A new integrated digital service has been launched by the government in Nepal for citizens seeking to apply for citizenship certificates and national identity cards, however it faces acceptance problem with the Nagarik app.
Nepal's Ministry of Home Affairs has confirmed the establishment of interoperability between the Centralized Citizenship Management Information System and the National Identity Management Information System. These two significant databases had previously functioned independently. Om Prakash Aryal, [1] who was the Home Minister announced the reform while visiting the District Administration Office in Lalitpur.
He informed reporters that this integration will eliminate [2] the ongoing necessity for citizens to provide the same personal information to multiple government offices. “By linking the two systems, we have made services more citizen-friendly and efficient. People will now receive hassle-free services without duplicating paperwork,” Minister Aryal said. The Nepali government has announced that the integrated service has been launched from various service points and will be gradually extended nationwide. Officials indicate that the main goal is to reduce administrative burdens and enhance accessibility, especially for citizens who previously needed to make multiple trips for documentation and biometric verification.
However, an increasing number of Nepalis are expressing dissatisfaction with [3] the Nagarik app, the government's primary digital identity platform, as several institutions continue to reject its verified digital documents. The app claims it would enable citizens to use digital versions of citizenship certificates, licenses, PAN cards, and other forms of identification. Users have reported ongoing challenges, with banks, hospitals, and government offices still requiring physical copies [4] according to The Kathmandu Post. One reviewer said, “I am very disappointed with the Nagarik App, If digital documents cannot be used for official verification without showing a physical citizenship card, national ID, or passport, then what is the real purpose of this platform?”
Pakistan faces [5] a comparable issue regarding digital identification, albeit with key distinctions. The National Database and Registration Authority or NADRA has endorsed the legality of digital IDs, providing official guidance on the acceptance of documents obtained through Pak ID. Citizens experiencing refusal of their digital IDs have the option to file complaints through official channels to facilitate corrective measures. The NADRA Digital Identity Regulations 2025 officially confer full legal recognition to digital identity credentials. Regulations 9 and 10 specifically address the legal acknowledgment and acceptance of these credentials.
In Februry, 2025 the Pakistan government [6] made amendments to the National Identity Card Rules 2002 and the Pakistan Origin Card Rules 2002. These changes incorporate QR-based verification, enhanced anti-fraud measures, and improved biometric recognition within the country's identity framework.Nepal’s officials have stated that the application was designed for system-based verification rather than for showcasing images of documents. They also noted that wider adoption necessitates collaboration among ministries and agencies responsible for the underlying data. Digital governance experts contend that Nepal requires formal legal acknowledgment of digital IDs and secure mechanisms for transactional verification.