| 1 |
Author(s):
Hannah Lim, Allysha C. Maragh-Bass.
Country:
Singapore
Research Area:
Public Administration
Page No:
1-33 |
The Impact of COVID-19 Government Policies and Socioeconomic Disparities On Older Adults in Singapore: A Narrative Review and Recommendations for Pandemic Preparedness
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 disparities exacerbated existing quality-of-life challenges for lower-income older adults. Using existing data and healthcare policy papers, our research questions were to explore: (1) the effectiveness of COVID-19 policy implementation; and (2) the overall issues faced by lower-income elderly throughout the COVID-19 period. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature review and analysis of secondary data sources published in PubMed Central and Google Scholar from 2020 to the present. We included qualitative and quantitative data from Singapore. Our analysis focused on investigating pandemic outcomes specific to lower-income elderly and the role of government policy in addressing these outcomes. When necessary, we supplemented our searches with grey literature documenting government policy and community responses. We anticipated that lower-income elderly would experience the greatest burden of COVID-19 disparities and that government policy should focus on reducing inequality post-pandemic. Results: Elderly Singaporeans of lower income were more vulnerable during the pandemic due to the restriction of crucial community services. Disparities in financial stability and mental health were greatest early in the pandemic (2020–2022), compounded by social isolation and job loss. Post-pandemic, some economic recovery has occurred, but permanent shifts toward telehealth have widened the digital divide. Conclusions: This study contributes to the field of research by drawing from existing literature to determine that lower income elderly faced more severe outcomes in multiple aspects during the pandemic, showing that they suffered to a greater extent from the pandemic. Further studies should look into the longitudinal mental and physical effects of the pandemic on the lower income elderly as well as track how, if any, government policies and community services are helping them adjust to the post pandemic realities such as the increased use of technology in essential services.
Keywords: Covid-19, older adults in Singapore, government policy, pandemic preparedness, active lifestyles, socioeconomic disparities, digital divide, necessity of community services, mental health
| 2 |
Author(s):
Ela Yağmur Açıkkaya, Zehra Betül Akay.
Country:
Turkey
Research Area:
Psychology
Page No:
34-52 |
The Modern Panopticon: Reflections of Social Surveillance on Consumer Perception and Behavior
Abstract
With the increasing role of digital technologies and social media in daily life, individuals have become part of a continuous process of digital and social surveillance, both consciously and unconsciously. Jeremy Bentham’s panopticon model and Michel Foucault’s theory of surveillance have evolved into the concept of the “modern panopticon” in contemporary societies (Foucault, 1977). Through social media platforms, online shopping sites, advertisements, and social norms, individuals experience a sense of being watched in both digital and social environments. In this process, personal data collected through targeted advertisements and personalized content creates an invisible control mechanism that shapes consumption preferences, weakening the perception of free will (Zuboff, 2019). This study aims to examine the effects of digital and social surveillance on consumer perception within the framework of the modern panopticon and to investigate how advertisements, popular brands, and personalized content influence purchasing behaviors. A literature review was conducted to establish the theoretical framework, followed by a quantitative survey applied to participants from different age groups and educational levels. The findings show that many participants feel watched and regulate their physical appearance and behaviors accordingly. In addition, social media, advertisements, and influencers significantly affect aesthetic perceptions and purchasing decisions. Overall, the results indicate that the modern panopticon has a guiding effect on consumer behavior.
| 3 |
Author(s):
Asia Khatun, Dr. Mamata Patra.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Political Science
Page No:
53-63 |
Education and Women Empowerment: A Study of Impact and Challenges
Abstract
Abstract
Education is a basic human right and a major source of women's empowerment and gender equality in India. This study explores the link between education and the empowerment of women, focusing on constitutional provisions, policy frameworks, and persistent challenges. Although female literacy has improved, there are still major differences in gender because of socio-cultural factors, poverty, and unequal availability of resources. The study adopts a qualitative and analytical approach using secondary data from Census reports, government policies, and scholarly literature. It finds both the traditional problems (patriarchy, early marriage, economic constraints) and the modern ones (digital divide and infrastructural gaps and poor policy implementation). The results show that education increases the decision-making power of women, economic independence, and social participation. Nonetheless, the barriers to including everyone in accessing quality education are the restrictions in the implementation of policies like the Right to Education Act and structural inequalities. The paper is conclusive that legal and policy frameworks offer a strong base, although empowering women cannot be achieved without proper implementation and elimination of systemic barriers as well as concentrating on inclusive and equitable education
Keywords – Inclusive Education, Women, Empowerment, Equality, Human Right, Development.
