E-Governance Board hosts discussions on data interoperability, National Data Exchange Platform

KATHMANDU: Nepal is taking a decisive step towards digital transformation after the government announced plans to establish a National Data Exchange Platform. The move is expected to revolutionise service delivery and strengthen e-governance.

The announcement came during multi-stakeholder discussions on data interoperability organised by the E-Governance Board. The event aimed to simplify government services, improve transparency and enhance digital governance.

Key stakeholders from the Government, the private sector and ICT associations shared their vision for a connected digital ecosystem.

Chiranjibi Adhikari, Senior Vice President of Federation of Computer Association Nepal (CAN Federation) and CEO of One Cover, said the platform will end the long-standing frustration of citizens repeatedly submitting the same personal details to different government agencies. “This initiative will make service delivery faster, transparent and reliable. Citizens will only need to provide their personal and biometric information once,” he said.

Officials said the platform aligns with the government’s broader Digital Nepal framework, which aims to improve efficiency, accountability and transparency across public institutions, and will streamline operations by enabling different government bodies to share information through a single secure interface.

Adhikari noted that, although tools such as the Nagarik App have laid the foundation, the siloed structure of data across agencies continues to cause delays. Organisations such as the Employee Provident Fund and the Social Security Fund face challenges due to separate standards, while hospitals struggle to access patient histories from insurance companies. “The lack of interoperability is a major obstacle. A unified data platform is the solution,” he added.

The E-Governance Board described the initiative as a “big concept” aimed at integrating government and private organisations into a single ecosystem. Experts highlighted that the system would benefit multiple sectors—by leveraging artificial intelligence for better analysis—and agencies such as the National Identity Card Department, Customs Department and Internal Revenue Department, which would gain seamless coordination.

Alongside efficiency, the platform will prioritise data security and cyber resilience. By introducing integrated data standards, all agencies will be able to “speak the same language,” ensuring smooth collaboration and better protection of sensitive information.

The government’s inclusion of the data exchange system in its annual policies and programmes underscores its commitment to restructuring business processes and modernising governance.

Adhikari stressed that the platform is more than a technological upgrade—it is a transformative leap for Nepal. “The Data Exchange Platform is the key to building a faster, transparent and secure government service system. It will simplify administration and empower every citizen,” he said.