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The COVID 19 pandemic has shaken the world with rising deleterious effects. It triggered some fundamental changes to several population segments sand multiple sectors of the economy. The education system is no exception. With the educational institutions being closed due to lockdown for extended duration, delivery of education has been impacted. This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on education services and proposes an outlook regarding the future of online learning. Given the acceptance by participants (learners and teachers) and advantages (in terms of spread and volume) of online learning over traditional learning, the online learning would continue to exist.

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, every aspect of daily life is being altered in response to the virus. The pandemic has altered secondary education. Classes online, teachers struggling to learn Zoom and make lessons meaningful and relevant to students. Students struggling to make sense of this moment, struggling with mental health issues due to the loss of routine and in many cases contact with adult role models. Unfortunately, in times of crisis such as these some of the most disenfranchized people in society are completely overlooked and forgotten, such as refugees. However, if more teachers were to leverage the social studies potential of current events such as the Coronavirus, greater empathy would be felt for marginalized people more starkly impacted by the pandemic, leading ultimately to a heightened sense of civic engagement among the next generation. The purpose of this paper is to assist teachers in guiding their students through analyzing current events, such as COVID-19's impact on refugees, toward developing civic mindedness. In addition to this, the paper will discuss some of the broader societal impacts the virus is having within the United States, as well as ways in which this event may be viewed as a historical subject in the future. The paper will begin by building the content knowledge of high school social studies teachers through addressing the following question: "What is the difference between a refugee entering the United States now versus one year ago before the COVID-19 pandemic?" Following this, the authors will present an inquiry-based learning segment designed to teach the History correlated to the COVID-19 pandemic to a classroom of secondary education students. The inquiry template follows the standard C3 format utilized by the State of Connecticut.

South Asian economies has witnessed very slow growth over the years and the gap has widened manifold between other nations of Asia particularly East Asian nations and South Asian nations. This paper examines co-integration between the economic growth and reach of higher education in South Asian nations explaining this disparity. The research employed an econometric panel co-integration investigation to analyse the long run relationship of higher education and economic growth among these nations. The research confirmed positive long run causality between the economic growth of the South Asian nations and gross enrolment ratio of higher education. So, if the South Asian nations continue with their existing pattern of paying less attention to higher education by allocating low share of investment on it, poor human capital formation would result in growing further economic disparity between developed and South Asian nations where rich nations would remain richer and poor nations would remain poor with the gap remaining unabridged. This research will serve as an aid to policy makers, educators and financers of South Asian nations to bridge the gap between high- and low-income nations. The focus on the quantum of spending on higher education by the government will help improve the reach of tertiary education and build economic prosperity in these nations.

Projections for the global economy frequently center on the BRIC countries: Brazil, Russia, India, and China. As futurists and economists alike define and re-define both formal and informal coalitions (for example, by broadening the R in BRIC to include all Eastern European economies or instead re-directing the discussion to G-8 countries or to World Trade Organization members), the education profiles of the individual nations sometimes resemble economic indicators: what is imported, what is exported, and what is the potential for expansion. Higher education, and specifically distance learning (the Clicks element of this paper), can already be charted in these terms for some nations. This paper describes the current role of distance learning in countries described as growing economies and proposes a typology for describing change as additional data become available. The paper informs readers of global developments in distance education, using the BRIC nations as examples.(Contains 3 figures, 4 tables, and 13 resources.)