NRB to lead anti-corruption drive; Integrated iigital asset tracking system to monitor banks, wallets, and share investments

KATHMANDU: The government has assigned Nepal Rastra Bank a central role in institutionalizing corruption control, bringing the country’s entire financial ecosystem—from bank accounts and digital wallets to stock market investments—under a unified regulatory surveillance framework.

The move comes as part of the government’s ambitious “100 governance reform initiatives,” aimed at strengthening economic discipline, enhancing transparency, and rebuilding investor confidence in Nepal’s financial system.

Integrated Digital Asset Monitoring Within 100 Days

Under the new directive, Nepal Rastra Bank is required to establish a comprehensive digital asset registry within 100 days, consolidating data on bank accounts, digital wallets, and share investments into a single, coordinated system.

The system will incorporate a risk-based signaling mechanism to flag suspicious transactions automatically. Such transactions will then be routed to relevant authorities for investigation, marking a shift toward data-driven financial oversight and anti-corruption enforcement.

This initiative is expected to significantly modernize Nepal’s financial intelligence capabilities and align with global best practices in anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) frameworks.

Credit Policy Reforms to Boost Key Sectors

In parallel, the central bank has been instructed to revise risk weight provisions within 30 days to facilitate increased lending to priority sectors, including:

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Agriculture
Information Technology

The move aims to ease credit flow constraints and stimulate economic activity in productive sectors, which have been facing liquidity and financing challenges.

‘One-Door Business System’ in 45 Days

To improve the business environment, the government will roll out a “One-Door Business System” within 45 days, integrating multiple administrative processes such as:

Business registration
Tax registration
Bank account opening
Licensing and approvals

The system will be fully digital, transparent, and trackable, reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies and minimizing opportunities for corruption.

Relief Package for Protest-Affected Businesses

The Ministry of Finance Nepal and Nepal Rastra Bank are also preparing a relief and rehabilitation package targeting businesses affected during the recent Gen-Z public movement.

Although details are yet to be formally announced, the package is expected to include concessional financing, restructuring support, and policy relief measures.

Private Sector Protection Strategy

Prioritizing investor and business confidence, the government plans to implement a “Private Sector Protection Strategy” immediately. This framework will focus on safeguarding enterprises, ensuring policy stability, and addressing systemic risks faced by businesses.

Mobilizing Dormant Financial Resources

In a bid to utilize idle capital, authorities will identify bank and financial institution accounts inactive for over 10 years. Funds that remain unclaimed after due legal procedures will be transferred to the state treasury.

The government has set a 90-day deadline for completing this process, signaling urgency in mobilizing dormant financial resources for economic use.

Strategic Implications

These reforms collectively indicate a structural shift toward:

Digitized financial governance
Automated compliance and surveillance
Strengthened regulatory oversight
Improved ease of doing business

Policy analysts view this as a critical step toward restoring trust in Nepal’s financial system, particularly at a time when private sector sentiment has been under pressure.

The success of these measures will depend heavily on execution capacity, inter-agency coordination, and the ability of Nepal Rastra Bank to deploy robust digital infrastructure within tight deadlines.