KATHMANDU — A seemingly routine press release issued under the name of Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Office has ignited a storm of controversy after it was discovered that the official document — printed on the government’s letterhead — listed a personal Gmail address instead of an official government domain. The blunder has now become a national embarrassment, exposing what many are calling “the digital illiteracy of the state’s highest office.”

The document, released on Sunday, announced the Prime Minister’s verified social media accounts on X, Facebook, and Instagram. But the inclusion of the email address [email protected] instantly sparked outrage online. Within hours, Nepalis on social media were asking, “Is Singha Durbar now run by Google?”

The use of a free personal email service in an official government communication has raised serious questions about Nepal’s digital governance and cybersecurity discipline. Experts say such practices compromise the integrity and security of government correspondence. “When the Prime Minister’s Office itself uses private email for official announcements, it signals a deep institutional failure in maintaining protocol and data protection,” one digital governance analyst told reporters.

Ironically, Nepal’s government had long ago mandated that all state bodies use official gov.np domains for email and websites. The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) already operates under [email protected] and opmcm.gov.np, yet this release inexplicably bypassed both.

The document carried the signature of an assistant secretary and spokesperson, but when journalists sought clarification, an unnamed staff member reportedly said the decision was made “on the advice of the technical team.” No further explanation was given about why government protocols were ignored.

The episode has quickly become a symbol of irony for a nation that brands itself as “Digital Nepal.” Critics say that while global leaders discuss artificial intelligence, blockchain administration, and cybersecurity, Nepal’s leadership is still struggling with basic email etiquette.

As memes and sarcastic posts flood social media, the affair has turned into a public relations disaster. The irony, however, runs deeper: a government that preaches “smart governance” appears unable to distinguish between a personal Gmail inbox and a state communication channel.

And as one viral post quipped — “If this continues, the next government circular might come from a Yahoo account.”