In view of the lack of effective implementation of the 'Digital Nepal Framework' announced almost five years ago for the digital economic transformation of Nepal, the government has proposed a new model. The draft of Digital Nepal Framework (DNF) 2.0 has been released by adding some improvements, modifications and new programs to the framework implemented by KP Sharma Oli in the year 2076 during his own prime ministership.

Earlier, the World Bank Group withdrew concessional loans worth 17 billion rupees saying that they could not advance any program of the Digital Nepal Acceleration (DNA) project under the framework.

The World Bank had suggested to cancel the DNA project and proceed with the DNF in a new modality with a new workflow. While the Digital Nepal Framework, which was announced in 2076, was stalled, the government was criticized for piling debt upon debt and moving forward with new projects.

'Digital Nepal Framework aims to provide strategic guidelines for comprehensive socio-economic transformation through the effective use of digital technologies,' the draft of the new framework says, 'DNF 2.0 is based on the vision of the first version of DNF 1.0, which was released in 2019.' If implemented as planned, digital foundations, agriculture, health, education, energy, tourism, finance and urban infrastructure would have seen widespread digitization in the current financial year.

"Problems in implementation due to problems of ownership, lack of inter-agency coordination, limited resources, lack of finance and lack of technical capacity for the implementation of the framework," the draft says, "DNF 2.0 includes measures to address these challenges by improving the coordination mechanism, increasing technical skills and ensuring the implementation of digital initiatives on a phased and prioritized basis." In addition to building a robust digital ecosystem, it aims to end the digital divide and use information technology as a tool to solve the climate crisis. It proposes to use AI as a transformative tool in areas such as health, financial services, agriculture, tourism, education and disaster management.

Under the 'fast' strategy for Nepal's digital transformation, infrastructure development, access to digital services, digital literacy and promotion of digital economy have been promoted through 'Future Ready Digital Foundation', 'Access to Digital Services', 'Skills and Digital Literacy' and 'Transformation of Digital Economy'. 

The framework has given responsibility to the Ministry of Energy, Physical Infrastructure, Urban Development, Local Government, Federal Affairs, Home Affairs to initiate the development of a specialized system for smart infrastructure development. The Ministry of Health has been assigned to create systems such as Health Insurance Integration, Integrated Health Management Information System, while proposals for creating systems such as Tourist Centralized Data System, One-Door Tourism Service Platform, and Virtual Lab are in the draft.

Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Ministry of Finance and Social Security Fund have been assigned responsibility for the Integrated Social Protection Service Delivery System to provide social security services through a common digital platform.

It is also mentioned in the draft that a Digital Transformation Council (DTC) will be established with the responsibility of leading the implementation of this framework. "Council will coordinate with all agencies and help implement action plans under the framework," the draft said. It will be conducted under the leadership of the Minister of Communications and will include the Secretary of the relevant Ministry, representatives of the e-Governance Board and representatives of the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.