Bureau reveal that the country has already crossed 950 million users. In 2014, this figure stood at just 250 million. Such remarkable growth in a decade highlights the rapid integration of technology into everyday life, largely driven by mobile internet usage. This digital revolution is not confined to urban elites but extends to grassroots levels, reshaping lives across socio-economic strata. However, it also prompts a vital question: Are our governance frameworks evolving to keep pace with this transformation?

Maharashtra, India’s most urbanised state with 29 municipal corporations and nearly half its population living in cities, serves as an ideal ground for assessing urban E-Governance. Policies like Maharashtra’s E-Governance Policy 2011, the Central Government’s Mobile Governance Framework 2012, the National E-Governance Plan, and the Digital India initiative have set ambitious goals over the past decade and a half. Yet, the crux lies in their on-ground implementation and sustainability.

In 2022, the Policy Research Organization embarked on a study to evaluate the practical application of these policies, specifically in urban governance. Using global and national benchmarks such as the United Nations’ E-Government Survey and the National E-Governance Service Delivery Assessment, the study has developed a robust framework to measure the progress of E-Governance in Maharashtra’s cities.

The findings reveal that while significant strides have been made, there is considerable room for improvement. The glass, indeed, is half full—but much remains to be done to ensure that technology-driven governance reaches its full potential, bridging the gap between policy and practice.

During an 80-day study period, the E-Governance systems of all 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra were evaluated. The assessment was conducted based on 101 criteria, categorised into three key areas: Accessibility, Services, and Transparency. The evaluation focused on three platforms: the official municipal websites, mobile applications, and social media presence.

This year, Pune Municipal Corporation emerged as the top performer, narrowly surpassing Kolhapur and Pimpri-Chinchwad, which secured the second and third spots, respectively. For the past three consecutive years, Pimpri-Chinchwad had consistently ranked first in the index. However, despite its strong performance this year, Pune and Kolhapur’s remarkable improvements have pushed Pimpri-Chinchwad to the third position.

Pune’s rise to the top can be attributed to its exceptional performance in the Website and Services criteria, areas where it has made significant advancements. Kolhapur Municipal Corporation, on the other hand, has demonstrated consistent progress over the past two years. From ranking 20th in 2023 to achieving third place last year and second place this year, Kolhapur’s leap is a result of sustained efforts across all parameters.

This year’s results highlight how focused and strategic improvements can lead to substantial gains in E-Governance rankings, setting a benchmark for other municipal corporations to emulate.

The Glass Half Full!

Broadly speaking, the fourth consecutive annual E-Governance Index reflects steady progress in urban governance. In 2023, only two municipal corporations scored above 5 out of 10. This year, the number has risen to nine. Back in 2022, during the first year of the index, Pimpri-Chinchwad, which topped the list, had a score of just 5.92. However, this year, Pune, the top-ranked city, scored an impressive 8.22! This upward trend is visible across almost all cities. For instance, Amravati’s score rose from 2.92 in 2022 to 6.83 this year, earning it the sixth position. Similarly, Kolhapur’s extraordinary leap from 2.17 to 8.02 highlights the transformative efforts in E-Governance. One noteworthy improvement has been in the use of social media. This year, 17 out of 29 cities received full marks in this category.

Cities like Amravati, Kolhapur, Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayandar, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Pune have made deliberate efforts to enhance their E-Governance systems since the index’s introduction. The proactive approach of some municipal commissioners, officers, and political leaders has played a significant role in these advancements, resulting in remarkable progress in E-Governance.

The Glass Half Empty!

While the progress is commendable, not everything is smooth sailing. In fact, certain findings are both shocking and concerning. First, in an era where mobile governance should be a cornerstone of E-Governance, a dozen cities scored zero on the mobile application criterion!

City-specific challenges are equally troubling. Jalna and Parbhani failed to meet any of the 101 criteria and scored zero overall. This is particularly disappointing, as no city scored below one in 2023 and 2024. However, this year, Jalna, Parbhani, and Jalgaon posted dismal performances. Jalgaon, which ranked 16th in 2023, plummeted to second-last this year. Parbhani, which was 18th in 2024, has now hit rock bottom.

While Jalna is a relatively new municipal corporation some might say that it deserves some leniency. But Ichalkaranji, also a new entrant, managed to secure the 16th position this year, setting an example.

Another case worth noting is the decline of the Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad Municipal Corporation. Once ranked 14th in 2023 and 15th in 2024, it has now fallen drastically to 26th. This drop isn’t merely because other cities improved—it reflects a decline in Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad’s own performance, with its score slipping from 3.2 to 1.98. While the E-Governance journey shows promise, these gaps underscore the need for sustained and targeted efforts to ensure no city is left behind.

Challenges and the Way Forward

Municipal corporations must begin taking E-Governance seriously to bridge the existing gaps. The path to improvement starts with addressing basic yet impactful issues. For example: Many corporations’ official websites are not hosted on government domains like nic.in or gov.in, which impacts credibility. Barring a few exceptions like Mumbai, social media accounts are not verified, reducing their trustworthiness. Users often struggle to identify the official mobile applications of their cities due to poor branding or lack of clarity.

These oversights create a negative user experience and diminish the effectiveness of E-Governance. Other common challenges include outdated or incomplete information, and inaccessibility of critical data. Moreover, the performance of E-Governance systems often relies too heavily on individual officials or commissioners. A change in leadership frequently leads to setbacks, underscoring the need for robust institutional frameworks to ensure continuity and consistency.

For cities to improve their E-Governance, consistent and focused efforts are essential. This isn’t a one-time task; technological advancements demand constant updates and evolution. What is innovative today becomes obsolete tomorrow.

Local self-governments are the closest tier of administration to citizens, making it imperative for them to stay relevant and future-ready. To move from a “half-empty” to a “full” glass of E-Governance, municipal corporations must adopt a strategic, proactive, and sustainable approach.

The journey towards fully realising the potential of E-Governance is not just about adopting new technology but about institutionalising practices that prioritise transparency, accessibility, and user-centric services. I’m sure that with perseverance, Maharashtra’s cities can transform into benchmarks of E-Governance for the nation.