Search

In this phenomenological study, the author proposes a spiritual triple bottom line framework (STBL) to develop and measure the three bottom lines: individual prosperity, impact on people, and impact on the planet through the lens of spirituality. The results are presented as an interpretation of the individual's perceptions of spirituality and their spiritual experiences. The result comprises three themes of spirituality and its nomological linkage i.e., inner sustainability with a triple-bottom-line framework (external sustainability). The themes are: the source of spirituality, the process of experiencing spirituality, and the outcome of being spiritual.

Herpes zoster (HZ) is a debilitating viral infection causing a dermatomal vesicular rash. Many known risk factors exist in India and adults >50 years of age may be especially susceptible to HZ. However, HZ is not a notifiable disease in India and data on incidence and disease burden is lacking. An Expert Consensus Group meeting was conducted with experts from relevant specialties to discuss HZ disease, its local epidemiology, and suggestions for implementing HZ vaccination in the Indian healthcare system. Currently, there is lack of patient awareness, poor reporting practices and general negligence in the treatment of the disease. HZ patients generally approach their general physicians or specialists for diagnosis, which is usually based on patient history and clinical symptoms. Recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) has >90% efficacy and is recommended in adults ≥50 years of age to prevent HZ in the United States. Despite RZV being approved for use, it is not yet available in India. India has a growing elderly population with known risk factors for HZ like immunosuppression, and co-morbidities like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This indicates the need for a targeted immunization program in India. Meeting also emphasized adult vaccine availability and accessibility in the country.

National Rabies Control Programme, India, is in operation since 2012–2013 without much impact due to poor funding and no set policy for the rabies prevention and control. An effort was made to develop a draft policy paper which can help the Government of India to develop a national rabies vaccination policy for humans and for achieving the goal of zero dog-mediated human rabies deaths by the year 2030. A technical stakeholders meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Drug Controller General of India at New Delhi in December 2017 to discuss the problems and solutions for providing essential rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). The following problems and dilemmas were identified: frequent shortages of life-saving rabies vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin for PEP; as rabies vaccines are mostly procured by the state governments that often face resource crunch and hurdles in logistics within the states; production levels of rabies biologicals in the public sector are low; and the export of rabies biologicals from the private sector needs to be critically evaluated in the context of frequent stock-outs in the domestic market and also the national vaccine security.

The government of India has done remarkable work on commissioning a government funded prehospital emergency ambulance service in India. This has both public health implications and an economic impact on the nation. With the establishment of these services, there is an acute need for standardization of education and quality assurance regarding prehospital care provided. The International Joint Working Group has been actively involved in designing guidelines and establishing a comprehensive framework for ensuring high-quality education and clinical standards of care for prehospital services in India. This paper provides an independent expert opinion and a proposed framework for general operations and administration of a standardized, national prehospital emergency medical systems program. Program implementation, operational details, and regulations will require close collaboration between key stakeholders, including local, regional, and national governmental agencies of India.

Using the stewardship theory and theory of fear of failure as the underlying theory, the study focuses on investigating CEO characteristics and disability employment of listed firms in India. The study employed descriptive statistics and feasible generalised least square (FGLS) assumption to analyze data from 80 Indian listed firms with 800 firm-year observations from 2010 to 2019. We find that CEO age and CEO tenure have a strong and positive correlation. The first findings show that ageing CEOs are insignificant to exhibit any levels of disability employment in India. This study suggests that ageing CEOs do not see disability employment as a welfare cost or employment that can lead to a consequential profit. The second findings show that firms with long-tenured CEOs exhibit a higher level of disability employment. This outcome does not conflict with the assumption that the CEO has a sense of responsibility to achieve what is right and protect the firm’s assets. Lastly, the study shows that female CEOs exhibit higher levels of disability employment in India. The study is limited to firms with data on people with disabilities. Using the Indian stock market as the only study source may affect the study’s generalisation. Also, small firms that employ disabled persons are not on the stock market and may potentially undermine the study’s scope. Examining CEO characteristics (CEO age, CEO tenure and CEO gender) on disability employment deepens disability studies in emerging markets.

This research paper explores the Hindutva ideology of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by analysing its implications for Pakistan. BJP’s ascension to power led the Hindu Nationalist government to implement the Hindutva ideological rhetoric. With a substantial Muslim population living in India and rivalry with Pakistan, such policies have significant implications for the Indian Muslim community as well as for Pakistan. These Hindutva-driven policies have not only raised concern regarding minorities' rights in India, affecting Kashmiri Muslims but also raising security challenges for Pakistan. In the past decade, the legislative and executive bodies have been actively engaged in promoting this ideology, as evidenced by the amendment of national citizenship law, growing riots against Muslims, and the Indian government's policy towards Pakistan. By analysing the recent minorities-related events, this paper seeks to assess the impact of the policies of the BJP government towards the Indian Muslim community and its interaction with Pakistan. Bibliography Entry Xiaolian, Shi and Uzma Siraj and Alla Ud Din. 2024. "Modi’s Hindutva Policy and Its Impact on Indo-Pak Relations." Margalla Papers 28 (1): 1-15.

We normally hardly notice the mass-produced paper products that pass through our hands on a daily basis, which we then recycle. In fact it has recently been predicted that books printed on paper will be replaced by digital formats. However, paper endures and specialist craft papers are now being produced in increasing quantities, especially valued by artists and conservators, but also by tourists visiting paper-producing areas around the world. Paper is therefore flourishing even in our computer and mobile-phone focused world. One of the areas benefiting from this revival is the Himalayas. As well as serving the tourist trade these products are now exported world-wide, as they were when paper first arrived in Europe in the eleventh century. There are even organisations that run Tibetan-style paper making workshops in Amer­ica. This paper focuses on the papermaking revival in Tibet (China), Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim (India). Using information gained from visits to producers, middle men, as well as retail and export operations, it seeks to compare the economic and social factors influencing the revival, including conservation issues. The conclusion highlights the fact that, even in the twenty first century, hand-crafted items still play an important rôle in our lives.

