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This paper examines the link between a mother's autonomy—the freedom and ability to think, express, make decisions and act independently—and the nutritional status of her children. We treat 'autonomy' as a latent variable, and design a novel statistical framework to measure this. This method allows us to separate the direct associations of maternal and family characteristics in our model for nutrition, from their indirect associations that work through maternal autonomy. Using data from India, we explore the sensitivity of our estimates to endogeneity caused by sample selection in the presence of son preference. We find: (i) a one standard deviation (SD) higher autonomy score is associated with a 0.16 SD higher height‐for‐age z‐score (HAZ score); and (ii) a 10% lower prevalence of stunting (HAZ < −2 SD). The latter is equivalent to the prevention of approximately 300,000 children stunting, indicating the important role of maternal autonomy. This paper is part of the Economica 100 Series. Economica, the LSE "house journal" is now 100 years old. To commemorate this achievement, we are publishing 100 papers by former students, as well as current and former faculty. Wiji Arulampalam obtained her PhD from the LSE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme has been the central focus of the POSHAN Abhiyaan to combat maternal and child malnutrition under the national nutrition mission in India. This paper examined the linkages between utilization of ICDS and underweight among children aged 6–59 months. The study utilized data from two recent rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS‐4 [2015–2016] and NFHS‐5 [2019–2021]). Descriptive analyses were used to assess the change in utilization of ICDS and the prevalence of underweight at the national and state levels. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to examine factors associated with the utilization of ICDS and underweight. Linkages between utilization of ICDS and underweight were examined using the difference‐in‐differences (DID) approach. Utilization of ICDS increased from 58% in 2015–2016 to 71% in 2019–2021. The prevalence of underweight decreased from 37% to 32% in the same period. Changes in ICDS utilization and underweight prevalence varied considerably across states, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Results from decomposition of DID models suggest that improvements in ICDS explained 9%–12% of the observed reduction in underweight children between 2016 and 2021, suggesting that ICDS made a modest but meaningful contribution in addressing undernutrition among children aged 6–59 months in this period. Key messages: Utilization of ICDS services among children aged 6–59 months increased from 58% (2015–2016) to 71% (2019–2021) nationally. The programme's expansion was prominent in urban areas, showcasing progress across states.The prevalence of underweight among children in India declined by 5 percentage points from 2016 to 2021, but almost one‐third of children are still underweight.Increase in coverage and service delivery strengthening of ICDS explained 9%–12% of the observed reduction in underweight between 2016 and 2021.The findings suggest that optimizing quality of interventions under ICDS can have a modest but meaningful contribution in reducing childhood underweight in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both diabetes mellitus (DM) and tuberculosis (TB) are prevalent all across in India. TB‐DM comorbidity has emerged as a syndemic and needs more attention in India considering gaps in screening, clinical care, and research. This paper is intended to review published literature on TB and DM in India to understand the burden of the dual epidemic and its trajectory and to obtain perspectives on the gaps, constraints, and challenges in care and treatment of this dual epidemic. A literature search was carried out on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using the key words 'Tuberculosis' OR 'TB' AND 'Diabetes' OR 'Diabetes Mellitus' AND 'India', focusing on the research published between the year 2000 to 2022. The prevalence of DM is high in patients with TB. Quantitative data on the epidemiological situation of TB/DM in India such as incidence, prevalence, mortality, and management are lacking. During the last 2 years convergence of TB‐DM syndemic with the COVID‐19 pandemic has increased cases with uncontrolled DM but also made coordinated control of TB‐DM operationally difficult and of low effectiveness. Research regarding TB‐DM comorbidity is required in the context of epidemiology and management. Detection and bidirectional screening are aggressively warranted. Management of DM in those with TB‐DM comorbidity needs more efforts, including training and supervision of frontline workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of the goals and targets specified by the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Target 3, often referred to as "30 × 30," has garnered widespread attention globally. In this paper, we critique India's potential to meet this target. We find that with its vast network of ecosystems that are under some form of protection and through the recognition of other effective area‐based conservation measures sites, India has the potential to meet the quantitative target of conserving and managing at least 30% of its area by 2030. However, the qualitative attributes of the target might be more difficult to realize owing to several challenges, such as inadequate landscape connectivity, insufficient representation of habitats in the current protected area model, and the exacerbation of socioeconomic vulnerabilities of resource‐dependent communities. To achieve strategic, inclusive, and equitable conservation, we suggest a four‐pronged approach involving landscape‐level biodiversity conservation, socially just and collaborative safeguarding of biodiversity, and relevant policy (re)formulation, informed and underlain by long‐term research and impact monitoring. Although we focus on India, the issues we discuss are of broader relevance, especially for countries across the Global South that are also likely to be significantly impacted by the implementation of the target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental education has the potential to help reduce negative human–wildlife interactions by increasing positive attitudes toward wildlife and providing participants with knowledge and skills that can help mitigate conflict situations and promote safety. To promote positive human–wildlife relationships, effective programs could be implemented widely in areas near remote wildlife reserves and protected areas. We created and evaluated a new environmental education program for 10‐ to 13‐year‐old students in rural schools in India where human–wildlife conflicts with large mammals frequently occur. Between July 2019 and March 2020, we tested the program at 129 schools, reaching 4331 students. The program, which was iteratively designed to fit the local context, is both cost‐effective and scalable. We found that participation in the program resulted in a significant positive increase in local environmental knowledge, in knowledge of safe behaviors, and in some measures of environmental attitudes. This paper reports on the lessons learned while creating this program that may help other organizations interested in using environmental education in regions where negative human–wildlife interactions frequently occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cornerstone of conservation policy for endangered species subject to illegal harvest involves estimating their population and offtake numbers. Census enumerations are expensive to conduct on nationwide scales, especially in resource‐constrained countries housing such species. Resource and data limitations necessitate the estimation of population counts. The effect of poaching on species recruitment is often ignored in scientific population projections. Estimation of population counts should account for the interactive