Digital governance will fail without digital literacy

Digital literacy needs to cease being a voluntary awareness programme and become a formal part of social protection and development policy.

Today, Nepalis can carry a government office in their pockets. The Nagarik App promises access to identity documents, PAN details, police clearance, traffic fine payments and other public services. The government is also moving towards national digital identity, online citizen service portals, digital lockers and integrated data systems. In February 2026, the World Bank approved $50 million to support Nepal’s digital public infrastructure and digitise public services, including an online citizen service portal, an integrated social registry, a secure data exchange and a digital locker.