Nepal’s driving license backlog problem reveals a severe failure in public services delivery. The government has received fees from license applicants running into millions. However, it still does not provide these applicants with license cards within a reasonable period of time, indicating a lack of respect by government offices towards license applicants. About 2.6 million smart driving licenses are yet to be printed, while more than 3,000 fresh requests are accommodated daily. An estimated 500 cards are printed per day, demonstrating the gap between demand and supply of license cards has been widening every day. Despite the government department’s failure, several transportation centers conduct exams, process requests, and charge complete fees. This backlog came from poor planning and poor decisions. The introduction of smart licenses came without capacity creation such as equipment, microchips, software, skilled personnel, and repair services. The print function of licenses was handed over to the Security Printing Centre, but its capacity has never been adequate compared to the large number of applicants. In the meantime, the process of tender bids for procurement of license has come to a halt several times. The delays caused the backlog to build, yet the department continued to charge fees as usual from license seekers. Meanwhile, contracts to print and procure licenses have been allowed and scrapped and then awarded again. Domestic efforts to print licenses have failed because of the products’ quality. The imported mass printers remained inoperable due to an inadequate number of trained workers and staff.
Give them love and respect
Against such a pathetic scenario, the arrival of the Gen Z-led administration in September 2025 had raised people’s hopes. Because the movement that brought them into power had promised that officials would not engage in corruption, government services would be quicker, and citizens would be respected. But months later, the situation appears no different or better. License backlogs continue to be extremely large. Interaction with the public on such a serious issue is still absent while deadlines to deliver service are not respected. Whatever the transport department does only benefits a select few, like those going abroad, while the rest remain stuck in place. The damage and inconvenience caused by this backlog are immense, as it infringes upon the rights of citizens who are ready to pay government fees for vital services. Corruption and complacency appear to be two key reasons. When backlog persists through inaction, corruption starts taking firm roots.
A waiting culture, such as waiting for years to get a license card, gives rise to the need for the involvement of middlemen, which gives rise to corruption. When a service seeker quietly accepts such culture, it invariably shields corrupt officials from accountability. Files are moved slowly, without any accountability. During the past several years, these have become the hallmarks of government departments, especially the transport department. Lately, the arson of such departments by Gen Z protesters, in which thousands of printed license cards perished, has piled up plights. The license backlog indicates a broader governance issue, and citizens must hold the government to account. Without piling pressure on the government, reforms in transport and other departments remain unlikely. Finally, fixing the backlog issue needs capacity that matches demand, honest timelines, and a pause on fee collection when delivery is impossible. Without that, the timely distribution of smart licenses will remain hollow talk. Until the state changes how it works, millions will keep waiting for their smart licenses.