feedback between harvest and recruitment. Data on tiger population sizes and poaching from 51 reserves in India between 1994 and 2022 were obtained to calibrate a coupled ecological‐economic model of tiger population dynamics and poaching. Cobb–Douglas harvest functions with differing degrees of concavity and scale economies are used to characterize the economics of poaching. Population dynamics are evaluated using exponential and critical depensation growth functions. The predictive abilities of linked models and their parameter parsimony are evaluated using information criteria. Poaching is shown to substantially affect recruitment dynamics and is best characterized by a Schaefer function coupled with critical depensation growth. This paper provides a novel perspective of the interaction between tiger poaching and population dynamics in India. A systematic understanding of coupled ecological‐economic processes would improve the management of high‐value endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the long‐term effects of population and GDP changes requires a multisectoral and regional understanding of the coupled human‐Earth system, as the long‐term evolution of this coupled system is influenced by human decisions and the Earth system. This study investigates the impact of compounding economic and population growth uncertainties on long‐term multisectoral outcomes. We use the Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM) to explore the influence of compounding and feedback between future GDP and population growth on four key sectors: final energy consumption, water withdrawal, staple food prices, and CO2 emissions. The results show that uncertainties in GDP and population compound, resulting in a magnification of tail risks for outcomes across sectors and regions. Compounding uncertainties significantly impact metrics such as CO2 emissions and final energy consumption, particularly at the upper tail at both global and regional levels. However, the impact of staple food prices and water withdrawal depends on regional factors. Additionally, an alternative low‐carbon transition scenario could compound uncertainties and increase tail risk, particularly in staple food prices, highlighting the influence of emergent constraints on land availability and food‐energy competition for land use. The findings underscore the importance of considering and adequately accounting for compounding uncertainties in key drivers of multisectoral systems to enhance our comprehensive understanding of the complex nature of multisectoral systems. The paper provides valuable insights into the potential implications of compounding uncertainties. Plain Language Summary: Understanding how future population and economic growth changes could impact our energy, water, food, and environment requires looking across multiple sectors and regions. This is because these systems are all connected. For example, increasing population drives higher food demand but requires more energy and water to grow food. At the same time, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy through increased biofuel consumption can compete with food production for land resources. This study explored how uncertainties in future population and GDP growth could compound and interact to affect future energy use, water withdrawal, staple food prices, and carbon dioxide emissions. Using a model that connects all these systems, the study found that combined uncertainties in population and GDP lead to more significant risks of extreme outcomes than individually looking at those uncertainties. There are substantial regional differences in future outcomes, like higher uncertainty in food prices for India and West Africa compared to other regions. We highlight the need to consider multisector and multisystem interactions between uncertainties across different regions. Accounting for these compounding uncertainties provides valuable insights into potential risks, like higher extreme projections for food prices or water use. These insights are essential for long‐term planning in our connected human‐Earth system. Key Points: Long‐term implications of population and GDP changes on the coupled human‐Earth system focusing on multisectoral and regional understandingUncertainties in GDP and population growth can compound, resulting in more extreme outcomes for multisectoral systemsCompounding uncertainties differ by region and metrics; staple food prices and water withdrawal show significant regional variability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for vehicles in India is on a continuous rise, primarily attributed to increasing income levels. The Indian government has initiated steps to decarbonize the transport sector, offering incentives for alternate vehicles' adoption. This study introduces a qualitative framework, employing a causal structure to comprehend the dynamics of vehicle demand. The framework takes into account critical feedback loops that influence the demand for alternate vehicles and, consequently, the overall vehicle demand. The causal loop diagram for vehicle demand encompasses five key domains: socio‐economic development, infrastructure development, environmental awareness, fuel supply market and alternate vehicle technology. Notably, economic activity, urban sprawl, vehicle demand, alternate vehicle technology improvement, and the sustainability and fuel constraints linked with internal combustion engine vehicles emerge as the critical aspects governing the dynamics of the model. The leverage and intervention points influencing the vehicle demand are also identified. Further, based on the evolving interaction of the various reinforcing and balancing loops, this work identifies three distinct phases of the evolution of vehicle demand dynamics in India, namely, the emerging phase (2020–2040), the growth phase (2040–2060) and the stagnation phase (2060–2080). The paper discusses the crucial features of these phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores how restrictions of credit affect the turning point of the non‐linear relationship between financial performance and the environmental sustainability of manufacturing firms in India. Our results are in support of the inverted U‐shaped relationship between financial performance and environmental sustainability. The study builds upon an alternative long‐run specification, which avoids the non‐linear transformations of potentially non‐stationary regressors in panel estimation and finds evidence that the higher the firm's degree of credit constraints, the lower is its financial performance at the turning point, indicating the different finance‐sustainability paths across firms due to credit frictions. We also investigate the aforementioned relationship by considering the exporting potential of the firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment, development and abandonment and/or destruction of ancient civilizations were catalytically controlled by geomorphic features such as lakes and rivers and the climate. This paper examined the possible influence of tectonism and climate on six habitations of the ancient Vaigai River Basin civilization in South India, using multiple proxies such as grain size, geochronology and geochemistry of the sedimentary archives. The tectonic setting of the basin changed between the active margin and passive margin; the discriminant diagrams suggested varying provenance and changing climatic conditions over the mid‐ and‐late Holocene. Tectonic activism and quiescence, base‐level change in the channel morphology led to the burial/marooning of the first habitation surface. Overall, arid conditions were punctuated with catastrophic flooding and peak discharge (flood) destroyed the second, third and fourth habitation sites. These flooding events were characterized by moderate weathering (CIA) and high values of Al, Fe and Rb/Sr and low Ca/Mg in the sediment records. The abandonment/destruction of the fifth habitation also occurred during an arid interval (droughts), possibly caused by weak monsoon. Along with