http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/4212 Sat, 24 Oct 2026 05:25:10 GMT 2026-10-24T05:25:10Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/21125 Bridging the Digital Divide: Evaluating Laws and Policies for Protecting Elderly Rights in the Age of E-Governance Badwe, Varsha Vyankatesh; Dhere, Vidya India is rapidly moving toward a system of digital governance, where most government services and welfare programs are managed through online platforms. This digital shift has changed the way citizens communicate with government authorities and access essential services such as pension schemes, healthcare facilities, legal aid, and social welfare benefits. Digital governance has made administrative processes faster, more transparent, and easily accessible to many people. However, this progress also brings new challenges, especially for senior citizens, who often face difficulties in adapting to the digital world. Many elderly people in India are not familiar with using smartphones, computers, or online applications. Some of them may also have physical limitations, poor internet connectivity, or financial constraints that prevent them from accessing online services. As a result, the same digital systems that aim to simplify life for citizens can sometimes exclude or disadvantage older adults. This research paper examines how laws and policies in India address these issues and what steps are being taken to protect the rights and dignity of the elderly in the digital era. It looks into existing welfare and data protection laws, the role of e-governance initiatives, and the gap between legal provisions and real-life accessibility for senior citizens. The study further explores how privacy, digital literacy, and online accessibility are becoming essential aspects of elderly rights. Finally, it suggests policy reforms and legal measures to ensure that digital governance truly becomes a tool of empowerment and inclusion for older people, rather than a barrier to their well-being. Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/21125 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/21124 Fostering Social-Emotional Well-Being in Old Age: A Comparative Study of Legal Protections in India, the USA, and Australia Badwe, Varsha Vyankatesh; Dhere, Vidya Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/21124 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/21061 JUDICIAL APPROACH TOWARDS ‘LIVE-IN RELATIONSHIP’ AND ITS IMPACT ON INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE Sharma, Disha; Kala, Gauri The idea of cohabitation has come under more public and legal attention in India due to the country's changing social standards. Live-in relationships have gained legitimacy through increasing judicial interpretations, especially under the constitutional protections of personal liberty, autonomy, and the freedom to cohabit without marriage, even though they are not expressly recognized by statutory law. This paper examines the judicial approach toward live-in relationships with reference to landmark Supreme Court and High Court decisions, including their stance on protection of partners, maintenance rights, legitimacy of children, and the application of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. It also explores how judicial acknowledgment of such partnerships influences, contradicts, or coexists with the traditional institution of marriage in India. The report contends that although courts have frequently taken a liberal and rights-based stance, they are nonetheless wary of abuse and continue to strike a balance between individual liberties and public morals. The research finds that the judiciary’s shifting perspective reflects a progressive movement toward admitting multiple forms of companionship, so redefining current understandings of family, marriage, and personal choice. Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/21061 2025-12-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/21060 Digital Governance and the Protection of Mental Health Rights: A Critical Study under the MHCA 2017 in Light of the CRPD Sharma, Sonali; Sharma, Santosh India has enacted the Mental Healthcare Act 2017 (MHCA) to safeguard the rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities, in line with its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Simultaneously, the government has launched ambitious digital governance initiatives including the National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele-MANAS), the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM/ABDM), and the e-Sanjeevani telemedicine platform to expand access to mental health care. This paper critically examines MHCA 2017 and related laws under the CRPD framework, analyzes how digital health platforms transform service delivery, and identifies emerging legal, ethical and policy challenges (data privacy, accessibility, potential discrimination). The analysis uses academic, legal and official sources to ground its critique and recommendations Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/21060 2026-10-01T00:00:00Z