Prime Minister’s Office to take charge of IT and digital governance

Nepal is undertaking a significant overhaul of its digital governance, centralizing all information technology and electronic functions directly under the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). This move, part of a broader 100-point reform agenda, aims to establish a single, cohesive structure for managing the nation's digital infrastructure.

The restructuring involves the dissolution of the Department of Information Technology, the Integrated Data Management Centre, and the National Cyber Security Centre, with their responsibilities now falling under the PMO. An Organization and Management committee has finalized its report on the new office's structure and staffing, with a detailed framework expected within a month. The government formally amended the "Government of Nepal (Allocation of Business) Rules, 2026," expanding the PMO's mandate and even removing the term "technology" from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, signaling a significant redistribution of power.

“

We are continuing our routine work from the same office, but we are receiving instructions from both the ministry and the PMO, which is confusing.

However, the transition has not been without its challenges. Staff members have reported operational uncertainty, receiving conflicting instructions from both the ministry and the PMO. This ambiguity has created confusion about reporting lines and decision-making processes, with a lack of clear updates on the formation of the new office. The implications for ongoing digital projects, such as the Nepal Digital Transformation Project, remain to be fully seen as the new structure takes shape.

“

At the moment, there is uncertainty about reporting lines and decision-making.