Volume: 3 Issue: 4 (July - August 2026)
| Sr No. | Paper Information |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Author(s):
Priskili Nampui.
Country:
India
Research Area:
History
Page No:
1-7 |
Language, Education and Identity: The Assamese Renaissance under Baptist MissionaryAbstractThe paper looks at the crucial transformation of the language and education of Assam during the wake of the Assam renaissance. The nineteenth century is marked to have kindled a deep sense of emancipation and played a pivotal role in evaluation of the cultural and intellectual history of Assam. The American Baptist Missionary played an important role in the history of Assam and bringing in the renaissance during the nineteenth century. The paper underlines how the British missionaries carried out the momentous changes of the region in the field of education, print, press and language leading to the creation of its distinct linguistic identity. Since no corroborative indigenous data regarding the activities of the missionaries in Assam is found, thus the study is based on the earliest church records of Rev. Miles Bronson and other secondary sources. With the establishment of vernacular schools, translation of religious and secular works and the introduction of printing press helped expand literacy in Assam. This encouraged the use of Assamese language in formal learning, while the publication of Orunadoi further created a new intellectual sphere fostering literary growth and linguistic consciousness forming its own identity to the Assamese people. The developments brought by the Baptist missionary collectively stimulated a broader cultural awakening which laid the foundation of modern Assamese literature and identity formation. This study examines how the Baptist missionary role in the education and linguistic initiative contributed to the Assamese renaissance and argues that the missionary’s intervention despite its colonial and religious framework, became a catalyst in the shaping of modern Assamese society. | |
| 2 |
Author(s):
Divyaraj Singh.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Philosophy
Page No:
8-15 |
The Five Sheaths of the Self: Understanding the PanchkoshAbstractThe very concept of Panchkosh or five-sheaths first articulated in the Brahmananda Valli of the Taittiriya Upaniṣhad which offers one of the oldest and most carefully structured maps of human existence in any wisdom tradition. It pictures the individual as a layered being whose innermost reality, the Atman, is progressively veiled by five concentric layers: Annamaya, the sheath of food or the gross physical body, Pranamaya, the sheath of vital energy, Manomaya, the sheath of mind and emotions, Vigyanamaya, the sheath of intellect and discernment, and Anandamaya, the bliss sheath. This paper revisits the doctrine in its original scriptural setting and reads it alongside the Maṇḍukya Upanishad's analysis of the three bodies and the four states of consciousness, the Chandogya Upanishad's teaching on the Infinite and the space within the heart, the Kaṭha Upanishad's graded hierarchy of senses, mind and intellect, the Bhagavad Geeta's account of the three gunas and the imperishable Self, and the Yoga Vashishtha's insistence that the mind alone binds and liberates. It further proposes a reasoned correspondence between the five sheaths and the seven chakras of the tantric tradition, and shows how the framework, through the paired categories of Adhi (mental affliction) and Vyadhi (bodily disease), continues to inform yoga therapy, Ayurveda and modern holistic models of health. The aim throughout is to recover the Panchkosh as a living instrument of self-knowledge and most importantly to make the concept easily understandable to students of all age groups across diverse backgrounds. | |
| 3 |
Author(s):
Sarita Simeen Bandala, Dr. Manisha Singh.
Country:
India
Research Area:
History
Page No:
16-36 |
Christian Historical Heritage of Telangana: An Exploratory StudyAbstractThe Christian historical heritage of Telangana is a valuable yet insufficiently examined dimension of the region’s archival past. This exploratory study investigates the archaeological and archival evidence associated with the presence and development of Christianity in Telangana from the early modern period onwards exploratory study investigates the archaeological and archival evidence associated with the presence and development of Christianity in Telangana from the early modern period onward. This study is also based upon church inscriptions, burial sites, architectural remains, missionary correspondences, and diocesan archives to reconstruct patterns of Christian settlement and institutional growth. Four main churches, in Telengana have been chosen to make this study appropriately interesting. The analysis is based on the spatial distribution of churches, schools, and mission establishments, as well as the adaptation of Christian architectural forms within Telengana building traditions. The findings suggest that Christian heritage in Telangana is embedded within the region’s physical landscape and documentary record reflect on processes based on cultural negotiation and not on cultural replacement as such. This study contributes to a more detailed and evidence-based understanding of Telangana religious history and highlights the urgent need for systematic documentation and preservation of Christian archaeological heritage in South India.Keywords: Christian heritage, Telangana, church architecture, missionary history, Deccan region, heritage preservation | |
| 4 |
Author(s):
Dr. R. N. Tripathi, Dr. Snehil Misra.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Sociology
Page No:
37-46 |
Beyond Microfinance: A Sociological Study of Women’s Economic Empowerment and Social Transformation through Self-Help Groups in Rural VaranasiAbstractWomen’s empowerment has emerged as a significant area of sociological inquiry, particularly in the context of rural development, gender equality, and inclusive growth. The present study, titled “Beyond Microfinance: A Sociological Study of Women’s Economic Empowerment and Social Transformation through Self-Help Groups in Rural Varanasi,” examines the role of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) as institutions that facilitate not only economic improvement but also broader processes of social transformation among rural women. The study moves beyond the conventional understanding of SHGs as financial mechanisms and analyses them as social spaces where women develop agency, collective identity, social networks, and greater participation in household and community life.The study adopts a mixed-method research approach, combining quantitative and qualitative perspectives to understand both measurable outcomes and lived experiences of SHG members. It explores the influence of SHG participation on women’s economic conditions, including access to savings, credit facilities, livelihood opportunities, and financial autonomy. Along with economic dimensions, the study examines changes in women’s decision-making capacity, self-confidence, social awareness, mobility, and participation in collective activities. It also analyses how socio-cultural factors such as caste, class, education, family structure, and patriarchal norms shape women’s experiences of empowerment.The findings suggest that SHGs contribute significantly to enhancing women’s economic participation and financial awareness by providing opportunities for savings, entrepreneurship, and livelihood generation. Participation in SHGs also strengthens women’s social capital through collective interaction, mutual support, and community engagement. However, the study highlights that empowerment is a complex and gradual process, as existing social inequalities and gender norms continue to influence women’s autonomy and access to resources. Economic participation alone does not completely transform gender relations; rather, SHGs create spaces where women negotiate traditional roles and gradually redefine their social identities.The study draws upon sociological perspectives, including Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach, Bourdieu’s concept of capital, and feminist approaches to empowerment, to understand SHGs as institutions of capability expansion and social change. The paper argues that SHGs should be viewed beyond microfinance initiatives and recognized as important instruments of gender transformation, collective agency, and rural social change. In the context of rural Varanasi, SHGs represent an evolving platform through which women participate in processes of economic development, social empowerment, and transformation of gender relations. | |
| 5 |
Author(s):
Anupriya Tanwar.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Law
Page No:
47-54 |
Revisiting the Sabarimala Debate: A Socio-Legal Evaluation of Justice Indu Malhotra’s DissentAbstractThe Sabarimala judgment sparked a controversial debate in Indian constitutional jurisprudence. In a country like India, where religious faith is deeply rooted in people's lives, this case highlighted the complex relationship between religious freedom, gender equality, and constitutional morality. In Indian Young Lawyers Association v. State of Kerala (2018), the Supreme Court, by a majority of 4:1, held that the exclusion of women between the ages of 10 and 50 from the Sabarimala Temple was unconstitutional. It allowed women of all age groups to enter the temple. Activists celebrated the judgment as a hallmark step towards equality. However, the followers of Lord Ayyappa, including many women, were disappointed, as they viewed it as a direct intervention in their right to religious autonomy and faith. Justice Indu Malhotra's dissenting opinion was particularly relevant in a country like India. She presented a contrasting vision of judicial restraint, religious autonomy, and the rights guaranteed under Articles 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution. This paper critically examines Justice Malhotra's dissent and evaluates its contribution to the discourse on religious liberty and constitutional adjudication. The paper analyses the dissent and questions the extent of judicial intervention in matters of faith and the importance of respecting sincerely held religious beliefs. Further, it explains the history of the temple, the celibate nature of Lord Ayyappa, and the right of a religious denomination to preserve its essential practices. It examines whether a practice that does not violate public order, morality, or health should be subjected to judicial intervention at the instance of activists who have no association with the temple or its faith. The paper concludes that Justice Indu Malhotra's dissent offers an important constitutional perspective on religious autonomy and judicial restraint, emphasizing that sincerely held religious beliefs and denominational practices deserve constitutional protection unless they violate the constitutional limitations of public order, morality, or health. | |
| 6 |
Author(s):
Nazakat Hussain, Mohd. Saleem.
