ESP Secretariat

18/03/2026

28/01/2026

Application window for ESP Education Loan Scheme for the 2026 spring intake is now open. Eligible applicants to submit their applications on or before 28th February, 2026.
Bank of Bhutan

01/01/2026

26/12/2025

A Startup Pavilion, under Startup Centre was inaugurated jointly by Honorable MoICE Lyonpo and DCM.
The project was funded through Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP).
Bhutan Today, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment, Royal Government of Bhutan, India in Bhutan (Embassy of India, Thimphu)

23/12/2025

IMMEDIATE FOLLOW UP ACTIONS ON FINDINGS OF ACC INVESTIGATION ON ESP LOANS

THIMPHU, 22nd December 2025: The Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) Steering Committee received a letter from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on 19th December 2025 conveying the findings pertaining to the investigation on ESP loans and actions to be taken by the Committee.
The Steering Committee convened a special meeting on 22nd December 2025 to deliberate on the findings to ensure immediate implementation of the ACC’s recommendations. The Committee noted the following key conclusions from the investigation:

●No Corruption Established: The investigation “has not established any elements of corruption” in the implementation of ESP loans for the four medium industry projects;

●Clearance of Specific Project: The investigation has “determined that no further action is necessary at this stage” for one project; and,

●Procedural Deviations: The investigation revealed “procedural lapses in the three projects” by the Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) in the approval and implementation of the loans in three medium industry projects.

In accordance with the ACC’s findings and the existing administrative framework between the Government and the Central Bank, the Steering Committee has initiated the following actions:

●The Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) has been directed to immediately recover or cancel loans sanctioned for the three projects identified by the ACC;

●The RMA is tasked with conducting on-site inspections of all approved ESP loans. This measure aims to strengthen oversight and ensure rigorous monitoring mechanisms of loan disbursements;

●The ESP Secretariat will coordinate with the RMA and submit an Action Taken Report by 15th January 2026 for onward submission to the ACC; and,

●The Committee will reconvene next week to assess the progress and determine if further actions are necessary.
The ESP Steering Committee reaffirms its commitment to transparency, institutional accountability, and the prudent management of public funds to ensure they serve their intended purposes.

ESP STEERING COMMITTEE

18/12/2025

The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet congratulates Dasho Kesang Deki, Cabinet Secretary, on the conferment of the Bura Marp (Red Scarf) by His Majesty The King on the occasion of the 118th National Day. This well deserved honour recognises her dedicated service and commitment to the Tsa Wa Sum.

09/12/2025

𝐄𝐒𝐏 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟏 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟑𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐘𝐏
TIL BDR GHALLEY | Thimphu

The Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) under Bhutan’s 13th Five Year Plan (FYP) has recorded an overall fund utilisation rate of 61.21 percent as of October 31, 2025.
The finance minister Lyonpo Lekey Dorji provided updated details on the status of the Nu 15 billion ESP fund, including allocations, expenditure, implementation progress, and beneficiary coverage.

https://bhutantimes.bt/esp-fund-utilization-reaches-over-61-percent-under-13th-fyp/

09/12/2025

Update on the Implementation of ESP Education Loan

As of 25th September 2025, a total of 548 applications for the ESP Education Loan were received by the Bank of Bhutan (BoB). Of these, 476 applications, amounting to Nu. 348.85 million were approved, while 72 applications were declined. Out of the approved amount, BoB has disbursed Nu. 49.91 million to 454 students.

Among the 476 approved applications, 273 students were approved for studies within Bhutan, and 203 students were approved for studies in India.

In terms of academic programs, the highest number of approvals was for the Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery, with 226 applications. This was followed by the Bachelor of Arts (57), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (44), and Business programs (42). Other approved fields of study include Bachelor of Science (25), Diploma in Construction Supervision (17), Bachelor of Computer Applications (14), and Bachelor of Engineering (10).

08/12/2025

Know the difference between the ESP Education Loan and the Normal Education Loan offered by the banks.

The main objectives of the ESP Concessional Education Loan Scheme are to:

1. Mitigate youth unemployment by providing opportunities for young people to pursue further education or skills training instead of entering the labour market during periods of high unemployment.

2. Develop a skilled workforce by enabling youth to pursue TVET courses in India through accessible financing.

The loan is available to eligible Class XII graduates who wish to pursue undergraduate courses within the country or in India, at an interest rate of 4% per annum.

Similarly, Class XII graduates or TVET graduates who wish to pursue vocational education programmes in India can also apply for the ESP Education Loan Scheme.

The scheme is open to resident Bhutanese citizens who are under 25 years of age at the time of application.

For more information on eligibility criteria and the application process, please visit the BOBL website: https://www.bob.bt/faqs/esp-education-loan-scheme-2025/