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Unexpected and sudden spread of the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has opened up many scopes for researchers in the fields of biotechnology, health care, educational sectors, agriculture, manufacturing, service sectors, marketing, finance, etc. Hence, the researchers are concerned to study, analyze and predict the impact of infection of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many fields, particularly the stock markets in the financial sector. In this paper, we have proposed an econometric approach and stochastic approach to analyze the stochastic nature of stock price before and during a COVID-19-specific pandemic period. For our study, we considered the BSE SENSEX INDEX closing pricing data from the Bombay Stock Exchange for the period before and during COVID-19. We have applied the statistical tools, namely descriptive statistics for testing the normal distribution of data, unit root test for testing the stationarity, and GARCH and stochastic model for measuring the risk, also investigated drift and volatility (or diffusion) coefficients of the stock price SDE by using R Environment software and formulated the 95% confidence level bound with the help of 500 times simulations. Finally, the results have been obtained from these methods and simulations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slope instability problems due to widening of roads are very common in mountainous terrains particularly in Indian Himalayan region. Slope instability may occur due to action of different natural as well as anthropogenic activities or through combined action of both. The present paper deals with the slope stability assessment of natural and cut slopes along the Imphal–Moreh section of NH-39 in Manipur state, India. The factor of safety (FoS) for pre- and post-excavations is evaluated, and the FoS with the mitigation measures is examined using limit equilibrium and finite element method. Construction sequences are modeled, and the stability and deformation patterns are evaluated for each construction stage. It is found that about 78% of the slopes is having an angle more than 45° after cutting. The present study suggests that a FoS greater than 1.25 can be achieved by installing a 5.5 m anchor at 18° with the horizontal at a spacing of 1 m. Confirmatory field tests on the anchor are also conducted to ensure the accuracy of the adopted design parameters. This study provides useful informations to researchers and practitioner about the stability assessment of slopes and potential mitigative measures. Similar schemes of mitigative measures are effective for the same/similar geologic conditions in the Indian Himalayan terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2030 Agenda for sustainable development was launched to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the globe. This paper is based on the primary database to assess the nutritional status of 5–10 years children and the incidence of deprivation in their households of a backward district (Purulia), India in the context of the first two SDGs, e.g., no poverty and zero hunger. We conclude that around 74% of children are undernourished. The proportion of households multidimensionally deprived is 90%, and the majority of them live on less than $1.25 a day. Results reveal that the BMI of mother and the education of father are the two most statistically significant predictors of child malnutrition. Purulia has long been witnessing the persistent nature of deprivation, which is well reflected in the child's health. The district is quite far from the national targets in achieving the SDGs. Government, private sector, and civil society must come together to accelerate the progress of SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands provide numerous ecological and economic services to mankind. The soils of wetlands are one of the largest sinks of carbon (C) among the terrestrial ecosystems and can play an important role in offsetting the emission of C as a greenhouse gas (GHG) to the atmosphere. India is bestowed with enriched wetland ecosystems that support diverse and unique habitats. The potential of the wetlands in terms of C capture and sequestration has not been quantified. Therefore, in the present paper, an assessment of C capture from different sources and its ultimate deposition in soils leading to sequestration has been done in three different types of wetlands, one created sewage-fed and two natural floodplain oxbow lakes, in the West Bengal state of India. Multiple seasonal sampling of water, macrophytes, and soil was done to assess the primary productivity, dissolved C, and deposition of C in soils of the wetlands in comparison to reference upland sites. All these wetlands are productive ecosystems as indicated by the physicochemical parameters of water and soil. The quantity of C accumulated up to 0.3 m depth in the oxbow lakes was to the tune of 144–166 Mg/ha, which was 3.43–4.78 times higher than that in the corresponding reference upland sites. In the sewage-fed wetland, the C accumulation estimated as 50 Mg/ha was 1.27 times higher than its corresponding upland site. So, the wetland ecosystems, particularly the floodplains, are highly efficient in accumulating C in their soils and thus can somewhat negate the GHG emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state of India was situated on fertile land and river deltas with appropriate agricultural land. In 2019, agricultural fields, primarily cropland, occupy more than 40% of the country's total surface area. Moreover, agricultural industry revenues less than 3% of the country's Gross Provincial Product (GPP). While