the interactions between tectono‐climatic and fluvial geomorphic factors, the new results provided avenues to (a) check and recognize the archives for 8.2 and 4.2 ka‐like events in this part of the world, and (b) the utility of integrated analyses to constrain on the civilizational histories of the mankind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years concerns have been raised regarding the environmental consequences of over-use of nitrogen fertilizers on a global level. However, the balance between sustainability and agricultural productivity, a central concern for policy makers in developing countries, has not been sufficiently addressed. In this paper, I evaluate farmers' fertilization practices and their effect on yield using unique plot level data from India. I estimate quadratic crop response functions for different crops and cropping systems. To address endogenous input choices, I use input prices and cost shifters from the fertilizer industry as instrumental variables for the fertilization practice. I find that a large share of Indian cultivators overuse nitrogen relative to the other two nutrients, and could benefit from simply reducing the amount of nitrogen used while keeping the other nutrients fixed. This suggests a potential win-win situation where both productivity and sustainability can be improved by changing fertilizer application. The widespread "nitrogen-only" fertilization pattern is rejected as optimal in most cases. [EconLit Citations: Q12, Q15, Q16, E23, C26, C14]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the relationship between land revenue systems and returns to agricultural labour in colonial India. I provide the first district‐level comparative estimates of agricultural labour returns relative to average income, on the basis of wage/income ratios for 1916. I then use those estimates to analyse the impact of the land revenue systems established by the British colonial authorities. Results show that districts with a larger proportion of non‐landlord land revenue systems presented higher relative wages, closer to the average income. This effect was mainly driven by differences in land concentration connected to the type of landownership introduced by land revenue systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Service offshoring raises the fear of job loss for high‐skilled workers, unlike goods offshoring, because workers at home compete with highly educated workers in low‐income countries. This paper examines whether the increase in the United States's service offshoring to India has reduced the domestic employment of the occupations with greater exposure to Indian service imports. To account for endogeneity, I instrument for the growth of the United States's service imports from India by exploiting the change in Indian exports to European countries. Service offshoring reduces total employment from 2000 to 2006; however, this effect disappears overall and becomes positive for college‐educated workers in the later period from 2006 to 2016. Unlike goods offshoring, the employment effect is largely driven by college‐educated workers, and the employment growth in the later period is larger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LINKED CONTENT: This article is linked to Prabhakar et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17892 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17903 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LINKED CONTENT: This article is linked to Prabhakar et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17892 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17921 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To achieve epidemic control of infectious diseases, engaging higher‐burden populations with accessible diagnostic services is critical. HIV self‐testing (HIVST) is a promising option. Methods: We implemented an online HIVST programme for key populations across India. Eligible clients were 18 years or older, self‐reported a negative or unknown HIV status and reported not taking antiretroviral therapy. Clients who reported a prior HIV diagnosis were not eligible to receive an HIVST kit. HIVST clients received kits via courier or in person at pre‐determined pick‐up points supported by trained counselling staff. Virtual counsellors engaged clients online and by phone and offered support to register, access, and complete HIVST free of cost. Virtual counsellors supported clients to report results and engage with follow‐up services. Follow‐up included linking clients with a positive result to confirmatory testing and HIV care services. We assessed programmatic data across HIV continuum outcomes and conducted a qualitative evaluation through interviews with purposively sampled clients. Results: Between 30 June 2021 and 30 September 2022, 5324 clients ordered an HIVST kit (76% men, 13% women, 7% transgender people, 4% unknown gender). Of the 4282 clients reporting results (94% of those who received a kit), 6% screened positive, among whom 72% (n = 184) completed confirmatory testing. Themes from 41 client interviews included satisfaction about the convenience and privacy of services and the discreet nature of kit delivery. Respondents were drawn to the convenience of HIVST and appreciated gaining courage and comfort throughout the process from virtual counsellor support. For respondents who screened positive, challenges to care linkage included fearing judgemental questions from public providers and wanting more time before starting treatment. Clients shared concerns about kit accuracy and suggested that instructional materials be provided with more diverse language options. Conclusions: Web‐based HIVST services with tailored support appeared to facilitate HIV service access and engagement of harder‐to‐reach populations across India. Assistance from a community‐oriented counsellor proved important to overcome literacy barriers and mistrust in order to support the HIVST process and service linkage. Learnings can inform global efforts to improve the critical step of diagnosis in achieving epidemic control for HIV and other infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Professor Rajeev K. Varshney's transformative impact on crop genomics, genetics, and agriculture is the result of his passion, dedication, and unyielding commitment to harnessing the potential of genomics to address the most pressing challenges faced by the global agricultural community. Starting from a small town in India and reaching the global stage, Professor Varshney's academic and professional trajectory has inspired many scientists active in research today. His ground‐breaking work, especially his effort to list orphan tropical crops to genomic resource‐rich entities, has been transformative. Beyond his scientific achievements, Professor Varshney is recognized by his colleagues as an exemplary mentor, fostering the growth of future researchers, building institutional capacity, and strengthening scientific capability. His focus on translational genomics and strengthening seed system in developing countries for the improvement of agriculture has made a tangible impact on farmers' lives. His skills have been best utilized in roles at leading research centres where he has applied his expertise to deliver a new vision for crop improvement. These efforts have now been recognized by the Royal Society with the award of the Fellowship (FRS). As we mark this significant milestone in his career, we not only celebrate Professor Varshney's accomplishments but also his wider contributions that continue to transform the agricultural landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insufficient progress in the development of national highways and state highways, coupled with a lack of public awareness regarding road safety, has resulted in prevalent traffic congestion and a high rate of accidents. Understanding the dominant and contributing factors that may influence road traffic accident severity is essential. This study identified the primary causes and the most significant target‐specific