A Critical Study of India's Digital India Policy and its Socio-Humanitarian Implications
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Abstract
This research thoroughly analyzes India’s “Digital India” initiative from a justice-focused perspective, emphasizing the normative, structural, and experiential aspects of digital change. Although the initiative has enhanced technological infrastructure and digital governance, it has also exacerbated existing inequalities, especially among marginalized populations like rural women, Dalits, Adivasis, gender minorities, and informal workers. Employing a qualitative-normative approach, the study integrates critical document examination and secondary ethnographic information to uncover how digital policies like Aadhaar; frequently perpetuate exclusion through biometric discrepancies, bureaucratic ambiguity, and insufficient cultural awareness. Utilizing Amartya Sen’s capability approach and concepts of recognition and procedural justice, the research contends that digital inclusion should extend beyond mere access and infrastructure to encompass agency, participation, and dignity. The results reveal a core justice disparity where digital systems emphasize efficiency over fairness and uphold conditional citizenship. To fill this void, the paper suggests a human-focused governance model rooted in pluralism, local supervision, and inclusive design. This study aids in redefining digital citizenship in the Global South and advocates for upcoming policies that integrate ethical standards at the center of technological governance.
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