Purpose – Presently the whole world has been experiencing a pandemic threat of coronavirus diesease 2019 (COVID-19) and at the same time facing unprecedented changes in everything including education. E-learning has evolved as the only alternative of knowledge transmission even in third world nations, and e-assessment has been playing an increasingly important role in this digital transformation of education. But how far and of what depth it has made its place among students' minds need to be studied to leverage its full potential to transform students' learning needs. This study reports an investigation made in this direction. Design/methodology/approach – An online survey consisting of 40 questions in Google Forms was conducted to collect primary data on students' perception of e-assessment among 200 Indian students pursuing higher education from several geographical locations. The quantitative methodological approach was followed. The data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially. Findings – The results were analyzed based on the model of acceptance and usage of e-assessment (MAUE), and findings revealed that students' overall perception toward e-assessment was of moderate level and this perception varies depending on their gender, academic level, nature of the stream of study and their economic condition. Of the eight domains investigated, students showed better perception in the perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, compatibility, subjective norms and self-efficacy domains, while they cut a sorry figure in domains like awareness, resource facilitation and information technology (IT) support. It became evident from their responses that COVID was instrumental in enhancing their interest in e-assessment. Social implications – The implication of this study lies in strengthening e-assessment by attending to the factors as noted in the MAUE in India and alike developing nations having huge space left for e-learning to reach a boom. Originality/value – This is an empirical investigation conducted in India on the state of students' perception of the e-assessment in the backdrop of the COVID-19 outbreak. To do this work, the authors conducted online surveys, and the write-up of the findings focus on the survey data only.

The journey to understand technological and digital policing requires a re-engagement with the most basic and widely used technology – paper-based registers for preventive policing. In the name of preventive policing, people from ex-untouchable castes, indigenous populations, and immigrants (in the city) are put under surveillance and recorded in registers. In the process, they earn criminal records for petty crimes, but also for no crimes at all. The registers enable a very ‘visible’ surveillance, where the ‘suspects’ are watched, followed and asked to come for mandatory attendance at the stations. Keeping in mind the segregated nature of the urban landscapes of cities in India, this is only possible for people who belong to certain strata of society and who do not have the privilege of escaping the prying eyes of the police. Researchers have argued that this form of policing is anti-poor or anti-marginalised. However, in this article, I argue that this form of preventive policing is better understood as being anti-caste. I demonstrate how police manuals, including guidelines for police record keeping and surveillance practices, reproduce and imitate the caste based social structure of India by using legacy practices from some still operational and some defunct laws. The paper-based registers maintain an illusion of objectivity – while the police can simply claim to be obeying the manuals. However, by enabling the recording of only those able to be visibly surveilled, those arrested for petty crimes, or those unable to escape the criminal justice system because of lack of money or social support or both, the paper-based registers become a vehicle of policing caste. By marking those thus recorded as habitual offenders, these registers propagate the caste-based understanding that defines crime as an inherent/hereditary trait of the lower castes. Prediction becomes nothing more than a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Abstract Background The importance of evidence-informed health policymaking is widely recognized. However, many low- and middle-income countries lack evidence-informed mental health policies due to insufficient data, stigma or lack of resources. Various policies address adolescent mental health in India, but published knowledge on their evidence-informed nature is limited. In this paper, we report results of our analysis of the role of evidence in adolescent mental health policymaking in India. Methods This paper reports findings from the document analysis of key policy documentation (n = 10) and in-depth interviews with policy actors including policymakers, researchers, practitioners and intermediaries (n = 13). Framework analysis was used, informed by the components of a conceptual framework adapted from the literature: actors, policy and evidence processes, nature of evidence itself and contextual influences. Results Results show that adolescent mental health policies in India were generally evidence-informed, with more key evidence becoming generally available from 2010 onwards. Both formal and informal evidence informed mental health policies, particularly agenda-setting and policy development. Mental health policymaking in India is deemed important yet relatively neglected due to competing policy priorities and structural barriers such as stigma. Use of evidence in mental health policymaking reflected differing values, interests, relative powers and ideologies of policy actors. Involvement of government officials in evidence generation often resulted in successful evidence uptake in policy decisions. Policy actors often favoured formal and quantitative evidence, with a tendency to accept global evidence that aligns with personal values. Conclusions There is a need to ensure a balanced and complementary combination of formal and informal evidence for policy decisions. Evidence generation, dissemination and use for policy processes should recognize evidence preferences by key stakeholders, while prioritizing locally available evidence where possible. To help this, a balanced involvement of policy actors can ensure complementary perspectives in evidence production and policy agendas. This continued generation and promotion of evidence can also help reduce societal stigma around mental health and promote mental health as a key policy priority.

In this research paper, researcher is attempting to conduct a critical analysis of the judgment pronounced by International Court of Justice in the matter of Kulbhushan Jadhav case between India and Pakistan. The case has been a landmark instance for the whole international dispute resolution mechanism persisting in current global situation. The instance has a unique significance for scholars as the disguised drawbacks of international law have been brought to light yet again. In India v. Pakistan1 (Official name of Kulbhushan Jadhav case), the International Court of Justice [ICJ] found that Pakistan had violated its obligations under Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Therefore, Pakistan must continue to subject Jadav's conviction and sentencing to effective review (ERR) using methods of its own choosing. In this paper, researcher intends to analyse the same issue in detail while analysing the Kulbhushan Jadhav case and its aftermaths. India and Pakistan have been against each other since 1947 and this issue has unfortunately been one among them where the life of an individual has been at stake and stuck between the tussle of the geo-politics between the countries.

Purpose – The paper examines the recent trends in information technology for combating corruption and its impact on the Indian economy. It further explores how technology is being used to tackle corruption in India and the resulting economic benefits. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology encompasses qualitative analysis to investigate corruption comprehensively. It involves content analysis of corruption-related documents, case studies, and expert interviews. Recent information technological advancements are explored, including blockchain and AI, for their anti-corruption potential. Findings – This study reveals that the negative impacts of corruption on society include reduced economic growth, weakened institutions, and decreased public trust in government. Various technological advancements such as e-governance, blockchain, AI, and big data analytics have been implemented to enhance transparency and accountability in government processes. Special cases and examples of application of such technology tools and techniques adopted by the organizations to control corruption are discussed. Originality/value – This paper highlights the need for legal reforms, institutional strengthening, and awareness-raising campaigns to complement technological advancements in the fight against corruption.

Purpose – The effectiveness of independent directors in making autonomous decisions for better corporate governance in organizations has often been questioned. This paper aims to investigate their role in company’s decision making in India and the reasons behind their ineffectiveness. Design/methodology/approach – This paper examines the regulatory environment and ongoing reforms in which independent directors operate. It identifies crucial factors such as ownership patterns, the appointment and selection process that affect their autonomy. The analysis draws from newspaper articles, blogs, India’s regulatory requirements, The Companies Act and relevant related literature. Findings – The findings reveal that the independence of directors remains largely in form but not in function. This paper recommends a fair and more robust selection through an independent authority, and disclosure of the resignations of independent directors. Independent directors should be given more powers and their risk-reward scheme should be analyzed. Originality/value – The paper emphasizes the need for independent directors to be truly independent from the senior management, promoters, and other existing directors. It calls for tighter and more transparent appointment procedures to ensure that independent directors are not influenced by senior management and can bring objectivity to the company board.

