Digital Bureaucracy: Reimagining Public Administration in India

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.