ICT Priorities After the GenZ Revolution

After the GenZ Revolution in Nepal (8–13 September 2025) against corruption and nepotism, the interim government was formed under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Sushila Karki. During this time, Hon. Jagdish Kharel was appointed as Minister of Communication and Information Technology.

His first declaration was that the Government of Nepal would provide free internet in public areas of 10 major cities. While this may sound positive, it feels somewhat disappointing as a first announcement from a central minister, especially when there are many high-priority tasks that need immediate attention. This decision also gives the impression of being more of a publicity move, or perhaps reflects a lack of deep knowledge in the ICT field, since the minister is a media and communication expert rather than a technology professional. For such an important role, leadership with relevant skills, experience, and qualifications in the field of Information and Communication Technology is crucial.

Announcements about free Wi-Fi zones have been common in the past decade and have often appeared more symbolic than practical. Leaders from local governments, provinces, and even at the federal level have made similar promises. Moreover, many private companies, such as WorldLink, are already providing free Wi-Fi services in public spaces.

In the current situation, attention should instead be directed toward more pressing priorities. Since the minister comes from a media background, expectations could reasonably include:

• Protecting and supporting genuine media professionals who are facing threats.
• Monitoring and controlling the spread of fake news on the internet. With current situation, this could mislead citizens.
• Ensuring accountability for misinformation.

Even more importantly, there is a need to focus on critical issues such as:

• Preparing detailed logs of data lost during the recent protests due to fire and damage, and creating plans for restoration. An audit shall help to know where we are. This would help in making plans for restoring of lost data.
• Developing clear processes for re-registration of lost public records. For example, citizens must be assured of how they can claim ownership of property if government records are no longer available.
• Establishing proper disaster recovery (DR) and backup systems for public data to avoid future situations like this. DR sites should be placed in secure areas where they cannot be harmed by unrest or other disruptions.
• Implementing strict policies that define responsibility and accountability in all digitalization efforts.

These tasks are both urgent and achievable within the next six months if given proper attention.