Purpose – The paper aims to examine the impacts and ethics of utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Indian policing. It explores both the positive and negative consequences of using AI, as well as the ethical considerations that have be taken into account. Design/methodology/approach – This study is based on secondary sources of information, such as national and international reports, journal articles, and institutional websites that discuss the use of AI technology by the police in India. Findings – AI has proven to be effective in policing, from preventing crime to identifying criminals, by detecting potential crimes in advance with fewer resources and in more areas. In India, the police use AI technology not only for facial recognition but also for crime mapping, analysis, and building blocks. However, factors such as caste, religion, language, and gender continue to cause conflict. India has shown a strong interest in using AI technology for policing, and wishes to accelerate its implementation in various policing contexts, including law and order. This paper calls for an assessment of the complexities and uncertainties brought about by new technologies in policing with ethical considerations. Originality/value – This paper can provide valuable insights for policy-makers, academics, and practitioners engaged in discussions and debates concerning the ethical considerations associated with the adoption of AI tools in policing practices.

Purpose – Inclusive growth in the education sector is still a major challenge in some countries because of limited access to technologies and internet connectivity, among other reasons. However, as a technology, augmented reality (AR) is expected to be widely used in the field of education in the future. The main purpose of this paper is to explore the use of AR for inclusive growth in education as well as identify the challenges, particularly in countries like India and Tanzania. Design/methodology/approach – This paper applies a systematic literature review by analysing and synthesising relevant documents, mainly journal articles, books and conference papers. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation were used for the analysis. Content analysis was used to evaluate the contents of the reviewed literature. Findings – For the use of AR, it is important to have adequate digital infrastructure, access to universal internet or broadband facilities and the digital empowerment of citizens. Major challenges to inclusive growth in education include the lack of trained teacher educators and students’ preference for practical or project-based curriculum. Practical implications – Practitioners in both countries may consider the use of AR for inclusive growth in education. Originality/value – This paper specifically examines the use of AR in higher education and the related challenges based on a review of two countries, namely India and Tanzania.

This paper compares mortality transition in China and India in the period 1950–2021, highlighting similarities and differences. Mortality transition has been inconsistent in both countries, but differences remain. In China, the transition has been spread evenly across the age range, while in India, it has primarily been confined to younger ages, being markedly slow in ages 35–90. This difference in the older ages appears to explain the main difference between the respective mortality transition in the two countries. To address its ongoing mortality transition, the paper concludes, India needs to reinvigorate its health-care delivery system to meet the health care needs of the old people. The paper also emphasises using geometric mean of the age-specific probabilities of death as an appropriate measure to analyse mortality transition.

Abstract While promoting manufacturing growth is imperative to boost economic growth, potential adverse consequences on natural resources and ecology have created sustainability-related concerns and challenges. In India, with the reform processes deepening further and the business environment becoming more market-oriented over the years, the adoption of appropriate measures for sustainable manufacturing growth under such conditions would require a deeper investigation of the underlying dynamics, particularly to address the impacts of external shocks. This is especially true when external shocks alter market dynamics and, hence, input is used significantly in the manufacturing sector. Given this backdrop, the present paper examines how the major external shocks to the Indian economy during in the post-reform era have altered the resource use patterns in selected manufacturing industries. The paper uses secondary data collected from the KLEMS database of the Reserve Bank of India for the period from 1980–81 to 2019–20 and applies descriptive statistics and econometric techniques to address the research objective. It is found that energy intensity, vertical integration, capital intensity, and rate of growth of total factor productivity decreased over the decades, whereas labour productivity experienced an increasing trend in most industries. However, the trends are mixed in the case of material intensity. Further, the regression results indicate significant effects of external shocks on resource use, factor productivity, and structural changes. There are also industry-specific differences in the nature and extent of such changes. Hence, a deeper investigation of the underlying factors and impacts at a disaggregate industry level is necessary to draw more robust insights.

Abstract All over the world, waste and its disposal are becoming a more prominent issue, as landfills swell up and growing evidence points to its contribution to climate change and environmental degradation. In the developing world, waste pickers sort through solid waste and sell it to vendors, who will recycle the product into something consumable. The work they do is vital to climate change mitigation, as well as urban cleanliness. In a way, waste pickers, especially in India, are vehicles of environmental justice, but they are often discriminated against and subjected to inhumane working conditions. In this environment, the pandemic hit, making waste pickers’ already precarious life even worse. This paper attempts to fill the gap in the academic literature by compiling a systemized literature review of the impacts of COVID-19 on waste-pickers’ lives using an environmental justice perspective. The review also uses a Feminist Political Ecology perspective to illuminate the double jeopardy that female waste pickers face in the era of COVID-19, which academia often ignores. Ultimately, this paper shows that COVID-19 exacerbated the preexisting injustices that the waste picker community face and created an immense burden on women. This paper will show that it is important to notice the differentiation between female and male waste picker challenges, especially at the crux of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper has important policy implications as well as research considerations for both environmental justice and feminist political ecology scholars.

Background/purpose: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) affecting populations is considered a public health issue in South/Southeast Asia. The purpose of this study was to analyze the scientometric characteristics and research trends of OSF. Materials and methods: All the papers on OSF were comprehensively retrieved from the Scopus database. Regional comparison (India versus outside of India) and chronological comparison (before 2015 versus after 2015) were performed. Results: Among all the 1357 papers on OSF, 930 (68.5%) were from India. In India, biology research on antioxidant, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix were distinctive keywords. Risk factors of smokeless tobacco and gutkha and the roles of saliva and blood sampling were also distinctive keywords in India. In outside of India, biology research on myofibroblast, alpha smooth muscle actin, microRNA, long untranslated RNA, and protein p53 were distinctive keywords. The trend of biology research on connective tissue, genotype, genetic predisposition, messenger RNA, and cytology before 2015 has changed to research on myofibroblast, biological marker, microRNA, epithelial mesenchymal transition, extracellular matrix, and oxidative stress after 2015. The trend of clinical aspects of surgery and mouth hygiene before 2015 has changed to the aspects of adverse event/effects, complication, and quality of life after 2015. Conclusion: This scientometric study elucidated the current scenario and research trends of OSF, and would help in improving in reciprocal collaboration and communication for this disease control in South/Southeast Asia.