Country:
India
Research Area:
History
Page No:
55-60 |
Making Ancient Inks: Lampblack, Plant Saps, and the Technology of Long-Lasting Writing on Palm Leaves in Early India (c. 5th Century BCE – 12th Century CE)AbstractThis paper examines the ancient Indian technology of ink production for palm-leaf manuscripts, focusing on the chemical composition, traditional synthesis methods, and remarkable archival permanence of carbon-based inks made from lampblack (soot) and natural plant saps or gums. Long before the introduction of paper, early Indian scribes—primarily in South and eastern regions—developed a sophisticated system using finely divided carbon particles collected from the controlled incomplete combustion of vegetable oils (such as sesame or mustard) and resins, bound with mucilages and saps from plants like wood apple (Aegle marmelos), acacia, or bean/berry juices. These inks were specifically formulated for the unique incised writing technique on treated palm leaves (Borassus flabellifer or Corypha umbraculifera), where a metal stylus carved letters and the ink mixture was applied and wiped to fill the grooves permanently. Modern scientific analyses of surviving manuscripts confirm the predominance of pure lampblack with minimal metallic impurities, explaining the exceptional longevity of these records in tropical climates. The study argues that this technology reflects advanced empirical knowledge of colloid chemistry, adhesion, and material stability, optimized for knowledge preservation in pre-modern India. It fills a gap in Indian historiography of science by highlighting indigenous innovation in writing materials, distinct from later paper-based traditions or iron-gall inks of Europe and the Islamic world. The paper draws on textual references, ethnographic accounts, codicological evidence, and heritage-science studies to reconstruct the process and assess its contribution to the survival of ancient Indian knowledge systems. | |
| 7 |
Author(s):
Louis Atamja, Denghe Dermia.
Country:
Cameroon
Research Area:
Economics
Page No:
61-76 |
The Impact of Product Branding on Consumer Purchase Intention of UNVDA Rice Ndop, CameroonAbstractForeign brands equipped with sophisticated branding strategies, often overshadow local counterparts, leading consumers to prefer imported rice. As such, this paper seeks to investigate how different types of product branding (emotional, differentational and premium branding) influenced consumer purchase intention. Using a quota sampling technique, this study uses a structural equation modeling (SEM), to analyze the effect of product branding on consumer purchase intention of UNVDA Ndop rice. The findings reveals that apart from emotional branding, differentational and premium branding influence consumer purchase intention to varying degree. Differentiational branding had a positive and significant influence on consumer purchase intention of UNVDA Ndop rice, while premium branding had a positive and significant influence on consumer purchase intention. | |
| 8 |
Author(s):
Mitali Saikia.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Literature
Page No:
77-84 |
Psychoanalytical Perspective and Psychological Expressions of Characters in Mamoni Raisom Goswami’s Novel.AbstractThis paper examines the psychological depth in the novels of Dr. Mamoni Raisom Goswami (Indira Goswami) through the lens of Freudian psychoanalysis. Positioned as a pioneer of 'Psychological Realism' in 20th-century Assamese literature, Goswami’s works transcend social documentation to explore the intricate inner world of her characters — focusing on internal conflict, repressed desires, despair, and the clash between the conscious and unconscious mind. Objectives: The study aims to: 1) Identify Freudian elements of Id, Ego, and Super-Ego in Goswami’s novels; 2) Analyze repressed female desires within traditional patriarchal and Sattriya social systems and their psychological impact; and 3) Demonstrate how characters’ mental agony culminates in rebellion or self-destruction.Analysis: Using _Datal Hatir Uye Khowa Howda_ and _Neelkanthi Braja_ as key texts, the paper analyzes the tragic psychological complexity of characters like Durga and Saudamini. Durga’s life exemplifies the violent conflict between her natural 'Id' — youthful desire and attraction to Giridhari — and the oppressive 'Super-Ego' of Sattriya widow codes, leading to guilt complex, hysteria, and escapism through opium. Similarly, Saudamini’s sexual dissatisfaction and religious guilt reveal a fractured conscious-subconscious balance. The study also addresses how economic deprivation in _Chinnamastar Manuhuto_ and _Mamore Dhara Tarowal_ breeds unconscious resentment and existential crisis, and how 'Sublimation' allows characters like Shashi to channel pain into devotion or humanitarian service.*Conclusion:* Mamoni Raisom Goswami emerges as a 'pocket doctor' of the human mind, vividly portraying the silent cry and rebellion of women shackled by religious fanaticism and patriarchy. Her flawless depiction of the grey, turbulent inner psyche through Freudian frameworks gives her novels a timeless, universal dimension beyond their social context | |
| 9 |
Author(s):
Ahmad Zia Hamidi, Waheedullah Hemat, Ali Reza Rahmani.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Economics
Page No:
85-98 |
The Effect of Service Quality on Customer Satisfaction in Afghan Post: An Empirical Study Using the SERVQUAL ModelAbstractService quality has become an important factor in improving performance and customer satisfaction in public service organizations. Customer satisfaction is widely used to evaluate how well public organizations meet user expectations for efficient, reliable, and customer-oriented service delivery. This study investigates the effect of service quality on customer satisfaction in Afghan Post by applying the SERVQUAL model as a theoretical framework. Specifically, it examines the influence of five service quality dimensions: tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy on customer satisfaction. A quantitative approach was used and data were collected through structured questionnaires from Afghan Post customers in Kabul and selected central provinces. The collected data were analyzed using statistical techniques such as correlation and regression analysis to determine the relationship between service quality dimensions and customer satisfaction. The results show that service quality is positively associated with customer satisfaction. Among the five dimensions, responsiveness and empathy have the strongest impact, highlighting the importance of timely service and personal attention. Furthermore, reliability, assurance, and tangibility also show significant positive relationships with customer satisfaction by improving trust, service consistency, and customers’ overall perceptions of service quality. The study concludes that improving service quality can enhance customer satisfaction and improve organizational performance at Afghan Post. It recommends investing in employee training, improving operational processes, and adopting modern technologies, such as digital tracking systems, to enhance service efficiency and meet customer expectations. The findings offer valuable implications for postal service managers and policymakers seeking to improve public service delivery in Afghanistan. | |
| 10 |
Author(s):
Ms. Sonali Dwivedi, Dr. Shailja Rana, Mr. Saurabh Singh.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Psychology
Page No:
99-110 |
Role of Work Engagement in Mediating the Relationship between Women’s Perception of Glass Ceiling and Career Growth in IT companiesAbstractWorkplace environment plays a crucial role in an individual’s perception of his career growth. Although the proportion of women in the workforce has increased over the past few decades, it is uncertain whether their inclusion in the workforce has been fully accepted by all. Glass-ceiling is a hurdle obstructing women's progress to higher leadership or managerial positions due to misconceived perceptions about their unsuitability. The present study aimed to examine the impact of women’s perception of glass-ceiling and work engagement on their career growth using multiple regression analysis. It further examines the role of women’s work engagement as a mediator, influencing the relationship between perception of glass-ceiling and career growth using mediation analysis. Data was collected from 186 women working in IT companies using Elacqua et al.’s (2009) adapted perception of Glass-ceiling (Babic & Hansez, 2021), Career Growth Scale (Weng, McElroy, Morrow, & Liu, 2010) and UWES-9 (Schaufeli et al., 2006). Findings of multiple regression analysis show that the perception of the glass-ceiling and work engagement significantly predict career growth. Further, the mediation analysis revealed that work engagement partially mediates the relationship between the perception of the glass-ceiling and career growth. The findings have implications for organizations to promote an inclusive work culture and encourage a sense of vigor, dedication and absorption of female employees towards their work. | |
| 11 |
Author(s):
Ashwani Kumar, Rahul Kumar.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Political Science
Page No:
111-119 |
Assessing the Impact of the Myanmar Civil Conflict on India’s Northeast Border Security and Mizoram and Manipur DemographicsAbstractThe military coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, precipitated a civil conflict that has transformed into one of the most destabilizing crises in South and Southeast Asia. By 2026, the repercussions of this conflict have extended far beyond Myanmar's borders, profoundly affecting India's north-eastern states—particularly Mizoram and Manipur, which share a 1,643-kilometer porous border with Myanmar. This paper examines the multifaceted impact of the Myanmar civil conflict on India's Northeast border security and the demographic transformations occurring in Mizoram and Manipur. Drawing on policy documents, media reports, academic literature, and official statistics, the analysis reveals that the conflict has generated a complex humanitarian-security nexus characterized by large-scale refugee flows, ethnic tensions, cross-border criminal networks, and significant demographic shifts. The paper argues that the crisis has exposed fundamental weaknesses in India's border management framework, refugee policy, and federal coordination mechanisms. It further contends that the demographic changes unfolding in Mizoram and Manipur—driven by ethnic kinship ties and conflict-induced displacement—are reshaping the socio-political landscape of the region in ways that carry long-term implications for India's internal security, federal politics, and Act East Policy ambitions. The study concludes by recommending a differentiated, region-specific strategy that balances humanitarian obligations with security imperatives while addressing the underlying drivers of demographic anxiety and ethnic conflict. | |
| 12 |
Author(s):
Prof. Geetali Padiyar, Shagufta Parveen.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Sociology
Page No:
