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Background and Aims: Highly cited papers (HCPs) can influence both research and clinical practice. They help to identify core literature and important advances in a field. This study aimed to assess the current status and prospects of South Asia COVID-19 research from the HCPs using bibliometric indicators. Methodology: COVID-19 literature from South Asia published between December 2019 and 29 November 2023 in the Scopus database was analysed. The top HCPs, having more than 200 citations, were evaluated. Information about citation counts, authors and organisations and their affiliations, year of publication, source journal, geographical origin, subject, article type, funding details, etc. were retrieved and analysed. Data and visualisation analysis was undertaken using Microsoft Excel and other bibliometric software. Results: The 298 South Asia HCPs were published from 2020 to 2023 and were cited 200–3,596 times, with a mean average of 413.9 citations per paper (CPP). Around 24.5% and 51.3% of HCPs received external funding support and were involved in international collaboration, respectively. The most productive organisations were the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, and the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, while the most impactful organisations were Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, Mumbai, and Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute, Mumbai. The most productive journals were Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews. Conclusions: This study has identified core and significant authors, organisations, journals, subject fields and significant keywords, collaborators and funding agencies involved in South Asia's COVID-19 research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can be transmitted through vertical route from the mother to her child during the period of pregnancy, process of childbirth, or through the breastfeeding. This is still a worldwide health issue, especially in environments with low resources. Without intervention, the transmission rate ranges from 15 to 45%, influenced by breastfeeding practices. Effective interventions, including antiretroviral therapy (ART), can reduce the transmission likelihood to about 2% with breastfeeding and 1% without breastfeeding. A further expansion of access to prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services was made possible by the year 2011 through the Global Plan toward the Elimination of New HIV Infections among Children and Keeping their Mothers Alive. By 2022, there were 130,000 new HIV infections in children under five, down from 310,000 in 2010. Nevertheless, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Global Strategy to End AIDS's 2025 targets cannot be met with the current level of progress. To prevent new infections in children, pregnant and breastfeeding women with HIV must receive faster medical attention. This position paper discusses the primary prevention of HIV and the healthcare system's role in providing comprehensive care to HIV-positive women and their families. The continuum of care includes antenatal, intrapartum, post-delivery, and pediatric services, addressing the unique needs of each woman and her family. Individual-level interventions highlight the importance of partner selection, consistent condom use, avoiding needle sharing, and reducing risky sexual behaviors. Overcoming barriers to medication adherence, such as stigma and discrimination, is crucial for effective prevention and treatment. Community-level interventions are equally important in reducing stigma and discrimination and fostering healthcare-seeking behavior. The paper emphasizes a multi-faceted approach, involving healthcare systems, individuals, and communities, to accomplish the objective of an HIV-free generation by stopping HIV from spreading through the vertical route. Collaboration across these levels is essential to realizing this vision and ensuring optimal health outcomes for HIV-infected individuals, their children, and families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza causes significant morbidity, hospitalizations, and mortality due to lower respiratory tract infections in India. This paper reviews the current evidence regarding influenza epidemiology, the need for vaccination, immunogenicity, and efficacy of available vaccines and provides recommendations for influenza vaccination for adults by the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSM). The risk group among adults includes people with chronic disease, the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, travelers, and healthcare workers. Influenza activity is affected by seasons, humidity, and latitude, leading to variability in influenza peaks in different regions of India. The most effective preventive intervention against influenza is vaccination. Current influenza vaccines have good safety profiles, vaccine efficacy, and acceptable cost-effectiveness. As the virus mutates, the vaccine composition should follow WHO recommendations for the current influenza season. Introducing readily available, conventional, and less expensive trivalent influenza vaccines under the national program can achieve maximum impact on the adult population and potentially prevent future outbreaks and pandemics. IAPSM recommends considering routine use of IIV for all individuals above 60 years, adults with comorbidities, and pregnant women in India. The program managers should consider the pattern of influenza seasonality in a particular region. Influenza surveillance conducted through a structured network of laboratories in India has the potential to provide information about circulating strains, morbidity, and mortality. IAPSM emphasizes conducting community-based studies regarding influenza's burden, vaccine efficacy, timing of vaccination, and cost-effectiveness among Indian adults to generate evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typhoid is a major public health concern in India, particularly among those dwelling in urban slums with poor sanitation. The disease caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi spread majorly through contaminated food and water. The economic burden of the disease is catastrophic and affects both families and the government making a strong case for including typhoid vaccines in the national immunization schedule. The World Health Organization has prequalified several vaccines and has recommended their use in endemic areas. While there is robust evidence for vaccination of children from India and other LMICs, the case for adult vaccination remains less clear. The Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine acknowledges the necessity to adopt a widespread typhoid immunization program, along with other preventive strategies, especially in the vulnerable pockets. IAPSM recommends focusing on newer-generation Typhoid Conjugate Vaccines (TCVs), which provide long-lasting and superior immunological benefits, and are effective across all ages including adults. IAPSM suggests routine use of Typbar-TCV™ for adults up to 45 years old in India. The organization also highlights the necessity for post-marketing surveillance of these vaccines, to monitor the long-term safety and effectiveness of various vaccines in different communities. IAPSM encourages members to take front-line efforts in their community health service areas, and finally appeals for the development of vaccines to cover a more extensive range of Salmonella infections so that control over typhoid can be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pneumococcal infection among adults is associated with invasive disease and poor outcomes. Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) introduction has significantly reduced disease burden, invasive disease and reduced the rates of antimicrobial resistance. Of the various vaccines licensed, PCV 13 and PPSV 23 are available for use in India. Pneumococcal vaccination is suggested for people aged 19–64 years with immunosuppression, chronic cardiac, lung and hepatic disease, impaired splenic function, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, current smokers, and those abusing alcohol. It is recommended that people >65 years of age are vaccinated with PPSV23. The suggested regimen is to administer PCV13 followed by PPSV23 after one year. The vaccines have minimal side effects and tolerated well. Data on vaccine effectiveness from Indian studies is limited. Hence, documenting population demographics with surveillance on serotype specific pneumococcal disease burden in adults is needed. Following this, studies on safety, immunogenicity, and cost-effectiveness of the available vaccines need to be designed and implemented. It is suggested that in the initial phase, PCV needs to be made available for high-risk population followed by vaccination roll-out for adult population of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical cancer ranks as the second most common cancer in women in India, primarily caused by persistent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Given its long latent period, secondary prevention through screening and early detection is essential. However, fear and stigma associated with cancers and the costs involved in disease management are the prominent barriers to its uptake. HPV vaccination is one of the vital components of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Strategy to speed up the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem. In India, four prophylactic HPV vaccines are currently available. These vaccines are non-infective and highly immunogenic, safe, and effective when administered before HPV exposure. According to WHO recommendations, the primary target group for HPV vaccination consists of girls between the ages of 9 and 14 years. Further, studies have confirmed that both single-dose and two-dose schedules of the HPV vaccine offer comparable efficacy and protection. HPV vaccines are administered intramuscularly in the deltoid region, with 0.5 ml as the standard dose. These vaccines may cause local reactions, as well as mild systemic reactions, such as headache and myalgia, but they are transient. Implementing catch-up vaccination for adolescent girls aged between 9 and 14 years at the time of HPV vaccine introduction would be a cost-effective and sustainable strategy. This would serve as a crucial component of public health efforts to manage HPV infections and eliminate cervical cancer in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulp and paper industry is critical to global industrial and economic development. Recently, India's pulp and paper industries have been facing severe competitive challenges. The challenges have impaired the environmental performance and resulted in the closure of several operations. Assessment and prediction of the performance of the Indian pulp and paper industry using various parameters is a critical task for researchers. This study proposes a framework for performance assessment and prediction based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), Artificial Neural Networks, and Deep Learning (DL) to assist industry administration and decision-making. We presented a case study based on eight industries to demonstrate the methodology's applicability. This study analyses and predicts industry performance based on sample data observations over 30 years. The result suggests the DEA-DL-based efficiency prediction has an overall MSE of 0.08 compared with the actual efficiency. Furthermore, the efficiency rankings are compared between the three techniques. The results suggest that the integrated DEA-DL method is primarily accurate in most scenarios with the actual values. The findings of this study provide a comprehensive analysis of environmental performance for policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This paper highlights the difficulties and lacunae in the Mental Health Care Act 2017 that hinder its implementation and use for the care and treatment of persons with mental illness in India. Methods: An online nationwide survey, involving structured questions as well as open-ended questions, to elicit the level of implementation, experience in complying with the provisions of the Act, and level of satisfaction, of practicing psychiatrists was carried out. Responses were analyzed using appropriate statistics. Results: 600 respondents answered the online questionnaire. A majority of psychiatrists were senior practitioners with over 10 years of experience. 92.5% respondents were dissatisfied with the MHCA, wherein 73.3% wanted it amended, and 19.2% asked for repeal. Procedural issues were deterrent for 66.5% from taking medically necessary or helpful decisions for patients. Non-implementation of the Act was a major finding. Major dissatisfaction was expressed regarding judicial over reach in admission and discharge procedures, inclusion of general hospital psychiatry units in the definition of mental health establishment, non-applicability of provisions like advance directive and nominated representative in Indian setting, and that all treatment should be covered under insurance. Conclusion: The Act in its present form defies the spirit of its own objectives and is unimplementable. It needs major revisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actinomycetes are a suitable microbial group for the synthesis of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes. Enzymes that may degrade organic material, including cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, are released by actinomycetes. The aim of this research was to isolate actinomycetes from Rajkot, Gujarat, India’s soil and evaluate the activity of their cellulase and Xylanase enzymes. Starch Casein Agar (SCA) was used to identify a total of 30 isolates of actinomycetes. A qualitative plate assay (CMC-Na, Congo red) revealed that the highest zone of catalysis for MMD1 was 36 mm. Five strains were discovered to be effective for quantitative quantification of endoglucanase utilising filter paper and CMC as substrates: MMD1, MMD2, MMD3, MMD4, and MMD8. Following MMD 1 (endoglucanase 5.4 IU; FPase 4.4 IU), MMD 2 (endoglucanase 4.5 IU; FPase 3.4 IU) has demonstrated considerable endoglucanase and FPase activity. Beechwood xylan was used to treat sugarcane bagasse in order to test Xylanase, and 45% of the xylan (hemicellulose) fraction was obtained. MMD1 and MMD2 measured the xylanase enzyme activity (4.8IU and 4.2IU) in quantitative and qualitative assays (34 mm and 22 mm for BWX and 32 mm and 14 mm for agro-waste xylan). The strain MMD1 was identified as Streptomyces chartreusis through morphological, biochemical, and finally molecular characterization by 16S rRNA sequencing. It was then submitted to NCBI GenBank with the accession number MT254830. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: The Indian education system has produced top-class global corporate leaders in recent decades. The combination of a solid educational foundation, work ethic, adaptability, technical and analytical skills, leadership abilities, networking, entrepreneurial spirit, and cultural values collectively contribute to the success of Indian students and professionals in the corporate world. On the contrary, India's overall performance in Olympic sports has been modest compared to its population and potential. The education system of any country has a significant role in sporting success. To fully harness the potential of sports in schools, addressing these challenges and creating a supportive environment that values and promotes sporting abilities alongside academic excellence is essential. This will require concerted efforts from various stakeholders, including the schooling system, educational institutions, government, sports organizations, corporate sponsors, and the community. This white paper aims to systematically organize the available knowledge and debates around India's sporting performance in the background of mainstream education culture. This paper also addresses the systemic devaluation, exclusion, disfranchisement, and stereotyping of sports and sportspersons in India. One key argument put forward in this paper is to extend absolute equivalence to Olympic sports disciplines (e.g., football) at par with general academic disciplines (e.g., mathematics) in terms of examinations and award of qualifications within the mainstream education system of India. And India must host the Olympics before 2047. