Chapter: 3[5x1=5,1x1=1]

E-governance
E-governance is the application of information technology to the processes of
government functioning to bring about smart, moral, accountable, responsive, and
transparent governance. To Improve and enhance the delivery of government
services and information to citizens, businesses, and other stakeholders.
Examples of e-governance initiatives include online tax filing systems, electronic
voting systems, online portals for citizen engagement and feedback, and digital
government service delivery platforms. These initiatives are designed to improve
efficiency, reduce costs, enhance transparency and accountability, and promote
citizen participation in the democratic process.
Advantages of e-governance
 Increased accessibility: E-governance makes it easier for citizens to access
government services and information, regardless of their location or physical
ability.
 Improved efficiency: By digitizing government processes, e-governance can
streamline bureaucratic procedures and reduce paperwork, resulting in faster and
more efficient service delivery.
 Cost savings: E-governance can help governments save money by reducing the
need for physical infrastructure, such as office space and paper-based
documentation.
 Transparency: E-governance can enhance transparency and accountability by
providing citizens with greater visibility into government activities and decision-
making processes.
 Improved citizen participation: E-governance can enable greater citizen
participation in government decision-making, for example through online
consultations and public forums.
 Better service quality: E-governance can improve the quality of government
services by facilitating better data collection, analysis, and decision-making,
leading to more effective policy implementation and service delivery.
 Enhanced security: E-governance can strengthen the security of government data
and systems through the use of encryption and other security measures,
protecting against cyber-attacks and other security threats.
Overall, e-governance can help governments become more efficient, transparent, and
responsive to the needs of citizens, resulting in better outcomes for all.
Disadvantages of e-governance
 Digital divide: E-governance can exacerbate existing inequalities, as citizens who
lack access to technology or digital skills may be excluded from online services and
information.
 Cybersecurity risks: E-governance may increase the risk of cyber attacks, data
breaches, and other security threats, particularly as government systems may be
attractive targets for hackers.
 Lack of personal interaction: E-governance can reduce opportunities for personal
interaction between citizens and government officials, potentially leading to a
sense of alienation or disengagement among citizens.
 Technical glitches: E-governance systems may be prone to technical glitches,
which can disrupt service delivery and erode public trust in government.
 Privacy concerns: E-governance may raise privacy concerns, particularly as
governments collect and store more data on citizens.
 Limited reach: E-governance may not be accessible to all citizens, particularly
those in rural or remote areas with limited internet connectivity.
 Cost: Implementing e-governance systems can be expensive, particularly for
governments with limited resources.
Objective of e-governance
The objectives of e-governance, or electronic governance, are to:
 Improve transparency: E-governance helps to increase transparency in
government operations and decision-making processes. It enables citizens to
access information about government policies and programs, and to hold
government officials accountable.
 Enhance efficiency: E-governance can streamline government processes, reducing
paperwork and bureaucracy. This can result in faster delivery of government
services and better use of resources.
 Increase accessibility: E-governance enables citizens to access government
services and information from anywhere, at any time. This can be especially
beneficial for those who live in remote or rural areas, or who have mobility or
other accessibility challenges.
 Empower citizens: E-governance provides citizens with more opportunities to
participate in government decision-making processes, through online
consultations, feedback mechanisms, and other tools.
 Foster innovation: E-governance encourages the use of technology to improve
government services and operations, and to develop new and innovative solutions
to public problems.
 Ensure security: E-governance involves the use of technology to secure
government data and protect against cyber threats. This is essential for
maintaining public trust in government and protecting citizens' privacy.

Scope of E-governance in Nepal

The scope of e-governance in Nepal is significant, given the country's growing use of
technology and the government's commitment to digital transformation. Some
potential areas of focus for e-governance in Nepal include:
 Service delivery: E-governance can help improve the delivery of public services,
such as healthcare, education, and social welfare, by making them more
accessible and efficient.
 Digital identity: The government of Nepal is currently implementing a national
digital identity system, which has the potential to transform the delivery of
government services and increase transparency and accountability.
 E-commerce and entrepreneurship: E-governance can support the growth of e-
commerce and entrepreneurship by creating a more supportive regulatory
environment and providing access to online resources and services.
 Public participation: E-governance can help increase public participation in
government decision-making processes by providing online consultation and
feedback mechanisms.
 Disaster management: E-governance can support disaster management efforts by
providing real-time data and information on emergencies and facilitating the rapid
deployment of resources and services.
 Agricultural development: E-governance can support the development of the
agriculture sector by providing online access to information on markets, weather,
and crop management practices.
 Environmental protection: E-governance can support environmental protection
efforts by providing real-time data on pollution levels, facilitating public
participation in environmental decision-making, and supporting the
implementation of environmental regulations.
Overall, the scope of e-governance in Nepal is broad and varied and has the potential
to transform the delivery of government services and support sustainable
development in the country.

