National Digital Policies and Project in
Nepal

PREMSARAN SHRESTHADIRECTOR GENERALDEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYCountry ProfileArea• Total: 147,516 Sq. Km• Mountains and Hill: 83 % Terai (flat Land): 17%

Population

Urban
18%

2011 Census• Total 26.5 Millions• Female: 13.7 Millions• Male: 12.8 Millions

2022 Projection• Total 30 Millions above

Rural
82%
Urban: 4.8 Millions
Rural: 21.7 Millions

7 States

90%

753 Local
Governments

70%

82.20%

80%
62.50%

60%
50%
40%

Literacy rate (2011, 5 years andabove)• National: 65.9%• Male: 75.1%• Female: 57.1%

30%
20%10%0%Urban

Literacy RateRural

Country Profile
ICT Facts and Figures• ICT Development Index: 140 (ITU, 2017)• Network Readiness Index: 113 (World Economic Forum, 2020)• Data source(Nepal Telecommunication Authority)• 90.56% people have access of Internet in 2021
• 64.6% of Household has at least one mobile subscription• 7.3% of Households own Computer• Total mobile subscription is 139% of population.
• Total Internet Subscription Rate: 110.68%

History of ICT policy in Nepal• At first, the development of modern ICT started with the Telecommunications act of 1997 and••••the telecommunication Regulation of 1997.
When it comes to the major policy on Information Technology, it was the Information
Technology Policy of 2000.
This policy aimed in private sector participation for the Information Technology development.
After a demand for the revised policy featuring the Information Communication Technology asa whole, the government of Nepal devised the Information Communication Policy 2015.
These policies as a whole regulate all the activities regarding the information communication
technology in Nepal.

ICT policy 2015Vision• To transform Nepal into an information and knowledge-based society andeconomy.
Mission• To create conditions for the intensified development and growth of ICT
sector as a key driver for Nepal's sustainable development and poverty
reduction strategies.

ICT policy defines the following points:• E-Learning systems will be promoted to extend the reach of educational services including teachers••••

training programs.
The development and the adoption of IT enabled Educational Management Information Systems
within the public and private educational institutions will be promoted and facilitated to improve thequality of managing educational delivery activities, operations and monitoring.
The integration of computer skills into the teaching and learning process at primary, high school andtertiary levels will be promoted and facilitated.
To facilitate the adoption of E-Commerce especially by SMEs in agriculture, tourism, andmanufacturing as well as non-traditional exports to ensure productivity and growth.
To transform Government service delivery regime by promoting transparency, efficiency,inclusiveness and participation through effective utilization of information and communication
technologies.

IT policy and Its progress in Education in COVID-19
pandemic
Nepal has placed education at the centerof its COVID emergency response and haspursued
remoteande-learning
opportunities to offset school closures.

One example is the Ministry of Education,
Science, and Technology’s learning portal, whichfeatures digital content like interactive learning
games, videos of classroom lessons, audio, and ebooks. This content is categorized according tograde and subject for easier navigation and isoverseen by Nepal’s Curriculum Development
Center.
DOIT had also keep subject wise audio and video
material in YouTube for students of grade 4 to 10to learn during covid-19 pandemic and the DOITchannel had been subscribed by 147k student
through out the country.

A coalition has also launched a distancelearning radio program called Radio Schools.
Across five districts, this is benefiting morethan 100,000 children in school.

COVID-19 has tested the limits of Nepal’s
education system, and much progress
remains to be made to improve children’slearning.
But the pandemic has also revealed how
quickly the country could stand up to thechallenge to ensure that children cancontinue their education now and be better
able down the road to contribute to a more
prosperous Nepal.

IT policy and Its progress in E-commerce in COVID-19
pandemic
Despite the Covid-19 crisis, e-commerce companies have pulled out all stops
to gain trust from Nepal’s customers, traditionally wary of shopping online
and restricted by micro-credit payment restrictions. Collaboration withinternational partners, India’s Flipkart for Sasto Deal, and China’s Alibaba for
Daraz have helped with technology and promotion skills.
Example,• Infi’s collaboration with Miniso and innovative schemes like home deliveryof live mountain goats and chicken for Dasain, were all the rage withcustomers who were wary of venturing to markets because of Covid-19.

• Sasto Deal recently also got a $1 million investment from the Dolma

Impact Fund to help the company achieve a milestone target of Rs1 billion
in annual revenue within the next 18 months.

IT policy and Its progress in governance sector in COVID19 pandemic• On July 16, 2020, the first day of the new FY 2020/21, theBefore covid-19, the services of thegovernment were basically offline.
After covid-19, the concept of egovernance rises gradually andmaximum services of government
are provided through online system
which saves time and efforts.

Nepali Government has introduced an online payment
method for small taxpayers.

• With the new system, taxpayers with annual transactions ofup to NPR 2 million and income tax of up to NPR
200,000 can file their tax details and pay income taxes
through mobile apps or other electronic mediums.

• The electronic payment method is expected to benefit overhalf a million small taxpayers as it will eliminate the hassle
and lengthy process of visiting tax offices for tax returns.ICT Related Organization in Nepal• Ministry of Communication and Information Technology• DoIT (Department of Information Technology)• OCC (Office of Controller of Certification)• NITC (National Information Technology Center)• Nepal Telecommunication Authority

Ministry of Communication and Information
Technology• The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) isestablished in the year 2049BS.

• The Ministry widely covers postal services, telecommunications,
Broadcasting, Press & Information and Film Development.
Ministry's long term vision• To achieve prosperity via maximum usage of cutting edge communicationand information technology.

Ministry's Sectorial Vision ofMoCIT
General Communication:• To ensure and broaden information channel to citizens via implementation of complete press

freedom, right to communication, and right to information guaranteed by Constitution of Nepal.