This paper investigates the impact of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) scores as well as individual pillar scores on the firm performance in the Indian context. Even though a lot of research has been conducted world-wide concerning this issue, a conclusive result has not yet been derived. Being an emerging economy, India is at a nascent stage of research related to ESG issues, and past research indicates a mixed result. In order to avoid the potential endogeneity issue, this paper used a dynamic panel approach of system GMM. This paper considered data from 59 non-financial companies listed under the NSE 500 index. Data was collected from the Thomson Reuters Refinitiv Eikon database over a period of 11, spanning from 2010 to 2021. The finding suggested a significantly negative impact of ESG score on firm performance measured by Tobin's Q and ROA, which indicates a non-linear Ushaped relationship. Net profit margin and closing price are used as alternative, dependent variables to check the robustness of the models and show consistent results. The environmental pillar score and social pillar score showed a negative impact on firm performance, whereas the governance pillar score showed a positive impact on market performance but negatively impacted financial performance. The key takeaway from this paper is that, if firms continue to improve ESG disclosure, it will positively impact firm performance in the future.

In this paper, we investigate the effect of organisational values/culture on sustainable practices in Indian SMEs, and observe that organisational values/culture positively affect waste disposal/recycling, and employee-related social practices. Further, employee-related social practices act as a mediating variable between organisational values/culture, and firms’ environmental and community-related social practices. We also examine the moderating role of family influence and observe that for family SMEs, the effects of organisational values/culture on waste disposal/recycling, and employee-related social practices are stronger than those for non-family SMEs. The paper concludes by highlighting the implications and limitations of the study, and possible directions for future research.

At a rhetorical level, the SDGs provide a unified global agenda, and their targets and indicators are believed to drive action for social and environmental transformation. However, what if the SDGs (and their specific goals and indicators) are more of a problem than a solution? What if they create the illusion of action through a depoliticised and technical approach that fails to address fundamental dilemmas of politics and power? What if this illusion continues to reproduce poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation? This paper addresses these questions through a focus on SDG 6.5.1 – the implementation of integrated water resources management (IWRM), measured on a 0-100 scale through a composite indicator. The paper presents an empirical analysis of SDG 6.5.1 reporting in Colombia, Ethiopia, India, Malaysia, and the UK, drawing on research from the Water Security and Sustainable Development Hub.1 An evidence review and series of expert interviews are used to interrogate the local politics of IWRM measurement, specifically three dilemmas of global composite indicator construction: (1) reductive quantification of normative and contested processes; (2) weak analysis of actually existing institutional capability, politics, and power; and (3) distracting performativity dynamics in reporting. The paper concludes that SDG 6.5.1 is an example of a 'fantasy artefact', and that in all countries in this study, IWRM institutions are failing to address fundamental and 'wicked' problems in water resources management. We find little evidence that these numbers, or the survey that gives rise to them, drive meaningful reflection on the aims or outcomes of IWRM. Instead, they tend to hide the actually-existing political and institutional dynamics that sit behind the complexity of the global water crisis.

[Purpose] This article addresses the lack of legislation in India to govern digital currencies, as well as the legality of Bitcoin in comparison to Russia's ban on other digital assets for payment regulation, highlighting the necessity for effective legislation once all around the world. It further delves into potential misuse of private cryptocurrencies in a variety of ways while placing upon the need for both countries to form a new digital currency regulatory authority. [Methodology/Approach/Design] This paper probes into the existing legal regulations for Cryptocurrency in India, Russia and other countries by using primary and secondary data throughout the paper. The primary data have been taken from legitimate government sources such as Russia's federal law and other bills and laws enacted in India, such as the "Banning of Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2019" and "The Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021." Various judgments like the case of Internet and Mobile Association of India v. Reserve Bank of India and Dwaipayan Bhowmick v. Union Of India and Ors. have been taken out from Manupatra which is an online database for legal research. Government reports and notifications from the Indian, Russian and US government have also been examined. The secondary data include numerous news articles from Times of India, The Mirror, India Times, The Moscow Times, Telegraph, The UK News and other new sites. Lastly, articles by various researchers like Bohme et al, Dyhrberg and Kim have also been thoroughly analysed. [Findings] It was concluded that legalising Cryptocurrency through codified laws, appropriate approval for digital currencies through regulatory authorities, establishing clear definition of ‘cryptocurrency’, uniform taxation for all types of Cryptocurrencies, updation of penal laws and setting imprisonment for cryptocurrency regulation violation seem to be some effective solutions to reignite the Indian and Russian Economies. [Practical Implications] The practical implication lies in the fact that the use of cryptocurrencies is increasing on a daily basis, but neither the national government nor the world organizations has made any steps to control the market for virtual currencies.

The paper explores the mobilisation, interdependence, and organisation of the women's movement in Assam, locating it from the landmark events of the Assam Movement through a feminist lens. Instead of positioning women as passive recipients in Assam’s conflict-ridden areas, it captures the feminist recovery in the state’s men-led political movement. The study points out that while male leadership in Assam’s movements often relied on women’s involvement, women’s specific demands were frequently overlooked, and their voices were marginalised. In response, women have sought to reclaim their agency and narrate an alternative history. However, the social basis of the women’s movement is neither class nor ethnic minority but based on shared social circumstances. Therefore, studying the women’s movement in Assam, this paper considered an essential concern of feminism: dissimilarities and contrasting factors among women, depicting that gender alone does not marginalise. With a focus on this research gap, this study underscores the importance of an intersectional approach to understanding the fractured solidarity within Assam’s women’s movement, addressing a significant gap in feminist writing.

Governing transitions have assumed increasing significance in managing change with respect to climate change and rapid periurbanization. In this respect, evidence from sustainability transitions research in South Asia stipulates the need for institutional innovations that are suitable to the governance context, which is characterized by a fuzzy field of “speculative frontiers,” and strong hierarchically structured mechanisms. This paper focuses on Chennai, India to ascertain the potentials of “adaptive governance” in this periurban region of the Global South. We approach this by (a) defining the periurban space from a bio-regional, socio-ecological systems perspective, (b) complementing it with a zonal classification considering disaster and climate change risks, and (c) presenting an adaptive governance framework. Based on analyzing existing governance structures, the paper discusses identified syndromes, synergistic potentials and activities for adaptive governance, especially highlighting water and agroecology-related pathways. Our integrated analytical approach is (a) multi-dimensional deploying the adaptive governance framework, (b) multi-level considering local, intermediate and state governance, and (c) multi-scalar applying macro, meso and micro scales. The implications underscore that transformative interventions, sooner or later, will have to challenge the system that produces such climate vulnerabilities. In spite of several barriers, there are noteworthy indications of adaptive governance practices discernible in numerous niche projects in the Chennai region that demonstrate diverse embryonic forms to build more strategic and conscientious approaches.

