Budget · Finance Minister record · Rastriya Swatantra Party
Dr. Swarnim Wagle
डा. स्वर्णिम वाग्ले
The economist the commentariat spent a decade calling "the finance minister Nepal should have". Now the hypothesis is being tested — in office, with this year's budget.
Tenure
2025–present
under coalition government of 2025
Budgets presented
· 2083/84 BS (2026/27) — Rs 2,124.34 billion, presented 29 May 2026
Background
Development economist: World Bank, UNDP senior economist, twice National Planning Commission vice-chair; entered electoral politics with RSP's 2023 by-election wave.
Education
PhD (Australian National University); MPA/ID (Harvard Kennedy School); LSE
Announced vs delivered — the record
Tenure in progress. The FY 2083/84 budget (Rs 2,124B) is his first full statement: the announced framing emphasised capital-execution reform, procurement clean-up, and honest revenue targets. Nepal Next tracks it from promise to proof on the main budget dashboard — allocation, spending, and delivery, updated as FCGO outturn data lands. Assessment criteria will be scored when outturn evidence exists; scoring a sitting minister on announcements alone would violate the method this page exists to enforce.
The short version
For years, experts said this economist should run Nepal's finances. Now he does. His first budget is live on this site, tracked from what was promised to what actually gets built. We grade on results, so his scorecard starts next year.
Key decisions — and what came of them
2026
FY 2083/84 budget — Rs 2,124.34B, capital-execution reform framing
IN PROGRESS — tracked live at /budget.
Public-record controversies
No parliamentary probe, court filing, CIAA/OAGN finding, or sustained documented criticism on the public record we audit for this tenure.
Assessment against the rubric
Same five criteria for every steward. Each verdict carries its evidence — a verdict without evidence is an opinion, and this page does not publish opinions. Read the rubric.
Budget credibility
First outturn data (FCGO) will score this — not announcements.
Macro stability
Tenure in progress.
Structural reform
Tenure in progress.
Integrity of process
No documented issues to date.
Durable legacy
Too early by definition.
Sources · cited verbatim
Ministry of Finance Nepal — Budget speech FY 2083/84 (29 May 2026)
Open release checked 2026-05-29
Every claim on this page traces to these documents or to records named inline. Documented corrections: contact.
Other stewards
Nepali Congress
Subarna Shumsher Rana
Presented Nepal's first-ever national budget in 1951 — roughly Rs 5.25 crore. Public finance in Nepal starts here.
CPN-UML
Bharat Mohan Adhikari
One budget, nine months in office — and Nepal's first universal old-age allowance came out of it. Still paid today.
Nepali Congress
Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat
Six budgets across two decades. The liberaliser — banking, aviation, telecom opened on his watch. Post-earthquake financing was his last act.