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's scenario of India most of the youth is preparing for some competitive exam. If we think behind 15–20 years the number of candidates appearing for competitive exams were in thousands but as the population is increasing exponentially in India day by day the number of candidates is increasing in lacks. We can observe by daily newspapers that most of the competitive exams are facing paper leak problems. Although online examination systems are more effective and secure as compared to offline examination systems because it's not easy to open the question paper before the time starts. On the other hand there are also various consequences where the examination process can be hacked online. But the main issue with online examination process is to lack of resources to conduct parallel examination of millions of candidates, lack of techno enabled exam centers in small cities etc. Our focus is to propose a system in which offline examination can be conducted at most of the govt. and private centers in metro cities as well as small techno backward cities with reduced possibility to leak the paper before commencement of examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation is one of the most difficult areas of educational pursuits. The most common type of evaluation and assessment is through a written examination. The majority of the time, questions is drafted right before the examination without going through a quality control process, which might cause confusion or incorrect interpretation of the questions by the students. Students' self-confidence and self-esteem grow as a result of their increased understanding of the question paper's structure, and they then affirm their ability to complete the task. The design of the question paper is prepared, with consideration given to the objectives, the various forms and types of questions, and the various content areas, a projected time, Level of difficulty anticipated. In order to enhance the standard of student evaluation and assessment, this article focuses on offering instructions and a scientific technique for creating effective question papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the circulation figures of five leading English newspapers in India - The Times of India, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, and The Financial Express - across five subscription types: ASD (Aspect-Sentiment Joint Detection), TAT (Target-Aspect Joint Detection), TSD (Target-Sentiment Joint Detection), AD (Aspect Detection), and TD (Target Detection). The Financial Express had the highest average circulation volume (M=7845), the Hindustan Times had the highest traffic volume for display advertising (M=8474), and The Times of India had the highest total advertising volume (M=9764). The circulation of The Times of India as measured by the TD (M=4927) was the highest while The Indian Express was the lowest with the AD circulation (M=4690). There was no significant difference in means justified by the ANOVA test across publications between subscription types. Hindustan Times took the lead in terms of z-score (1.92) in TAT detection. Though newer digital platforms are becoming increasingly popular among readers, print media industry leaders like the Times of India and The Hindu go even further to tap into the tier 2/3 markets and keep growing the business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, cow dung is widely utilized to create formulations that serve as effective plant growth enhancers with antimicrobial properties. The cow dung-derived handmade paper manufacturing process produces two waste-liquor streams, a Raw Liquor (RL) produced through the dewatering of the cow-dung slurry and a Black Liquor (BL) produced during the soda pulping of dewatered cow dung. The present study explored the potential of these waste streams to be used as plant biofertilizers for germination and cultivation of Vigna radiata seeds (mung bean, IPM-02-03 variety). An in vitro assay for seed germination efficiency and a pot study for plant growth promotion (PGP) activity were used to assess this potential. The in vitro assay demonstrated that nutrient-rich RL, with its 100% seed germination efficiency (better than the 85.7% of tap water) was an effective biofertilizer for seed germination. In contrast, BL yielded poor seed germination efficiency. The pot study showed that water irrigation led to good seed germination, survival, plant rooting and shooting, but it was probably deprived of nutrients for inducing good grain yields. When water was replaced with RL, it was able to replicate the results, but with good grain yields. In contrast, BL produced poorer germination, seed survival and PGP results. The poor biofertilization efficiency of BL was most probably due to the nutrient losses and toxic chemicals produced in the harsh pulping process. The results showed that RL, though considered a waste stream, is sufficiently nutrient-rich to act as an effective biofertilizer for germinating mung bean seeds and promoting plant growth and grain yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technological advancements and emergence of new kinds of communication mediums, especially social media and networks, have brought an era of unprecedented connectivity, which can be leveraged for better science communication. This paper explores social media activity around Indian research papers with the objective of evaluating if the quantum of activity is sufficient enough to indicate that social media can be an effective medium of science communication in India. In the absence of any existing survey of social media usage by scientists in India, the paper uses altmetrics as a proxy measure to capture; science communication activities around two major classes, namely, science-science connect and science-society connect. Results indicate that social media activity around Indian research papers is relatively low as compared to the developed countries and also the world average. There is a higher activity in science-science connect (Mendeley) whereas science-society connect is less pronounced (other social media and news). The paper argues that there is a need to expose Indian research community to the opportunities that social media presents and that an appropriate use can be helpful for improved science-science and science-society connects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article questions the economic rationale of colonial experimentation and prison labor, arguing that for many administrators a prison-based experiment's success mattered less than its existence. It examines the position of convict labor and penal discipline within colonial industrial experiments in colonial India, where convicts performed experiments for what one administrator described as "the most penal" form of labor, papermaking. The belief that Indian fibers could open a new export market for global papermaking meant that prisons became prominent sites of experimentation with new pulps. Regional prisons gained state monopolies for handmade paper, often decimating local independent producers. Yet prison and industrial officers counterintuitively positioned the frequent failures of papermaking experiments as a continuing potential source for industrial improvement. They argued that the failures demonstrated the need to improve discipline and supervision. Prison experiments slotted convicts into repetitive, mechanized roles that served European investigations into the utility of Indian products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the market integration and direction of causality of wholesale and retail prices for the chickpea legume in major chickpea markets in India. Design/methodology/approach: In this paper, the authors employ the Johansen co-integration test, Granger causality test, vector autoregression (VAR), and vector error correction model (VECM) to examine the integration of markets. The authors use monthly wholesale and retail price data of the chickpea crop from select markets in India spanning January 2003–December 2020. Findings: The results of this study strongly confirm the co-integration and interdependency of the selected chickpea markets in India. However, the speed of adjustment of prices in the wholesale market is weakest in Bikaner, followed by Daryapur and Narsinghpur; it is relatively moderate in Gulbarga. In contrast, the speed of adjustment is negative for Bhopal and Delhi, weak for Nasik, and moderate for retail market prices in Bangalore. The results of the causality test show that the Narsinghpur, Daryapur, and Gulbarga markets are the most influential, with bidirectional relations in the case of wholesale market prices. Meanwhile, the Bangalore market is the most connected and effective retail market among the selected retail markets. It has bidirectional price transmission with two other markets, i.e. Bhopal and Nasik. Research limitations/implications: This paper calls for forthcoming studies to investigate the impact of external and internal factors, such as market infrastructure; government policy regarding self-reliant production; product physical characteristics; and rate of utilization indicating market integration. They should also focus on strengthening information technology for the regular flow of market information to help farmers increase their incomes. Originality/value: Very few studies have explored market efficiency and direction of causality using both linear and nonlinear techniques for wholesale and retail prices of chickpea in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to revolutionize healthcare delivery in India, offering solutions to address the nation's unique healthcare challenges. This position paper, presented by the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine, examines