Analyzing Citizen Trust, User Experience (UX), and Systemic Implementation Barriers in the National Identity Card (Rashtriya Parichayapatra) System of Nepal

• Samuel

  Author

Nepal's National Identity Card (NID) system, launched in 2018 and governed by the National Identity Card and Civil Registration Act of 2020, represents a significant digital governance initiative intended to modernize identity verification and improve public service delivery. Despite government mandates and projections, adoption rates remain critically low, with only 8.8% of collected records distributed to citizens as of 2024 . This study examines the multifaceted challenges impeding NID implementation through a mixed-methods research design analyzing data from 390 respondents. Key findings reveal that digital literacy (β = 0.42, p < 0.001) and perceived usefulness (β = 0.38, p < 0.001) are the strongest predictors of citizen acceptance, while security concerns and trust in government institutions emerged as significant moderating factors. The research identifies a critical policy-implementation gap between legal mandates for NID adoption and institutional readiness, particularly concerning data protection frameworks and interoperability standards. The study contributes evidence-based recommendations for targeted digital literacy programs, enhanced public awareness campaigns, comprehensive data protection legislation, and phased implementation strategies. These findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners working to advance Nepal's digital identity infrastructure while acknowledging the socioeconomic and cultural complexities inherent in developing nation contexts.

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Copyright (c) 2026 Samuel (Author)

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