| 4 |
Author(s):
Dr. Jayasmita Kuanr, Sunil Mahananda.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Performing Arts
Page No:
64-71 |
Acoustic Narratives: An Analysis of Folk Music and the Discursive Construction of Regional Identity in Odisha
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of folk music in Odisha in discursively constructing regional identity through the use of folk music as a cultural and semiotic source of expression. It aims to know how folk traditions of acoustic storytelling express collective memory, societal values, and localised systems of knowledge and thus define a sense of belonging together. The research uses a qualitative interpretive approach that is based on the theory of cultural identity and representation, which is developed by Stuart Hall, and the notion of discourse, developed by Michel Foucault. The paper examines the negotiation of meaning through close textual analysis of the lyrics in the chosen folk songs and ethnographic analysis of performance situations within particular cultural contexts. It is a hybrid theoretical perspective that allows a critical analysis of folk music as a representational and a discursive practice. The results demonstrate that folk music in Odisha functions as an essential cultural text that encompasses historical awareness, ecological links and socio-cultural stratifications. Such songs are not only a way to maintain indigenous epistemologies, but also to create regional identity by strengthening symbols, rituals, and histories of belonging. Furthermore, the paper reveals the dynamic tension between continuity and change, especially with the folk traditions adjusting to the new media and new socio-economic realities. The paper will conclude that folk music is a living archive and a discursive place that regional identity is constructed and reimagined. It highlights the role of working with vernacular forms of expressiveness in cultural studies in order to gain more insight into the multidimensional aspects of identity construction in the regional contexts.
| 5 |
Author(s):
Asmi Jain.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Economics
Page No:
72-81 |
Pink Tax: Do women’s products cost more than mens?
Abstract
This paper examines the existence and underlying cause of the "pink tax", which is a form of gender-based price discrimination in consumer markets. While it's not a formal tax, the pink tax refers to the higher prices often charged for goods and services marketed towards women. With the use of product-by-product analysis of razors, deodorants, hair care items etc, this study compared price, quantity, function, research and development, and labour inputs to assess whether price differences are justified.The findings suggest that in many cases, products that are marketed to women are priced higher despite offering similar functions and production characteristics. These disparities most often appear explicitly in everyday consumer goods and essential services, where differences in packaging and branding don't fully explain the magnitude of the price gap. The paper also considers a key counterargument that attributes price differences to product differentiation, acknowledging its relevance while identifying its limitations across categories lacking meaningful variation.The analysis over here indicates that the persistence of the pink tax may be better understood as a demand-side phenomenon, which is influenced by market segmentation, consumer behaviour, and relatively inelastic demand. Overall, the paper argues that gender-based pricing reflects broader structural patterns within the market therefore, raising important questions about fairness, efficiency, and the role of policy in addressing such disparities.
| 6 |
Author(s):
Mahabub Alam.
Country:
India
Research Area:
History
Page No:
82-88 |
War, Identity and Subaltern Voices: Bengal and the 49th Regiment in the First World War
Abstract
The ‘Great war’, popularly known as the First World War proved to be disastrous for the human civilization during the first half of twentieth century in diverse trajectories. India as a part of British colony initially reluctant to join this catastrophe. Later, India had been part of this war as British colony on compulsion. Most of the literature on the First World War is Eurocentric and colony’s role in it has been marginal or omitted from the mainstream narratives. Recent researches on the First World War since 2018 has particularly focused on unexplored terrain of the war and shifted focus towards the global south. India’s contribution in this regard has somehow discussed at length, yet the role of Bengali soldiers and subsequently the 49th Bengalee Regiment has not been properly analysed in the larger backdrop of the First World War studies. Therefore, my paper tries to focus on Nazrul and his inclusion in the 49th Bengalee Regiment and how the war changed personal and literary landscape of Nazrul. This paper also challenges the dominant narrative that the Bengalis were effeminate and did not have marital qualities for the war.
