International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

Municipal Digitisation and E-governance in North-Western India: Emerging Issues and Alternatives (Some Evidences from Recent Studies)

This paper critically examines the trajectory and impact of municipal digitisation and e-governance reforms under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) in North-Western India, with empirical insights from Shimla, Srinagar, Dehradun, and selected towns in Punjab. Against the backdrop of rapid urbanisation and infrastructural deficits, the paper explores how digital interventions have reshaped service delivery, citizen engagement, and governance efficiency using some study-based evidences. Using a mixed-method approach including surveys, focus group discussions and stakeholder interviews, the research reveals high user preference for online services (89.6%) and significant gains in transparency, convenience and administrative responsiveness. However, it also uncovers persistent challenges such as low awareness (only 22.7% aware of AMRUT components), digital divides, infrastructural gaps and limited institutional capacity. The paper argues that while AMRUT has catalyzed meaningful reforms, achieving inclusive and sustainable urban governance requires deeper citizen-centric design, multilingual platforms, robust monitoring and capacity building. The findings contribute to policy discourse on digital public infrastructure and its alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering strategic recommendations for scaling e-governance across diverse urban contexts.