Reimagining Digital Electoral Security through IKS: Ethical AI and Cyber Resilience for Viksit Bharat@2047

सार

The rapid digitization of electoral processes in India has significantly enhanced administrative efficiency, transparency, and citizen participation. However, it has also generated critical challenges related to cybersecurity, data integrity, algorithmic bias, and digital manipulation, including misinformation, deepfakes, and vulnerabilities in electoral infrastructure. This paper reimagines digital electoral security through the integrative framework of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) and ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI), with the aim of strengthening cyber resilience in alignment with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

Drawing upon foundational IKS principles such as dharma (ethical responsibility), nyaya (justice), and lokasangraha (collective welfare), the study develops a normative model for ethical digital governance. It argues that these indigenous philosophical constructs offer a culturally grounded approach to mitigating algorithmic bias, enhancing transparency, and fostering public trust in electoral systems. The research adopts an interdisciplinary methodology, combining political analysis, cybersecurity perspectives, and digital governance frameworks.

The paper further proposes a hybrid governance model that integrates IKS-based ethical reasoning with contemporary technological solutions such as AI accountability mechanisms, blockchain-enabled audit trails, and robust digital public infrastructure. It highlights the need for institutional reforms, policy innovation, and citizen-centric awareness to address emerging cyber threats effectively.

By bridging civilizational wisdom with technological innovation, this study contributes to the discourse on secure, inclusive, and ethically grounded democratic governance in India’s digital age.

Keywords: Digital Electoral Security; Ethical Artificial Intelligence; Cyber Resilience; Democratic Governance; Misinformation and Deepfakes