Abstract The paper's objective is to study one of the world´s early living civilizations, i.e., India, focusing primarily on its rich ancient philosophy with specific reference to holistic education to understand how it may act as a prototype for target 4.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals. The study uses Interpretive sociology to understand the meanings contextually from the insider's perspective. Extensive and intensive usage of symbolism in Indian philosophy is studied through social constructionism and phenomenology. India’s ancient philosophy on holistic education has a relevance to modern approaches to address sustainability issues such as by addressing specific aspects of the SDGs, or the SDGs holistically, given the goals interconnects, and potential synergies and trade-offs, thereby serving as a prototype for target 4.7 of SDG 4. The findings also revel a lack of connection to higher power of spirituality. The originality of the study is the effort enabling comparative analysis across contexts, by placing the SDGs in the context of India’s ancient philosophy on holistic education, befitting the expectations of SDGs, specifically target 4.7. Authors are aware of the tendency of the “book view” (Indological Approach) to homogenize but this is in tune with the papers objective as the intention is to draw an ideal–typical proto-type of holistic education.

This paper explores the scope and potential of Impact-based Forecast and Warning (IbFW) services for hydro-meteorological hazards in India. It builds upon several global and national initiatives which emphasize that the Early Warning System (EWS) requires to be people-centric and inclusive in order to reduce disaster risk. The objectives of the study are: to understand the current Impact-based Forecast and Warnings framework of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and its usefulness from the people's perspective. Drawing from fieldwork conducted in Krushnaparasad Block, Puri District of India, the paper argues that there is a shifting focus towards meeting the requirements of general public, but there is a long way to go as far as meeting expectations are concerned. It calls for changes such as strengthening risk assessment modeling, clarity over institutional mandates and adoption of flexible governance frameworks to move from an Impact-based paradigm to Impact Forecast and Warning services.

India, the world’s most populous country, is the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Despite employing several energy sources, it still relies heavily on coal, its primary energy source. Given India’s swiftly rising energy demand, this challenges meeting emission reduction targets. In recent years, India has significantly increased investments in renewables like solar and hydrogen. While commendable, these initiatives alone cannot meet the country’s expanding energy demands. In the short term, India must rely on both domestic and imported fossil fuels, with natural gas being the most environmentally friendly option. In this context, this paper attempts to forecast energy consumption, natural gas production, and consumption in India until 2050, using both univariate and multivariate forecasting methods. For multivariate forecasting, we have assumed two alternative possibilities for GDP growth: the business-as-usual and the high-growth scenarios. Each of our forecasts indicates a notable shortfall in the projected production of natural gas compared to the expected demand, implying our results are robust. Our model predicts that nearly 30–50 percent of India’s natural gas consumption will be met by imports, mainly in the form of LNG. Based on these findings, this paper recommends that Indian government policies emphasize increasing domestic natural gas production, importing LNG, and expanding renewable energy resources.

The 2011 the Western Cape Forum for Intellectual Disability v Government of The Republic of South Africa case flagged a lot of issues faced by persons with disabilities relating to access to education in South Africa. The case tackled certain perceptions about the ineducability of persons with profound and severe disability and the remaining charity-oriented perception by the South African Department of Basic Education. While the court made several important points in advancing universal access to education, the author argues that certain holes in the judgment hinders the existence of judicial finding truly infused with concerns of substantive equality. An example of this short-coming is the court's consideration of reasonableness when the right to basic education is an immediately realisable right. The author also argues that the South African developments in education policy for persons with disability, while positive, is insufficient to truly give effect to substantive equality – the claim to equality being made in the new constitutional dispensation. There is still an attitude that is too permissive of separating students based on abilism. The social model of thinking about requires a complete transformation of the education system that would not require a classification of learners by abilities but have a different constitution so as to accommodate all students and not unduly enable one group over another. The author considers the approaches from Canada and India to explore its responses to education for students with varying levels of ability. Canada's similar conception of equality and India's influence on South African constitutionalism and shared experience with massive equality gaps make these jurisdictions instructive.

Background: The Registration of Births and Deaths Act (RBD) of 1969 in India mandates continuous recording of vital events; however, after more than 50 years of its enactment, universality remains elusive. Birth registration, a fundamental right, is essential for demographic analysis and effective policy planning. Birth registration is closely linked to child development, access to healthcare, and other societal factors. Analysing its trends helps in designing targeted interventions and monitoring progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Objectives: This paper aims to analyse the changes in birth registration across Indian states. This paper also examines the impact of institutionalization of births on registration and underscores its significance in policymaking. Methods: The study utilises data from the latest two rounds of National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4 & NFHS-5) to analyse birth registration trends in India. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the impact of place of delivery on birth registration. Findings: The comparison of NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 data demonstrates varying birth registration rates across Indian states, with notable progress in some regions and persistent challenges in others. Multivariable logistic regression analysis highlights the significant influence of place of delivery on registration likelihood. The interaction between wealth and place of delivery suggests a mitigating effect, indicating that increasing institutional births has a positive impact on birth registration, with this effect being more pronounced at different levels of household wealth. It highlights that wealthier households were more likely to register births due to the higher rate of institutional deliveries. Conclusion: India’s journey towards universal birth registration under the SDGs presents progress and challenges. NFHS data shows improvements in birth registration, but disparities still persist. Socio-economic status, place of delivery, and maternal education have strong influences on birth registration. Institutional deliveries significantly increase registration likelihood, facilitated by programs like Janani Suraksha Yojana. Integrating birth registration with health services enhances health data accuracy and service delivery. By prioritising targeted interventions, addressing social barriers, and leveraging existing programs, India can ensure that every child’s birth is registered, advancing towards a healthier, more equitable future.