the integration of AI in Indian healthcare, exploring its applications across diagnostic imaging, patient care, medical research, rehabilitation, and administrative processes. Notable implementations include AI-driven disease detection systems, telemedicine platforms, and public health surveillance tools, with successful applications in tuberculosis screening, breast cancer detection, and ophthalmological care. While these advancements show promise, significant challenges persist, related to data privacy concerns and interoperability issues, including the need for robust ethical frameworks. The paper highlights key stakeholder collaborations, including government initiatives and international partnerships, which are driving innovation in this space. Based on this analysis, we propose policy recommendations emphasizing research investment, professional training, and regulatory frameworks to ensure responsible AI adoption. Our vision advocates for an approach that balances technological advancement with accessibility and equity in healthcare delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources (IJNPR) is a publication of the CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR). This study makes a bibliometric assessment of the papers published in the journal from 2010 to 2020. The data was collected from the website of the journal and was analysed using MS Excel. The bibliometric assessment examines the nature and distribution of documents by their types, the geographical distribution of the papers by countries, Indian states, institutions, and authors and the impact of their productivity as reflected by the citation indicators. In addition, the trend in authorship, citations and national and international collaboration was also examined. A total of 587 documents were published during the study period, of which the majority were original research articles. Analysis revealed that during the study period, contributions from 35 countries including India were published in the journal. Maximum contributions from India were from the state of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The study also found that only a small number of papers didn’t receive any citations but a substantial number of papers (17.7%) received 6-10 citations and about 1.7% of papers received 100 or more citations. Most of the highly cited papers were reviews. The multi-authored articles were predominant, whereas the least contribution was by single authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines new forms of study-abroad expertise on social media and their role in mediating Indian student mobility to Germany. Firstly, it explores how mutual-support Facebook and WhatsApp groups—used by prospective international students in India to support each other through the process of applying to German universities—have contributed to the emergence of new forms of education consultancy, offered by Indian students or graduates of German universities, whom I call 'Student Guides'. In addition, it shows how some Indians studying in Germany have started 'Study in Germany' YouTube channels, aimed at aspirant student migrants, and have become important 'study-abroad influencers'. The paper analyses how these new forms of study-abroad expertise offer prospective international students social and cultural capital important for successful student migration, apart from shaping their imaginative geographies of Germany, and embedding them in cultures of mobility. Furthermore, the paper highlights how these new forms of study-abroad expertise intersect with, and critique, a more 'traditional' study-abroad expert: the professional education consultant. The paper draws on a digital ethnography of 'Study in Germany' Facebook and WhatsApp groups and YouTube channels, as well as interviews with the YouTubers, Student Guides, and Indian students in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With growing internationalism, there is a shift in research patterns in developing countries, especially China and India, generating vital and contemporary research areas that are beginning to challenge the existing Western‐dominated research literature in social sciences. Yet, many of the new ideas within conceptual papers by the social sciences are not empirically validated, let alone operationalized. This is where the group concept mapping method can play a role in bridging the gap between phenomenal conceptualization and having an empirically valid model that can then be operationalized. The group concept mapping process involves five steps: create statements, sort statements, run multidimensional scaling (MDS) of sorted units, run cluster analysis, and label the clusters. This approach allows for the collective thoughts of a pre‐defined group to be collected and organized into a tangible output with academic rigor. This paper offers an overview of the group concept mapping methodology, discussing the processes of the method, how the method can be utilized fully within the business and broader social science context, and the strengths, weaknesses, and practical implications of group concept mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)-based English textbooks and question papers in developing second-language higher-order thinking skills (HOTS). Design/methodology/approach: Descriptive analysis establishes a causal relationship between learning objectives and second language (L2) writing proficiency. Content analysis is used to compare and analyze tabulated data for textbooks and question papers for the English language by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and CBSE. This method categorizes the materials and their assessments under HOTS and lower-order thinking skills to ascertain the relationship between learning objectives and L2 writing proficiency. Findings: The study highlights teaching material and assessment shortcomings and their alignment with learning outcomes to enhance students' writing skills. It underscores the need for HOTS-focused materials, discussing their impact on writing skills. The study also explores how textbook–question paper mismatch hampers Bloom's taxonomy-based cognitive skills. Practical implications: This research illuminates the efficacy of teaching and learning English as a second language (ESL) writing skills to improve the quality of education, which has real-world implications. The study highlights flaws in the educational system in India and suggests curricular and pedagogical changes. Originality/value: The research examines NCERT and CBSE ESL textbooks and question papers to align teaching and assessment methods. The results aim to improve education through ESL writers' HOTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medium of exchange for the transactions has been continuously evolved right from the stage of barter system to the current cashless economy. The cashless transactions, in real sense, the transaction between two entities without a medium of exchange. This paper intends to analyze the Cashless transactions in terms of value and volume. For this study the cashless transactions data is analyzed for 5 years. The secondary data is collected from RBI website. The RBI Annual Report 2019-20 and 2021-22 are used to analyze the total cashless transactions in the past 3 years. The statistical tools like Graph, Chart and percentage has been used to analyze the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year in India, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) deals with the issue of counterfeit currency notes. Bank employees are highly educated to detect counterfeit notes, however the trouble comes when such notes are used blended into the market and distributed via common channels folks. Receiving counterfeit notes from ATMs is also a possibility. Have also been observed in several locations . In the past, In the last few years, as a result of incredible technological [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retracted articles by Indian scholars have received significant attention in recent times. However, no comprehensive study has been conducted to analyse the citations of retracted papers authored by Indian researchers. This study aimed to assess the citations to retracted works published between 2001 and 2020 pre‐ and post‐retraction. The study found that there was an increase in retractions over time, with empirical data suggesting that the number of retractions has increased significantly, from 72 papers between 2001 and 2010 to 365 papers between 2011 and 2020. Duplication (n = 128) and plagiarism (n = 119) were the primary reasons for retraction. Notably, 90% of the retracted articles continued to receive citations after retraction. Among the retracted papers, eight received