causative factors for road accident severity. A modified partitioning around medoids model determined the dominant road accident features. These clustering algorithms will extract hidden information from the road accident data and generate new features for our implementation. Then, the proposed method is compared with the other state‐of‐the‐art clustering techniques with three performance metrics: the silhouette coefficient, the Davies–Bouldin index, and the Calinski–Harabasz index. This article's main contribution is analyzing six different scenarios (different angles of the problem) concerning grievous and non‐injury accidents. This analysis provides deeper insights into the problem and can assist transport authorities in Tamil Nadu, India, in deriving new rules for road traffic. The output of different scenarios is compared with hierarchical clustering, and the overall clustering of the proposed method is compared with other clustering algorithms. Finally, it is proven that the proposed method outperforms other recently developed techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As both the population and economic output of India continue to grow, so does its demand for electricity. Coupled with an increasing determination to transition to net zero, India has responded to this rising demand by rapidly expanding its installed renewable capacity: an increase of 60% in the last 5 years has been driven largely by a quintupling of installed solar capacity. In this study, we use broad variety of data sources to quantify potential and realized capacity over India from 1979 to 2022. For potential capacity, we identify spatiotemporal patterns in solar, wind, hydro and wave power. We show that solar capacity factor is relatively homogeneous across India, except over the western Himalaya, and is highest during the pre‐monsoon. Wind capacity factor is highest during the summer monsoon, and has high values off the southern coast, along the Western Ghats, and in Gujarat. We argue that wave power could be a useful source of renewable energy for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which are not connected to the main Indian power grid. Using gridded estimates of existing installed capacity combined with our historical capacity factor dataset, we create a simple but effective renewable production model. We use this model to identify weaknesses in the existing grid—particularly a lack of complementarity between wind and solar production in north India, and vulnerability to high‐deficit generation in the winter. We discuss potential avenues for future renewable investment to counter existing seasonality problems, principally offshore wind and high‐altitude solar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosing extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is challenging. Immunohistochemistry or immunocytochemistry has been used to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) by detection of MPT64 antigen from various extrapulmonary specimens and has shown good diagnostic performance in our previous studies. The test can distinguish between disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) complex and nontuberculous mycobacteria and can be applied on formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissue. As the antibodies previously used were in limited supply, a new batch of polyclonal antibodies was developed for scale‐up and evaluated for the first time in this study. Our aim was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the MPT64 test with reproduced antibodies in the high burden settings of Pakistan and India. Patients were enrolled prospectively. Samples from suspected sites of infection were collected and subjected to histopathologic and/or cytologic evaluation, routine TB diagnostics, GeneXpert MTB/RIF (Xpert), and the MPT64 antigen detection test. Patients were followed until the end of treatment. Based on a composite reference standard (CRS), 556 patients were categorized as TB cases and 175 as non‐TB cases. The MPT64 test performed well on biopsies with a sensitivity and specificity of 94% and 75%, respectively, against a CRS. For cytology samples, the sensitivity was low (36%), whereas the specificity was 81%. Overall, the MPT64 test showed higher sensitivity (73%) than Xpert (38%) and Mtb culture (33%). The test performed equally well in adults and children. We found an additive diagnostic value of the MPT64 test in conjunction with histology and molecular tests, increasing the yield for EPTB. In conclusion, immunochemical staining with MPT64 antibodies improves the diagnosis of EPTB in high burden settings and could be a valuable addition to routine diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to identify clusters of health behaviors and study their associations with cardiometabolic risk factors in adults at high risk for type 2 diabetes in India. Methods: Baseline data from the Kerala Diabetes Prevention Program (n = 1000; age 30–60 years) were used for this study. Information on physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, fruit and vegetable intake, sleep, and alcohol and tobacco use was collected using questionnaires. Blood pressure, waist circumference, 2‐h plasma glucose, high‐density lipoprotein and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured using standardized protocols. Latent class analysis was used to identify clusters of health behaviors, and multilevel mixed‐effects linear regression was employed to examine their associations with cardiometabolic risk factors. Results: Two classes were identified, with 87.4% of participants in class 1 and 12.6% in class 2. Participants in both classes had a high probability of not engaging in leisure‐time PA (0.80 for class 1; 0.73 for class 2) and consuming <5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day (0.70 for class 1; 0.63 for class 2). However, participants in class 1 had a lower probability of sitting for >=3 h per day (0.26 vs 0.42), tobacco use (0.10 vs 0.75), and alcohol use (0.08 vs 1.00) compared to those in class 2. Class 1 had a significantly lower mean systolic blood pressure (β = −3.70 mm Hg, 95% confidence interval [CI] −7.05, −0.36), diastolic blood pressure (β = −2.45 mm Hg, 95% CI −4.74, −0.16), and triglycerides (β = −0.81 mg/dL, 95% CI −0.75, −0.89). Conclusion: Implementing intervention strategies, tailored to cluster‐specific health behaviors, is required for the effective prevention of cardiometabolic disorders among high‐risk adults for type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uttar Pradesh, with a population of 237 million, is the largest agrarian state in India, located in the Indo‐Gangetic plains. Rice cultivation is widespread across all districts of Uttar Pradesh, which have varying climate regimes, irrigation infrastructures, crop management practices, and farm sizes. The state is characterized by different agroecological zones (AEZs) with semi‐arid to sub‐humid climates with significant variability in monsoon rainfall. In this study, the impact of climate change on Kharif‐season rice is estimated using crop‐climate scenarios in Uttar Pradesh. A process‐based Crop Simulation Model, Crop Estimation through Resource and Environment Synthesis‐Rice, was simulated with bias‐corrected and downscaled climate data for historical (1995–2014) and three future periods (the 2030s, 2050s, and 2090s) for two mitigation pathways (SSP2‐4.5 and SSP5‐8.5) from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6. Phenology, irrigation amount, crop evapotranspiration, yield, and water use efficiency were evaluated and assessed for all AEZs. Based on the ensemble of 16 climate models, rainfed rice yield increased in the AEZs of western Uttar Pradesh due to increased rainfall, while in eastern Uttar Pradesh yield decreased, under both shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs). Irrigated rice yield decreased in all AEZs under both SSPs due to an increase in temperature and a decrease in the length of the growing period, with reductions of up to 20% by the 2090s. Irrigation requirements