Kathmandu — As part of Nepal’s push toward digital governance, a total of 84 government agencies have now joined the Integrated SMS Gateway System, according to the 62nd annual report by the Office of the Auditor General.

The SMS Gateway was launched in Poush 2078 (December 2021) by the Department of Information Technology (DoIT) in collaboration with telecom providers Nepal Telecom, Ncell, and various government bodies. This system enables government offices to send SMS messages to the public at a rate of just 20 paisa per message, making communication faster and more efficient.

In addition to the SMS system, 77 government entities have joined the Integrated Management System, with 15 of them actively using it to deliver services. This platform supports a range of digital processes including:

• Official memos and approvals

• Document registration and dispatch

• Attendance tracking

• Leave approvals

• Digital archiving

It also allows real-time file tracking based on registration numbers and QR code verification for authenticating documents.

The Department of Information Technology, serving as the central implementation agency for digital transformation, has also been advancing several tech-forward initiatives. These include:

• Development of template websites for government offices

• Deployment of 869 virtual machines under the Government Cloud System, serving 345 agencies

• Completion of security audits for 92 government-run information systems

The number of government entities using the electronic attendance system has also reached a significant 3,549.

The report further highlights the need for:

• Government Enterprise Architecture (GEA) training

• Expanding the scope of security audits

• Integrating all digital public services into the Nagarik App for seamless citizen access

Nepal’s digital journey continues to gain momentum, with these developments marking important steps toward an efficient, transparent, and tech-driven public service system.