more than 50 post‐retraction citations, 39 received 20 to 50 citations, 347 received one to 19 citations, and 43 were not cited at all post‐retraction. There was an overall 8% decrease in citations after retraction. Retractions were observed across journals of varying impact factor, with a higher number of retractions observed in journals with an impact factor of less than 5 (n = 286; 65%). Furthermore, smaller research teams of two to five authors accounted for 72% of the total retractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the global reliance on bricks as a primary construction material, compared with the diminishing availability of natural resources for producing traditional burnt clay bricks. Highlighting the environmental footprint of conventional brickmaking processes, including significant energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and the depletion of fertile topsoil, this review underlines the overbearing for sustainable alternatives. It explores into the incorporation of industrial byproducts, such as fly ash, into brick manufacturing as a viable solution to enhance environmental sustainability and avoid resource scarcity. Through a critical examination of the challenges faced by traditional fired clay bricks, this paper presents the technological innovations in utilizing fly ash and other waste materials for brick production. It also assesses the role of Indian government policies in fostering waste management strategies conducive to ecofriendly brick production. Special attention is given to the process and benefits of fabricating fly ash bricks in north India, noting the potential improvements in thermal and mechanical properties achieved by integrating diverse waste materials. Despite the potential benefits and existing research, the transition to commercial production of waste-material bricks encounters obstacles, including specific production challenges, potential contamination risks, regulatory gaps, and market acceptance issues. The review advocates for comprehensive research and innovation to overcome these barriers, emphasizing the need for standardized production methods, supportive policy frameworks, and educational reforms. This multidimensional approach aims to propel the construction industry toward widespread adoption of ecofriendly brick production techniques, leveraging fly ash and industrial wastes to meet the dual goals of sustainability and resource efficiency in the construction sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance [AMR] is a global problem that affects multiple domains including healthcare, agriculture, aquaculture, and many more. Every year, 700,000 people die from it. AMR is predicted to claim 10 million lives by 2050 if immediate action is not taken. Thus, to halt the spread of AMR it is important to understand what contributes to its emergence and transmission across borders and domains. The burden is disproportionately higher in Low middle income countries (LMICs) due to multiple factors such as environmental, social, healthcare, and cultural barriers. This review paper describes the comprehensive analysis of the past, present, and future trends in AMR, focusing on the complex interconnectedness of the factors contributing to this issue. Historical trends reveal antibiotic discoveries, resistance periods, resistance genes, and multidrug-resistant pathogens, providing insights into crisis evolution and the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens. The present trends reflect the current state of AMR in India and emphasize the negative consequences of AMR for clinical medicine and healthcare systems. It identifies the factors driving the global pandemic surge and examines current global and country-level policies and actions to mitigate its impact. The future trends anticipate the trajectories of AMR and discuss innovative approaches to combat resistance, including the exploration of alternative therapies and the implementation of stewardship programs. Thus, by synthesizing existing knowledge and identifying emerging gaps, this review paper presents a holistic perspective on the evolution of AMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In the current scenario, with rapid socioeconomic transformation occurring in all aspects of society, the adversities experienced by older adults have come to the forefront. The lived experiences within joint families are making it harder for the elderly to adjust to the changed familial setup. In such a situation, they undergo many problems which are most often overlooked and considered not worthy of serious attention. Loneliness and isolation are the most crucial and serious issues experienced by the elderly within the nuclear family. After spending a significantly larger part of their lives within large families, with caring people, interdependent, adjusting to the changing familial setup has become hard and strenuous. Moreover, lack of emotional support is yet another major concern of the elderly. As they grow older, care and emotional support become necessary to maintain an effective and active life in old age. However, such emotional support and care that the joint family offered is missing in the changing familial setup. Now, in light of these issues, this paper aims to explore the multidimensional concerns of the elderly (60 years and above) who, on account of familial transitioning from joint to nuclear in Kashmir, are experiencing isolation and other, hard to adjust, life changes. The paper is based on 20 oral narratives conducted, over time, with elderly people undergoing life changes due to family transition from joint to nuclear. The finding of the study revealed that the elderly experience a greater degree of change in their lifestyle due to the family transition from joint to nuclear. Design/methodology/approach: This is a qualitative study that describes the multidimensional concerns of the older adults. The study was conducted in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir using in-depth face-to-face interviews with 20 respondents aged 60 years and above who have witnessed a transition in family from joint to nuclear and have undergone many problems during this transition. Apart from this, two interviews with the sons of older persons were also included in the study to know the status of age in the current situation. After the data was collected from the first 10 respondents, the study witnessed a data saturation, as the same set of results were obtained. Meanwhile, 3 more respondents were included in the study to make sure that no data was left behind; however, again same results were witnessed. This led the investigator to halt the data collection process. Thereafter, the data was then analyzed using Braun and Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis technique, which involved familiarizing oneself with the data, looking for themes, validating and refining themes, identifying and labeling themes and finally creating the report. Findings: The traditional joint family is undergoing rapid transformation in the current scenario. With a trend toward the nuclearization of families, which resulted in the diminishing status of the elderly, the vulnerabilities of the elderly have come to the forefront (Kumar et al., 2014). The transition of the family from joint to nuclear can be difficult for the elderly as it involves the elderly having to adjust and adapt to a new social milieu, which can be quite complex as it involves major changes in their lifestyle and daily routine. The elderly may also experience difficulty with increased social isolation and reduced family interaction. Such problems may seem insignificant and trivial to the younger ones, but stepping into the shoes of the elderly would help us understand the intensity and vulnerability of such problems. This cultural shift is quickly making changes, in part due to the rise of individualism in modern societies and the existence of a consumerist perspective among the younger generations. Such situations lead to greater alienation and isolation among the elderly from society in general and the members of the family in particular. Originality/value: The is an empirical study conducted to know the status of older adults in nuclear families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the outcomes of an analysis on day by day task – journey planning conduct of senior citizens by using a modern dynamic model and a family unit travel overview, gathered in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, of India in 2018. The task-journey planning display assumes an unique time–space-constrained planning development. Design/methodology/approach: The main commitment of this paper is to reveal day by day task – journey planning conduct through a comprehensive