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the outcomes of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the light of COVID-19 concerning the students of higher educational institutions (HEIs) in India. The COVID-19 has disrupted the normal teaching-learning role across the world and has put everyone in a nightmare. HEIs are now requesting students to take up MOOCs to explore and attain knowledge and the same is even followed by the corporate institutions. MOOCs are one of the crisis management solutions to ensure that education is continuous and not disrupted. Design/methodology/approach: The data included in this research has been collected from students of HEIs across India using a convenient sampling method. The collected data was exposed to a factor analysis using a principal component analysis (PCA) technique to reduce multiple dimensions. Findings: The various stakeholders such as the government, HEIs and the MOOC providers have to play a crucial role in developing intellectual human assets for the nation's growth and progression by extending flexible and cost-effective learning facilities. Education should be free to boost up the learning motivation, and hence it is the responsibility of the stakeholders to provide few courses free of cost, which will increase the rate of enrolment and student participation. Research limitations/implications: From the research, it is well understood that MOOCs are useful to keep oneself updated with the market and industry trends especially when the world is focusing on business analytics, artificial intelligence and other technologically driven topics and concepts. Practical implications: The present study contributes to the growing body of evidence that MOOCs play an important role in providing flexibility in learning. In the future, if there are similar crisis, which will disrupt education, then the best alternative will be MOOC through which many stakeholders will benefit. Education should be free to boost up the learning motivation, and hence it is the responsibility of the stakeholders to provide few courses free of cost, which will increase the rate of enrolment and student participation. Social implications: Education is a service for the society which will have a long-term positive impact on improving the standard of living of the people. Hence, MOOCs can be one of the educational elements to provide learning opportunities to all age groups. Originality/value: This study has explored the perception of MOOCs among the students of HEIs in India in the COVID-19 pandemic. The fresh data collected from the students is a reflection of their experiences during the COVID-19 lockdown. Indeed, it is quite surprising to know that majority of the respondents have arranged to learn during the pandemic, which shows the thirst and urge to learn. Digital technology and tools are welcomed and accepted by the student community.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the entrepreneurship education and training (EET) needs of small family businesses operating in the agricultural sector of the Indian economy. Design/methodology/approach: Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through a survey of 122 agricultural family firms in the Indian state of Punjab. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistical methods to establish causal relationships between key variables and EET needs in these family firms. Findings: Results show that owner/managers of small family businesses have low levels of EET and hence higher needs. Lack of sufficient funds and low awareness about the availability of training are the most significant challenges for these family firms in accessing financial education and training. Factors such as level of education and training of the owner/manager were found to be major determinants of family firms' take up of EET. Originality/value: This research paper makes an empirically rigorous contribution to a relatively under-researched aspect of small family businesses operating in India. The results established that EET is a prerequisite for economic growth in the agricultural sector of the Indian economy. (Contains 1 figure and 6 tables.)

Purpose: The main purpose of the present paper is twofold: to examine and compare the current strategies and policies that are employed by the UK, Australia and Singapore and to recommend appropriate strategies and policies to higher education institutions and the Hong Kong government and elsewhere that are interested in expanding their efforts in recruiting the growing number of students from other countries who are planning to study overseas. Design/methodology/approach: The data for this project were obtained primarily from documents and in-depth interviews. Documents include government reports, policy addresses, official statistics, etc. The in-depth interviews were conducted in Hong Kong as well as in the four studied cities--Mumbai, New Delhi, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur. Interviewees included government officials, academics, higher education institutions' representatives, consultant generals, and officials from policy bodies. Findings: It is clear from the findings of this present study that a set of favorable policies and strategies at the national level was behind the success of these competitors. Such policies are not confined to educational policies but are extended to population and employment policies. Research limitations/implications: Though the study examined policies and strategies employed by three countries, findings from the study may generate useful information to countries that may be interested in exporting their higher education to Asian markets. Practical implications: The paper suggests that if Hong Kong is to attain success in becoming an international exporter of education services, it may need to adopt favorable policies at institute and system level, and in so doing it can definitely benefit by carefully studying the strategies and policies employed by these three competitors. Originality/value: Few studies have examined and compared strategies and policies employed by these three key major players of higher education services. This study provides some useful strategies and policy recommendation to education decision makers in Hong Kong and elsewhere that may be interested in entering Asian markets. (Contains 1 table.)

