Kathmandu : The government has reversed its decision to require a national identity card for accessing social security benefits.

At a Cabinet meeting held today at Singha Durbar, the decision to implement the national ID for social security services was postponed.

Government spokesperson and Minister for Communication and Information Technology Rekha Sharma announced that due to the recent heavy rains, floods, and landslides, it has become difficult for citizens to obtain the national ID.

“Considering the inconvenience, the Home Ministry has been directed to halt the implementation of the national ID for now,” she added.

Earlier, the Cabinet meeting on June 6 had decided to make the national ID mandatory for social security benefits in 28 districts starting from August 17.

Additionally, the meeting approved the memorandum of understanding on “Strengthening the Development Cooperation in Building the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network” between Nepal and China.

Minister Sharma also stated that the government decided to extend the term of the Commission for the Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission until mid-July 2025, publishing the directive in the Nepal Gazette.

Furthermore, the Cabinet approved the Local Revenue Management System Directive 2024 and the Cash Management Procedure of Government Funds 2024.

The government also decided to list the Humlu ethnic group as an indigenous group.