| 7 |
Author(s):
Mithun Das, Tapas Roy, Dr. Rajesh Das.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Library and information Science
Page No:
89-97 |
A Comparative Study of Machine Learning Methods for Credit Card Fraud Detection
Abstract
The problem of credit card fraud causes significant financial losses to businesses and consumers and prompts studies on effective ways of detecting fraud. Here we examine a publicly available dataset of credit card transactions (a total of 10,000) (151 fraudulent, 9,849 legitimate) and create supervised learning models to categorize credit card transactions. We train classifiers of logistic regression, random forest, and XGBoost, and the class imbalance will be addressed through the use of class-weighting. Performance is also assessed using accuracy, recall, F1-score, and ROC AUC (Receiver Operating Characteristics Area under the Curve) as sole accuracy will not suffice in the unbalanced data scenario. Evidence indicates that logistic regression achieves high recall (91 ) but low precision (23%), which is a high number of false alarm. Compared to the above, random forest is balanced (precision 100, recall 58, F1 =0.73), and the XGBoost is almost perfect in discrimination (precision 100, recall 97.8, F1 =0.99, ROC AUC =0.999). The results are consistent with available literature, which indicates that ensemble techniques (random forests and boosting) are more effective than simple models in detecting fraud. We speculate about the implications of this trade-off on a real-world deployment, as well as providing future work directions.
| 8 |
Author(s):
Prem Singh Singare.
Country:
India
Research Area:
History
Page No:
98-106 |
Development and Prospects of Historical and Tourist Sites in Dhar District
Abstract
Abstract
This research paper presents an analysis of the development and prospects of historical and tourist sites in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the historical heritage, cultural significance, and current tourism status of Dhar district and to understand its overall development potential. Dhar district has been an important historical center since ancient times, particularly during the rule of the Paramara dynasty, which witnessed remarkable progress in art, architecture, and education. Major sites such as Mandu, Bhojshala, and Dhar Fort reflect the rich cultural heritage of the region.
The study is based on secondary data sources, including books, research articles, government reports, and tourism publications, and follows a descriptive and analytical research approach.
At present, despite its tourism significance, the region has not achieved the expected level of development. Lack of infrastructure, inadequate conservation, and weak promotional strategies have limited its potential. The study concludes that with systematic planning, effective conservation strategies, and active community participation, Dhar district has the potential to emerge as a significant tourism destination in Madhya Pradesh.Keywords: Dhar District, Historical Heritage, Tourism Development, Mandu, Cultural Heritage
| 9 |
Author(s):
Cristóbal S. Berry-Cabán.
Country:
United States
Research Area:
Psychology
Page No:
107-115 |
The Last Casualty: A Case Study of the Death by Suicide of an 1898 United States Soldier
Abstract
This study examines the death of Private Philip R. M. Hildreth, a New York Volunteer Cavalry soldier who died from a gunshot wound in October 1898 shortly after returning from service in Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War. Using contemporaneous newspaper accounts, military records, and medical testimony, the case is analyzed to assess competing interpretations of his death as either accidental or self-inflicted. The findings situate Hildreth’s decline within the broader epidemiological context of the campaign, where infectious disease, particularly malaria, produced significant neurological and psychological effects among returning soldiers. The study argues that his death represents a form of delayed casualty not captured in official statistics, reflecting the enduring biological and psychological burden of military service. It further demonstrates how late nineteenth-century frameworks, moral, medical, and sociological, shaped the classification and interpretation of ambiguous deaths. By integrating individual case analysis with historical context, this work highlights the limits of conventional casualty accounting and underscores the role of disease and post-service deterioration in shaping veteran outcomes.
| 10 |
Author(s):
Manish Kumar.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Defence Studies
Page No:
116-128 |
Atmanirbhar Bharat and Military Modernisation: Assessing India’s Defence Industrial Reforms
Abstract
India’s defence sector has long faced structural and technological challenges. Over the years, international defence supplies have played a significant role in supporting India’s defence capabilities, addressing inefficiencies and reducing external dependency. This paper examines whether the reforms introduced under the Atmanirbhar Bharat framework have solved the problems facing the defence sector and successfully handled enduring issues with defence procurement, innovation, and production.