Given the complex web of socio-cultural factors, intersectional features of gender identity and the recent trajectories of a lack of land resources, the rise of alternative gainful employment, and a feminization of agriculture, this paper investigates whether land rights are the ultimate panacea for women’s autonomy. Land can be a source of women’s empowerment albeit the patriarchal Indian society restricts women’s right to property. Women in India are not a homogenous category. They are defined by their intersectional identities of caste, class, ethnicity, stages in their life course and subjectivities regarding demands for land. A more nuanced approach to women’s land rights is proposed in view of the agrarian crisis, restricted social validity of women’s land claims and other factors. Research has been conducted including an analysis of various feminist and intersectional debates concerning land rights in India, government reports, legal judgements, and religious text, among others.

Groundwater policy is widely considered an essential element for building effective groundwater use and carrying out the country’s groundwater resources planning and management. This review first of its kind which gives extensive information about groundwater policy at the national and state level in India. This review focuses on the new national-level groundwater policy of India and discusses the salient features of groundwater policy for selected countries. Based on the ongoing challenges of groundwater issues in India, the benefits and drawbacks are described, making the future decision-making process easier and more efficient when contemplating regulation and known groundwater challenges. Considering the new provisions and the ongoing challenges, this paper discusses gaps in policy and its effects on the overall sustainability of groundwater resources. Our findings provide insight into the new national-level groundwater policy and outline limitations in areas such as the agricultural sector, land subsidence, cross-border conditions, climate change, information dissemination, groundwater and surface water connectivity, etc. that need urgent attention.

During international negotiations for the Rio Earth Summit of 1992, coalitions made up of countries from the Global South took shape, only to break up gradually over time. The climate positions of two leading emerging powers, the People’s Republic of China and India, have increasingly drifted apart from each other since 2010. This paper seeks to account for this drift by relying on structural factors. The analytical framework proposed here relies on three structural determinants of development: factor endowments, sector specialization, and labor surplus absorption potential. These determinants are complemented by a carbon variable to account for sustainability. This framework reveals a triangle of incompatibility between development, labor surplus absorption, and sustainability that highlights how the People’s Republic of China now has sufficient leeway to engage in more ambitious sustainable policies, while India still faces the mutual incompatibility of either pushing forward with economic development or committing to a sustainable agenda.

Telecommunication provides the infrastructure to deliver core services but contributes to extensive CO2 emissions. To address the problem, this paper introduces environmental sustainability index for the telecom sector to reduce carbon emissions. The present work identifies the most critical factors that reduce carbon emission in a multiple-stage telecom supply chain through an extensive literature review, followed by developing an environmental sustainability index to measure carbon reduction efforts. A detailed survey was conducted among the personnel of the Indian telecom sector to understand the initiatives for carbon emission reduction. The study employed factor analysis and multiple regression to achieve its objectives.

Abstract Self-Help Groups (SHGs), the credit based voluntary groups in India are widely known for their potential to alleviate poverty and empower women. This research article explores a lesser-known theme. It tries to analyze the possibility of utilizing the current SHG model of the Indian Government to build and strengthen resilience of the SHG members in case of an external shock like financial stress, food insecurity, dispute in home for joining SHG, and difficulty to repay loan amidst lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This article also focuses on their coping mechanisms and attitude towards these crises. By utilizing primary data collected from 320 SHG members in one of the aspirational districts in West Bengal, India, the present paper tries to fulfill its objective. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the problems faced by the SHG members by combining both quantitative and qualitative techniques. The findings reveal that from organizing vocational trainings to relaxing loan repayment, SHGs and its women members overcame various adversities with tenacity, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the study findings, it is reasonable to conclude that the current SHG model in India presents a promising avenue for enhancing the resilience of its members in the face of external shocks.

The relevance of national approaches to the study of corporate responsibility in the field of sustainable development is based not only on the expansion of methodological tools for assessment, but also on the need to provide it with a global perspective. Of particular interest is the study of corporate responsibility in developing countries that lag behind in terms of adoption but have distinct national characteristics. India, as the first country to oblige its companies to allocate funds for corporate social responsibility (CSR), demonstrates its intentions to form a national concept of sustainabledevelopment. The BRICS partnership between Russia and India provides opportunities for deeper co-operation in the field of sustainable development in general and corporate responsibility in particular. The paper chooses reports related to sustainable development and corporate social responsibility expenditures, as well as public initiatives of Indian companies as objects of research. An indicator characterising the national corporate approach to sustainable development is proposed.

Establishing a liberal government in post-Taliban Afghanistan allowed India to fulfil its foreign policy goal, i.e., investment in Afghanistan to acquire leverage for its anti-Pakistan agenda. However, the twenty-year war ended with the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, resulting in the Taliban’s rise to power, diminishing Indian influence and reversion of its interests. India halted its investment and diplomatic engagement with the Taliban government due to its previous position, which led India to compromise on its strategic interests outlined in the presence of US forces. To safeguard its strategic interests, India has resumed its diplomatic and economic engagement with the Taliban government at a critical time when other regional states are analysing the US’ future course of action towards the war-torn country. Therefore, this paper examines how India evaluates the newly structured regional environment while finding a new role in Afghanistan. It also analyses the implications of India-Afghanistan re-engagement for Pakistan. Bibliography Entry Farooq, Muhammad. 2022. "Indian Engagement with Taliban-Led Afghanistan and Implications for Pakistan." Margalla Papers 26 (2): 87-95.

In monsoon-dependent South Asia, harvesting and managing water is a necessity. Thus, monuments and modified landscapes related to irrigation, water storing and water worship represent a large share of Indian architectural heritage. Yet, this rich corpus and its attached hydrological knowledge awaits full recognition: thus far, documentation and studies focus on the most visible elements, especially stepwells, tanks and other dug facilities. Hydro-structures are generally considered in an isolated manner and lack contextualisation. Following the observations of English chaplain Edward Terry (1590–1660), this paper aims to explore the relationship between the medieval Indian city and the presence of monumental, often religiously connoted, hydraulic constructions. Based on archaeological and historical data, the paper proposes a fresh look at the hydraulic elements in the larger context of the city. The main argument rehabilitates the artificial lake and underlines its crucial function in plain regions that depend on a sufficient refilling of aquifers. In Western India, the typical city of the Solanki and later the Vaghela and the Muzaffarid dynasties had access to a broad variety of water sources capable of meeting the needs of multiple religious and secular activities (hydro-diversity). This generous waterscape and its multifaceted developments reflect on functions of sociability and religiosity in the city. Water here appears as an essential identity marker of urbanity.