This paper focused on issues of retention and the individual needs of international students at a southern university through videotaped group interviews with six students from Africa, China, India, Japan, Jordan, and Nepal. Students were asked questions concerning their first experiences at the university, experiences out in the community, academic issues and concerns, and other needs. Asking for and paying attention to the details that support international students in their quest to receive an American education will support the students where they need it and also provide an atmosphere that will encourage more international students to follow. (Contains 1 table.)

This paper summarizes the phenomenon of offshore outsourcing and relates it to the history and current state of engineering education and the engineering profession in Europe and the USA. In order to assess the climate affecting employment decisions by and about engineers we have used as sources mostly the serious press, with an emphasis on material dating from 2004 forward. The authors conclude that despite anxiety about the out-migration of engineering and technical jobs to places such as India and China, there is reason to see offshoring as the result of Western investment in capacity building in developing countries and to believe that the creation of new jobs will outpace the rate of job loss in Europe and the USA. The paper should serve as a prod to policy-makers and educators to set about creating an environment in which highly educated engineers and technical employees can continue a pattern of economic revitalization.

Climate change is one of the most critical socio-economic and environmental problems in India. Although India's per capita emission is very low compared to other developed nations, the economic impacts are very high as millions depend on climate sensitive sectors for instance, agriculture and forestry etc. Given the above context, this paper discusses the status of climate change, its economic impacts, especially for agriculture and forestry, climate change and financial gaps and other climate policy initiatives in India. In addition, this paper also discusses the four aspects such as climate change and macro-economic impacts, distributional aspects, social cost of carbon, and finally finance and technological aspects. There arises an urgent requirement to conduct a vulnerability assessment for reducing future poverty and inequality associate to climate change in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial inclusion has done its best across the world to bring unbanked people to the mainstream of financial and banking services. However, the metamorphosis is slow and needs some shots in the arm. This paper attempts to explore ways to expedite the process of economic development of the poor through financial inclusion. A newer technology, Open API for banking (OAB), can support financial inclusion for economic development and the growth of the poor. There are two main reasons for the success of OAB. Many mobile-based applications use OAB. Therefore, OAB can easily piggyback on the success of mobile penetration. The meager cost and simple technology of OAB is another reason for its success, primarily when OAB is aimed at unbanked people of the world. Structured Equation Modelling is applied to successfully and empirically test the mediation role of OAB between financial inclusion and economic development of the poor. OAB is found to have complete mediation. This work is the only study that links OAB with financial inclusion and the economic development of the poor. OAB stands out among all the other digitalisation tools of financial services due to its exclusive features. OAB has considerable implications to expedite the execution of financial inclusion for the economic development of the poor. But, to extend its full impact on the economic development of the poor, OAB should be clubbed with financial inclusion as a policy. Otherwise, a good opportunity will remain confined mostly as an effective solution for digitalising payment services. The digital divide is supposed to be bridged by OAB. However, this paper has not addressed this issue empirically. Besides this, the synergetic effect of FI and OAB, which is strongly recommended in the study, needs empirical testing. Both the limitation of the study is the future scope of the topic. No other study was observed on the topic, where OAB is suggested to bridge the gap between financial inclusion and economic development of the poor. The study has immense potential to change the course of action of the policy on Financial Inclusion. Using the findings of the study, the policymakers can embark upon using the new innovative technology in a more concerted way for the social upheaval of the poor in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender discrimination at the workplace remains a significant issue in India despite progress in gender equality. This paper provides an overview of gender discrimination at the workplace in India, including its prevalence, types, causes, and consequences. It analyses the legal framework and policies in place to address the issue, as well as the challenges faced in their implementation. The paper also examines the impact of gender discrimination on women's career opportunities, earnings, and mental health, as well as the broader economic and social implications of this issue. Finally, the paper concludes by suggesting ways to promote gender equality in the workplace and advocating for a cultural shift toward gender sensitivity and inclusivity. Keeping in mind, the study has focused on the analytical aspect