decreased from the 2030s to the 2090s due to increased rainfall and decreased crop evapotranspiration. Despite the projected increase in rainfed yield, the overall rice yield is expected to decrease in the future under both SSPs. Plain Language Summary: Uttar Pradesh is the most populated state in India, with most of the population working in the agriculture sector and having a low income. The state's vulnerability to climate change is high due to inadequate infrastructure and heavy dependence on agriculture. Rice is a crucial crop for the state, but this study shows that climate change will decrease rice yields in the future, especially for irrigated rice, due to higher temperatures and shorter growing seasons. While rainfed rice yields may increase in some regions due to increased rainfall, rice production is expected to decline overall. Key Points: Rice yield (combining irrigated and rainfed) in Uttar Pradesh, India, is projected to decrease in the future for SSP2‐4.5 and SSP5‐8.5With a projected increase in rainfall, rainfed rice yield increases in rainfall deficit zones, and irrigation decreases under both shared socioeconomic pathwaysPlanting in the early season could reduce the amount of yield loss for irrigated rice [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The understanding of the impact of nitrogen (N) fertilization on the field water cycle and corresponding water use efficiency (WUE) is very important for optimizing fertilization rates and conserving stressed water resources. We modeled soil moisture dynamics of maize (Zea mays L.), finger millet (Eleusine coracana Gaertn.), and lablab [Lablab purpureus (L..) Sweet] plots using calibrated HYDRUS‐1D model on two experimental sites (rain‐fed and irrigated) for three seasons under different N treatments. The results indicate that the effects of N depended on plant specific properties such as N‐fixation and drought tolerance, and on plant available water content governed by soil structure and rainfall seasonal variability. Maize WUE of plots which received 150 kg/ha of urea (46 %$\%$ N) were 10–30 kg/ha/mm higher than plots which received none; likewise, millet that received 50 kg/ha of urea had a 7–10 kg/ha/mm higher WUE than control plots in both experiments. However, differences in water cycle components were noticeable between N treatments only in the rain‐fed experiment, where higher N levels led to around 60 and 30 mm higher transpiration, 30 and 20 mm lower evaporation, and 30 and 15 mm lower percolation per season for maize and millet, respectively. In 2018, which was the driest year, the difference in maize WUE between the high and low N treatments was only 1 kg/ha/mm, which corresponded with low actual to potential transpiration ratios (<50%$<\!50\%$). This indicates higher sensitivity of maize to water stress compared to the other crops. The results of lablab indicate a positive impact of N fertilization on WUE only under water‐limited conditions. Core Ideas: HYDRUS models calibrated and validated based on soil moisture of minimum three soil profiles per crop per treatment.Transpiration reduction was calculated as a proxy for water stress and used to distinguish between nitrogen (N) and water stress effect.Favorable soil conditions such as good pH and water availability appear to minimize N effect on field water cycle.Precipitation amounts and plant‐specific properties interact to determine how N affects water balance and water use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinematics and deformation pattern along the Altyn Tagh fault (ATF), one of the largest strike‐slip faults on Earth is of great significance for understanding the growth of the Tibetan Plateau. However, the initial rupture along the ATF remains debated given the limited constraints on the depositional age of associated Cenozoic syntectonic strata. Here we investigated the syntectonic Cenozoic strata in the Xorkol Basin, associated with the strike‐slip faulting along the ATF. New uranium‐lead analyses of the carbonate deposits in the Paleogene strata yield dates of 58.9 ± 1.29 Ma, representing the initial rupture of the ATF. This first documented radioisotopic age coincides with the ca. 60 Ma onset timing of India‐Asia collision, highlighting its far‐field effect at the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. We infer that the deformation of the entire Tibetan Plateau started synchronously with the India‐Asia collision. Plain Language Summary: Carbonate U‐Pb dating techniques applied to rocks associated with the Altyn Tagh fault, a major fault in North Tibet, reveal that the fault started slipping about 58.9 million years ago, coinciding with the time when India collided with Asia. This finding provides new constraints on when and where this fault formed and suggests that the northern Tibetan Plateau started deformation earlier than previously thought. This result emphasizes that the entire Tibetan Plateau deformed simultaneously in the early Cenozoic. Key Points: Calcite U‐Pb dating yields ca. 59 Ma age for carbonate strata in the East Xorkol BasinXorkol Basin was a pull‐apart basin during the Paleocene due to the left‐lateral strike‐slip faulting along the Altyn Tagh faultWidespread Paleocene‐Eocene tectonism in Northern Tibet highlights the far‐field effect of the India‐Asia collision [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the seismic noise data collected from coastal and inland observatories in India, affected by the super cyclonic storm Amphan in the Indian Ocean, to understand the storm dynamics. Prominent disturbances in the 0.05–0.50 Hz frequency range were observed at the seismic stations, arising due to ocean‐continent interactions. The coastal stations displayed more pronounced ground motions contrary to the inland stations, with spindle‐shaped seismic wave envelopes intensifying as Amphan approached. The maximum ground displacements and energy occurred hours after the cyclone's eye, with maximum wind speed, moved away from the stations and not when it was close to the station. We observed significant variations in primary (0.05–0.10 Hz) and secondary microseism (0.10–0.50 Hz) energy during Amphan's directional changes. Secondary microseisms in short and long periods were found at 0.20–0.50 Hz and 0.10–0.20 Hz, respectively. Primary microseisms exhibited a simple pattern and were the weakest among the three energy bands. The CAL seismic station's seismic wave envelope showed an en‐echelon feature with increasing amplitude as Amphan approached, indicating the influence of ocean resonance and coastal wave reflection. This study demonstrates monitoring of the tropical cyclone paths based on seismic signatures obtained using microseisms recorded at seismic stations, a cost‐effective tool. Integrating these seismic signals with atmospheric observations in near real‐time would probably enable an effective monitoring of cyclones and timely issuance of their alerts. Key Points: Monitor the Super Cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal using Coastal seismological ObservatoriesSecondary microseisms in the short and long periods were found at 0.20–0.50 Hz and 0.10–0.20 HzMicroseisms recorded at seismic stations can be potential source of information for cyclone tracking [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether tectonic strain from the early stage India‐Asia collision has synchronously affected the far‐field margin of the Tibetan Plateau is crucial for understanding plateau deformation and growth processes. However, direct evidence for early far‐field deformation remains scarce. Utilizing illite K‐Ar dating of three fault gouge samples, we established the faulting history of the Leibo fault zone (LFZ) at the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau (SEMTP). Consistent authigenic illite ages of 52 ± 2, 54 ± 12 and 55 ± 6 Ma suggest the reactivated thrust faulting of the LFZ in the Early Cenozoic. Positioned ∼700 km east of the collisional boundary and at the intersection of three blocks with distinct lithospheric rheology in strength/viscosity, this event