120-130 |
Socio-Economic Background, Religious Attitudes, and Rights Awareness among Muslim Women in Haridwar District, Uttarakhand: A Sociological AnalysisAbstractMuslim women constitute a significant part of Indian society with their lives being influenced by the interplay of gender, religion, education, class and access to constitutional rights. The present study deals with the socio-economic background, social life, educational status, religious attitude and rights awareness of the Muslim women of Haridwar district, Uttarakhand from the sociological point of view. The type of research used in this research is descriptive research with analytical approach, and secondary data technique is applied. The data were gathered during the Census of India 2011, District Census Handbook (DCB), Haridwar, National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) reports, minority welfare reports, policy documents, scholarly publications and other reliable sources. Data pertaining to education, occupation, family structure, marriage practices, religious orientation and awareness of constitutional rights were analysed using content analysis and thematic analysis. The findings show that Muslim women in Haridwar are still encountering several socio-economic problems like less literacy rate, less participation in the work force, poverty, lack of awareness of the legal and constitutional rights, and patriarchal family values. Social and cultural barriers, and educational deprivation, continue to be important factors that limit chances of social mobility and empowerment. But, the attitudes toward religion, gender roles and awareness about rights are gradually being changed by increased access to modern education, exposure to urban environment, welfare programs and interactions with public institutions. The study highlights education as the most important enabler of social change, confidence, mobility and engagement in family/community life. It finds that empowerment of the Muslim women can be achieved through an integrated approach ending with their educational empowerment, economic empowerment, social empowerment through community support and awareness making them more aware of constitutional rights and welfare provisions. | |
| 13 |
Author(s):
Dr. Prasanta Kumar Das.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Literature
Page No:
131-141 |
Assamese Folk Literature and Sustainable Cultural Development: A Critical StudyAbstractAbstract Folk literature is one of the most significant manifestations of a community’s collective consciousness, cultural memory, and traditional knowledge. It embodies the lived experiences, beliefs, customs, values, and worldview of a people, transmitted across generations through oral traditions. Assamese folk literature, enriched by the diverse ethnic and linguistic communities of Assam, represents a vital component of the region’s intangible cultural heritage. It includes folk songs, folktales, proverbs, riddles, ballads, myths, legends, and folk theatre, each reflecting the socio-cultural realities of Assamese society. In the contemporary era, characterized by globalization, urbanization, and technological advancement, traditional cultural forms face unprecedented challenges. The decline of oral traditions, changing lifestyles, and the growing influence of mass media has significantly affected the transmission of folk literature. Nevertheless, Assamese folk literature continues to demonstrate resilience through adaptation, documentation, educational integration, digital preservation, and community participation. This paper examines the nature, forms, characteristics, and cultural significance of Assamese folk literature while analyzing its role in sustainable cultural development. It argues that the preservation and revitalization of folk literature are essential not only for safeguarding cultural identity but also for promoting social cohesion, linguistic diversity, environmental awareness, and intergenerational knowledge transmission. The study concludes that sustainable development of Assamese folk literature requires collaborative efforts involving educational institutions, researchers, cultural organizations, governments, and local communities. | |
| 14 |
Author(s):
Prof. (Dr.) Shiv Kumar Dogra, Dr. Seema Thakur, Dr. Jeewan Jyoti, Ruby Chaudhary, Poonam Sharma.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Women’s Studies
Page No:
142-154 |
Age and Educational Qualification as Determinants of Women Entrepreneurship: A Comparative Study of Self-Help Group Members in Five Districts of Himachal PradeshAbstractSelf-Help Groups (SHGs) are very impactful in both developing the economy and achieving sustainable development through women’s entrepreneurship. This research examines the age and educational status of the women entrepreneurs of selected districts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Shimla of Himachal Pradesh. 2000 women entrepreneurs were the sample size. Data was analysed by frequency, percentage and chi square. The results indicated that most entrepreneurs (49%) were in the age group 36 to 45 years, while most (78.7%) have only attended up to High School. Results of the chi-square test illustrated a significant (p < 0.001) age (χ² = 71.758) and education (χ² = 152.334) district level differences. The study resulted that the small, medium, medium to advanced educated women of middle-age is the major driving force of women entrepreneurship in HP. The findings also highlight the need to give more opportunities to the younger and better-educated women to be involved in the entrepreneurial development of SHGs. | |
| 15 |
Author(s):
Abhishek Kumar, Prof. Dhrub Kumar.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Psychology
Page No:
155-165 |
Exploring the Contributions of Social Support, Locus of Control, and Sociodemographic Factors to Quality of Life in Older AdultsAbstractQuality of life (QOL) is influenced by a combination of psychosocial and sociodemographic factors. Understanding the relative contributions of social support, locus of control, and demographic characteristics is important for identifying determinants of well-being. This study examined the relationships among social support, locus of control, sociodemographic factors, and quality of life and evaluated their relative contributions to the prediction of overall quality of life. A cross-sectional correlational design was employed with 209 adult participants. Data were collected using a sociodemographic information sheet, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, a locus of control measure, and the WHOQOL-BREF. Descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rank-order correlations, and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics. Social support was positively associated with physical (rₛ = .227, p < .001), psychological (rₛ = .250, p < .001), social (rₛ = .320, p < .001), environmental (rₛ = .372, p < .001), and overall quality of life (rₛ = .375, p < .001). Locus of control was significantly associated only with social quality of life (rₛ = −.186, p < .01). Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that social support significantly improved the prediction model, explaining an additional 9.4% of the variance in quality of life. Social support emerged as the strongest positive predictor (β = .326, p < .001). Social support is an important factor that can influence quality of life just as much as sociodemographic factors. Social support network strengthening interventions can have a positive impact on social well-being and quality of life. | |
| 16 |
Author(s):
Mondeep Bailung, Ismapriya Bailung.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Philosophy
Page No:
166-172 |
Neo- Vaishnavite Movement and Assamese Society: Special Reference to SankardevaAbstractThe Assamese society is the assimilation and amalgamation of diverse culture, language, religion, customs and traditions evolving through different opportunities and challenges. From the pre- historic era, this land is the witness of numerous great leaders, who have been contributing for the rich Assamese culture, literature, art and heritage. Srimanta Sankardeva was a multifaceted genius of modern Assam. Through introducing Neo- Vaishnavite Movement in Assam, he tries to enrich the Assamese culture by dispelling the darkness of ignorance, cruel, intolerance, and prejudices that were prevalent at his time. Saktism and Tantrism dominated the socio-religious landscape of medieval Assam, and the results of these religious cults include intolerance, social hierarchy, untouchability, and the degrading of human dignity. By abolishing the social hindrances, he created different mechanisms for the acculturation and spiritual elevation of the various social groups, i.e., racial peace, and established the groundwork for brotherhood and a greater Assamese society. Regardless of caste, creed, class he revived the ethos, culture, society, and concept of Bor Asom, encompassing all multiethnic groups. Through this study, an attempt is made to highlight the socio- cultural background of mediaeval Assam. Another purpose of this paper is to analyse the role of Neo- Vaishnavite movement lead by Srimanta Sankardeva for the enrichment of society and culture of Bor Asom. | |
| 17 |
Author(s):
Dr. Saroj Kumar Nayak, Dr. Nirupama Nayak.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Education
Page No:
173-184 |
The Green Convergence: Interdisciplinary Synthesis of Environmental Sustainability in Odia Literature and the Principles of Green ChemistryAbstractThis comprehensive research article establishes a pioneering interdisciplinary dialogue between the qualitative, ethical frameworks of the humanities—specifically environmental sustainability as depicted in Odia literature—and the quantitative, operational systems of the hard sciences, represented by Green Chemistry. Historically, literature and chemical engineering have been treated as distinct fields. However, the escalating global ecological crisis necessitates a unified approach where cultural philosophy inspires ethical responsibility, and technical innovation delivers practical solutions. This paper evaluates how Odia literature, spanning from medieval Bhakti and Mahima spiritual poetry to modern post-colonial novels by Gopinath Mohanty, Pratibha Ray, and modern eco-poetry, champions an ecocentric worldview that rejects the exploitation of nature. Concurrently, it examines how Green Chemistry provides a practical framework to mitigate industrial pollution, reduce toxic waste, and optimize resource efficiency through its twelve fundamental principles. By establishing a conceptual bridge between the eco-ethics of regional Indian literature and the pragmatic goals of sustainable chemical design, this study outlines a comprehensive paradigm for environmental stewardship where humanistic values and molecular sciences work together toward an ecologically balanced future. | |
| 18 |
Author(s):
Dr. Vinay Kumar Verma.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Social Science
Page No:
185-191 |