and 285 women professionals were chosen to get to know their perception towards gender discrimination in various professions. The findings disclosed that still women face challenges and they are lagging behind in every possible manner. Therefore, there is a need to foster open thoughts and revolutionize the world in reducing the gender gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental illnesses have a significant impact on the lives of people not only because of their morbidity but also because of their noticeable impact on economic wellbeing. Out-of-pocket expenditure for mental healthcare services is significant in India and may even lead to impoverishment of the families. The present paper states that Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is necessary for mental healthcare primarily because of its rising cost and competing interests in government decisions and prioritization. HTA does a systematic evaluation of the consequences of using health technology. HTA will provide information to decision makers to develop and implement safer, cost-effective, and efficient policies at the individual and government levels. Appropriate guidance regarding the cost-effectiveness of mental health interventions will help to serve the purpose of providing transparent reports in the context of limited budgets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) contribute significantly to patient morbidity, mortality and economic expenditure worldwide. Patients' quality of life can be significantly affected as a result of ADRs because they perceive their doctors to be abusive or hostile towards them. ADR risk factors include drug-related (e.g., dose, frequency, polypharmacy), patient-related (e.g., age, sex, genetics, maternity status and Fetal Development), social (e.g., alcohol, tobacco use and ethnic background) and Disease related (Renal, Hepatic and Heart Diseases) that have been studied. The Medical Council of India established 895 ADR Monitoring Centres (AMCs) in hospitals, public health programmes and corporate buildings across India. The Indian Medical Association recently added regional languages to the online ADR reporting form. Pharmacovigilance monitoring has become more accurate and efficient with the use of artificial intelligence (AI), data mining and electronic health records. This paper reviews recent advances (recent years) in technology and discusses how AI can speed up the entire ADR reporting process and to prevent ADRs, WHO also needs to improve its mobile application to improve ADR monitoring as well as reporting. Worldwide, techniques used for evaluating causality assessment include probability methods, algorithms, clinical judgment and global introspection. The WHO-UMC scale and the Naranjo algorithm are the two tools most frequently used for determining causality and also discusses the direct costs and indirect costs caused by ADRs in hospitals. The main conclusion of this review to ensuring patient safety by effectively reporting and identifying adverse events is essential. By using integrating advance technologies, pharmacovigilance can be performed more accurately and efficiently, leading to better overall health outcomes, this study attempts to present an overview of the importance of ADRs, their associated risks, and the need for reporting and identification of ADRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper highlights the impact of COVID-19 on working women in India. The available literature revealed the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the income and jobs of working women and housewives, especially domestic workers, casual workers, health workers, and women working in sectors such as manufacturing, home-based activities for assembling production, teaching, coaching, and agriculture-based activities. Due to the lockdown, working women faced the challenges of increasing workload at home. Meeting deadlines of outside work and household work has ultimately increased their mental stress, thereby adversely affecting their health. This paper also highlights the issue of domestic abuse during the lockdown, which is supported by the various case studies of National Commission for Women, and the challenges faced by women working in the health sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: With the help of the newly developed Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) index, this paper attempts to find the influence if any, of the EPU on stock markets and certain key economic indicators in India. Methodology /Approach: The focus is on the influence of EPU on the stock markets, industrial production, new capital issues, exports and bank credit to commercial sector. Monthly data of economic indicators is collected for 66 months from January 2014 and tested with OLS and Quantile regression. Findings: It is observed that stock market, Industrial Production, new capital issues and bank credit are negatively related to EPU. Also, that impact of EPU is more on higher quantiles. Limitations / Implications: The study examines and proves the overall impact of EPU on selected economic indicators and the impact at different quartiles. This opens up vistas for further exploration of the findings to prove / disprove the same in other economic indicators and against certain specific events that spur the EPU index. Practical Implications: The paper has strong theoretical foundations. The methodology adopted has been research tested. There is a need to look at the EPU index closely and frequently to feel the pulse of the EPU and how it affects the economy. Originality Value: This is one of the attempts to evaluate the