Government Plans 24 hour License Delivery and Easier Nagarik App Services

For years, one of the biggest frustrations for driving license holders in Nepal was not just passing the process, but waiting endlessly for the actual card. In many cases, people had to carry receipts or temporary documents for months, and sometimes even more than a year, because the previous system failed to deliver licenses on time. Officials had previously acknowledged a huge printing backlog, with around 2.3 million old licenses still to be printed.

Now, the issue is back in focus under Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s new government. Bikram Timilsina, the current Minister for Communications and Information Technology in the new Cabinet, has said that new driving licenses can be printed within 24 hours once the Department of Transport Management sends the required data to the Security Printing Center. 

24-hour License service

The promise sounds familiar, because a similar 24-hour service had also been discussed months ago. But this time, the public will be watching closely to see whether the new government can turn that promise into something people actually experience in real life. After years of delay, the real test is not the announcement; it is whether people finally get their licenses on time.   

Integrated application system through the Nagarik App

In a related development, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has announced that it will launch an integrated application system via the Nagarik App within the next 45 days for major government services, such as passports and driving licenses. According to the ministry, services such as police reports, passports, and driving licenses will be integrated into the Nagarik App, allowing citizens to apply for new passports and renewals directly from the app.

So now, the bigger picture is becoming clear: the government is promising not just faster printing, but also a more connected digital system for public services. For now, all eyes will be on the next 45 days to see what actually happens.