Trends and Distributional Pattern of Sex Ratio in Sagar District of Madhya PradeshAbstractStudy of sex ratio is very important in the study of population related data of any country. Sex ratio is influenced by the socio-economic status, literacy, customs and religious ideas of any area and helps in expressing the status of women in the society. Low sex ratio increases female related crime while high sex ratio demonstrates gender equality. In the presented research paper, the trends of sex ratio in Sagar district have been studied. Sagar district is a major district and divisional headquarters located in the north-eastern part of the state. For the present study mainly secondary data has been used. According to 2011 census data, the sex ratio of the district is 893, which is lower than the state average of 931. The highest sex ratio in the district was 979 recorded in 1941, after which a declining trend is seen in the sex ratio. In the last two decades, the urban sex ratio was found to be higher than the rural sex ratio. | |
| 19 |
Author(s):
Uday Shankar Mishra.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Performing Arts
Page No:
192-199 |
The Untold Aspects of Banaras Baaj of Tabla and Its Hidden Relation with Various other Art FormsAbstractBanaras Gharana occupies a unique position in Indian classical music in which Gāyan (vocal music), Vādan (instrumental music & percussion), and Nritya (dance) are individually rich disciplines but are also closely interconnected through a common artistic philosophy. Further this interrelationship is particularly evident in this tradition because of the remarkable structural and rhythmic similarities between tabla, vocal music, and Kathak dance. For instance, a Banaras tabla solo traditionally begins with Uthān, a form that also marks the opening of a Kathak performance. Likewise, the gradual development found in Ālāp, Jor, and Jhālā in instrumental music such as sitar finds a parallel in the Banaras tabla repertoire through Aouchar, Badhat, and Rela, revealing a shared process of musical expansion and expression. Although these traditions are discussed individually, not much attention has been given to understand the hidden relationship. This study will aim to find and analyse the common principles and practices that connect the three disciplines within this tradition. Further this research will find out the integrated artistic system in which rhythm, melody, and gesticulations are influencing each other while preserving their individual identities. Further by applying qualitative methodology based on historical literature, ethnographic research, performance analysis, and the oral traditions of the Banaras Gharana the deep connections between Gāyan, Vādan, and Nritya in Banaras tradition can be understood in a better way ultimately promoting a more holistic understanding of the Banaras tradition. | |
| 20 |
Author(s):
Bonnie Sarma, Dr. Pranita Choudhury.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Law
Page No:
200-206 |
Seeking Reproductive Freedom for Women with DisabilitiesAbstractThe following paper endeavors to provide a glimpse into advocating for establishing reproductive autonomy for women suffering from disabilities by throwing light on abortion through a carrying out a critical analysis on the legal framework to ensure women suffering from any sort of disabilities are not subjected to any sort of discrimination while exercising their reproductive freedom in India. The authors of this research paper have made an attempt to establish a critical balance between the ‘right to choose and disability’ through the critical investigation of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (amended in the year 2021) alongside the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The authors of the paper have also mentioned about the structural violence and the discrimination to which disabled women are put through which hampers them for accessing their share of reproductive freedom and health care services. Lastly, the paper also makes an attempt to put forward certain recommendations to ensure how disabled women can have access to their share of reproductive rights which enables these women to exercise their fundamental right to choose in order to create a society which is free for structural barriers and is gender neutral. | |
| 21 |
Author(s):
Renuka, Parveen, Dr. Bimla Langyan, Poonam Devi.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Economics
Page No:
207-217 |
India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, Exchange Rate and India’s Agricultural Exports: An Empirical AnalysisAbstractThe India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), which came into effect in 2022, has the objective of strengthening bilateral trade by improving market access and reducing trade barriers. Besides the trade agreement, the exchange rate plays an important role in influencing export performance. Although previous studies have examined the impact of trade agreements or exchange rate movements separately, little evidence is available on their combined effect on India's agricultural exports after the implementation of ECTA. Therefore, this study examines the impact of the India-Australia ECTA and the exchange rate on India’s agricultural exports. The study uses secondary data on exports from UN Comtrade and exchange rate data from the Reserve Bank of India, along with the relevant government reports and documents from official publications. The study covers the time period from 2016 to 2024. Multiple regression analysis was used to estimate the impact of ECTA and the exchange rate on agricultural exports. The findings show that the exchange rate has both a positive and significant impact on agricultural exports, suggesting that depreciation of the Indian rupee makes Indian agricultural products more price-competitive in the international market. The ECTA coefficient shows that it has a positive relationship with exports. The coefficient for ECTA is found to be statistically insignificant, as pointed out. So this increase in exports can’t be attributed entirely to policy. The study says that ECTA and exchange rates are helpful in boosting agri-exports. There should be efforts to increase the Indian agricultural production capacity, enhance product quality to international standards and improve utilisation of the ECTA advantages over the longer time horizon. | |
| 22 |
Author(s):
Ikramuddin Noorzada, Prof. Abdul Qayoum Arif.
Country:
Afghanistan
Research Area:
Economics
Page No:
218-230 |
An Assessment of the Role of Financial Risk Management in Reducing Investment Risks: Evidence from Afghan Commercial BanksAbstractThis study investigates whether financial risk management reduces the investment risk of commercial banks in Afghanistan over the period 2015–2024. Bank financial stability, measured by the Z-Score as a proxy for the distance to insolvency, serves as the dependent variable, while liquidity risk management, proxied by the loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR), and capital risk management, proxied by the equity ratio (ER), serve as the explanatory variables. A balanced panel of forty bank-year observations was constructed from the audited annual financial statements of four Afghan commercial banks. Fixed-effects and random-effects estimators were compared through the Hausman test, and robustness was verified with AR(1) and first-differenced specifications alongside cluster-robust standard errors. The results show a positive and statistically significant association between the equity ratio and the Z-Score, while the loan-to-deposit ratio shows no statistically significant influence on stability in any correctly specified model. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to combine the Z-Score framework with both liquidity- and capital-based indicators for Afghan banks, and it offers practical guidance to bank managers, the regulator, and policymakers seeking to strengthen stability in a fragile economy. | |
| 23 |
Author(s):
Sebghatullah Mujadidi.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Public Administration
Page No:
231-237 |
Assessment of the Performance Appraisal System in Afghanistan’s Public SectorAbstractAbstract This paper evaluates the performance appraisal system in Afghanistan's public sector. It reviews the current regulatory system of performance appraisal and also highlights its key components and shortcomings. Appraisal systems have evolved from traditional and subjective methods towards modern and objective methods aimed at enhancing transparency and capacity in organizations. Public administration reforms implemented in Afghanistan in the post-2001 period focused on restructuring the system and improving organizational capacity. It also created a performance appraisal system to cope with challenges such as favouritism, weak feedback mechanisms, and limited institutional capacity. However, political turbulence and government change in the country affected the public administration system, and the reform process was abandoned before reaching the desired goals. In the current scenario, the lack of a rational regulatory framework is a key challenge to creating and improving an objective performance appraisal system. To establish a functional system responsive to the needs of the country, commitment to the reform initiatives is crucial. | |
| 24 |
Author(s):
Shraddha Chauhan, Gaurav Kumar Chaurasia.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Management
Page No:
238-246 |
A Conceptual Transition of the OCTAPACE Framework into Hybrid Work ModelAbstractThe operations of the contemporary corporate world have been significantly altered by the growing popularity of hybrid work models. Virtual designs offer real practical advantages, but they also create subtle psychological barriers that affect the foundation of company culture. This paper fulfils a crucial need to assess changing employment environments by methodically applying Udai Pareek's OCTAPACE profile into the digital work infrastructure. Through a deductive analysis of literature, this study establishes that while hybrid system introduces systemic negative issues in terms of Openness, Confrontation, and Trust, it can also serve as a powerful driver for positive Autonomy. Furthermore, the analysis highlights that Authenticity remains an academically underexplored domain within remote environments. However, the study finds that the successful optimization of Proactivity, Collaboration, and Experimentation is conditional upon sound leadership and targeted collaborative technological investments. Finally, in order to enable HR professionals to assess and actively maintain organizational strength across modern workforces, this paper summarises these elements into an OCTAPACE-Hybrid matrix. | |
| 25 |
Author(s):
Ratul Dutta.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Philosophy
Page No:
247-250 |
