Author:
M. Kamraju

Doi: 10.26480/ccsj.01.2025.25.36

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Civic sense, broadly defined as an individual’s commitment to social ethics, public cleanliness, respect for public spaces, and observance of civic laws, plays a pivotal role in determining the quality of life in any society. In India, the notion of civic responsibility is often undermined by a combination of historical neglect, administrative inefficiencies, social disparities, and a lack of sustained civic education. This research paper provides a multidisciplinary examination of civic sense in the Indian context, focusing on urban behaviour, educational interventions, youth involvement, and the roles of local governance and policy frameworks. Integrating case studies from metropolitan, semi-urban, and rural settings across states like Telangana and Maharashtra, the study exposes significant regional and sociocultural disparities in civic awareness and practice. It further explores how educational institutions particularly school curricula, the NSS, NCC, and student clubs can be restructured to foster a culture of civic engagement from an early age. The research also critically analyzes the performance of governmental initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Smart Cities Mission, and e-governance tools like MyGov and Swachhata App, examining both their successes and limitations. Particularly insightful is the analysis of civic behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, which revealed contrasting trends of collective responsibility and civic indifference across different strata of society. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from geography, sociology, public administration, and education, the paper ultimately offers a roadmap for embedding civic sense into India’s developmental discourse. It proposes practical reforms in education, governance, and community engagement to promote a national civic consciousness. This transformation from passive compliance to proactive participation is crucial for building a democratic, inclusive, and sustainable India.