e-governance, as a critical tool of governance, has ushered in effectiveness, transparency and accountability in governments. What inadequacies hamper the enhancement of these features? (Answer in 150 words)

E-governance can simplify state-citizen interaction, but technology does not automatically produce inclusion, transparency or accountability.

Inadequacies

• Digital, linguistic, gender and disability divides exclude citizens without devices, connectivity or digital literacy.
• Fragmented databases, poor interoperability, unreliable portals and weak last-mile support undermine service delivery.
• Privacy risks, cyberattacks, algorithmic bias and opaque automated decisions threaten rights.
• Low-quality data and excessive centralisation can reproduce exclusion rather than correct it.
• Grievance redress, audit trails and official responsibility are often unclear.

Universal connectivity, assisted access, open standards, privacy-by-design, cybersecurity, human oversight and legally enforceable grievance mechanisms are needed. E-governance must remain citizen-centric, not merely interface-centric.

governance, e-governance, digital divide, accountability