Universal Religion of Swami Vivekananda: A Vision of Unity and BrotherhoodAbstractOne of the greatest thinkers of modern Indian philosophy was Swami Vivekananda. His philosophical perspective was rooted in the social, religious and economic context of Indian society. Ancient Hindu philosophy, especially the Vedanta theory, significantly influenced him. This theory argues that reality is unified and that everything is fundamentally connected. Religion is a key aspect of Vivekananda’s philosophy. He views it as essential for human life. However, he does not refer to any of the so-called traditional religions in our world. Instead, he introduces the idea of a universal religion that contains no contradictions found in existing religions. Vivekananda believes that universal religion already exists, but our external conflicts prevent us from recognizing it. Through his concept of universal religion, Vivekananda promotes unity and brotherhood among people. His emphasis on universal religion highlights the realization of oneness and recognizes different ways individuals approach unique religious beliefs. This concept can only succeed if we learn to respect all religious beliefs and treat them as equally valid and true, just like our own. | |
| 26 |
Author(s):
Siddham Jain, Dr. Shilpi Verma.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Geography
Page No:
251-261 |
Evaluating the Integration of SDG 11 in India’s Smart Cities Mission: Evidence from Indore Using the Output–Outcome Monitoring FrameworkAbstractHow global sustainability frameworks are translated into practice at the city level remains an important question in urban geography. This paper examines the convergence of India’s Smart Cities Mission (SCM) and United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities) with special reference to Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Indore is widely regarded as a frontrunner in India’s urban transformation experiment. The study explores how Indore’s Smart City Proposal has translated into localised sustainable outcomes across four critical SDG 11 target dimensions: sustainable transit systems (Target 11.2), cultural heritage safeguarding (Target 11.4), climate-disaster resilience (Target 11.5), and municipal solid waste management (Target 11.6). This study is based on secondary data from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) Output-Outcome Monitoring Framework (OOMF), UN-Habitat evaluation reports and the NITI Aayog SDG India Index. The analysis reveals a consistent structural tension. While Indore has achieved remarkable milestones in data-driven waste management, green infrastructure and digital mobility, the benefits of these initiatives remain disproportionately concentrated within the small Area-Based Development (ABD) zone. This ABD zone covers only 742 acres of the city region and serves about five percent of the city’s population, leaving the broader pan-city population of 2.5 million residents relatively underserved. The paper contributes to the study of smart urbanism in an Indian intermediate city context and introduces a two-dimensional aggregate versus spatial assessment framework. | |
| 27 |
Author(s):
Varsha Malik, Dr. Ashu Dhawan, Preeti.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Psychology
Page No:
262-275 |
Do Gender and Residential Status Really Matter? A Study of Peer Pressure, Emotional Maturity and Interpersonal Support among University StudentsAbstractThe present study investigated the relationship between peer pressure, emotional maturity and interpersonal support, and the differences between male and female students and between those living in the city and those living in the countryside in the university. It is important to be aware of these psychosocial factors because peer pressure can affect the emotional development of students and their interpersonal relationships. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 100 students from the university aged 18-25 years, of which 50 were males and 50 were females. The Peer Pressure Scale Questionnaire – Revised (PPSQ-R), Emotional Maturity Scale (EMS), and Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL) were used for data collection. Pearson's product-moment correlation and independent-samples t-tests were conducted to analyse the data. The results indicated that there was a weak positive correlation between peer pressure and emotional maturity (r = .219, p = .029). No significant relationships were found between peer pressure and interpersonal support (r = –.152, p = .132) or emotional maturity and interpersonal support (r = –.194, p = .053). In addition, there were no statistically significant gender differences in peer pressure (t = 1.849, p = .067), emotional maturity (t = 0.224, p = .824), or interpersonal support (t = 0.404, p = .687). The results indicate that there is a slight correlation between higher peer pressure and slightly higher emotional maturity among the university students, but there is no significant difference between the peer pressure, emotional maturity and interpersonal support of the two genders. | |
| 28 |
Author(s):
Kanika.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Gender Studies
Page No:
276-283 |
Gender and Environment: Uneven Distribution of ResourcesAbstractThis essay examines the gendered dimensions of environmental degradation in India through the theoretical framework of ecofeminism, exploring the structural relationship between the subordination of women and the exploitation of nature. It analyses how the twin processes of statization and privatization, inherited from the colonial period and continued in postcolonial India, have transformed access to communal resources along the intersecting axes of gender, class, and caste. The essay argues that environmental degradation disproportionately affects rural and marginalized women by increasing their burdens of unpaid labour, limiting access to natural resources, undermining livelihoods, worsening health and nutritional outcomes, and eroding indigenous ecological knowledge. At the same time, it highlights the central role of women in environmental conservation and grassroots ecological movements, demonstrating their agency in resisting unsustainable patterns of development. The essay further examines the persistence of gender stereotyping and the marginalization of LGBT communities in India, arguing that these forms of inequality are rooted in shared systems of social hierarchy and exclusion. By situating environmental injustice within broader structures of gendered and social power, the study contends that sustainable development and ecological justice cannot be achieved without addressing intersecting inequalities based on gender, class, caste, and sexuality. It concludes that meaningful environmental justice requires a transformative reorganization of social, economic, and political institutions to ensure both ecological sustainability and social equality. | |
| 29 |
Author(s):
Sangamesh Bhimanna Nayak, S. T. Bagalkoti.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Economics
Page No:
284-305 |
Water Availability and Agricultural Transformation in Karnataka: An Econometric Analysis of Vijayapura DistrictAbstractParticularly in India's semi-arid regions, water availability has a crucial role in determining agricultural output, livelihood security, and rural transformation. Climate unpredictability and excessive groundwater extraction have put increasing strain on the agricultural systems of Karnataka's Vijayapura district, which is known for its frequent droughts, irregular rainfall, and scarce surface water resources. Concerns about the sustainability of agricultural growth and water resource management endure despite persistent public investments in irrigation infrastructure, watershed development, and micro-irrigation initiatives. In light of this, the current study investigates the connection between agricultural transformation and water availability in the Vijayapura district. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, the Government of Karnataka, and other government publications for the years 2000–2023 provided the secondary data used in the study. The Herfindahl Index, trend analysis, and descriptive statistics were used to examine crop diversity, irrigation patterns, and rainfall variability. The findings show a significant change in irrigation techniques and significant inter-annual rainfall variability. The percentage of groundwater-based irrigation increased from 58.3% in 2000 to roughly 79.4% in 2020, indicating a growing reliance on borewell irrigation. At the same time, high-value horticultural and commercial crops including pomegranates, onions, and grapes have become more prevalent in agricultural output. However, the long-term viability of agricultural transformation is still threatened by growing reliance on groundwater, unpredictability in the climate, market instability, and a lack of institutional backing. The study comes to the conclusion that improving agricultural resilience in drought-prone areas necessitates an integrated strategy that includes climate-smart agricultural practices, increased irrigation efficiency, sustainable groundwater management, and reinforced institutional and governmental support. In Karnataka's water-scarce districts and other semi-arid regions of India, these findings offer significant policy insights for fostering sustainable agricultural development and rural transformation. | |
| 30 |
Author(s):
Gopal Prasad, Shreya Dwivedi.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Political Science
Page No:
306-314 |
Online Education in India: A Statistical Analysis of Learning Outcomes and Digital AccessibilityAbstractThe growth of virtual studies have brought profound transformation to the higher education system in India. This transformation accelerated during the COVID-19 widespread and gained further momentum with the introduction of the NEP 2020, which emphasizes the incorporation of technology-driven educational tools hand flexible learning approaches in higher education. While digital learning has enhanced educational access, flexibility, and continuity, concerns regarding learning outcomes, digital accessibility, and student satisfaction remain inadequately explored through empirical evidence. Effectiveness of online education in India by examining the relationship between digital accessibility, learning outcomes, and student satisfaction using a quantitative research design. Here are major sources are collected through a structured questionnaire, and these are analyzed using pictorial and inferential methods, together with correlation, multiple regression, independent sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and chi-square tests. The study evaluates the influence of technological access, quality of online instruction, learner engagement, and socio-economic factors on students' academic experiences. These are improved digital accessibility and effective online pedagogical practices positively influence learning outcomes and overall student satisfaction, while persistent digital inequalities continue to hinder equitable educational opportunities. This study offers digital education in India and policy prescriptions for technology-enabled higher education in alignment with the objectives of the National Education Policy 2020 and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education). | |
| 31 |
Author(s):
Tuan Minh Tran, Loc Nguyen, Long Phan.