behavior of EPU and its implication on certain economic indicators. As EPU index is newly developed, this paper adds to the existing literature, especially in the Indian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper aims to analyse the impact of economic and governance factors on remittance inflows to India from the UK, USA and UAE. India is globally recognised as the largest recipient of remittances. Design/methodology/approach: Using a comprehensive time series data set spanning 1996 to 2022, the authors use an innovative non-linear autoregressive distributed lag model approach to examine the influence of economic growth, corruption control and employer availability in the three source countries on remittance inflows to India. Findings: The results indicate that in the UAE, changes in economic growth and corruption control directly affect remittance outflows. However, the presence of employers in the UAE has minimal impact on remittance outflows to India. Regarding the UK, fluctuations in economic growth primarily drive remittance outflows to India. The effect of corruption control and employment opportunities on remittance outflows is marginal. In the USA, economic growth does not notably impact remittance outflows, whereas corruption control and employment opportunities significantly influence the outflows to India. Originality/value: These findings have important implications for policymakers. Analysing macroeconomic factors from key remittance-sending nations offers valuable insights for Indian policymakers and their international counterparts to enhance remittance inflows. The study focuses on three countries that collectively contribute to about 50% of India's remittances, providing a unique contribution compared to the usual country-specific or regional focus in existing literature. Finally, leveraging these findings, NITI Aayog, an organisation dedicated to achieving India's sustainable development goals, can effectively monitor macroeconomic indicators related to significant remittance-sending countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies in the United Kingdom have shown distinctions in intergenerational co-residency between UK-born and foreign-born individuals, however, little research has examined how factors such as immigrant incorporation, economic adaptation, and kin availability shape household formation patterns among immigrants. This paper uses data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study (2009–2010) to explore differences in the likelihood of UK-born and foreign-born working-aged adults to co-reside with at least one parent, highlighting distinctions by life stage (age) at migration and gender. Results show that, regardless of life stage at migration, foreign-born women and men are less likely to co-reside with parents than UK-born, however, intergenerational co-residency is high among some second-generation immigrant groups, particularly UK-born Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi individuals. These findings challenge cultural assumptions about household formation patterns and point to the need for additional research on how economic inequality, kin availability, and gender norms shape immigrant household composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial inclusion has emerged as a key factor in economic growth and the fight against poverty on a global scale. In order to understand the current state of financial inclusion in India, this research paper examines both the accomplishments to date and the ongoing difficulties. Although India has made tremendous progress in improving its citizens' financial access, there are still enormous obstacles to be addressed before complete financial inclusion can be achieved. The study looks at the major programmes, policy measures, and technology advancements that have impacted India's financial inclusion landscape. In order to bridge the existing gaps and further promote financial inclusion, it also addresses the remaining impediments and offers suggestions for policymakers, financial institutions, and other stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to empirically analyze the impact of remittance inflows on sustained economic growth in India. Design/methodology/approach: This study has taken a time series dataset for the period of 1976–2021, and a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model technique (NARDL) has been applied to check the impact of remittance inflows along with other control variables, including broad money and service sector performance, on the sustained economic growth of India. Findings: The results of the study indicated that in both the short and long runs, any positive shock in remittance inflows has a positive impact on the economic growth of India, while negative shocks do not affect economic growth. Practical implications: The economic policymakers of India can use the findings of the study by implementing remittance-friendly policies. Moreover, NITI Aayog, the body working toward achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) in India, can also use this study as a reference while making strategies to achieve SDG. Originality/value: Economic growth has always been an area of interest among economists, researchers and policymakers. However, achieving sustained economic growth requires an analysis of those factors that themselves have sustained performance over a long period of time and have the potential to sustain it over the upcoming years. This study has taken remittance inflows as one such factor and investigated its impact on the sustained economic growth of India. At present, there is an