Democracy And Citizen Participation in the Digital Age: An Analytical Study of Indian Democracy

Abstract: Participatory democracy is primarily concerned with ensuring that citizens have the opportunity to be involved in decision-making on matters that affect their lives. It is not a new concept and has existed in various forms since the Athenian democracy. Democracy requires participation and responsibility within our system of governance. It is our responsibility to make our voices heard and that we question the policies and decisions of the Government and keep the Government accountable. Listening to different perspectives and views makes democracy stronger. This enhances public trust in government and democratic institutions by giving people a role in public decision making. It also leads to a better and shared understanding of opportunities and challenges. Citizen participation helps to involve more people in political decisions that consider their views and ideas. This increases the acceptance of these decisions, creates trust in democratic processes and reinforces a sense of community. However, one of the main responsibilities that citizens have in a democracy is to actively participate. People can get involved by joining clubs, social groups, and organizations. They should be informed about the work of parliament and raise issues with their representatives in Parliament. Although there are many frameworks to understand the pattern and motives of e- participation of people, yet none of them is adequate to capture the holistic view due to variations in the social context, digital inclusion, technological advancement, demographic changes etc.