India and digital sovereignty: Norm entrepreneurship in global digital governance

Abstract

This article examines India's evolving stance on digital sovereignty within the broader context of international public policy and global digital governance. Although much of the current literature has concentrated on the United States, the European Union, and China as leading models, India is progressively establishing itself as an alternative player. The article utilizes a qualitative interpretive policy analysis to evaluate India's domestic initiatives, such as Aadhaar, the Unified Payments Interface, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, while also considering its participation in global forums like the G20, the World Trade Organization, and the United Nations Internet Governance Forum. It posits that India is positioning itself as a norm entrepreneur, promoting a model of digital sovereignty that integrates inclusivity, innovation, and strategic autonomy, which aligns with the developmental goals of the Global South. Concurrently, the article underscores the contradictions that complicate this ambition, including conflicts between democratic principles and surveillance practices, openness and protectionism, as well as dependence on foreign technology. By placing India within these dynamics, the study enriches academic discussions on digital sovereignty by recontextualizing India not merely as a passive recipient of global norms but as a potential architect of a more pluralistic and inclusive digital landscape.