In his paper titled ‘E-Government Theory and Practice: The Evidence from Tennessee (USA),’ Prof. Dr. Arie Halachmi outlined five significant models of e-governance, which can serve as a framework when designing e-governance initiatives based on the local context and the governance activities that are anticipated.

The Broadcasting Model of E-Governance

• Meaning: The model is based on dissemination/broadcasting of useful governance information, which is in the public domain into the wider public domain with ICT and convergent media. The strength of this model lies in the recognition that an informed citizenry can more effectively evaluate the operation of existing governance systems and develop well-grounded opinions about them. As a result, this empowerment allows citizens to exercise their rights and responsibilities more efficiently. Widespread application of this model corrects ‘information failure situations’ by providing people with the relevant information relating to the governance sphere to make informed opinions and impact governance processes. Moreover, leveraging ICT offers an alternative method for individuals to access and verify information from multiple sources. 
• Example: Example of this model is the “Mann Ki Baat” program, which is a monthly radio show hosted by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. In this program, the Prime Minister addresses the citizens of India and discusses various issues such as education, healthcare, and social welfare. The program is broadcasted live on All India Radio and is also available on various social media platforms and websites.

The Critical Flow Model of E-Governance

• Meaning: The model is based on disseminating/channeling information of critical value to the targeted audience or into the wider public domain with ICT and convergent media. A key benefit of this model is that ICT eliminates the relevance of ‘distance’ and ‘time’ when information is accessible through a digital network, allowing for quick dissemination of critical information to strategic user groups, regardless of their location, or making it broadly available to the public. 
• Example: Example of this model is MCA21. It is an online platform that enables companies to complete various administrative tasks related to corporate affairs, such as registration, filing of documents, and compliance requirements. The platform was designed to streamline the process of doing business in India, reduce paperwork, and provide greater transparency and accountability in corporate governance. Under the MCA21 project, several critical areas were identified, including company registration, filing of documents, and compliance requirements. The project implemented an online platform that integrated various services and processes, enabling companies to complete tasks online and reducing the need for physical visits to government offices. The critical flow model of e-governance has been used in several other projects in India, including the e-Courts project, the e-District project, and the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP).

Comparative Analysis Model to Enhance E-Governance

Meaning: This model is a highly significant model for developing countries and can be used for empowering people. Essentially, this model consistently incorporates best practices in governance, using them as standards to assess other governance approaches. It utilizes the outcomes of these assessments to advocate for beneficial changes or to influence ‘public’ perspectives regarding governance practices. Comparisons can be made over various time periods to snapshot both past and present situations or evaluate the success of a specific intervention by contrasting two similar scenarios. The power of this model lies in the boundless ability of digital networks to store a wide range of information and retrieve and disseminate it instantly across all geographical and hierarchical divisions.

• Example: An illustration of this model is the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA). The Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) established NeSDA in 2019 as part of its mission to enhance e-government efforts and promote digital government excellence. This biennial study evaluates States, Union Territories (UTs), and Central Ministries regarding the effectiveness of their e-Governance service delivery. NeSDA aids the respective governments in improving the provision of citizen-centric services and disseminates best practices across the country for all States, UTs, and Central Ministries to adopt. NeSDA 2021 examined services across seven sectors: Finance, Labour & Employment, Education, Local Governance & Utility Services, Social Welfare, Environment, and Tourism sectors.

The E-Advocacy/Mobilisation and Lobbying Model

Meaning: This model harnesses the momentum of real-world processes by incorporating the perspectives and issues raised by virtual communities. It empowers global civil society to influence worldwide decision-making processes. The framework is built on creating a planned and directed information flow to establish strong virtual alliances that complement real-world actions. Virtual communities are formed around shared values and concerns, and these communities, in turn, connect with or support real-life groups and activities for coordinated action. Thus, it fosters a diverse engagement in addressing societal issues.

• Example: Example of this model is MyGov.in portal. MyGov is a citizen engagement platform launched by the Government of India in 2014 to facilitate two-way communication between the government and citizens. The platform aims to provide an online forum for citizens to participate in the policy-making process, share ideas and suggestions, and engage in discussions on various government initiatives. On the MyGov platform, citizens can create profiles, participate in polls and surveys, and provide feedback on various government policies and initiatives. The platform also includes a discussion forum where citizens can engage in discussions with other users and government officials.

Interactive-Service Model for Transparent Governance

Meaning: It opens avenues for direct participation of individuals in governance processes and brings in greater objectivity and transparency in decision-making processes through ICT. At its core, ICT has the ability to include every person in a digital network and facilitate two-way information exchanges among them. This approach makes various government services directly accessible to citizens in an interactive way. It achieves this by establishing an interactive Government to Consumer to Government (G2C2G) channel across different governance areas, including the election of officials (e-ballots); online grievance redressal; sharing of concerns and expertise; opinion polling on various topics; etc. 

• Example: Example of this model is the e-District project, which was launched by the government of India in 2006. The e-District project aims to provide government services to citizens in a transparent, efficient, and user-friendly manner through the use of ICT. Through this initiative, citizens can obtain a variety of government services, such as certificates of birth and death, land records, caste certificates, and other certificates via the e-District portal. The portal also provides a range of interactive services, such as grievance redressal, online feedback, and a helpline number to resolve citizen queries.