KATHMANDU, JANUARY 15

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) has launched the beta version of the much-awaited application called ‘Nagarik App’. The government had been working on this app for the last three years. Communications Minister Parvat Gurung inaugurated the app at an event today at the ministry.

The app has been launched with an aim to provide all government-related services through a single online platform.

Of the 64 government bodies, the app will currently provide services of 40 such authorities.

The app was made public today under the government’s Digital Nepal Framework project.

According to the ministry, the app will be helpful for people to avail all types of government services, such as applying for a PAN registration, to viewing details of the taxes that have been submitted.

The ministry has collected various details from citizenship registration, PAN registration and passport registration mechanisms to maintain data of all citizens on the app. As per the ministry, a digital identity of the citizens has been created for the app through details of 21.5 million citizens registered at Ministry of Home Affairs and information including fingerprints and photos of 15.5 million citizens on the server of Election Commission.

Once the the service-seekers register their phone number and citizenship number on the app it will be activated and almost all the government services can be availed via this app, said the ministry.

“Since it is a beta version, the app will provide only around 50 per cent services at the moment. However, our team is working on making all the services available in the next three months,” Minister Gurung said during the inauguration.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, through a video message urged all the people to use the app and make suggestions for necessary improvements.

The app is expected to put an end to the hassles that citizens have been facing since long while submitting details like citizenship, passport, company registration and academic certificates to avail government services, the minister said.

“It is hoped that the app will save citizens a considerable amount of time and also reduce corruption by increasing transparency,” Gurung said. “All the decentralised services that are now provided by the local governments to the citizens can also be availed through this app.”