suggests a quasi‐synchronous far‐field tectonic response in the SEMTP to the India‐Asia collision. Plain Language Summary: Understanding how tectonic strain resulting from the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates in the Early Cenozoic can spread to the edges of the Tibetan Plateau is crucial for comprehending the plateau's tectonic development. To investigate this question, we used fault gouge, which resulted from the sliding of brittle faults, to directly reveal faulting information. By conducting illite K‐Ar dating on three samples from the Leibo fault zone (LFZ) at the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau (SEMTP), we found consistent ages of newly formed illite, 52 ± 2, 54 ± 12, and 55 ± 6 million years ago. Since this type of minerals form simultaneously with faulting, these ages reveal a reactivated thrust faulting event of the LFZ, suggesting a nearly simultaneous response of faulting in the SEMTP to the early stage of the India‐Asia collision. Key Points: Fault gouge illite K‐Ar dating is used to establish the faulting history of the Leibo fault zone, SE margin of the Tibetan PlateauThree consistent authigenic illite ages of ∼55, ∼54, and ∼52 Ma suggest a reactivated thrust faulting event of the Leibo fault zoneThis event indicates a quasi‐synchronous far‐field response of the SE margin of the Tibetan Plateau to the India‐Asia collision [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current knowledge suggests a drought Indian monsoon (perhaps a severe one) when the El Nino Southern Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation each exhibit positive phases (a joint positive phase). For the monsoons, which are exceptions in this regard, we found northeast India often gets excess pre‐monsoon rainfall. Further investigation reveals that this excess pre‐monsoon rainfall is produced by the interaction of the large‐scale circulation associated with the joint phase with the mountains in northeast India. We posit that a warmer troposphere, a consequence of excess rainfall over northeast India, drives a stronger monsoon circulation and enhances monsoon rainfall over central India. Hence, we argue that pre‐monsoon rainfall over northeast India can be used for seasonal monsoon rainfall prediction over central India. Most importantly, its predictive value is at its peak when the Pacific Ocean exhibits a joint positive phase and the threat of extreme drought monsoon looms over India. Plain Language Summary: Monsoon brings rain over India. But some years are droughts. These drought monsoon years are historically associated with warmer sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the eastern Pacific and cooler SST in the northern Pacific. This motivated scientists to predict drought monsoons when we observe a warm eastern and cold northern Pacific Ocean. However, in some years, the monsoon is not drought despite the SST anomalies in the Pacific suggesting so. We find that, in such years, rainfall over northeastern India during pre‐monsoon months is often excessive. So we argue that when the Pacific Ocean state suggests a drought monsoon over India (central region) but if pre‐monsoon rainfall over northeastern India is excessive, then we can rely less on the drought signal of the Pacific Ocean. Key Points: Pre‐monsoon rainfall over northeastern India is a potential indicator of false alarms of monsoon drought over central Indian regionAssociation between northeastern India pre‐monsoon rainfall and monsoon rainfall over central India oscillates multidecadallySea surface temperature anomalies in the Pacific are a key driver of pre‐monsoon rainfall over the northeastern India [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imphal Valley, situated in Manipur, India, stands as an intermontane valley of great ecological significance, notably hosting Loktak Lake. This research delves into the Land Use Land Cover Change (LULCC) within the Imphal Valley from 2016 to 2021 and assesses their impact on air quality across distinct land cover types. We used Sentinel‐1 & 2 data, ALOS PALSAR Digital Elevation Model, and applied Random Forest (RF), a machine learning algorithm for effective land use and land cover (LULC) mapping. Additionally, Sentinel‐5P data was utilized to monitor air quality parameters (CO, HCHO, NO2, SO2, Aerosol Index) spanning 2019 to 2021. The overall accuracies for the LULC maps employing a k (k = 3) fold approach for accuracy assessment varied between 88% and 92%, with corresponding Kappa coefficient ranging from 0.85 to 0.90. Noteworthy trends emerged from our analysis, revealing an increase in settlements and horticulture farms and a decline in forested areas and phumdis (floating biomass). Our findings highlight a mean concentration of CO ranging between 0.045 mol/m2 and 0.055 mol/m2 in different land cover types during February and March (2019–2021). Furthermore, we observed maximum mean HCHO, NO2, SO2, and aerosol index concentrations in March. Pollution levels surged during forest fires and shifting agriculture seasons, while aerosol levels declined during the lockdown period. This integrated approach emphasized on the comprehensive analysis of the dynamic interplay between LULCC and air quality in the Imphal Valley. This intricate relationship between LULC changes and air quality dynamics in the Imphal Valley, contribute to our understanding of the environmental dynamics in this ecologically vital region. Plain Language Summary: This research article titled "ML based Hybrid Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Optical LULC Mapping and change analysis with variations in air quality of the Imphal Valley, North‐East India" investigates LULC changes in the Imphal Valley from 2016 to 2021 and their impact on air quality (2019–2021). It employs SAR images, Sentinel 2 satellite images, and topographic features to map LULC using a RF Machine Learning Classifier. The study reveals changes in land cover types and their influence on pollutant concentrations, utilizing Sentinel 5P data for air quality monitoring. The integration of Sentinel data and topographic features enhances the accuracy of the analysis. Key Points: We mapped land use and land cover from 2016 to 2021 using Sentinel 1 and Sentinel 2 data sets with the Random Forest ML Algorithm of Imphal Valley located in Manipur, India and analyzed air quality parametersThere was a significant increase in settlement and a substantial decrease in Phumdis, Vegetation, and PaddyThe air quality was found to be adversely affected from January to April (2019, 2020, and 2021) owing to forest fires caused possibly due to shifting cultivation practices [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: Preserving and conserving crop landraces, tended by indigenous farming communities, is crucial for future food security. This research focused on rice landrace diversity in the north‐eastern Himalayan region of Nagaland, India, where Naga communities cultivate rice according to their dietary and cultural preferences. Rice diversity is closely linked to the region's ethnolinguistic and ecological variety. On‐farm conservation, in collaboration with indigenous communities, is imperative to protect these germplasm resources. Involving these communities actively in conservation efforts will safeguard their traditional knowledge, endorse sustainable farming practices, and enhance the resilience of local agricultural systems. Summary: Understanding the genetic diversity and cultural significance of crop landraces is crucial for their conservation and sustainable utilization. This study focused on rice landraces from Nagaland in north‐eastern India to assess their genetic diversity and explore their associations with ethnolinguistic groups.We collected 78 rice landraces from Nagaland and a small part of Manipur and conducted microsatellite genotyping for genetic analysis. We integrated social anthropology and population genetics analyses of rice landraces to glean insights into the genetic diversity, population structure, and ethnolinguistic history of rice cultivation