• Dr. J Narsimuloo

This paper examines the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered digital platforms in enhancing participatory governance in India, with a comparative analysis of four states—Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. Participatory governance emphasizes active citizen involvement in policy formulation, decision-making, and service delivery. The integration of AI into governance systems under the Digital India programme has enabled predictive analytics for welfare distribution, intelligent decision-support tools, and AI-driven grievance redressal mechanisms, offering faster, more transparent, and inclusive public administration. The study adopts a comparative, mixed-method approach, combining quantitative data (response times, user statistics, grievance resolution rates) with qualitative insights (interviews, user surveys, policy documents). Four key parameters—accessibility, transparency, responsiveness, and citizen trust—form the basis of evaluation. Findings indicate that Kerala and Andhra Pradesh consistently outperform the other states due to multilingual accessibility, open dashboards, AI-based prioritisation, and proactive communication strategies. Karnataka shows strengths in responsiveness but needs to improve transparency, while Maharashtra lags behind in both responsiveness and citizen trust due to reliance on manual processes and urban-centric design. Key challenges identified include the digital divide, inconsistent data privacy safeguards, and insufficient capacity building among governance personnel. Recommendations propose a hybrid governance model combining AI platforms with physical facilitation centres, targeted digital literacy drives, a unified national data policy, and structured inter-state knowledge sharing. The study concludes that AI-powered participatory governance can significantly strengthen inclusivity, accountability, and efficiency in public administration. However, achieving this potential requires integrating technological advancements with citizen-focused policies, ensuring that the benefits of digital transformation are equitably shared across all regions and communities in line with the vision of a Viksit Bharat.

Participatory Governance, Artificial Intelligence, E-Governance, Digital India, Citizen Engagement, Viksit Bharat

"Participatory Governance through AI-Powered Digital Platforms: A Comparative Study of Indian States", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 1, page no.d420-d425, January-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2601349.pdf

"Participatory Governance through AI-Powered Digital Platforms: A Comparative Study of Indian States", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 1, page no. ppd420-d425, January-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2601349.pdf