Country:
Vietnam
Research Area:
Education
Page No:
315-324 |
Social Determinants of Career Choice Among High School Students: A Literature ReviewAbstractCareer choice during adolescence is a critical developmental task that has long-term implications for educational attainment, employability, and personal well-being. Although numerous studies have examined factors influencing students' career decisions, evidence concerning the role of social influences remains fragmented across different theoretical perspectives and research contexts. This study aims to systematically review and synthesize the existing literature on the social factors affecting career choice among high school students. A systematic literature review was conducted using publications retrieved from major academic databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and ERIC. Eligible studies were identified through predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and subsequently analyzed using thematic synthesis. The review identified multiple interconnected social influences, including family, school, peers, media and social media, labor market conditions, national educational policies, cultural environments, technological development, and social role models. The findings indicate that these factors shape adolescents' career decisions by influencing career aspirations, occupational values, access to career information, and perceptions of future opportunities. Rather than acting independently, social influences interact dynamically throughout the career decision-making process. This review contributes to the literature by providing an integrated understanding of the multidimensional nature of social influences on career choice and offers practical implications for educators, career counselors, and policymakers seeking to strengthen career guidance for secondary school students. | |
| 32 |
Author(s):
Dr. Aisa Muhamad.
Country:
Uganda
Research Area:
History
Page No:
325-333 |
Was Musaazi a Hero or Not? : An Empirical Assessment of Institutional and Public Perceptions of Ignatius Kangave Musaazi, Founder of Uganda’s First Political PartyAbstractThis study empirically investigates whether Ignatius Kangave Musaazi (1905–1990), founder of Uganda's first political party, the Uganda National Congress (UNC), warrants recognition as a national hero, despite his expulsion from the very party he founded and his subsequent decades of relative obscurity. Using a mixed-methods design, the study combined quantitative survey data from institutional respondents — foreign diplomatic missions (United States, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, and the United Kingdom) and political party structures (UPC and CP) — with qualitative interview data from religious leaders, Buganda traditional leaders, and school administrators. The analysis was grounded in three theoretical lenses: Halbwachs' Collective Memory Theory, Moscovici's Social Representations Theory, and Carlyle's Great Man Theory. Findings show an overall affirmation rate of 67.9% (76 of 112 respondents) recognising Musaazi as a hero, with unanimous affirmation among the British embassy, the Conservative Party, Protestant leaders, and Buganda traditional leaders, but weaker and more contested affirmation among Catholic leaders and a marked generational divide among school administrators, with older respondents affirming his legacy and younger ones largely unfamiliar with him. The study concludes that Musaazi's status as a hero is real but institutionally and generationally uneven, shaped more by collective memory within specific communities than by uniform national consensus, and calls for stronger integration of his legacy into school curricula to address the generational memory gap. | |
| 33 |
Author(s):
Dr. Aisa Muhamad.
Country:
Uganda
Research Area:
Geography
Page No:
334-347 |
Kabaka’s Lake and Climate Change in Central Uganda: An Urban Geographical Analysis of a Threatened Water Body and its Sustainable Development ImplicationsAbstractUrban water bodies across Sub-Saharan Africa sit at the intersection of climate-driven hydrological stress and rapid demographic change. This systematic integrative review examines Kabaka's Lake — Uganda's largest man-made lake, constructed in the 1880s under Kabaka Mwanga II and located in Kampala's Lubaga Division beside St Lawrence University — as a microcosm of the compound pressures facing spring-fed urban lakes across Central Uganda's Lake Victoria catchment. Drawing on peer-reviewed hydrological, climatological, limnological, and governance literature, the review traces a single evidence chain: regional warming of up to 1.5°C since 1960 and increasingly convective rainfall have destabilised the groundwater recharge on which the lake depends; a 78.5% increase in built-up area and a 92.2% contraction of the receiving wetland over 25 years have stripped away the catchment's natural filtration capacity; and the resulting nutrient loading has left the lake nitrogen-limited and algae-dominated, with Secchi transparency of 0.1–0.5 m signalling incipient eutrophic stress and a modelled transition to eutrophic status within approximately 25 years absent intervention. These findings map directly onto SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land), and the review identifies fragmented, weakly enforced governance — rather than an absence of formal policy — as the principal barrier to implementation. Distinctively, the review leverages the lake's adjacency to a Faculty of Education to propose an integrated catchment stewardship model that couples decentralised wastewater treatment, wetland restoration, and permanent water-quality monitoring with a multi-semester, place-based teacher-education curriculum built around the same evidence base. The review concludes that the sustainable management of spring-fed urban water bodies in Central Uganda requires simultaneous, coordinated action across hydrological monitoring, wetland restoration, governance reform, and pedagogical innovation — with Kabaka's Lake positioned as a living laboratory through which pre-service teachers can engage directly with climate-responsive sustainability. | |
| 34 |
Author(s):
Andi Tenri Ampa, Anin Asnidar, Muhammad Basri D..
Country:
Indonesia
Research Area:
Education
Page No:
348-364 |
The Validity of an Integrated Model of the Deep Learning Approach in Language Skills InstructionAbstractThe study used a Research and Development (R&D) design focusing on the validation phase of educational design research. Three experts in language education and instructional design had been purposively selected as validators. Data were collected using an expert validation questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale. The instrument evaluated five dimensions of the model: (1) model rationality, (2) clarity and theoretical coherence of model components, (3) construct validity of the instructional syntax and learning procedures, (4) integration of language skills, and (5) representation of deep learning principles. Quantitative data were analysed by using a descriptive statistic tool to determine the mean validity scores, while qualitative feedback from the validators was analysed descriptively to guide model refinement. The findings revealed that the proposed instructional model achieved an overall mean validity score of 96.50%, which falls within the very valid category. In addition to the model, the materials developed using this model were also validated, and the results were highly valid across all measured indicators. The study concluded that the Integrated Deep Learning Model had been theoretically valid and provided a sound pedagogical framework for language skills instruction. The validated model offered a foundation for subsequent studies investigating its practicality and effectiveness in authentic educational settings. The research contributed to instructional design literature by integrating constructivist learning theory, deep learning pedagogy, and integrated language skills instruction into a single validated instructional model that supported meaningful, learner-centred, and technology-enhanced language learning. | |
| 35 |
Author(s):
Mr. Bidesh Mahali, Mr. Chandan Mandal, Dr. Majaffar Ansary.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Education
Page No:
365-379 |
Integrating Indigenous Pedagogies into School Education: Policy, Practice, and Challenges under NEP 2020AbstractThe National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 marks a significant shift in India's educational framework by emphasizing culturally responsive, inclusive, and experiential learning. A central feature of the policy is the recognition of Indigenous knowledge systems and pedagogical practices as valuable resources for strengthening school education. This study explores the integration of Indigenous pedagogies into school education, examining the policy provisions under NEP 2020, current implementation practices, and the challenges encountered in translating policy into classroom realities. Using a qualitative approach based on policy analysis and a review of relevant literature, the study investigates how Indigenous teaching methods—such as oral traditions, storytelling, community-based learning, ecological knowledge, local languages, and experiential practices—can enrich the curriculum and promote holistic development. The findings suggest that Indigenous pedagogies foster contextualized learning, strengthen cultural identity, encourage environmental sustainability, and improve student engagement. However, the implementation of these approaches faces several obstacles, including inadequate teacher preparation, limited curricular integration, and scarcity of culturally relevant learning materials, language barriers, and insufficient institutional support. The study argues that effective implementation requires sustained teacher training, active community participation, curriculum redesign, and stronger collaboration among policymakers, educators, and Indigenous communities. By highlighting both opportunities and challenges, this research contributes to the discourse on equitable and culturally relevant education and offers recommendations for realizing the transformative vision of NEP 2020. Integrating Indigenous pedagogies into mainstream school education has the potential to create a more inclusive, context-sensitive, and sustainable educational system that values India's diverse cultural heritage while preparing learners for contemporary societal needs. | |
| 36 |
Author(s):
Pooja Swami.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Management
Page No:
380-402 |
Strategic Consolidation in India’s OTT Video Streaming Industry: Measuring Consumers’ Responses to the Reliance-Disney Merger: A PLS-SEM ApproachAbstractIn a historic mega deal, two behemoths, Reliance and The Walt Disney, decided to combine their television and OTT streaming services and announced the biggest merger in the history of the media and entertainment industry in India, valued at US $8.5 billion. Grounded in the theory of planned behavior and uses and gratification theory, this study aims to analyze the consumers’ intention to continue using the merged OTT streaming platform of the merging entities. The data were collected from OTT users (n= 214) in India and were further analyzed using the PLS-SEM technique. The results revealed that brand trust, brand experience, and perceived price influence the continuance intention of the merged OTT streaming platform. The study also showed a significant mediation role of consumers’ expectations in influencing the continuance intention of the merged OTT platform. This research enriches the extant literature by laying the foundation for understanding consumers' responses to the merger by leading brands in India's OTT video streaming market. | |
| 37 |
Author(s):
Sanjayduth Bhundhoo, Preeya Vijayalakshmee Coolen, Roslyn S. Fraser.
