DIGITAL DEMOCRACY AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN INDIA: INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION AND DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGES

The communication between citizens, political institutions, and the government has beentransformed by digital democracy, which has become a significant aspect of modern democraticgovernance. The rapid growth of online communication networks, social media platforms, digitalgovernance initiatives, and information and communication technologies (ICTs) has createdopportunities for citizen participation in democratic processes. Initiatives like Digital Sansad, MyGov,and Digital India have helped increase public information availability, promote citizen participation,and ease public-government communication in India. Citizens now have more venues to voice theirpolitical views, take part in public debates, voice social concerns, and discuss policy-related topicsthanks to digital platforms. Traditional methods of political engagement and institutional procedureshave changed as a result of these advancements. The digital gap, unequal access to technology, digitalilliteracy, disinformation, political polarization, and worries about data safety and privacy are someof the major obstacles that the growth of digital democracy must overcome. The degree to whichpeople' ideas impact public decision-making, institutional responsiveness, and technologyaccessibility all have a role in how effective digital involvement is. The interaction between digitaldemocracy and citizen involvement in India is examined in this study, with particular attention paidto institutional reform, democratic opportunities, and new problems. It makes the argument that,when accompanied by inclusive digital infrastructure, open institutions, and efficient channels forpublic participation, digital technologies may bolster participatory democracy.