ROLE OF DIGITAL GOVERNANCE IN INDIA'S SMART CITY MISSION:
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Rubaya Akther , Prof. (Dr) Kothapeta Lakshman; Sumaya Jan

doi:10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i06.007

Title: ROLE OF DIGITAL GOVERNANCE IN INDIA'S SMART CITY MISSION: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Authors: Rubaya Akther , Prof. (Dr) Kothapeta Lakshman and Sumaya Jan
Journal: International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research (IJSSER) ISSN: 2455-8834 Volume: 11 Issue: 6 Publication Date: June 2026 DOI: 10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i06.007
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Rubaya Akther1 , Prof. (Dr) Kothapeta Lakshman2 and Sumaya Jan3 1. PhD Research Scholar, Department of Politics and Governance, Central University of Kashmir, J&KIndia 2. Professor and Head, Department of Politics and Governance, Central University of Kashmir, J&K-India 3. PhD Research Scholar, Department of Economics, Central University of Jammu, J&K-India
MLA 8 Akther, Rubaya, et al. "ROLE OF DIGITAL GOVERNANCE IN INDIA'S SMART CITY MISSION: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 11, no. 6, June 2026, pp. 2565-2577, doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i06.007. Accessed June 2026. APA 6 Akther, R., Lakshman, K., & Jan, S. (2026, June). ROLE OF DIGITAL GOVERNANCE IN INDIA'S SMART CITY MISSION: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 11(6), 2565-2577. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i06.007 Chicago Akther, Rubaya, Kothapeta Lakshman, and Sumaya Jan. "ROLE OF DIGITAL GOVERNANCE IN INDIA'S SMART CITY MISSION: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 11, no. 6 (June 2026), 2565-2577. Accessed June, 2026. https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i06.007.
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ABSTRACT: This exploratory research study examines the transformative trajectory of digital governance frameworks within India's Smart City Mission (SCM), elucidating the multifaceted challenges and latent opportunities inherent in technology-mediated urban administration. Drawing upon secondary data from fifteen acknowledged scholarly publications, this study employs a systematic literature synthesis methodology to comprehend the nexus between e-governance frameworks and sustainable urban development paradigms. The study reveals that while digital governance initiatives have catalyzed citizen-centric service delivery, participatory decisionmaking mechanisms, and resource optimization strategies, formidable impediments persist in the domains of digital infrastructure deficiencies, inter-agency coordination lacunae, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and socio-digital divides. The findings underscore the imperative for comprehensive policy recalibration, technological capacity augmentation, and inclusive stakeholder engagement to actualize the transformative potential of digital governance in Indian urban landscape. This pivotal study contributes to the burgeoning discourse on techno administrative convergence and proffers pragmatic recommendations for ameliorating implementation efficacy within smart city ecosystems.

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