evident gap in the literature that very little attention has been given to sustained Indian economic growth. Moreover, there is no study available in which the nonlinear impact of different variables has been tested on the economic growth of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The reviewed paper describes the importance and role of modern technology in farm sector in India. Technological changes are the crucial driving forces for increasing farm productivity and promoting farm development in all developing countries. In past the adoption of mechanization in farm was started due to the green revolution, then government want to fulfill the demand of food grains of population. But now the dimensions are changed from last few decades' policies for farm, research and development, trade, training and education has been strong impact on the adoption of technology, the level of farm production and agricultural practices. It is recognized fact that improved modern inputs and machinery are major determinants of farm output, yet it is important to interpret the relationship of mechanization with other social and economic factors. Study also concluded the crop wise adoption of mechanization, farm machinery, major driving forces in social change, participation of women in farm, agribusiness, cost and the labor employed in the farm sector. The paper also recommends suggestions, to ensure that the farm sector takes its rightful place in our economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian economy is the agricultural economy and real India is in the villages. Without rural economic development, the objectives of economic planning cannot be reached. So, banks and other financial institutions are considered a vital role in rural economic development in India. NABARD is playing a vital role in the economic development of rural India. A developing country, like India, ought to be an ideal environment for micro-finance programmes seeking to reach the poor and attain financial sustainability. Microfinance is regarded as a central poverty alleviation strategy and a means of deriving economic growth and employment of small, micro & medium enterprises (SMME). A complex set of best practice models and a network of active members and support of rural people in an organized form and the active support of banks and NABARD in India have emerged to support a thriving industry. Bank credit is available to farmers under the short-term credit for the shape of agricultural products and financial programs such as the medium-term/long-term debt financing for capital investments in agriculture and related activities such as land, including land purchases, minor irrigation, farm mechanization, program development, the domestic poultry animals, fishing, plantation, and horticulture. The loans are available for storing, processing and marketing agricultural products needed now days the long-term and short-term credit of these institutions are also achieved by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). It is the evolution of agricultural finance. In this paper, an attempt has been made to understand the concept of rural finance in India and the role of NABARD in the priorities of the credit sector and also various programs initiated by the NABARD for the sustainable development of rural India. The study could also lead to the strengths and weaknesses of Rural Finance in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the causality relationship between state governments' expenditure and Gross Domestic Product (GDP at current prices) in India using a Toda-Yamamoto (1995) modified Granger causality procedure. The expenditure of the states as a percentage of GDP at current prices has also been calculated to know the contribution of state government expenditure in GDP of India. The annual time series data on GDP at current prices and state governments' expenditure are used for the study. Augmented Dickey fuller (ADF) unit root test is conducted to test the stationarity and to determine the order of integration of each variable. State governments' expenditure is significantly Granger cause GDP of India which supports the Keynesian approach but the Wagner's law is found to be invalid. The study shows the uni-directional causality relation running from state governments' expenditure to GDP. The empirical investigations suggest that state governments' expenditure has a significant and positive impact on economic growth in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper highlights the policy aspects of India and China, in the context of consensus building on bilateral trade, which is the cornerstone of diplomatic and political ties between the two countries. India and China have witnessed uninterrupted economic development with a significant rise in bilateral trade because of protrade policies in the last few decades. In this backdrop, this paper examines the dynamic spillovers of India–China's bilateral trade on the economic growth of the two countries. For the purpose, Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model in multivariate framework is utilized with gross capital formation (GCF) and foreign direct investment (FDI) as two additional explanatory variables. The results highlight that the India–China bilateral trade share has significant long-run impact on the growth of GDP per capita (GDPP) of the two countries, while the impact is more pronounced for China. The growth rates of the two countries are found significantly cointegrated with the variables in question. The results provide important insights in foreign trade patterns, with policy implication for trade and