Abstract

District administration in India operates in an increasingly complex environment that demands data-driven and coordinated decision-making. This study presents a comprehensive approach to designing a decision support system (DSS) tailored to the needs of district magistrates. Combining empirical field research with structured analytical tools, the study identifies operational challenges such as fragmented workflows, weak coordination and loss of institutional memory that hinder effective governance. Using the situation–actor–process–learning–action–performance framework, insights from focus group discussions and field observations were synthesised to structure problems and derive functional requirements. A role-based, modular DSS architecture is conceptualised with four key modules—meeting management, compliance tracking, law and order decision support and writ petition management—each addressing specific administrative pain points. The systems design incorporates open-source and scalable components to ensure technical feasibility, contextual adaptability and user-centricity. Theoretically, the research advances systems thinking and participatory design approaches within public administration, whilst practically, it provides a replicable blueprint for enhancing transparency, accountability and responsiveness in district governance. Aligned with national priorities such as Digital India and Viksit Bharat @2047, the study lays the groundwork for piloting and evaluating the DSS for scalable adoption within district administration. More..