dynamic framework. Numerous behavioural subtleties are revealed by the subsequent empirical model. These incorporate the role that income plays in directing outside time consumption decisions of senior citizens. Senior citizens in the most elevated and least salary classes will in general have minor varieties in time consumption decisions than those in middle pay classifications. Generally speaking, the time consumption decisions become progressively steady with expanding age, demonstrating that more task durations and lower task recurrence become progressively predominant with increasing age. Findings: Day by day task-type and area decisions reveal a reasonable irregular utility-amplifying level headed conduct of senior residents. Unmistakably expanding spatial availability to different task areas is an urgent factor in characterizing every day outside task interest of senior residents. It is likewise evident that the assorted variety of outside task-type decisions decreases with rise in age and senior citizens are major touchy to auto journey hour than to travel or non-mechanized journey hour. Originality/value: The fundamental constraint to the dynamic structure is that the mode decision model was viewed as exogenic to the demonstrating framework. The essential purpose behind this supposition that was that senior citizens in the Bhubaneswar are overwhelmingly customers of the local car. Coordination of the mode decision display part inside this structure would deliver a full task-based journey request model that could catch trip age, starting times, outing circulation and mode decision using a solitary demonstrating framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India staggers at the 59th position (out of 81 countries globally) in the quality of death and dying index. A chronic life-threatening illness is often complicated by marginalized living, out-of-pocket health expenditure, illiteracy, and poor social support, and pushes the population further into the vicious spiral of suffering. The Indian Association of Palliative Care and the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine joined hands in April 2023 to address the gap in the demand and availability of palliative care and proposed to empower Community Medicine physicians to provide primary palliative care. They put forth recommendations for education, service, and research developments in primary palliative care. In April 2023, the Indian Association of Palliative Care and the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine joined hands to disseminate palliative care services to the community. Subsequently, a task force comprising faculties from Palliative Medicine and Community Medicine was formed. The position paper on primary palliative care jointly published by the Indian Association of Palliative Care and the Association of Family Physicians of India provided the framework for this position paper. The paper focused on education, service development, and research. The task force recommended the following: 1. Empower faculties and residents of the Department of Community Medicine, undergraduate students from medical and allied specialties posted to the department to provide primary palliative care. 2. Integrate palliative care into outpatient clinics (general OPDs in the hospital), community health centers, and home care as a part of the family adoption program. 3. Improve access to essential medications, including opioids, in urban and rural areas 4. Follow the recommendations of the National Health Policy 2017 to develop blended training programs for faculties and students. 5. Engage the community to identify patients with chronic life-threatening illnesses and allocate resources to support patients at home. 6. Collaborate to develop a protocol for regular audits and research for service improvisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using firm-level data from 7165 firms from Indian manufacturing, this paper explores the effects of firm age and size on its inclination to invest in research and development (R&D). The paper addresses the inadequately answered question on the choice between in-house R&D and technology purchase from foreign firms. To the best of author's knowledge, this is the first study to examine the impact of age, size and technology transfer on firm's inclination to invest in R&D for the manufacturing sector in India. Our results suggest that young firms are more likely to invest in R&D. A firm's exports further increase its propensity towards R&D. Contrary to the previous results, we show that young and small firms possibly use in-house R&D as a complementary input with purchased foreign technology. Thereafter, policy prescriptions are drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate (NEET-UG) in India serves as a unified admission examination for undergraduate medical courses, aiming to standardize assessment across diverse educational backgrounds. Despite its goals, NEET-UG has faced criticism over fairness, excessive reliance on coaching, and its impact on students' holistic development. The article reviews the limitations of the current NEET-UG format and proposes reforms, emphasizing the need to align the syllabus more closely with medical requirements by reducing physics and chemistry content and prioritizing biology. It suggests restructuring NEET-UG into a two-step examination to improve differentiation among candidates and reduce malpractice. Introducing a computer-based format, expanding the question pool, and adding interdisciplinary topics relevant to healthcare, such as Psychology, Nutrition, Physical Education, Cell biology, Genetics, public health and sociology, are also recommended. Additionally, the paper compares NEET-UG with global medical entrance exams, noting that broader subject assessments and critical thinking skills could enhance candidate evaluation. The Indian medical education system is the largest in the world. Given its vast capacities, it is crucial to reform the selection process to ensure that human resources in health can effectively address the pressing public health needs of India, the world's most populated country. The proposed reforms aim to create a fairer, more comprehensive selection process that minimizes stress, encourages holistic education, and better meets medical education standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the influence of the alumni social network of mutual fund managers on fund performance in India. The alumni networks of 211 managers managing 585 funds are constructed through seven network centrality measures for the period from April 2013 to March 2022. The study finds that fund managers who are more central to the network on average generate higher risk-adjusted excess return performance (alpha) and take a higher level of idiosyncratic risk. Although the centrality position of managers does not influence them in selecting small-capitalisation, value, and high market-beta stocks, more central fund managers tend to pick momentum stocks. The results affirm that the information advantages in the central position of alumni social networks improve fund performance, influence the managers' investment style and enable higher risk-taking behaviour. The contribution of the paper is that the findings regarding investment style and fund flows are different than those of developed markets which may be relevant for other emerging markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Oxford Times ran a headline in May 1896 that stated in bold capitals 'STRANGE DEATH OF A HINDOO', detailing the circumstances of the death of Baboo Mookhi Singh, who, it seems, was the first (known) Indian grocer in Oxford. While today, the pioneering research by Rozina Visram related to the presence of Asians in Britain, that of Antoinette Burton in the late-Victorian period, or Michael Fisher's work on counterflows to colonialism, is not new, the majority of research regarding the presence of Indians in the British Isles is either scant for this period of time, or related to ayahs and lascars, or to poets, intellectuals, and aristocrats, with considerable research also related to the Indian military. The majority of times, that research has also focused solely on London. The originality of this research paper provides material heretofore undocumented related to an early settler in Oxford from India (1880s–1890s): Baboo Mookhi Singh (1867–1893), Oxford's first grocer, and tea importer from India. He originated from Benaras (Varanasi) and arrived in Britain, where he set up a business in the centre of Oxford. However, what he encountered there was name-calling, verbal as well as physical harassment, and ultimately his death in strange circumstances. He seemingly came alone, although his import business, which