The Atmanirbhar Bharat project is a crucial part of the defence reforms, and the Indian defence sector is still striving to increase resilience. Ensuring that the defence sector meets the nation's defence needs is a goal of the Indian government. According to official government data, policy analysis, and scholarly literature, the changes have improved defence exports, enhanced private-sector participation, and raised domestic output. Nonetheless, significant obstacles persist across crucial domains, including defence research, defence technologies, procurement, and institutional concerns. The study argues that while the Atmanirbhar Bharat project is a noteworthy step by the Indian government to establish an independent defence industry, further reforms are necessary to build a robust defence industry capable of supporting military modernisation.
| 11 |
Author(s):
Dr. Kumari Khusboo.
Country:
India
Research Area:
History
Page No:
129-134 |
Santhal Lives Matter: Towards an Historical Anthropology of Adivasi Communities in Santhal Pargana Region of Eastern India
Abstract
This article highlights some of the critical political and cultural issues in the lives of the Santhal Adivasis in eastern India. It points to customs, rituals and questions of livelihood to demonstrate that the story of the Adivasis in Santhal Pargana is an unfinished project of autonomy. The state of Jharkhand is a geographical and administrative reality, but the dream of a true self-governed space, where their customary practices, spiritual beliefs, and relationship with the land are sovereign—remains elusive. Indeed, the Santhal people are not expected to remain helpless victims of history. They are agents who have consistently fought for their honour and self-respect, from the epic rebellion of the Hul to the everyday forms of resistance documented by scholars like James Scott. Their history, once silenced and marginalized, is now being sung in their own language and written through their own scholarship, fulfilling the call for a “history from below” and challenging the dominant national narrative. Insights from history and anthropology are deployed here to show how Santhal lives matter and should be studied for its own sake and for larger concerns regarding the concerns of indigenous communities in what may be termed as tribal India.
| 12 |
Author(s):
Faheem Abdul Muneeb.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Political Science
Page No:
135-146 |
Institutional Layering without Supranational Authority: Organising Climate Cooperation in South Asia
Abstract
Climate governance has evolved into a dispersed and multi-level system in which authority extends beyond formal multilateral institutions. Yet existing scholarship continues to associate effective leadership with institutional density and delegated authority, leaving underexplored how cooperation is organised in regions where such conditions are absent. This paper addresses that gap by examining climate governance under conditions of weak regional institutionalisation.
It argues that cooperation in such contexts does not consolidate within multilateral frameworks nor fragment into ad hoc arrangements. Instead, it is structured through institutional layering—the allocation of governance functions across multilateral, minilateral, and bilateral modalities, each performing distinct roles under constraint. This configuration enables the expansion of cooperation without corresponding growth in supranational authority.
The argument is developed through the case of cross-border renewable electricity integration in South Asia, a region characterised by shallow delegation, political fragmentation, and asymmetrical interdependence. Drawing on evidence of electricity trade, infrastructure development, and institutional arrangements, the analysis shows that cooperation has deepened through infrastructural and contractual embedding, while regional institutional capacity has remained limited.
The findings suggest that climate leadership under weak regionalism is modality-dependent: it operates through the organisation of cooperation across institutional forms rather than through institutional consolidation. The paper contributes to climate governance scholarship by reframing the relationship between cooperation and institutional structure, and to the study of rising powers by highlighting adaptation under constraint as a distinct form of strategic statecraft.
| 13 |
Author(s):
Rabiudzaman Sarkar.
Country:
India
Research Area:
English
Page No:
147-156 |
Nature as Teacher and Healer: Wordsworth’s Ecological Vision in English Romantic Poetry
Abstract
Nature occupies a central position in English Romantic poetry, where it is frequently presented not merely as physical landscape but as a source of moral insight, emotional healing, and spiritual awakening. Among the Romantic poets, William Wordsworth stands out for his sustained and profound engagement with the natural world. His poetry transforms nature into a living presence that educates the human mind, shapes moral consciousness, and nurtures spiritual growth. This paper re-examines Wordsworth’s poetry to explore how nature functions as a moral and spiritual guide in his poetic vision. Through close reading of selected poems, including Tintern Abbey, The Prelude, Ode: Intimations of Immortality, and The Tables Turned, the study demonstrates that Wordsworth presents nature as a formative force that influences human perception, memory, and imagination.
