the state and citizens, alongside long-pending structural reforms in the economy.

Tax reform and investment facilitation

RSP says it will reduce the overall tax burden while ensuring state revenue does not fall, arguing that compliance improvements and efficiency gains would offset rate reductions.

The party has also proposed revising income-tax thresholds based on family burden and allowing deductions for education, health, and childcare expenses to support middle-class households.

To boost investment, the manifesto promises a single-window service system so investors can submit project files once without navigating multiple offices. The centre would coordinate land access, environmental approvals, and inter-agency processes while ensuring time-bound decisions.

Digital business registration and simplified regulatory procedures are also included in the plan.

Institutional restructuring and anti-corruption push

RSP has proposed restructuring the revenue tribunal system and abolishing the Revenue Investigation Department, replacing it with a professional audit-based monitoring unit dominated by chartered accountants to improve transparency and enforcement.

The party also pledged to complete long-stalled national pride projects within two years through time-bound execution plans, performance contracts for project chiefs, and legal facilitation for land acquisition and forest clearance.

Beyond infrastructure, RSP says it plans to introduce a new generation of national projects within five years, including international-level sports infrastructure, higher education research hubs, specialised healthcare facilities, cultural tourism zones, and diaspora-linked investment initiatives.

The manifesto positions these reforms as part of a broader attempt to restructure Nepal’s economy, improve governance efficiency, and create a more investment-friendly environment ahead of future elections.