manufacturing has become the country's major financial activity, accounting countries represent half of GPP's revenues. The objective of the study is to find a way to improve the financial profitability and efficiency of farming supply chain networks as follows: (1) Fixation of national-level targets for zonal-level groups information after assessment and forecasts that affect production and distribution of agriculture. (2) Producers risk can be reduced by directing people to multiple factory and industrialization options based on market assessment. (3) Insurance costs and reduction of bank borrowing by standardizing the connection between bankers and producers using the structure to centralise land information. (4), Stabilize the agricultural sector by looking at nearby potential destinations for production and regulation of the Public Distribution System (PDS) flow for the security stock. In this paper, the novel ML target prediction algorithm to inform the farmers about the market target product and improve the relationships between the farmer and bankers for centralizing the information about recent government plans. The crop prediction ML algorithm proposed to improve the revenue of agriculture field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining and quarrying provide the basic raw materials for sustaining human well-being and are critical for achieving economic developments. At the same time, environmental degradation and its associated social impacts and inequalities have become a grave reality of mining sector that affects all nations, individually and/or collectively. Assessment of the environmental impacts arising from mining and quarrying is critical to limit the environmental problems within the barest minimum levels. Although many impact assessment studies are available on mining/quarrying of different major and minor minerals, not many studies exist on quarrying for laterite blocks which is being widespread in many of the fast developing tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world like India. Therefore, this paper evaluates the impact of laterite quarrying for construction blocks, in one of the twin river basins in SW India, the Netravati–Gurpur river basin, where the activity is widespread. The Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) method was used to evaluate the impacts of laterite quarrying as it allows a comprehensive analysis of the results based on the individual environmental score obtained for each component. RIAM is a valuable assessment tool, owing to its capability in quick, collective and reliable evaluation of the impacts that can aid decision making and minimization of environmental impacts, especially at early planning stages. Data pertaining to resource extraction, identification of impacting actions, mapping of mining hotspots, etc., were collected from primary and secondary sources through systematic field work and sample collection, questionnaire surveys within the local community and other stakeholders such as mine operators, labourers, officials of Government departments, etc. A total of 21 laterite quarries are located in the basin with a total production of 5.7 million laterite bricks/year (0.115 × 106 ty−1). The impact assessment study revealed that the activity not only disturbs the natural environment especially, hydrology, air quality and noise levels, ecology, land use and soil stability but has profound influence on the socio-economic factors of human health and immunity, displacement, etc., of the quarrying-hit areas. The activity also recorded both long-term and short-term positive impacts as a source of employment and income generation. Additionally, the activity favours groundwater replenishment and agriculture productivity of the area where appropriate mine closure measures were taken up. However, the positive impacts of the activity are far outweighed by the fact that most impacts of laterite quarrying are of class − C (moderate negative impact) and − D (significant negative impact) owing to the long-term socio-environmental and bio-ecological implications of the activity. Thus, it is imperative that there is significant improvement in policy and regulatory framework and its implementation for mining and quarrying of building materials which is vital for meeting future development requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrologic cycle's fundamental component, evapotranspiration, is a crucial parameter for research on climate, hydrology, and water use in agriculture. Efficient water management in agriculture requires an accurate assessment of reference evapotranspiration (ETo). The Food and Agriculture Organization recommended Penman–Monteith (PM) approach is among the most precise models for computing ETo. Nevertheless, this technique requires a comprehensive climate dataset, typically only accessible at a few meteorological observatories. As a result, estimating ETo using a small climatic dataset may be an alternative for water management aspects. Thus, in the current study, 12 temperature, ten radiation, and seven mass transfer-based models were assessed using 31 years of meteorological data (1990–2020) and compared with the traditional PM approach in the semiarid environment of Central Delhi, India. Moreover, ranking different models in data-limited situations was attempted using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques viz.,TOPSIS (technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution) and entropy. Results showed that the Priestley–Taylor (PRTY) and Blaney–Criddle (BLCD) models were found to be the most appropriate alternatives to the PM model, with Pearson's coefficient of correlation (r) values of 0.93 and 