The national information and communication technology policy, 2015 of Nepal

The National Information and Communication Technology Policy, 2015 of Nepal, is a wide-ranging framework that sets the foundation for the country’s digital transformation. It was prepared by the Ministry of Information and Communication and reflects Nepal’s ambition to use ICTs as a driver for sustainable development, poverty reduction, and global competitiveness.

Vision, mission, and guiding principles

The vision is to transform Nepal into an information and knowledge-based society and economy. The mission focuses on making ICT a key enabler for development, governance, and poverty reduction. Guiding principles emphasise government leadership with private-sector implementation, public–private partnerships, infrastructural synergies, alignment with national development plans, freedom of expression and net neutrality, and adherence to global strategies like WSIS and the UN sustainable development goals.

Goals and targets

By 2020, Nepal aimed for at least 75% digital literacy, universal broadband access reaching 90% of the population, and ICT contributing 7.5% of GDP. Other goals included:

• broadband internet for the entire population, with a minimum of 512 kbps nationwide and 10 Mbps in urban areas,
• 80% of citizen-facing services online,
• full automation of land, revenue, vital registration, and citizenship services,
• the use of e-procurement across government,
• restructuring the Ministry of Information and Communication into a dedicated ICT ministry, and
• expansion of the telecom regulator’s mandate.

Policy domains

The policy covers a wide array of sectors and priorities:

• Human resources: strengthening ICT education, establishing Centres of Excellence, retraining civil servants, and promoting digital literacy as a baseline employment skill.
• Education, research and development: ICT integration at all levels of education, nationwide e-schools, promotion of distance learning, open university establishment, and an ICT R&D fund.
• Public access and content: community access points in libraries, post offices, and schools; promotion of local and indigenous content; toll-free services for NGOs.
• ICT industry: venture capital-like ICT funds, incubators, software industry promotion, incentives for local companies, IT park development, and IPR/data protection frameworks.
• Government services: revised e-government master plan, digital signature roll-out, PKI infrastructure, and promotion of open government data.
• SMEs and e-commerce: e-payment infrastructure, supportive legal frameworks, consumer protection, and SME integration into global e-commerce.
• Infrastructure: nationwide broadband, rural backhaul expansion, infrastructure sharing, spectrum allocation, stronger international connectivity, and participation in regional initiatives like the Asian Information Superhighway.
• Sectoral ICTs: dedicated provisions for agriculture, health (telemedicine, digital health records), tourism (ICT portals, e-tourism platforms), climate change (e-adaptation), environment, disaster preparedness, and gender empowerment.
• Emerging issues: cloud computing frameworks, accessibility for people with disabilities, youth/women ICT entrepreneurship, and cyber security measures through NCERT and law enforcement strengthening.

Institutional and legal framework

A National ICT Policy Implementation Steering Committee was established under the Ministry, with participation from multiple ministries, the telecom regulator, private sector, and experts. It oversees coordination, monitoring, and evaluation. Resource mobilisation relies on public–private partnerships, the Rural Telecommunications Development Fund, and international support. Legal and regulatory reforms were mandated to align with convergence trends and support e-governance, cyber security, and e-commerce