Governance reforms in India have emerged as a cornerstone for driving socio-economic transformation and institutional modernization in the world’s largest democracy. Since independence, and more prominently after the liberalization reforms of the 1990s, the Indian state has increasingly prioritized transparent, accountable, participatory, and technology-driven governance mechanisms as key tools for achieving inclusive development. These reforms have encompassed structural, administrative, financial, and digital domains, with significant initiatives such as the Right to Information Act (2005), Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Goods and Services Tax (GST), e-Governance platforms, and local governance decentralization through Panchayati Raj Institutions. Collectively, these have redefined the relationship between the state and the citizen by reducing bureaucratic opacity, improving service delivery, and enhancing institutional trust. This paper critically examines the scope, evolution, and impact of governance reforms in India from a developmental lens. It explores how these reforms align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially with respect to poverty alleviation, institutional justice, and digital inclusion. Through policy analysis and selected case studies, the article identifies both the enabling factors and the structural constraints that shape the effectiveness of governance innovations. While India has made considerable progress in fostering digital public infrastructure and promoting fiscal federalism, challenges such as administrative inertia, the rural-urban digital divide, political interference, and socio-economic disparities continue to hinder the full realization of governance-led development. The study concludes that governance reforms must not be viewed as isolated interventions but as an ongoing, integrated process that requires sustained political will, institutional capacity, and citizen engagement. For India to achieve equitable and sustainable development, it must continue evolving governance models that are adaptive, inclusive, and technologically empowered. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on governance as a critical enabler of development in emerging economies.