in Nagaland.The study revealed the rich cultural significance of rice landraces among the Nagas. Farmers practiced small‐scale subsistence farming, maintaining diverse rice landraces. Naming conventions were based on factors such as seed source, color, grain type, and ecological suitability. Rice landraces played important roles in ethnic cultures, festivals, and religious ceremonies. Genetic analysis identified significant diversity, with 277 alleles across 69 loci and a moderate gene diversity of 0.57. Two distinct sub‐populations were identified, with one dominated by Chakhesang and Angami Nagas and the other by Sümi and Lotha accessions. Differentiation was observed between lowland and upland cultivars, with one sub‐population comprising exclusively lowland varieties. Cultural factors and cultivation practices influenced population differentiation, with ethnicity and ecotype having a significant impact. The study also highlighted the correlation between ethnolinguistic differentiation and the indica–japonica structuring of rice landraces. Different ethnic groups in Nagaland had distinct cultivation practices, contributing to genetic differentiation.Overall, this research emphasizes the need to preserve rice landraces and associated traditional knowledge for future improvements and cultural heritage conservation. It provides insights into genetic diversity, cultural significance, and the relationship between genetic diversity, cultural practices, and agricultural traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐resolution present‐day earth surface deformation maps from satellites provide important data constraints, which help us better understand tectonic processes and analyze seismic hazards. Here, we use Sentinel‐1 Radar images (2014–2020) and accurate positioning measurements (2009–2019) to get a high‐resolution three‐dimensional earth surface velocity map for the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, and we invert the slip rate and coupling ratio of major regional faults. We find ∼4 mm/yr uplift along an arc from the Qilianshan to Lajishan, relative to the neighboring low‐elevation area to the east, which indicates ongoing rapid orogeny. We find transient deformation along the Laohushan and 1920 M8.5 Haiyuan rupture segments of the Haiyuan fault, whereas the western Haiyuan, southern Liupanshan, central Lajishan and central‐western West Qinling faults are essentially locked above 15–20 km, suggesting a potentially high seismic hazard. Plain Language Summary: The northeast Tibetan Plateau, which is impeded by the tectonically stable Ordos block, continues to grow in response to the far‐field India‐Eurasia collision. This region has several large‐scale active faults that hosted some destructive earthquakes in the last 100 years. Although intensively studied, the fault kinematics of those seismogenic faults are still not clear, mainly because of poor observational constraints. Hence, high‐resolution present‐day deformation maps are essential to answering this question, either of scientific or societal concern. We provide satellite‐based ground deformation rate maps with mm‐accuracy for this region. They show shallow fault creep along some segments of the Haiyuan fault which is better constrained than previous results, active tectonic uplift in the Lajishan. Our work gives new constraints for the seismic hazard for the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau case. Key Points: We derive a new high‐resolution three‐dimensional present‐day deformation map for the Northeastern Tibetan PlateauGeodetic data reveals ongoing rapid uplift along an accurate orogenic belt from the eastern Qilianshan and LajishanNew constraints for the seismic hazard analysis for the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The incidence of young‐onset oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is growing, even among non‐smokers/drinkers. The effects of adverse histopathological features on long‐term oncologic outcomes between the young and old are controversial and confounded by significant heterogeneity. Few studies have evaluated the socio‐economic impact of premature mortality from OSCC. Our study seeks to quantify these differences and their economic impact on society. Materials and Methods: Four hundred and seventy‐eight young (<45 years) and 1660 old patients (≥45 years) with OSCC were studied. Logistic regression determined predictors of recurrence and death. Survival analysis was calculated via the Kaplan–Meier method. A separate health economic analysis was conducted for India and Singapore. Years of Potential Productive Life Lost (YPPLL) were estimated with the Human Capital Approach, and premature mortality cost was derived using population‐level data. Results: Adverse histopathological features were seen more frequently in young OSCC: PNI (42.9% vs. 35%, p = 0.002), LVI (22.4% vs. 17.3%, p = 0.013) and ENE (36% vs. 24.5%, p < 0.001). Although 5‐year OS/DSS were similar, the young cohort had received more intensive adjuvant therapy (CCRT 26.9% vs. 16.6%, p < 0.001). Among Singaporean males, the premature mortality cost per death was US $396,528, and per YPPLL was US $45,486. This was US $397,402 and US $38,458 for females. Among Indian males, the premature mortality cost per death was US $30,641, and per YPPLL was US $595. This was US $ 21,038 and US $305 for females. Conclusion: Young‐onset OSCC is an aggressive disease, mitigated by the ability to receive intensive adjuvant treatment. From our loss of productivity analysis, the socio‐economic costs from premature mortality are substantial. Early cancer screening and educational outreach campaigns should be tailored to this cohort. Alongside, more funding should be diverted to genetic research, developing novel biomarkers and improving the efficacy of adjuvant treatment in OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sequential climate hazards, such as "warm and wet" compound extremes, have direct societal implications for highly urbanized regions and agricultural production. While typically extreme temperatures and rainfall are inversely correlated during the summer, extreme humid heatwaves often lead to atmospheric instability and moisture convection, increasing the likelihood of extreme precipitation (EP). Little is known about how heatwave characteristics, such as peak intensity and duration, influence EP at a regional scale. Using high‐resolution, sub‐daily station‐based observational records over five decades (1971–2021) across India, we find a robust increase in the frequency of compound humid heat‐peak precipitation events in all seasons. Our sensitivity analysis of the impact of humid heatwave characteristics on the subsequent sub‐daily rainfall extremes reveals that, with an increase in peak heatwave intensity for a given heatwave duration, >50% of sites show an increase in the magnitude of rainfall; conversely, with an increase in heatwave duration for a given peak heatwave intensity, around 67% sites show a decline in sub‐daily rainfall extremes. An asymmetrical shift toward above‐average precipitation extremes in response to humid heat stress is mainly clustered around low‐elevation, densely populated coastal areas and the irrigation‐intensive Indo‐Gangetic Plains. Plain Language Summary: Compound humid heatwave‐extreme rainfall events substantially impact society, as the sequential occurrence of such events has immense damage potential due to the limited recovery time compared to the situation where these events occur in isolation. Detecting spatiotemporal patterns in compound hot‐wet weather extremes is essential for disaster management, projecting future changes, and devising an early warning system for vulnerable populations. Using gauge‐based observations of more than five decades across India, we find a robust increase in the number of compound humid heatwave‐extreme precipitation events over climatologically homogeneous regions of India across all seasons. We analyze how the rainfall extremes depend on the characteristics of the preceding heatwave: we find that