Components of E-governance
E-governance, or electronic governance, is a complex and multi-dimensional concept
that encompasses a range of components. Some key components of e-governance
include:
 ICT infrastructure: The development of e-governance requires a strong
information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, including
internet connectivity, hardware, software, and databases.
 Government websites: E-governance involves the development and
maintenance of government websites that provide citizens with access to
information and services, such as online forms and payment systems.
 Online service delivery: E-governance can enable the delivery of government
services online, including applications for permits and licenses, tax payments,
and citizen complaints and feedback.
 E-participation: E-governance can promote greater citizen participation in
government decision-making processes through online consultations, public
forums, and social media.
 E-democracy: E-governance can enable greater democratic participation and
accountability through online voting systems, electronic petitions, and other
mechanisms.
 Data management: E-governance involves the collection, storage, analysis, and
dissemination of government data, requiring robust data management and
security protocols.
 Capacity building: The implementation of e-governance requires capacity
building and training programs for government officials and citizens to develop
the necessary skills and knowledge.
  Legal and regulatory frameworks: E-governance requires appropriate legal and
regulatory frameworks to ensure the protection of citizens' rights, privacy, and
security.
Overall, the components of e-governance are interconnected and require a
coordinated and holistic approach to implementation. Effective e-governance
requires not only technological infrastructure but also changes in institutional and
cultural practices to fully realize the potential benefits of digital transformation.
Types of E-governance
E-governance refers to the use of digital technology to improve the efficiency,
effectiveness, and transparency of government operations and services. There are
several types of e-governance, including:
 Government-to-Citizen (G2C) E-governance: This type of e-governance involves
the delivery of government services, information, and transactions to citizens
through digital channels, such as websites, mobile applications, and online portals.
 Government-to-Business (G2B) E-governance: This type of e-governance involves
the delivery of government services, information, and transactions to businesses
through digital channels. Examples of G2B services include business registration,
licensing, and permits.
 Government-to-Government (G2G) E-governance: This type of e-governance
involves the use of digital technology to improve communication and collaboration
between different government agencies and departments.
 Government-to-Employee (G2E) E-governance: This type of e-governance involves
the use of digital technology to improve communication and collaboration
between the government and its employees. Examples of G2E services include
online training and professional development programs.
 E-democracy: This type of e-governance involves the use of digital technology to
increase citizen participation in the democratic process. Examples of e-democracy
services include online voting, public consultations, and online petitions.
 Smart Governance: This type of e-governance involves the use of advanced
technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things,
to enhance government operations and services. Examples of smart governance
services include smart cities, digital identity management, and real-time traffic
management.
Government's steps in the implementation of E-governance in Nepal
The government of Nepal has taken several steps to implement e-governance and
digital transformation in the country. Some of the key initiatives include:
 National ICT Policy: In 2015, the government of Nepal introduced the National
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy, which aims to promote
the use of ICTs for economic development and social progress.
 Digital Nepal Framework: The government has launched the Digital Nepal
Framework, which is a comprehensive plan to develop a digital economy and
promote digital literacy and inclusion.
 National ID Card: The government is implementing a national digital identity
system, which will provide citizens with a unique identification number and
enable them to access government services online.
 Online service delivery: The government has launched several online portals to
provide citizens with access to government services, such as online tax payment
systems and e-passport applications.
 E-procurement: The government has introduced an e-procurement system to
make government procurement more transparent and efficient.
 E-health: The government has launched an e-health program to digitize health
records and improve access to healthcare services.
 E-education: The government is implementing e-education programs to improve
access to quality education through digital platforms.
 E-land management: The government has launched an e-land management
system to digitize land records and improve land management practices.
 Cybersecurity: The government has established a National Cybersecurity Center
to improve cybersecurity measures and protect government data and systems.
Overall, the government of Nepal has shown a strong commitment to implementing
e-governance and digital transformation and has introduced several initiatives to
promote the use of technology in governance and public service delivery. However,
further efforts are needed to ensure that these initiatives are fully implemented and
achieve their intended outcomes.
Major Challenges in Nepal(e-governance)
 Poverty:
Accessing internet is a costly affair for the poor who struggle for their livelihood in
developing countries like Nepal. Required infrastructure in the form of installing the
necessary telephone line needed for internet or email access is equally unaffordable in most
poor countries.
 Infrastructure
Lack of necessary infrastructure like electricity, internet, technology and ways of
communucations will affect the speed which delays the implementation.
 Staffing and skills
Covers the number of staff involved with the e-government system, and the competencies
of those staff and other users.
 Recognition of applications
Recognition of the e-governance facilities by the citizens is another huge challenge. It is a
challenge to have all the citizens well aware of the facilities offered bt the e-government
and have them to trust in it, so that citizens should be ready to accept these facilities.
 Lack of integrated services
Lack of communication between different departments of government may be its major
cause. Therefore, the information that resides within one department has no or very little
meaning to some other department of the government.
 Cost
In developing countries like Nepal, cost is one of the most important obstacles in the path of
implementation of e-governance where major part of the population is living below poverty
line. A huge amount of money in involved in implementation, operational and evolutionary
maintenance tasks. These costs must be low enough so that to guarantee a good
cost/benefit ratio.
 Privacy and Security
A critical obstacle in implementing e-governance is the privacy and security of an
individual's personal data that he/she provides to obtain government services. With the
implementation of e-government projects, some effective measures must be taken to
protect the sensitive personal information of the people.

Suggestion to overcome challenges

 Improvement of literacy rate
 ICT growth
 Proper implementation of projects
 Need to have user friendly websites
 Need to control population growth
 Need to create awareness among public about e-governance etc.