Govt to integrate National ID with Nagarik App to streamline services

Kathmandu, Jan. 28: As soon as the Supreme Court quashed the writ petition filed not to immediately implement the national ID in different public services, including social security allowance, the government successfully tested and integrated the National ID card in the Nagarik Application to get more services in a simplified way in the future. 

Citizens who have applied and still waiting for their digitized national ID in their hands can now see the details of their personal national ID in the Nagarik App just by inserting the NI number in the Nagarik App, according to government officials.

Officials working at the Department of National ID and Civil Registration under the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of the National Information Technology under the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology have said that following the Supreme Court’s directives after the nullification of the writ filed in SC, areas and the compulsory use of the National ID in different public services will be expanded accordingly.

Director General for the Department of National ID Yubaraj Katel told The Rising Nepal on Monday that citizen’s national ID details can now be seen and brought into use through the Nagarik App after it was integrated with the App last week. As the government went on making use of National ID for all types of public services gradually, concerns have been raised about the security of the citizens’ electronic data collected for the purpose.  

During a parliamentary committee discussion last week, lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the government has failed to assure citizens of the safety of their data.

In the same meeting, Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak attempted to reassure lawmakers, asserting that the data collected under the National ID system is ‘safe and secure.’

Ramesh Sharma Paudyal, Director General for the Department of 

Information Technology, which manages the Nagarik App, said, "National ID has just been integrated into the Nagarik App this week. With this, when the National ID is linked with the Nagarik App., it will be easier for the citizens to apply and get an e-passport.”

With the integration of the National ID in the App., 61 public services have been integrated with the App. Currently, the App. includes informational, service-oriented, and payment facilities.

The government faced criticism after mandating the use of national ID cards for the distribution of social security allowances. However, it clarified that the rule would not apply to individuals who are disabled, ill, or elderly citizens above the age of 90.

In May 2024, the government decided to make the national ID mandatory for the distribution of retirement pensions and social security allowances. The government had also published a notice in the official gazette on June 24, 2024, announcing that the decision would be implemented in 28 districts starting from mid-July.

After facing widespread criticism, a writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court against this government decision. On August 23, 2024, the court issued an interim order, imposing a ban on the immediate implementation of such a provision to the government.

Services linked with ID

According to officials, the use of national ID cards has already been mandated for services such as obtaining e-passports, pensions, social security allowances, and opening new bank accounts. For citizens without national ID cards, banks reportedly allow them to open accounts by filling out a ‘self-declaration form.’

In Bagmati Province, it has already become mandatory to link driver’s licenses with national ID cards.

Upcoming services to be linked

According to DG Katel of the National ID, telecommunications services will soon be linked to the national ID. "The technical testing to integrate the system with Nepal Telecom and Ncell has been completed," he said. 

However, initially, the rule will apply only to those obtaining new SIM cards, and existing users will later be required to update their records. The department has also completed technical testing with the Credit Information Bureau.

"Once linked with the Credit Information Bureau, many financial institutions will automatically be connected," he said. Technical testing has also been carried out with entities like the Social Security Fund, Health Insurance Board, Inland Revenue Department, and Nepal Clearing House. "Shortly, services from all these entities will be linked to the national ID card," added Katel. 

Likewise, the government has also been planning to link national ID cards to land-related services provided by the Land Revenue and Survey Offices.

"The land administration offices are currently working on developing and expanding their systems, so discussions are ongoing so that it can be integrated with the App.," he said.