The article further investigates the relationship between nature, childhood experience, memory, and the growth of the poetic mind, showing how Wordsworth constructs a lifelong bond between human beings and the natural environment. The paper also situates Wordsworth’s ideas within the broader Romantic response to industrialisation and modernity, highlighting his concern for emotional balance and spiritual harmony in an increasingly materialistic world. By analysing the interconnections between nature, childhood experience, moral awareness, and spiritual reflection, the article highlights the continuing relevance of Wordsworth’s ecological and humanistic vision in contemporary literary and environmental studies.
| 14 |
Author(s):
Khushi Kashyap.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Mass Communication
Page No:
157-167 |
Caste on Screen: Analysis of Dalit Women’s Representation in Hindi Cinema (2021–2025)
Abstract
This paper will involve a close textual and critical analysis of the presentation of the Dalit women protagonists in six Hindi films released between 2021 and 2025: Homebound, Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery (2023), Vedaa (2024), Madam Chief Minister, 200 Halla Ho, and Phule. Based on the framework of Brahmanical patriarchy, the study explores how contemporary Hindi cinema has swerved - and where it continues to fail - in its portrayal of the Dalit women as agents of resistance, as political subjects and as protagonists with inner lives. The paper traces a historically significant, but structurally incomplete, transition: decades of victimhood, silence, and symbolic containment to more complex, agentive representations. The paper also locates recent films within a longer history of the cinematic representation of Dalit women, both in the lineage of the much-vaunted reformist savarna gaze, of Achhut Kanya (1936) and Sujata (1959) and in the controversial history of the so-called bandit queen, of Bandit Queen (1994) and Bandit Queen (2000). The study concludes that a significant representational breakthrough has been made by post-2021 Hindi cinema through purposeful formal and narrative decisions, but that these decisions remain limited by narrative resolutions that undercut structural critique, the lack of Dalit women in authorial roles and the commercial pressures of the OTT economy.
| 15 |
Author(s):
Dr. Kajal Bansal.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Economics
Page No:
168-180 |
Impact of ODOP Scheme in Export Promotion of Uttar Pradesh
Abstract
Abstract:
Uttar Pradesh's 'One District One Product' (ODOP) scheme has completely transformed the state's export landscape over the past eight years. This research paper attempts to examine the manner in which exports from Uttar Pradesh have been boosted. The ODOP scheme has carved out a distinct identity for itself, not only within the country but across the entire globe. During the G20 Summit held in 2023, ODOP products were specifically selected as gifts for world leaders, a choice that significantly enhanced the global brand value of these products. Several of Uttar Pradesh's key ODOP products—such as Bhadohi carpets, Moradabad brassware, leather goods from Agra and Kanpur, ready-made garments from Gautama Buddha Nagar, and 'Kala Namak' rice from Siddharth Nagar—have firmly established their dominance on the international stage. Currently, there are 75 districts associated with the ODOP scheme and Uttar Pradesh has emerged as India's fifth-largest exporter. This demonstrates that ODOP is not merely a government scheme; it has evolved into the very engine of Uttar Pradesh's economy. It stands as a successful model for transforming the "Vocal for Local" ethos into a "Global" phenomenon. Consequently, this initiative is not only generating employment opportunities for the populace but is also contributing to the overall strengthening of the national economy.