0.96, respectively, and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) values of 13.30 and 21.11%. According to the performance evaluation indices, the performance of the radiation-based models was superior to that of the temperature and mass transfer models. Nevertheless, this ranking would aid in precisely estimating ETo with minimal data, resulting in efficient irrigation scheduling and water resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal power generation is economical in the current scenario, but it is a water-intensive process, resulting in a high-water footprint. In this research, life cycle water use (LCWU) was assessed for three coal-based thermal power plant in India. The LCWU was found to be in the range of 2.5 to 3.5 L-kWh−1. The results of the LCWU of coal-based thermal power plants in India are higher than the global average of 1.75 L-kWh−1. In order to reduce the dependency on water, air-cooled condenser (ACC) with a novel approach of reducing temperature of air before entering into condenser is purposed using vapour absorption chillers. A 300 MW thermal power plant located in the South India region is chosen to illustrate the application of the proposed system. Initially, waste heat from flue gas is used to run a vapour absorption chiller, and finally a solar-assisted vapour compression chiller is used. Also, in order to utilize large coastal lines in India, an alternate approach of sea water cooling-based thermal power generation is investigated. A 2 MW steam turbine plant utilizing deep sea water is designed and analysed. In seawater cooling system the condenser temperature is reduced, increasing efficiency by 1.9% and power output by 133 kW. It resulted in power generation with multiple benefits, including cooling, desalinated water, and increased plant efficiency. The outcomes of this study provide information on water use in Indian thermal power plants along with its comparative assessment. A study of ACCs and seawater-cooled condensers is also an opportunity to reduce the life-cycle water use in thermal power plants in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is facing immense pressure due to expanding discourse on resource security. The study is conducted in the water–energy–food (WEF) Nexus context to understand the inter-relatedness of the sectors for sustainable development, eliciting stakeholders' perspectives. Banda District lies in Bundelkhand region of India. It is drought-hit and lacks basic infrastructure and hence has been selected for this research. It is facing challenges stemming from WEF resources insecurity which has triggered mass migration, farmer suicide, unemployment, and indebtedness. In this exploratory research study, nineteen parameters are analyzed using multi-criteria decision analysis and weighted index method to calculate the Stakeholder opinion-based development index (SODI). GIS is used for spatial mapping to characterize the grassroots disparity highlighting the perspective and expectations of the 534 surveyed households. The SODI of Banda District is calculated to be 10.157, which lies in the average category. Most parameters (78.95 percent) fall below the average category, showing that the region is backward and the spatial mapping helps in identifying lacunae in the development of the District. The novelty of this research lies in using the analytical method to examine qualitative parameters that highlight stakeholders' perspectives and usage of unique methodology in formulating the index to study the region holistically for sustainable development. It is concluded with recommendations based on findings using a system-based approach. The modified structural approach of the Stakeholder Opinion-based Development Index and research methodology can be employed for profiling and analyzing the Districts of the same characteristics in and out of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a mountainous basin, flash-flood-induced soil erosion and its assessment are of major concern to the researchers. Cloudburst-induced extreme rainfall, undulating terrain, and inadequate water and soil conservation practices aggravate the problem of soil erosion. Alaknanda, a major basin of the upper Ganges in India, has experienced several incidents of flash floods. These have resulted in heavy soil loss, water siltation, and pollution in the basin. This study uses the revised universal soil-loss equation (RUSLE) in the GIS framework to assess the soil loss rate in various sub-basins of the Alaknanda. Further, the study suggests sub-basin prioritisation based on high soil erosion rate and past vulnerability that need attention of the decision-makers. RUSLE, an empirical soil erosion model, is easy to comprehend physically, involves minimum resources, and works on readily available inputs. The parameters used in the assessment include R-Rainfall Erosivity, Cover Management-C, Topographic-LS, Conservation Practice-P, and Soil Erodibility-K. The average R, K, LS, C & P factors for the Alaknanda basis are estimated as 437 MJ mm/ha/yr., 0.07 t ha h MJ-1 ha-1 mm-1, 1.4, 0.7, and 0.62, respectively. The mean annual soil erosion rate in the sub-basins varies from 6 to 27.9 t /ha/year with a mean rate of 13.4 t/ha/year and total erosion of 13.7 Mt/year. The results show that out of the twelve sub-basins, two (WS7 and WS5) fall in the high erosional class (18–30 t/ha/year), nine fall in the moderate erosional class (7–18 t /ha /year) and one basin in the low erosional class (1.0–7.0 t /ha/year). It is hoped that the present study will be helpful to the decision-makers while prioritising the actions to be taken for the water and soil conservation purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]