Country:
Mauritius
Research Area:
Social Work
Page No:
403-410 |
Exploring Substance Use among Low-Wage Migrant Workers in Mauritius: A Qualitative StudyAbstractThere is little research conducted regarding substance abuse among low-wage migrant workers working in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). However, this phenomenon should not be taken lightly as it is a public health and social concern. Migrant workers often experience structural and psychosocial vulnerabilities in terms of low wages, precarious working environment, social isolation, discrimination and little access to support services which open the door to substance misuse. This qualitative research investigates how migrant workers use substance abuse particularly alcohol and cigarettes as coping mechanism to overcome emotional distress, loneliness and economic difficulties. Semi- structured interviews were conducted with 50 migrant workers working in different sectors such as construction, manufacturing, agriculture, hospitality, domestic care, seafood processing, cleaning services and retail sectors. Snowballing sampling was used to reach participants. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis developed Braun and Clarke six step framework. Four major themes emerged from this research as follows: (1) Substance use as a coping strategy against financial hurdles; (2) Substance use to overcome emotional distress and loneliness; (3) Substance use as short term escape against work pressure and burnout; and (4) Peer pressure and normalizing substance use. Despite, being aware of the negative health effects, many migrants reported their difficulties in putting a halt to substance use due to poor support, stress and addiction. The findings emphasize the need for multi-level strategies that comprises of work-based interventions, psychosocial support programs, substance use prevention and education programs. Professionals such as Social workers and Migrant care workers can be of great gelp in reducing substance abuse and improving the welfare of low-wage migrant workers. | |
| 38 |
Author(s):
D. A. Harish Kumar.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Public Administration
Page No:
411-420 |
Localization of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban): A comparative analysis of Governance practices in Warangal and Karimnagar Municipal CorporationsAbstractThe challenge of urban sanitation has become all the more intense with rapid population growth, with national governments handing over sanitation management to the local levels of the city governments. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U), the city governments, especially tier 2 cities, have been struggling to localize the national mandates to suit their unique native conditions. Previous research has predominantly relied on analyzing the SBM-U from a top-down governance perspective, focusing on tier-I cities such as Hyderabad or Pune. This study uses a mixed-methods approach to analyze the governance practices of tier 2 cities of Warangal and Karimnagar to understand how these municipal corporations localize the SBM-U mandates to deliver quality sanitation services. The data obtained through questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions are analyzed to evaluate the localization of SBM-U in these cities. Contrary to what has often been assumed, municipal corporations with smaller, compact administrative structures outperforms those with large, sprawling municipal structures. The findings indicate that while private sector outsourcing optimizes sanitation services, it weakens the democratic supervision of municipal corporation. It also shows that national missions perform better when city governments directly include marginalized communities in service delivery, rather than relying solely on technical top-down grievance applications like the Swachhata App. The study concludes that under SBM-U, tailoring sanitation policies to neighbourhood-specific needs allows local city government in both Warangal and Karimnagar to build cleaner, more responsive communities. | |
| 39 |
Author(s):
Soumen Das, Anindita Chatterjee.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Sociology
Page No:
421-436 |
On Theorising the City: Major Perspectives in Urban SociologyAbstractThis paper reviews four major theoretical perspectives in urban sociology to explain how sociologists have understood the city and urban life in different ways. It begins with the ecological perspective of Robert E. Park, Ernest W. Burgess, and R. D. McKenzie, which views the city as a spatial order shaped by competition, succession, and differentiation. It then examines the political economy perspective, including Neo-Marxian and Neo-Weberian approaches, which interpret urban development through capitalism, class, markets, state power, and inequality. The paper also discusses the network perspective, focusing on Manuel Castells and Jan van Dijk, to show how information, communication technologies, and digital connectivity have transformed cities into nodes within wider networks. Finally, it considers the cultural perspective through Georg Simmel, Max Weber, and Louis Wirth, highlighting urban experience, individuality, social distance, and urbanism as a way of life. The paper argues that no single perspective can adequately explain the complexity of the city. Instead, urban sociology is strongest when these perspectives are read together, as each illuminates a different dimension of contemporary urban life. Taken together, they provide a broader and more balanced understanding of urban space, power, culture, and social relations. | |
| 40 |
Author(s):
Maria Reshmi Ekka, Dr. Padam Nepal.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Political Science
Page No:
437-447 |
Development of Political Consciousness among the Adivasi Tea Garden Workers in Jalpaiguri District, North Bengal: A Survey-Based StudyAbstractPolitical consciousness, defined as the understanding of one’s political rights and the ability to act within a democratic society, is unevenly distributed throughout India. The Adivasi tea garden workers of North Bengal vividly embodies this phenomenon. Decades of enclave-like plantation work, geographic isolation, and limited access to education have resulted in the political marginalization of this population. However, research that targets the political consciousness of Adivasi tea garden workers in the Jalpaiguri district is virtually non-existent. This study focuses on the Adivasi tea garden workers of the Jalpaiguri district. One hundred Adivasi tea garden workers were surveyed using multistage random sampling. This contributed to the study of the political consciousness of Adivasi tea garden workers, and the socio-economic determinants on which this consciousness is built. The study also surveyed voting patterns, and the influences of education, trade unions, and media on political consciousness. Respondents voting levels were high at 85%, and respondents had moderate political consciousness (M = 3.72/5). Political consciousness was positively correlated to the level of media and political party member contact, trade union membership, personal income, educational attainment, and the degree of political family discussions. Political consciousness was not correlated to personal income, education, media exposure, union membership, and contact with political parties. | |
| 41 |
Author(s):
Shubhendu, Rohit Kumar.