economic co-operations between the two countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to analyse the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on religious tourism in the Kartarpur Gurdwara Corridor between the Punjab States of Pakistan and India. The corridor was opened as a peace building initiative 72 years after the partition of India-Pakistan. In November 2019, thousands of Sikh pilgrims visited Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib in Punjab to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of the Sikh religion Guru Nanakji, where he spent last 19 years of his life. The Government of Pakistan invested heavily to build the infrastructure facilities for connecting both borders for religious tourism. The two phases of development of Kartarpur created economic opportunities for the growth of bilateral trade, religious tourism, diplomacy, and peaceful relationships. However, the COVID-19 based travel lockdown caused devastating economic impacts on the Kartarpur religious tourism site and related businesses just four months after its opening. This paper highlights the importance of Kartarpur religious tourism and the devastating economic impact from COVID-19 on the niche spiritual tourism-based economy, employment, marketing, and peace associated with Kartarpur. Qualitative content analysis was adopted using quotes from internet sources to reach findings. Some opportunities are highlighted for a better understanding of global health issues, unified efforts to fight the pandemic and mutual support for spiritual tourism development among Indians and Pakistanis. Policy implications suggest that post-COVID-19, public-private partnership is needed to cooperatively plan, develop, and promote religious tourism, build awareness, and cooperate for common resource management for economic benefits. COVID-19 could be a cooperative stimulus for peaceful change through bilateral trade, travel, and tourism plans, based on responsible cross-border tourism for India and Pakistan; to create a mutually beneficial South-Asian economic success story. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic reforms of 1991, Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation (LPG) changed the composition and structure of the emerging Indian economy significantly, which reallocated factors of economic activities in India transversely. It is in this context that the present paper examines the emerging trends in labour productivity, structural changes, and economic growth in India at an aggregate as well as disaggregate level during the period 1980-81 to 2017-18. The study analyses the contribution of productivity growth and structural change to the overall economic growth at the country as well as the state level. The McMillan and Rodrik growth accounting approach was employed which decomposes labour productivity growth into 'within' sector and 'structural change' components. The progress is diverse across the state level in India, indicating that labour has not been exiting agriculture as fast as the share of value added by agriculture has been declining. The results also reveal that changing final demand is the most crucial factor in labour reallocation in India. Due to its existing structure, India is capable of leading global economic growth in the future. There is a great need for policies on human capital development, and outward-oriented, economic reform measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to examine the possible impact of tariff liberalization due to the prospective India–GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on revenue, welfare and potential trade flows between India and GCC by using an ex-ante equilibrium approach through the SMART model on disaggregated trade data. The ex-ante simulation results show that tariff liberalization will have a positive impact on both sides. The reduction in tariffs will lead to a significant increase in trade between India and GCC countries. The overall results suggest that for both sides, the fall in government revenue associated with tariff reduction would be greater than the net welfare gains, but these tariff revenue losses can be balanced by a significant expansion in exports. In a nutshell, both India and GCC have substantial trade potential and the proposed FTA will be mutually beneficial and welfare enhancing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The historical study of Indian urbanisation reveals that ports had played an important role since colonial times in both trade and urbanisation. Ports and shipping in India still play an important role in international trade, despite the tremendous growth of other alternative major modes and means of transport, such as airways. This is because ports presently comprise almost 70 per cent of the total value of the world trade, even in the post-liberalisation period, despite the growth of air transport. However, in this era of globalisation, with a gradual shift to a more outward-oriented trade regime, there has been a massive expansion in the volume of India's sea-borne trade, together with a change in the composition of Indian port traffic, from break bulk to liquid bulk, dry bulk, and containerised cargo, with a decisive shift towards containerisation in the mode of cargo delivery post-1990s across both the Western and Eastern coasts of the country. To cope with the abovementioned challenge, coupled with the growth of world-class infrastructure in response to the emerging trend in global sea-trade and shipping trends, the growth of port urbanisation is highly affected, as a result of the corresponding port investments across both