Populism is one of the most popular techniques used by Asian political parties. Political parties use this tactic through socio-political movements not only for the larger good of society but also for their own narrow goals. This article investigates two separate political parties from India and Japan. Populist policies have both beneficial and harmful effects on politics. The given promises often failed to address the grievances of the voters. A significant civil society movement propelled the Aam Admi Party (AAP) to political status. It began as a non-political entity and evolved into a political one. Following the formation of AAP, the issue of civil society as a non-political entity arose. The AAP is a regional party that holds power in two Indian states, focusing its populist policies on local issues. As a national party, the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP) is comparatively old and addresses pertinent national issues, like national security. The quality of politics and socio-economic dynamics of the two countries are different. This paper argues that populism as a tool cannot always be beneficial for the political culture of a country. The wide gap between the promises and implementation often creates discontent among the voters. This paper will attempt the delineate the different scenarios of the populist policies of the AAP of India and the LDP of Japan using the content analysis method.

Indus Valley Civilization flourished in India and Pakistan owing to its technological advancements dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. The present paper aims to trace the emergence of pyrotechnology through documenting the industrial settlements that have been excavated in recent years, as well as locating the potential trading network for the craft items being produced at these small settlements on the outskirts of major Harappan cities such as Harappa, Mohenjo-daro and others. The paper focuses on the excavated Harappan sites with special reference to the site of Binjor - 4MSR in India's Ghaggar riverbed region. The reconstruction of kilns and furnaces based on the excavated remains was considered through the experimental study, such as wheel motion and the quantification of fuel consumption in the production of pottery, including terracotta figurines, bead and metal objects. During the research, the author has documented more than 50 furnaces, attempting to find parallels between Harappan heat treatment and modern potters and smiths located on ancient mounds. The ethnographic similarities between Harappans and the contemporary villagers who continue to inhabit the archaeological mound have been emphasised. The research also examines whether the technology utilised by the Harappans has changed or not, ranging from pottery manufacture to metal smelting, and what can be deduced from these experimental approaches to comprehend the technological prowess of their artisans.

In this paper, we present the influence of religion on the revolutionary movement that led India to political independence in the last century. The most credit for the changes has Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who achieved political changes through satyagraha without violence. After introducing the term satyagraha, the authors outline Gandhi's life and his spiritual development, which enabled him to think and act nonviolently. The sources of his spirituality are highlighted as the Bhagavad-gita, the Bible and Leo Tolstoy's prose. He was also influenced by Jain religious practice, especially the principle of ahimsa practiced by Mohandas' mother. The paper concludes with an outline of the influence of satyagraha in India and beyond after Gandhi's death.

A flash drought (FD) event is a relatively new form of severe occurrence, described by the quick onset and intensification of drought situations with serious consequences. This paper aims to understand the wide variety of studies and serve as a basis for future research potentials of FDs. An effort has been made to understand the advantages and limitations of the existing indices used for FD identification. A study in India was carried out for the identification of FDs using daily gridded data of soil moisture for eight days (octad). The results reveal that the Indus basin faced around 82% and the Cauvery basin faced about 88% of severe FDs during the monsoon and non-monsoon seasons, respectively. Additionally, the results show that the Indus basin faces FD in the monsoon season since the basin has mostly barren areas and wasteland. This review also highlights the role of humidity, wind and radiation, soil characteristics, climate oscillations, and the relation between FDs and heavy-rainfall-induced flash floods. Furthermore, the paper has depicted some specific research-needs to monitor, forecast, plan, and respond with crucial points. HIGHLIGHTS This study discusses the most extensive indices used to identify FDs.; A study is carried out in India to identify FDs using daily gridded soil moisture data for eight days (octad).; The study briefly explains the factors that need to be included in identifying and monitoring FDs.; The study also depicts the crucial points for future research-needs to monitor, forecast, plan, and respond to FDs.;

The long-term financial health of a corporation is assessed by its capacity to meet short-term financial commitments. Optimum working capital that maximizes enterprise value varies across companies. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether Indian manufacturing enterprises’ firm values are influenced by working capital management efficiency. The data are taken from 2016 to 2022 (a seven-year period) for 223 top BSE-listed manufacturing companies. Firm value (explained variable) is proxied using Tobin’s Q, and the constituents of working capital, which include the net trade cycle, inventory period, debtors’ collection period, and creditor payment period, are taken as explanatory variables. The study also controls for any differences in firm characteristics and economic conditions by employing firm size, age, current ratio, net profit ratio, sale growth and GDP growth rate. Balanced-panel data analysis is conducted by employing a two-step generalized method of moment technique. Net trade cycle, inventory period and debtors’ collection period are found to have a strong and significant positive impact on Tobin’s Q. The findings however did not report any evidence of the significant relationship between creditor payment period and Tobin’s Q. Additionally, the outcomes also evidenced that firm value is positively impacted by company size, net profit ratio, sales growth and GDP, whereas negatively affected by firm age. This paper suggests that manufacturing firms may potentially enhance their firm value by prolonging the net trade cycle, period of inventory and lengthening the credit period to customers till the level of attainment of an optimum working capital.

For many years now, a variety of studies have proven the strong relationship between productivity and profitability. However, simply earning a profit does not necessarily mean that the firm is productive. Many highly productive firms face financial losses, whereas less productive ones’ experience significant profits. This paper examines the dynamics of how productivity really matters for profitability. The paper uses a non-parametric index number approach to estimate the productivity, profitability, and price performance of a publicly owned, once world’s largest, bus transport corporation operating in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh to examine these dynamics. The paper finds that when public organizations are constrained from raising the prices of their services, productivity gains may not be adequate to counterbalance the impact of rising prices of major inputs. Moreover, loss-making organizations, even if they are publicly owned, would find it hard to improve both the quality and quantity of their services.

This paper critically examines the neo-liberal conceptualization of Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICTD), which imposes the linear and simplistic notions of empowerment and development on the users from the global South. Using the rapidly growing EdTech segment in India as a case, this paper observes that EdTech has been touted as a magic multiplier and a savior for countries like India that aspire to educate their large populations. This has prompted EdTech companies to pursue platformization and templatization to accomplish scalability and standardization in EdTech use. Based on immersive ethnographic research with youth from low-income families in three Indian cities—Ahmedabad, Delhi, and Vadodara—we argue that the practices of young people concerning EdTech resist standardization. Our analysis reveals that three major factors—challenges of access and autonomy, continued relevance of place-based learning and in-person interactions, and uneven quality and rigor—influence low-income students and families to not completely buy the promise of access, equity, and quality that EdTech companies and governments advance. We explore the significance of the socio-economic and cultural contexts of young learners in the global South context and argue that they aspire for personalization, place-based experiences, guidance/mentorship, high grades, and in-person interactions instead of standardization. They do not fully benefit by the experimentation, DIY practices, and tech-lead learning opportunities and resources offered by EdTech platforms in their current state.