| 16 |
Author(s):
Janhavi Kale, Dr. Rashmi Sharma.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Education
Page No:
181-196 |
Influence of Gender on Critical Thinking Skills of Elementary Level Students with Respect to Their Academic Performance
Abstract
Critical thinking has emerged as one of the most essential skills for students to navigate the complexities of the 21st century. This study investigates the effectiveness of critical thinking skills specifically logical reasoning, analytical skills, evaluation skills, and problem-solving skills on the academic performance of elementary level students. A descriptive survey method was employed with a sample of 1,000 students from 10 schools (5 CBSE and 5 M.P. Board) in Indore city, comprising both government and private institutions. Data were collected using a self-developed questionnaire measuring four critical thinking skills, while academic performance records were obtained from school databases. The findings reveal a significant positive correlation between critical thinking skills and academic performance (r = 0.624, p < 0.01). Among the four skills, problem-solving emerged as the strongest predictor of academic achievement. Significant differences were found based on gender, type of board, and type of institution, while age showed no significant role. The study underscores the need for integrating critical thinking instruction across the elementary curriculum.
Keywords: Critical thinking, academic performance, elementary education, logical reasoning, analytical skills, evaluation skills, problem-solving skills
| 17 |
Author(s):
Bibek Gope, Dr. Krishna Kalita.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Education
Page No:
197-205 |
Professional Competency of Graduate Teachers: A Comparative Study
Abstract
Teaching can be considered the mother of all profession. Professional competency is the important factor in determining their effectiveness and success in this field. Recognising the importance of teachers’ professional competency, investigator tries to assess the professional competency of graduate teachers, because graduate teacher is the pillar of secondary education. For assessing the professional competency descriptive survey method is used and the studied carried out on 114 graduate teachers among these 49 are TET qualified appointed teachers and 65 is Non-TET teachers in Nagaon district (Nagaon urban) educational block using dis-proportionate simple random sampling technique. A self-constructed tool is used to measure the professional competency of graduate teachers. Validity of the tool assessed by the expert in field and reliability of the scale measure by using test-retest method, reliability of the scale is found 0.84. Findings of the study demonstrated that majority of the teachers approximate 50% showing the very high and high level of professional competency. The study found no significant different between TET and Non-TET qualified graduate teachers in the term of professional competency.
Key words: Professional competency, Graduate teacher, TET, Non-TET.
| 18 |
Author(s):
Dr. Gaurav Dongre.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Political Science
Page No:
206-215 |
Multipolarity in Practice: Assessing BRICS Expansion and the Shift in Global Power Structures
Abstract
This paper will explore what BRICS expansion means to the changing balance of global power and the shift to multipolarity. Based on a mixed-method approach, which is a combination of quantitative analysis of economic factors and their effects on the international system and qualitative assessment of institutional and geopolitical processes, the paper will examine whether the expansion of BRICS can be considered a substantive change in the international system. The results show that BRICS has been successful in increasing its global relevance and more so in the economic weight, trade integration and energy geopolitics. The incorporation of key energy producing and strategic located nations has enhanced the ability of the bloc to impact the global markets and regional dynamics. Nonetheless, even with these gains, BRICS is still limited by internal diversity, economic asymmetry and limited institutional depth, which limits its functioning as a cohesive alternative to Western-led global institutions. As you have empirically analysed and discussed in your paper, multipolarity can best be regarded as an emergent yet transitional state and not a fully established world order. The paper finds that the current BRICS expansion is a factor contributing to the redistribution of power but is not yet a consolidated counter-hegemonic system.
| 19 |
Author(s):
Rismita Borah, Dr. Siba Ranjan Mahanta.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Education
Page No:
216-223 |
A Study on Emotional Intelligence and Self-Esteem Among Adolescents Across Different Socio-Economic Status
Abstract
The study explores how emotional intelligence and self-esteem are connected among adolescents from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. It investigates the impact of parental education, household income, and parental support and care and access to socio-emotional resources on adolescents’ emotional abilities and self-worth perceptions. Findings reveal a strong positive correlation between emotional intelligence and self-esteem across all socio-economic levels. However, students from higher socio-economic backgrounds generally display more refined emotional regulation and greater self-confidence and also they are emotionally healthy and able to face to face various challenges in life and they have better communication skills and socially active. The results emphasize that a nurturing school environment and consistent peer support and engaging in co-curricular activities can help to reduce socio-economic challenges, encouraging healthier emotional growth even among students from lower income families. Overall, the study highlights the importance of inclusive, school-based emotional development programs to enhance student psychological well-being regardless of socio-economic status.
