GovChain: An Affordable Cloud Security Framework for Developing Nations – A Model for Citizen-Centric E-Governance

Abstract

Cloud computing has become a key platform for modern e-governance systems. It helps governments to provide services like digital identity management, welfare distribution, and land record administration. It handles large amounts of sensitive citizen data, so keeping data accurate and transparent is essential. Blockchain technology ensures data cannot be changed easily and is resistant to tampering. However, typical blockchain systems require a lot of computational power and often face delays because each transaction needs consensus operations. This paper presents GovChain, a lightweight blockchain framework that aims to overcome these challenges in settings with limited resources. The model introduces a Lazy Hashing mechanism, which separates transaction recording from consensus validation. Updates are first saved in a temporary structure called the Dirty Tree. Here, state commitments are created right away, while consensus checks happen periodically in the background. This method lowers infrastructure costs and processing delays, all while ensuring reliable data integrity. Experimental tests using a cloud-based prototype show that Gov Chain achieves low transaction latency of 0.2 to 0.4 seconds, minimal computational overhead of under 3%, and better throughput as compared to traditional blockchain systems. The findings indicate that Gov Chain offers a practical and scalable solution for secure and citizen-focused e-governance systems in developing countries.