Telecommunication:• To provide reliable quality communication service throughout the country enabling the job
creation and entrepreneurial development via the complete usage of cutting edge
Telecommunication technologies.

Information Technology:• To contribute towards continuous development and prosperity via ensuring a ubiquitous accessto Information Technology.

(Department of Information Technology)
The Department of Information Technology (DoIT) is established in the year 2069 BS.
Vision• Make DoIT as engine for socio economic transformation into developed new Nepal.
Mission• Provide all government services through automated system by maximizing the use of IT.
Goal• Establish good governance, poverty alleviation and realize national development targets byutilizing the advantages of IT.
• [Create e-Infrastructure - facilitate and promote e-governance- develop Information Technology Enabled Services (IT-ITeS) Industry- secure cyber space.]Major Programs• G-Cloud:- Government Cloud is a cloud platform which provide free cloud infrastructure
facilities to the government bodies.
Provide G-Cloud Service to more than 232 government offices.
• Centralized-Attendance:- Government online attendance system which helps to manage
employee’s attendance, leave and payroll.
Provide e-attendance service to 918 government office (active 435).
• GIOMS : It is centralized system with common module applicable for all government
agencies which reduce the concept of paper in office that will enhance the efficiency andtransparency of an organization.
• GEA: To make all the IT system in same standard and guidelines.

Office of Controller of Certification• The Office of Controller of Certification (OCC) is established in the year 2063 BS• To establish the secure environment on Internet, E-mail and online transaction,
Vision of CCA• To play a leading role in the future of ICT in Nepal contributing to an efficient,competitive and optimally regulated ICT sector.
Mission• To promote affordable and adequate access to quality ICT services throughfunctional market-driven competition and regulatory principles in a secured troublefree e-Transaction

National Information Technology Center• NITC was established in 2001 AD with the objective of developing andpromoting the information technology sector of the Government of Nepal.

• The NITC acts as a data bank of information and assist in computerizationof records at governmental offices and in developing and expanding thecontents.

Nepal Telecommunication Authority• Nepal Telecommunications Authority is the telecommunications regulatory body ofNepal.

• It is an autonomous body established on Feb 1998 in accordance with

Telecommunications Act, 1997 and Telecommunications Regulation, 1998.

• It’s objective is to create a favorable and competitive environment for thedevelopment, expansion and operation of telecommunications services with theprivate sector participation in Nepal.

Digital Nepal Framework 2019

Introduction•

Designed to enable Nepal to harness its growth potential by leveraging
disruptive technologies and driving socioeconomic growth•Blue print that provides a road map to Digital Nepal•

Digital Nepal Framework: 1 – 8 – 80•

80 action plans -short term, middle term, long term to implement Digital
Nepal Framework.

Vision, Mission and Objectives
VisionDigital based Social economic prosperity

Mission
To harness digital technologies as a catalyst to positively transform government, society andeconomy

Objectives
To strengthen the foundation for a knowledge-based society and digital economy
To provide a framework for action aimed at leveraging digital technologies to achieve

Committee Formation•

Digital Nepal – Board of Directors Committee under the chairmanship ofhonorable Prime Minister•

Digital Nepal – Coordination Committee under the chairmanship of Chief
Secretary

8 Sectors-80 Digital Initiatives

Major Initiatives in each sector
Digital Foundation• High speed internet connectivity• National Optical fiber• GEA implementation and Paperless
Government

Education• Online Learning program• Education management system• Smart Classroom• Establishment of National Cyber Security
CenterHealth• Central Telemedicine center• National Health service Platform• Digital Health CenterAgrilculture• Implementation of Land Record
Information Management System(LRIMS)• Smart management of Livestock• Skilled training program to farmers

Major Initiatives in each sector
TourismFinance• E-Visa implementation• Multi- Languages helpline• Implementation of Digital Path••••

DisplayEnery• Smart Metering System• Smart Grid System• Any Branch Payment System(ABPS)

National payment gateway
Mobile Wallet service
Integrated Tax SystemCentral Billing Monitoring System

Urban Infastructure••••

Water ATMIntelligent Waste Management
Public Transportation AppIntelligent Traffic and Parking Management
SystemCurrent IT Projects
1. National Identification System

2. Government Cloud• Smart National ID Card for all citizen• About 593 Government information systems• Pilot phase has been started• Covers basic setup and distribution of 117
thousands Smart National ID Cards• Expect to be completed within a year

• After successful completion of pilot• next phase of project will begin for full roll tocover all citizen with• National ID System will be used to enhance eService delivery

from 232 Government agencies are hosted inGovernment Cloud system. Now it is runningwell.
3.Smart Cities• Local Government and Federal
Government’s election mandates.
• Feasibility study is in process forthree cities

Contd…
6. National Payment Gateway• Implemented
7. Single window System for Trade Facilitation• Project is implemented.
8. National Information Highway• Project to provide backhaul connectivity to district headquarters in first phase and to Village level insecond phase.

9. Central Immigration Control System• In phase of Technical study

Major IT Systems in Nepal• Nagarik App• Integrated Tax System• e-Custom System• Online Company Registration System• e-Procurement System• E-Passport Management System(eMRP)• Land Records Management System• e-Driving License Management System• System for Biometric Based Voter-List• Public Key Infrastructure• Government Integrated Data Center and DR• Treasury Single Account• Centralized Attendance System ofGovernment• Nepal Government Integrated Office
Management System

Current Penetration of ICT in Nepal

Broadband Services in Nepal

Source: Nepal
Telecommunication
Authority

Telephone service in Nepal

September,2021
Source: NTA

Growth Trends of Data services

Thank you