The Legal Framework for Electronic Governance in India

Abstract

Governments are increasingly utilizing the Internet to perform their functions. The Indian welfare state has been historically plagued with problems of corruption and red tape. With the advent of the Internet and the growing penetration of the Internet in India, the government has commenced shifting its functions to the Internet. India aims to regulate all digital activity through the Information Technology Act 2000. The Act contains detailed provisions regarding electronic governance. This article examines these provisions. Part-1 introduces the rationale and well as the technical and legal background of electronic governance. Part-2 contains an examination of the provisions which act as a backbone for electronic governance. Part-3 contains an examination of the various provisions contained in the act which facilitate electronic governance. Part-4 examines the provisions relating to voluntary implementation of electronic governance, and finally Part-5 concludes the legal framework for electronic governance in India.

Keywords: electronic governance India