| Abstract: | Digital India is the radical transformation of the technology-driven government where it seeks to be more efficient, transparent and accessible to the citizens. In this paper, Digital India is discussed as a type of digital statecraft and its impact on transparency and democratic accountability is analysed. It utilizes primary data as a mixed methods survey of 90 university students to investigate user experiences of relevant e-governance tools like Aadhaar, Digi Locker and online public service platforms. The study evaluates the relationships between e-governance use, access to information, perceived decrease in corruption, procedural efficiency and accountability systems using descriptive and correlation-based analysis. Results indicate that there are positive effects: improved access to services, less delays, and petty corruption has been curbed. There is a strong correlation between digital platforms and enhanced democratic accountability, especially of the government in terms of responsiveness and redressal of grievances. Nonetheless, the issues still exist, such as the digital divide, privacy, and unequal digital literacy, which prevent benefits from being distributed equally. To sum it up, Digital India offers much to revolutionize the governance, but it should be implemented with the help of inclusive strategies and successful institutional safeguards. |