boasted the best tea not only in Oxford, but in the whole country, was run by the 'Singh Brothers' (his brother remaining in India). While Singh most certainly travelled via the Suez Canal to Britain, the country to which he was travelling would have been both familiar and unfamiliar to him. However, due to the lack of resources available, all too often common people, such as Singh, have been neglected. In this article, newspaper reports and material from the numerous trials (mostly initiated by Singh against the local people and his immediate neighbours) are brought together, as well as the coroner's reports, and the police notes to determine Singh's struggle for recognition, and his attempt at resistance. This paper documents his struggle for cultural/geographic space, to redress the imbalance of power, and gain agency. Despite his attempts at resilience, he did, in the end, die. However, Singh was a pioneer in a struggle for power, a stand for resistance, and how the law perceived him, in his difference, changing the community around him, albeit on a small scale. It is a telling story that resurfaces an early Indian settler in Britain, his alterity in Victorian society, and the latter's attitudes towards race. It steps outside of the traditional image of the empire at home, in Britain, in everyday life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Productivity improvement is key to sustainability performance improvements of organizations. In a real-world scenario, the nature of inputs and outputs is likely to be imprecise and vague, leading to complexity in comparing firms' efficiency measurements. Implementation of fuzzy-logic based measurement systems is a method for dealing with such cases. This paper presents a fuzzy weight objective function to solve Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) CCR model for measuring paper mills' performance in India for 15 years. Design/methodology/approach: An integrated methodology is proposed to solve DEA models having fuzzy weights. The fuzzy DEA methodology is an extended version of the DEA approach that researchers have used for performance measurement purposes in imprecise and vague scenarios. The ecological performance of the paper industry is evaluated, considering some desirable and undesirable outputs. The effect of non-discretionary input on the performance of a paper mill is also analyzed. Findings: Analysis suggests that the productivity of the paper industry is improving consistently throughout the period. The comparative evaluation of methods suggests that a diverse cluster of DMUs and integration of DEA with the fuzzy logic increases the diversity in the efficiency score while DEA-DE imitates the results of CCR DEA. Originality/value: Proposed a fuzzy DEA-based analytical framework for measuring the paper industry's ecological performance in an imprecise and vague scenario. The model is tested on data from the paper industry in a developing country context and comparative performance analysis using DEA, fuzzy DEA and DE algorithm is done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Summative assessments play a major role in shaping the student's learning. There is little literature available on validity of summative assessment question papers in Forensic Medicine & Toxicology. This study analyses 30 question papers from 6 reputed universities for content validity. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional record-based observational study was conducted where 30 university summative question papers in Forensic Medicine & Toxicology from 6 universities across India were evaluated for content validity. The learning domain assessed, the type of questions asked, and sampling of the content was compared and presented in the results. Results: From the results of the study, it was noted that 80% weightage was allotted to recall in most papers and only one paper tested for application. 70 to 80% of the marks were allotted to Forensic Pathology leading to disproportionate sampling. Core areas in Toxicology and Medical Jurisprudence were sparsely assessed. Conclusion: The content validity of the summative question papers in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology was unsatisfactory, emphasising the need for evaluation of the clarity and efficacy of the blueprints being used by the universities. Faculty training to motivate and influence a change in the mindset is necessary to bring about a course correction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lean manufacturing (LM) applies different tools that help to eliminate waste as well as the operations that do not add value to the product or processes to increase the value of each performed activity. Here the main motivation is to study how quantitative modelling approaches can support LM tools even under system and environment uncertainties. The main contributions of the article are: (i) providing a systematic literature review of 99 works related to the modelling of uncertainty in LM environments; (ii) proposing a methodology to classify the reviewed works; (iii) classifying LM works under uncertainty; and (iv) identify quantitative models and their solution to deal with uncertainty in LM environments by identifying the main variables involved. Hence this article provides a conceptual framework for future LM quantitative modelling under uncertainty as a guide for academics, researchers and industrial practitioners. The main findings identify that LM under uncertainty has been empirically investigated mainly in the US, India and the UK in the automotive and aerospace manufacturing sectors using analytical and simulation models to minimise time and cost. Value stream mapping (VSM) and just in time (JIT) are the most used LM techniques to reduce waste in a context of system uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, survival of children with chronic diseases has significantly improved and a large proportion of them now are entering into adulthood. Transition of Care (ToC) of such patients with having childhood onset of chronic diseases to the adult health care system is well organized in developed countries, although it is an emerging concept in India. In situations where the systems for ToC are not in place, such cases are fraught with unsatisfactory health outcomes. With proper ToC in place, these patients are likely to receive uninterrupted care by the adult care physicians and hence reach their full potential. This document highlights the need, rationale and way forward for ToC of youth with special health care needs (YSHCN) across the country. It also describes the standard operating procedures to develop the ToC at a hospital level for clinicians and administrators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the cellular manufacturing system (CMS) literature published from 1982–2021 to identify key issues and trends for the future. Design/methodology/approach: A six-stage methodology is used to conduct a literature review, which includes: (1) article collection; (2) inclusion/exclusion criteria; (3) reviewing the articles; (4) analyzing the articles; (5) framework development; and (6) future research directions. A total of 936 CMS-specific articles are reviewed. This paper made use of three software tools: the R package, VOSviewer and SciMAT. Findings: According to the findings, the majority of CM researchers focused on cell formation and design. The USA, Iran and India are the top three leading publishers. Additionally, the gap and future direction of CM are discussed. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, the current study is the first attempt to investigate CMS evaluation through bibliometric and thematic analysis and provides a decisional framework as well as steps for CMS adoption. For individuals who are interested in understanding more about CMS and its evolution, this paper offers a starting point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acacia nilotica var. cupressiformis is an evergreen multipurpose leguminous tree species which is suitable to agroforestry purposes and mainly distributed in Western parts of Rajasthan in India particularly Pali and its adjoining areas. The species has many advantages, however the natural germination in wild is very limited due to its hard seed coat dormancy. Methods: The experiment was conducted to study the effect of presowing treatment on seed coat of A. nilotica var. cupressiformis seeds with ten treatments in completely randomized block design at ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Pali Marwar. The treatments were replicated thrice. Result: Among the treatments, maximum germination and higher values was obtained in sand paper scarification with water soaking for 12 hrs (T2) followed by mechanical scarification with sand paper (T1), acid scarification (50% for 20 min) (T7) and acid scarification (98% for 10 min) (T5). Further, the present study aims to initiate the research areas for conservation and utilization of A. nilotica var. cupressiformis in Western parts of Rajasthan and other parts of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, based on my doctoral ethnographic research amongst the Miya community in one of the chars of Western Assam, shows how a particular category of identity documents shape their subjectivities, experiences, and aspirations. I focus on the identity documents which have errors, like mistakes in names, dates of birth or addresses, and badly angled photos. I refer to them as thin documents. Because of the thin documents, the Miyas find it difficult to assert formal citizenship rights, which they could normally assert based on accurate documentation. For the thin documents to help prove the Miyas' citizenship, they must be further supported by an additional set of documents. The process questions the Miya's formal citizenship rights. I present narratives of the Miya people living with thin documents to illustrate how the materiality of the identity document binds the Miya people to a state of liminal citizenship. I ask: what do these errors in the identity document or thin documents tell us about citizenship, particularly liminal citizenship with reference to the Miya community of Assam? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban planning significantly influences the physical and health profile of urban environments. This paper explores the critical nexus between urban planning and public health, emphasizing the urgent need to integrate health considerations into the urban planning curriculum in India. Current urban planning courses often overlook public health aspects, resulting in a disconnect that could hinder the ability of urban environments to meet the health and well-being needs of their populations. Through a comprehensive review and analysis of curriculum data from selected Indian institutions of national importance—including the School of Planning and Architecture, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, and National Institute of Technology, Bhopal—this study identifies significant gaps in the inclusion of health-related content in urban planning education. The analysis reveals a low occurrence of health-related themes within the planning curriculum, with essential topics like public health history, environmental health, and health impact assessments seldom addressed. To bridge these gaps, the paper suggests incorporating mandatory health-focused courses, such as Health Impact Assessments and public health fundamentals, into the curriculum. It also recommends interdisciplinary collaboration with public health professionals to enrich planning education. By restructuring the curriculum to include more comprehensive health-related education, future urban planners can be better equipped to create healthier and more sustainable urban environments, ultimately enhancing public health outcomes in rapidly urbanizing spaces. This research not only sheds light on current educational inadequacies but also proposes actionable steps towards a more holistic integration of health and urban planning disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the need for holistic geriatric health care in rural India. Many older people in Indian villages suffer from chronic ailments without any relief or intervention because of inaccessible and unaffordable health-care services. This paper explores how holistic health care can be assured for older people in Indian villages. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is based on reflections of the authors who have had experiences as caregivers to older persons within their respective families rooted in the Indian villages. Besides, they interacted with 30 older persons (18 males and 12 females in the age group of 60–80 years) living in the villages in three states of India, namely, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to develop a comprehensive viewpoint on the need of geriatric health care in rural India. Relevant reports, newspaper articles and research papers were also reviewed while developing viewpoints on such an important topic. Findings: Geriatric health-care facilities in rural India are abysmal. The older people in the villages cannot leverage health-care facilities that are generally inaccessible, inadequate and unaffordable. Even the government support for medical treatment is minuscule. Furthermore, there is lack of trained health-care professionals at all levels, namely, doctors, nurses and paramedic personnel. Training opportunities in geriatrics are also negligible. The scenario vis-à-vis geriatric health care in rural India can be upturned by increasing public spending on health-care infrastructure, increasing numbers of health-care professionals and expanding training programmes in geriatrics. Originality/value: This paper is based on the critical reflections of the authors as well as their informal interactions with some of the older people in the Indian villages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Purpose] The debate over Net Neutrality (NN) that dominated discussion in the domain of Internet and telecommunications for over two decades, has largely been settled in favour of the principle of an open, non-discriminatory regime for all traffic travelling over networks. The rapid commercialisation of 5G mobile telecom technologies in telecom markets, however, draws regulatory attention once again, to aspects of NN regimes in apparent conflict with the requirements of the new technology. The emerging discussion has prompted reviews of NN policies in many countries. [Methodology] This paper uses a policy Delphi to assess expert and stakeholder opinion on the likely impact of 5G of the NN regime in India and what, if any, modifications and alterations are required to enable proliferation of 5G services in the country. [Findings] The paper arrives at a set of policy recommendations for management of the NN regime in India in the context of 5G technology, markets and services. [Practical Implications and Value] These recommendations would be of practical utility to regulators and administrators in other countries as 5G is adopted in their telecommunications sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to analyse the Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) of Canada, Australia, The Netherlands and India, focussing on key internal and external processes, such as the exchange of information, operations and compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations. The paper relies on secondary sources to compare and assess the practices and strategies employed by FIUs within these jurisdictions. Design/methodology/approach: The paper relies on secondary sources to compare and assess the practices and strategies used by FIUs within these jurisdictions. Findings: The ability to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) in countries is influenced by several internal and external factors, including the efficiency of their FIUs' and compliance with FATF recommendations. The analysis of FIUs across the countries demonstrates a raft of multifaceted challenges and concerns. Yet, when it comes to compliance with FATF's recommendations, shared concerns emerge, hinting at the complex interplay between country-specific operations and global compliance standards. The paper recommends enhancements to the FIUs' operational efficiency and overall effectiveness in combating financial crimes. Research limitations/implications: The paper's findings are limited to openly available data (such as annual reports and internet sources) for the respective countries. The paper relies on the transparency of FIUs through public media, focusing on comparing and analysing the FIUs of only four specific countries, which limits the generalisations of the findings. Practical implications: This paper is significant for policymakers and FIU authorities, as they strive to improve the effectiveness of their units and assess their performance in alignment with international standards. The comparative analysis of the FIUs of India, Australia, Canada and The Netherlands provides valuable insights and recommendations that can inform policymakers and operational strategies towards enhancing how FIUs function globally. Originality/value: This paper offers a unique comparative analysis of the FIUs of India, Australia, Canada and The Netherlands. Its findings have practical implications for policymakers and FIU authorities towards enhancing performance against international AML/CFT standards and promoting global cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]