Country:
India
Research Area:
History
Page No:
448-460 |
Redefining Tribal Knowledge Traditions: Birsa Munda’s Anti-Colonial Vision in Contemporary India.AbstractBirsa Munda’s anti-colonial vision highlights indigenous resistance to colonial loot, which is a significant but relatively unexplored dimension of India’s freedom struggle. This research paper, ‘Reclaiming Vanvasi Epistemology: Birsa Munda’s Anti-Colonial Vision in Contemporary India,’ is an analysis of how the leadership and vision of Birsa Munda offers a critical agenda for decolonizing Vanvasi epistemologies and addressing the structural injustices on tribal populations in present-day India. It examines Birsa’s resistance against economic exploitation, cultural annihilation, and land dispossession under British rule, making his movement a core of social justice and tribal self-determination. Based on primary sources such as colonial reports, missionary accounts, and oral traditions, this work reconstructs Birsa’s ideological position and identifies its relevance in solving contemporary problems such as resource injustice, ecological destruction, and the marginalization of indigenous knowledge systems. This paper also examines how Birsa’s vision has continued to exist in postcolonial tribal politics and movements, including land rights and theories of sustainable development. It outlines the importance of integrating indigenous perspectives into India’s cultural and socio-political discourse by providing Vanvasi epistemology, thus fostering an inclusive and egalitarian national identity. | |
| 42 |
Author(s):
Dr. Mamata Aswal, Dr. Pankaj Pant.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Education
Page No:
461-471 |
A Study of Social Adjustment of Children with Special NeedsAbstractEducation is commonly referred to as the process of learning and obtaining knowledge at school, in a form of formal education. However, this commonplace definition does not go in depth of the need of education for the all round personality development of an individual. Education is now recognized as a basic human right, it is also being seen as an instrument of social change and hence education leads to empowerment which is very important for a country like India, which after 66 years of independence has not been able to eradicate illiteracy in spite of the constitutional mandate given by way of Article 45 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights & Full Participation) Act, 1995. Students are suffering from various types of emotional disorders such as emotional instability, emotional regression and social adjustment and if the student is visually handicapped the problem is much more serious. Proper steps should be taken for the education of children with special needs. This paper deals with the problem that if a visual impaired student study in inclusive setup, will he become more socially adjusted then the person studying in special schools? The main objective of the study is to find out the social adjustment of the visual impaired students studying in special schools and inclusive setup. I have taken sample of 100 students from different inclusive and special schools of visual impaired students in Delhi. It is a survey type research and the technique of sampling is stratified random sampling. The tool used is Emotional Maturity Scale developed by M. Bharghava and Y. Singh. Statistical techniques used are Mean, SD & t Test. The research throw light on the fact that children with visual impairment studying in inclusive setup are more socially adjusted than the children studying in special schools. | |
| 43 |
Author(s):
Dr. Amit Shanker, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Singh, Dr. Bharati Devi.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Education
Page No:
472-480 |
Attitudes Towards Inclusive Education Under the RPWD Act, 2016: A Comparative Study Among Stakeholders of EducationAbstractThe Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016 marked a decisive shift in India's disability policy from a welfare-based to a rights-based paradigm, mandating inclusive education for children with disabilities within neighbourhood schools (Kukreja et al., 2026). While the legal architecture of the Act is comprehensive, its translation into classroom-level practice depends substantially on the attitudinal orientation of the stakeholders who implement it, teachers, parents, and school administrators. The present study compares the attitudes of these three stakeholder groups towards inclusive education under the RPWD Act, 2016, and examines whether gender influences this attitude, using a sample of 100 stakeholders drawn from higher secondary schools of the Patna region, Bihar. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected using an attitude scale adapted from the Sentiments, Attitudes and Concerns about Inclusive Education–Revised (SACIE-R) framework (Forlin et al., 2011). Illustrative analysis (one-way ANOVA and independent-samples t-test) indicated that school administrators reported the most favourable attitude, followed by teachers, while parents reported comparatively lower and more variable attitudes; gender did not emerge as a statistically significant differentiator. The findings are discussed in relation to existing literature on stakeholder attitudes towards inclusion (Avramidis & Norwich, 2002; De Boer et al., 2011; Guillemot et al., 2022) and the study concludes with implications for teacher training, parental sensitisation, and administrative capacity-building under the RPWD Act framework. | |
| 44 |
Author(s):
Abhishek Kumar, Dr. Ratnesh Shukla.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Geography
Page No:
481-488 |
Migration Status and Distance Dynamics at the Crossroads of Regional DisparityAbstractMigration which is an element of population change except for mortality and fertility is not localised to the place of origin. Migration is flow of human resource from one place to another. For migration to take place despite defining period of resident change there is need of defining distance. Migration if taken as synonymous to mobility, it includes the change of residence to near by locality. Distance covered by an individual for socio-economic satiation of needs varied thereby their migration status. The distance covered mainly for economic needs have regional connotation. The regional threshold of low development homogeneity is reflected from the migration of underdeveloped state. At the micro level, level of regional development also have implicit impact on distance dynamics of migration. The present research work is an attempt to analyse the intra-block and intra-district variation of migration status and distance dynamics. The study region for the research work is Bhojpur district of Bihar. The study is based on primary data collected from 400 household consisting 2518 members. The sample size is determined using Slovin’s sampling method. The sample has been distributed across block based on the proportional population of block. Data analysis for the research work is based on percentage, average, standard deviation and correlation. Data have been represented using cross tabulation and maps. At the aggregate district level for all distances, correlation (r) between volume of migrants and distance is found to -0.32 which reveals declining trend. | |
| 45 |
Author(s):
Prof. Rajiv Kumar, Tavendra Pratap Singh.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Geography
Page No:
489-500 |
A Comprehensive Research Analysis of Fast-Growing Traffic Problems in Meerut DistrictAbstractMeerut, one of the fastest-growing urban centers in Uttar Pradesh and part of India's National Capital Region (NCR), is confronting a rapidly escalating traffic crisis driven by explosive vehicle growth, insufficient road infrastructure, poor traffic management, and the inadequacy of public transportation alternatives. This research paper analyses the multidimensional traffic problems afflicting Meerut district, drawing on the latest available data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH, 2024), Uttar Pradesh Traffic Police, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB, 2023–24), Asian Development Bank (ADB, 2024), and the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC, 2024–25). Vehicle registrations in Meerut have grown at over 11% per annum since 2001—far exceeding road network expansion. The Delhi-Meerut expressway, despite being inaugurated in 2021, routinely experiences multikilometer jams. Urban arterials suffer daily gridlock at key nodes including Hapur Road, Baghpat Road, Delhi Road, Garh Road, and around the railway station. Road accidents remain a severe public health burden: nationally, over 1.73 lakh people were killed in road accidents in 2023 alone, and Uttar Pradesh consistently ranks among the worst-performing states. Structural causes include encroachment of road space, unregulated commercial vehicle movement, absence of integrated traffic management systems, lane indiscipline, and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure. While major interventions—the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, the RRTS Namo Bharat corridor (fully operational as of February 2026), and Meerut Metro—offer relief, intra-city traffic problems remain acute and demand urgent systemic attention. | |
| 46 |
Author(s):
Dr. Sandeepsagar Namdev Dhikale, Suvarna Mohan Vadje.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Education
Page No:
501-516 |
The Child as Knowledge-Bearer: Childhood, Education and Ethical Formation through the Lens of Indian Knowledge Systems, with Special Reference to the Bhāgavata PurāṇaAbstractChildhood Studies has increasingly challenged the assumption that childhood constitutes a universal, homogeneous and purely biological stage of human development. Scholars have instead demonstrated that childhood is culturally, historically and socially constructed, and that children should be examined not merely as passive recipients of adult care but as participants in social, cultural and epistemic processes. Such approaches, however, have comparatively underexplored pre-colonial South Asian textual traditions. This article examines the construction of childhood through the lens of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), with particular reference to the Bhāgavata Purāṇa. It argues that the text presents childhood not simply as a period of biological immaturity preceding adulthood but as a distinctive ethical, epistemic, relational and spiritual condition. Through close readings of the narratives of Dhruva and Prahlāda, the article investigates childhood agency, pedagogical relationships, knowledge transmission, ethical formation and the child's relationship with adult authority. Dhruva's transformation from an emotionally wounded child into an autonomous spiritual seeker demonstrates the relationship between vulnerability, mentorship and self-cultivation. Prahlāda's educational experience is even more significant: although formally positioned as a pupil, he becomes an interpreter and transmitter of knowledge and teaches his fellow children. The article proposes the concept of ‘epistemic childhood agency’ to describe this textual configuration. By bringing the Bhāgavata Purāṇa into dialogue with contemporary Childhood Studies and IKS discourse, the study argues that Indic textual traditions offer a culturally situated model in which education seeks not merely cognitive development but the integrated formation of knowledge, character, discernment and ethical responsibility. The paper nevertheless avoids romanticising the pre-modern past and acknowledges the plurality, hierarchy and exclusions present in historical Indic societies. | |
| 47 |
Author(s):
Rakesh Kumar.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Political Science
Page No:
517-525 |
One Nation, One Election: The Future of Indian ElectionsAbstractIn any democratic system, the main feature is to have periodic elections through which the representatives of the people are elected to run the government. Indian democracy operates on the same principle, with elections held every five years at the national, state, and local levels of government. The concept of “One Nation, One Election” (ONOE) stands for simultaneous elections. This proposed change to the election system aims to hold simultaneous elections to reduce election costs and the frequency of elections. Proponents of ONOE argue that this initiative will reduce significant cost and election frequency, which will result in better governance and uninterrupted policymaking. While critics, on the other hand, raise concerns regarding legal, logistical, and constitutional problems, along with voters’ fatigue in electing candidates and sideline of regional issues. This analysis exemplifies other international standings on simultaneous elections, such as South Africa, Sweden, Germany and Indonesia. This study is crucial to understanding the features of ONOE and its purpose. This study focuses on ‘One Nation, One Election’ along with its importance, feasibility, advantages, difficulties and campaign cost reduction. | |