Current approaches to the provision of shelter, largely driven by national governments and/or the commercial private sector, continue to fall short of what is needed to reduce housing deficits. The number of people without access to adequate housing continues to grow, especially in cities of the Global South. Increasing attention is being paid to alternative models for organizing land and housing delivery, such as those led by, or at least including, civil society. In this paper, we consider two national land and housing programs—the 20,000 Plots Project in Tanzania, and Basic Services for the Urban Poor (BSUP) in India—alongside community-led housing initiatives from each country. We explore the extent to which community participation in housing delivery can have social and environmental advantages when compared to ‘business as usual’ methods and find that, given appropriate state support, community-based, and civil society actors (including organizations of the urban poor) have significant potential to contribute to acquiring land, building homes and improving the quality of life of vulnerable segments of the population. This paper echoes calls for community-led housing to become a recognized part of formal housing policy whilst emphasizing the need for theoretical refinement of the process so as to prevent it from being captured by prevailing market-led narratives.

This paper examines the extent to which an initiative in India, namely EdTech Tulna, has been able to move towards decolonization of EdTech by shaping the discourse around the adoption and use of good quality and contextual educational technology solutions for Indian learners. Set up as a collaboration among researchers, practitioners, teachers and governments, EdTech Tulna aims to encourage the selection of EdTech solutions that are appropriate for the community they are designed for, rather than adopting solutions that market themselves or those that have been successful in Western countries. The paper adopts the lens of justice-oriented design and first critically examines the design of the EdTech Tulna index. Then, it examines the success and hurdles of the collaborative efforts towards the implementation of contextualized and evidence-based solutions in the ecosystem. By analyzing stakeholder interviews and meeting notes, this paper addresses two questions. First, how does Tulna assist in identifying quality contextual solutions that are likely to enhance the learning of children in India? Second, how do state government officials and practitioners collaborate with researchers to use research-based standards for selecting such solutions? The discussions outline the progress and draw a broad contour of the road ahead.

In India, poor health insurance coverage and high out-of-pocket expenditure especially for chronic and rare genetic/life-threatening diseases is a reality. People who use medical crowdfunding as an option to meet medical expenditures and the sudden growth of new fundraising platforms are significant developments in healthcare. The digital platforms in fundraising and the multitude of transactions they perform are increasing in the country and have a significant impact on the health sector and the rights of the patients which points toward the need for more effective regulation. In the absence of sector-specific legislation and government guidelines, the paper summarizes the growth of medical crowdfunding in India, identifies the challenges, and reiterates the need for effective legal enforcement systems.

Abstract Background Comprehensive commercial surrogacy became legal in India in 2002, and many foreigners, including individuals and same-sex couples, sought Indian surrogacy services due to their affordability. Numerous scandals resulted, with increasing calls for the government to eliminate the exploitation of women in lower social strata. In 2015, the Indian government decided to exclude foreign clients and commercial surrogacy remained legal for local Indian couples only. Furthermore, to eliminate exploitation, the concept of altruistic surrogacy was introduced in 2016. In 2020, some restrictions within altruistic surrogacy practice were removed. Controversy remains, however, in various sectors, not least because surrogacy is a relatively new concept in India. In this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of both altruistic and commercial surrogacy in the Indian context are considered, and more appropriate policy concerning surrogacy practices is suggested. Methods This paper is based on fieldwork conducted in India from 2010 to 2018. Interview surveys were conducted among doctors, policy makers, activists, former surrogates, and brokers. Government documents and media reports were also important sources. Results Surrogacy for commercial purposes began in India in 2002, and stakeholders within the commercial surrogacy industry became well established. It was found that such stakeholders were strongly opposed to altruistic surrogacy as introduced in 2016. It was also found that women in lower social strata still sought some form of financial compensation from their reproductive labor. Controversies surrounding altruistic surrogacy continue within Indian society. Conclusion Policies and practices aimed at eliminating exploitive need to consider the Indian context carefully. Any surrogacy practice might potentially be exploitive, and the distinction between commercial and altruistic surrogacy is too simplistic to be useful, with more nuanced understanding required. It is of critical importance that investigation continues on how to eliminate the exploitation of Indian surrogate mothers throughout the process, regardless of monetary compensation. The entire surrogacy process should be managed with sensitivity, particularly in relation to the well-being of the mother and child.

Abstract Background Teenage pregnancy is a concerning public health problem in India. Misperception and misunderstanding about pregnancy and its preventive methods lead to pregnancy when adolescents are involved in unsafe sexual intercourse. This scoping review aims to discuss the evidence on the perception, practices, and understanding related to teenage pregnancy among adolescent girls in the Indian context. Method The Arksey and O'Malley scoping review framework and Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers’ Manual were used for the scoping review. The Population, Concept, and Context strategy (PCC) ensured the review questions, eligibility criteria, and search strategy. The Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: Extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) was used. A literature search was done using electronic databases by specific keywords such as “teenage”, “adolescences”, “pregnancy”, “perception”, “knowledge”, “awareness”, etc. Relevant grey literature was identified through further searching. The review included studies that fulfil inclusion criteria having female adolescent groups aged from 10 to 19 years in the Indian context between the years 2000 and 2021. Results We found 40 eligible studies; more than half of these were from southern (35%) and northern (27.5%) regions, and studies from the rest of India were very sporadically distributed. Most studies (72.5%) were published in the last 10 years. The relevant extracted data from individual studies were synthesized and presented in the two major sections, perception, practices, and the second one, understanding and experiences among teenage girls. The understanding of pregnancy and teenage pregnancy-related preventive methods was detailed analysis in about 72% of papers whereas other aspects, such as perception (22.5%), practices (25%), and experiences (7.5%) were discussed in the remaining papers related to pregnancy among adolescent girls. Conclusion Evidence in the selected studies shows that understanding and practices are the major areas that were primarily explored, where perception, practices and experiences are the topics that are relatively less investigated. Literature synthesis derives misconception, lack of understanding, and practices without knowing the consequences are the key factors responsible for early pregnancies. Future interventions like increasing awareness, providing comprehensive reproductive knowledge, convenient health care aids, and proper counselling are adequate measures for minimalising the problem. The present analysis showed that studies are limited in their scope concerning various aspects of teenage pregnancy in India, so this scoping review gives essential perspectives on future research and implementation plans and policies in this field.