Government’s 100-Day Transformation Plan Aims to Build a Digital Nepal

The government led by the Rastriya Swatantra Party has presented a 100-day digital agenda aiming to establish a new model of transparency and technology-driven good governance. The plan includes granting legal recognition to the Citizen App, making all government certificates available online, and implementing the Digital Nepal Framework 2.0. Although a $90 million digital transformation project approved by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank remains unimplemented and cybersecurity remains weak, the digital transformation program of Nepal—long limited to slogans—is now entering the phase of execution.

The current government, led by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has proposed the 100-day digital agenda focusing on transparency, accountability, and technology-based governance, signaling the creation of a new operational model for the state. Under Balen Shah’s leadership, the government appears to have been given a mandate by the public—especially the Gen Z generation—to eliminate corruption, facilitate service delivery, and build a digital Nepal. According to this policy framework, the concept of “not line but online” is set to be put into practice.

Presently, Nepal has laid the foundation for digital infrastructure — with over 24 million mobile banking users, more than 16 million national ID card applications, and over 1.5 million users on the Citizen App serving as evidence. However, the main challenge lies not in technology but in weak implementation. Many government offices still do not fully accept digital documents, large numbers of ID cards remain undelivered, and incomplete digital service systems have undermined public trust. Within the first 15 days, the government plans to grant legal recognition to the Citizen App via a cabinet decision, enable online downloading of all government certificates, and implement Digital Nepal Framework 2.0.

This initiative is expected to liberate citizens from the burden of standing in queues for hours to access government services. These measures will directly eliminate intermediaries, reduce corruption, and make government processes traceable. Nepal has demonstrated notable success in digital payments, with private-sector platforms like Khalti, eSewa, and Connect IPS driving the economy toward cashlessness. However, challenges remain, including limited internet access in rural areas (approximately 17%) and only 31% digital literacy.

To address this, government policy needs to focus on making the ‘Digital Nepal for All’ program practical and inclusive. Additionally, the $90 million digital transformation project approved by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank has yet to be implemented. If this project is launched immediately, it will significantly accelerate the development of fundamental infrastructure such as the National Data Exchange Platform, cybersecurity systems, and the digital service portal. This progress could steer Nepal toward a digital governance model similar to Estonia.

Another key aspect of the policy is developing the IT sector as a national strategic industry. By leveraging hydropower and the Himalayan cold climate to establish data centers and AI computing hubs, Nepal has the potential to transform into a ‘Green Digital Economy.’ This initiative could create millions of jobs and attract foreign companies. However, challenges persist: weak cybersecurity evidenced by government website hacks has diminished public trust in digital systems; the outdated Electronic Transactions Act of 2006 remains in effect, a new IT bill has not been passed, and there is no clear implementation of data protection measures, all of which represent significant weaknesses.

Without these reforms, sustainable digital transformation cannot be achieved. Overall, Nepal’s digital journey has reached a critical turning point. The technology, policies, and public support are all in place, but success depends on effective implementation. If the government transparently publishes its progress through a dashboard and meets deadlines, it could establish a new political culture—one where officials are accountable to citizens, and decisions are based on data and technology. The opportunity is now available to create a transparent, accountable, and tech-friendly Nepal as expected by the Gen Z generation. This is not merely a digital project; it is a new definition of good governance where every service is online, every decision traceable, and every leader accountable to the people.