Can everyday citizens truly navigate government systems independently — without intermediaries or bribes?
Zen Citizen began as an experiment to test exactly that. And the results are inspiring. Across Karnataka, citizens have successfully accessed key government services — like obtaining an eKhata for the official fee of ₹125 — simply by sharing hacks, community knowledge, and practical tools.
From a small volunteer effort, Zen has grown into a recognised civic-tech initiative that’s helping reshape how departments think about citizen experience.
The next mission: improving the Kaveri portal of the Karnataka Revenue Department, and extending these lessons nationwide. To do this, Zen seeks to collaborate with the IIT community — blending civic insight with technological innovation.
In the last session of Alum’s Den, we got to hear these stories, shared ideas, and explored how citizen-led actions can make governance transparent, accountable, and aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047