rainfall extremes increase with increasing heatwave intensity for more than 50% of sites; in contrast, rainfall extremes decrease with increasing heatwave duration for around 67% of sites. A shift toward higher rainfall in response to humid heat characteristics is apparent in densely populated coastal areas and irrigation‐dominated regions of the country. Key Points: We quantify the exceedance probability of sub‐daily rainfall peaks conditioned on preceding heatwavesA significant upward trend in the frequency of compound heatwave‐extreme precipitation events is detected across all seasonsSub‐daily rainfall peaks shows notable changes in their exceedance probability in response to changing heatwave properties [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In July 2022, self‐collection became universally available as part of Australia's National Cervical Screening Program. This change aims to address screening inequities experienced among underscreened populations, including women of Indian descent. This study explored experiences of cervical screening, alongside the acceptability of self‐collection, among women of Indian descent living in Victoria, Australia. We also aimed to articulate the informational needs to promote self‐collection among this population. Methods: Five focus group discussions with 39 women living in Victoria were conducted in English (n = 3) and Punjabi (n = 2). Transcripts were thematically analysed, as informed by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. Results: Women were motivated by the choice to self‐collect, perceiving the ability to maintain modesty and greater autonomy as key enablers. Healthcare practitioners were seen as central in supporting patient‐centred models of care. Perceived barriers to self‐collection included concerns around its accuracy and women's confidence in collecting their own sample. Widespread dissemination of culturally tailored promotion strategies communicating concepts such as 'privacy' and 'accuracy' were suggested by women to promote self‐collection. Conclusion: Self‐collection was highly acceptable among women of Indian descent, particularly when assured of its accuracy, and sociocultural norms and previous screening experiences are considered. This study highlights the huge potential that self‐collection can play in increasing equity in Australia's cervical screening programme. Patient or Public Contribution: Members of the public were involved in focus group discussions. Findings were summarised and disseminated via a poster. A bicultural worker was involved in all stages of the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice landraces conserved by tribal farmers are important for their nutritional richness. Landraces are rich in essential amino acids, vitamins, anthocyanins, and flavonoids useful to cure noncommunicable diseases and metabolic disorders. A study was carried out with 10 rice landraces from the tribal‐dominated belt of Southern Odisha to investigate grain nutrition, proximate composition, and vitamin and mineral contents. The protein content of the landraces was higher (>6 g/100 g) and the fat content was lower (<0.6 g/100 g) than popular Indian rice varieties. The mean nutrient content of 10 rice landraces was as follows: protein 6.3 ± 0.313 g/100 g, total dietary fiber 1.6 ± 0.094 g/100 g, fat 0.536 ± 0.008 g/100 g, ash 10.514 ± 6.753%, and total sugar 77.18 ± 2.118 g/100 g. The high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was observed for alkali spreading value (31.11%), capacity of grain hydration (52.705), index of hydration (171.439), moisture (46.343%), and vitamin B2 (23.994%) in rice landraces. Few landraces had superior iron content: Kalamalli (1.49 mg/100 g), Kandulakathi (1.42 mg/100 g), and Dudhamani (1.39 mg/100 g) compared to popular Indian rice varieties. Tikichudi had highest moisture (19%) and fat (0.53 g/100 g) content, which signifies the taste quality of rice. Kanakchudi exhibited the highest fiber content (1.8 g/100 g) and ash content (22.80%). Kalamalli contained higher zinc (0.49 mg/100 g), iron (1.49 mg/100 g), potassium (108.33 mg/100 g), magnesium (78.33 mg/100 g), and phosphorus (125.00 mg/100 g), whereas Muktabali was found to have higher Ca (3.88 mg/100 g) and Baunsidubraj exhibited higher niacin (4.9 mg/100 g). The indigenous landraces Kalamalli, Kandulakathi, and Dudhamani had considerably high iron content, whereas Kalamalli, Baunsidubraj, and Muktabali possessed less phytic acid in comparison with existing varieties and other landraces reported from various states of our country. Landraces Kalamalli, Kanakchudi, Tikichudi, and Muktabali from southern Odisha, India, represented nutritionally better genetic pool for future rice improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over one third of shark and ray (henceforth elasmobranch) species are threatened by global extinction. Overfishing, driven largely by human consumption of various products is a key threat to >95% of threatened elasmobranch species. The local consumption of elasmobranch meat is an emerging driver of these fisheries particularly in the Global South. Very little data exists on local elasmobranch meat consumption and restaurants offer a useful insight into patterns of consumption. We examined local elasmobranch consumption in India, which has the world's third highest elasmobranch catches. We surveyed 2649 seafood restaurants across 10 coastal states and found that two states alone accounted for 70% of all restaurants serving shark meat. Nine percent of all seafood restaurants advertised elasmobranch meat. 251.6 tonnes, equivalent to 9.8% of India's annual landings, is sold every year in India's restaurants. The drivers of these sales are local cultural affinities and regional cuisines, with evidence of new and evolving consumption pathways, in states like Goa. In Goa, the state with the highest prevalence of elasmobranch meat on restaurant menus, consumption by locals, as well as consumption of "baby sharks" by tourists was driving the demand for elasmobranch meat. Small‐bodied and juvenile sharks of threatened species are at risk from local meat consumption. Elasmobranch meat consumption can be reduced by targeting interventions in the regional hotspots of maximum consumption, substituting other types of seafood as alternatives in regional cuisines, bycatch reduction, increased price and seafood consumer awareness campaigns. Preliminary findings suggest that focusing on the health implications of eating species that concentrate heavy metals will produce the greatest decreases in elasmobranch meat sales at India's restaurants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on women empowerment highlights a positive correlation between work and decision‐making power of women within families. On the contrary, the role of work opportunities in letting women achieve greater control over their lives, making them more independent is also well‐established. In this background, we explore the effect of women employment on different dimensions of women empowerment by using a nationally representative household survey data, the Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS‐II, 2011–12). As "empowerment" is unobservable, multi‐faceted and difficult to quantify, we model it by an index which aggregates the qualitative answers provided by a respondent. Due to the presence of an endogenous relation, we exploit sources of exogenous variations in employment through an instrumental variable (IV) setup. Following the literature, we identify IV as the level of transport infrastructure in the region where a woman resides. We find that the estimated coefficients are positive and statistically significant, remaining robust to changes in empowerment calculation. In the context of public initiatives aimed at improving female labour force participation and empowering women in India, our results show how policymakers can look beyond standard policies and take the help of transport‐related initiatives to improve employment and empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]