Authors :
Afnan K.; Ummu Habeeba K. P.; Safana Sherin T.; Chythra K. M.; Fathima Fasna K.
Volume/Issue :
Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 11 - November
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/46txuzep
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/34nsarz9
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25nov899
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
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Abstract :
India’s administrative landscape is undergoing a profound transformation as digital technologies become
central to governance processes. The rise of digital bureaucracy—characterised by digital platforms, automated
workflows, data infrastructures, and algorithm-driven decision-making—signals a major reconfiguration of state
functioning. While this transition promises efficiency, transparency, and citizen-centric service delivery, it also raises
concerns regarding privacy, exclusion, algorithmic bias, and democratic accountability.This article presents a
comprehensive study of digital bureaucracy in India. It traces the evolution of digital governance, examines institutional
foundations and sectoral applications, and analyses its implications for bureaucratic culture, ethics, and public trust.
Through a multidimensional approach, the paper evaluates both the opportunities and risks of digital transformation,
proposing a rights-based governance framework for an inclusive, transparent, and accountable digital administrative
system. The aim is to contribute to scholarly debates and offer a balanced perspective on how digital technologies are
reshaping public administration in India.
Keywords :
Digital Bureaucracy, E-Governance, Algorithmic Governance, Digital Divide, Data Protection, India, AI in Governance, Administrative Reform, Digital Inclusion.
References :
- Aneez, Z., Sreekumar, T. T., & Parthasarathy, B. (2022). Digital welfare and exclusion: Aadhaar and public distribution systems in India. Journal of South Asian Development, 17(1), 1–23.
- Bhatia, K., & Singh, A. (2021). Digital public goods and the Indian state: Examining Aadhaar, UPI, and emerging digital infrastructures. Economic & Political Weekly, 56(34), 34–41.
- Chaudhuri, B., & König, P. (2018). The Aadhaar debate: Biometric identification and coercive recognition. South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 41(4), 852–868.
- Heeks, R. (2020). Information and communication technology for development (ICT4D). Routledge.
- Jain, A., & Ghosh, A. (2023). Algorithmic governance and public accountability: Challenges in India’s welfare architecture. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 20(2), 110–129.
- Khera, R. (2019). Aadhaar and the erosion of the welfare state. Economic & Political Weekly, 54(31), 36–42.
- Mehta, P. B., & Kapur, D. (2020). The public institutions of India’s digital revolution. In D. Kapur & M. Khosla (Eds.), Regulation in India: Design, Capacity, Performance (pp. 245–263). Oxford University Press.
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). (2023). Digital India Annual Report 2022–23. Government of India.
- Mukhopadhyay, P. (2019). Smart cities in India: Urban experimentation and the politics of data. Cities, 95, 102–407.
- NITI Aayog. (2021). Responsible AI for All: Operationalizing Principles for Responsible AI. Government of India.
- Saxena, K. B. C. (2021). E-governance and administrative reform: Reassessing the Weberian state in the digital era. Indian Journal of Public Administration, 67(3), 331–349.
- Singh, N., & Thomas, S. (2022). Facial recognition technologies and civil liberties in India: Legal and ethical considerations. Surveillance & Society, 20(4), 513–526.
- UNESCO. (2023). AI and digital transformation in government: Global trends and governance challenges. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
- World Bank. (2020). The digital economy in South Asia. World Bank Publications.
India’s administrative landscape is undergoing a profound transformation as digital technologies become
central to governance processes. The rise of digital bureaucracy—characterised by digital platforms, automated
workflows, data infrastructures, and algorithm-driven decision-making—signals a major reconfiguration of state
functioning. While this transition promises efficiency, transparency, and citizen-centric service delivery, it also raises
concerns regarding privacy, exclusion, algorithmic bias, and democratic accountability.This article presents a
comprehensive study of digital bureaucracy in India. It traces the evolution of digital governance, examines institutional
foundations and sectoral applications, and analyses its implications for bureaucratic culture, ethics, and public trust.
Through a multidimensional approach, the paper evaluates both the opportunities and risks of digital transformation,
proposing a rights-based governance framework for an inclusive, transparent, and accountable digital administrative
system. The aim is to contribute to scholarly debates and offer a balanced perspective on how digital technologies are
reshaping public administration in India.
Keywords :
Digital Bureaucracy, E-Governance, Algorithmic Governance, Digital Divide, Data Protection, India, AI in Governance, Administrative Reform, Digital Inclusion.