the coasts. This paper, therefore, assesses statistically the impact of port investments on port district urbanisation in India. While doing so, a comparative study between the ports on the Western and Eastern coasts has been attempted, to judge the performance of the coasts in this respect. The dominant leadership role of the Western coast is a major finding in this respect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of climate shocks, measured as temperature and precipitation variability, on real monthly per capita consumption expenditure of Indian households over the 1988–2012 period, utilising data from the National Sample Survey Organisation's Consumer Expenditure Surveys. The regression results show an increase in consumption by 1.2 per cent on average, in response to a one standard deviation rise in temperature, with heterogeneous impacts across economic sectors. While agricultural and industrial households experience consumption declines of 1.7 per cent and 8.3 per cent on average, service sector households exhibit consumption increases by 2.4–9.6 per cent on average across rural and urban regions, in response to a one standard deviation rise in temperature. The analysis suggests an increase in inequality of consumption across sectors due to climatic shocks, with implications for climate policy and sustainable development in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Few empirical studies examined the relationship between life expectancy and income in India. This study aims to examine the impact of life expectancy on economic growth in India by incorporating all the major states of India. Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on secondary data and includes 16 major states of India covering the periods 2000–2014. The author used panel fixed effect model (FEM) to examine the impact of life expectancy on economic growth. Findings: Empirical analysis revealed a positive trend in life expectancy in India. In association with life expectancy, the author found continuous growth in the elderly population. The result of the FEM shows that gains in life expectancy positively affect economic growth in India. The empirical findings do not support any negative impact of life expectancy gains on economic growth. Originality/value: This study is the outcome of the independent and original research work of the authors and contributes significantly to the literature on the demography–economic relationship. The findings of this study help the author to understand that life expectancy gain is in no way a constraint, rather the skill and experience of the workforce are crucial to determining economic growth. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-06-2022-0422. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Head and neck cancer is a significant public health concern in India and globally, with substantial social and economic consequences for affected individuals and their families. The study aimed to assess the socioeconomic impact of head and neck cancer. This paper presents the results of a questionnaire-based study involving 178 head and neck cancer patients who were evaluated at least two years post-completion of their treatment. The questionnaire data collected data on various factors, including site of cancer, treatment modality, speech and diet impairment, changes in earning capacity, occupation, and salary. This was collected from all patients visiting our tertiary cancer care center outpatient department in Ahmedabad, India, between January 2023 and August 2023. The findings highlight the diverse and profound socioeconomic consequences of head and neck cancer. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive support systems for affected individuals and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The value of financial derivatives comes from an underlying asset or benchmark. The Indian derivatives market has grown rapidly since 2000, offering a wide choice of derivative instruments to manage risk, speculate on price changes, and diversify portfolios. This essay discusses financial derivatives in the Indian derivatives market, covering their underlying assets, risk management applications, types of derivatives, market players, regulation, and economic impact. Indian derivatives market financial derivatives are thoroughly examined in this paper. The report evaluates the market, various derivatives instruments, and their impact on the Indian economy. Financial reports, scholarly journals, and government publications provide secondary data. Financial derivatives help market players hedge against price changes and reduce losses, according to the research. It examines derivative trading in equities, commodities, and currencies and market liquidity and depth. The report also analyses India's derivatives trading regulatory system for market integrity and transparency. Over the years, India has had great success with equity derivatives. The study examined the derivative market over time and compared the NSE and BSE using percentage analysis, trend, and CAGR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a significant tax reform introduced in India in 2017, aimed at simplifying and unifying the country's complex tax structure. GST's implementation has had far-reaching implications across various sectors of the economy. One area that has raised questions and generated considerable discussion is the applicability of GST on grants.This abstract provides an overview of the GST regime and its applicability concerning grants. The paper delves into the complexities surrounding the taxation of grants under GST law and explores the different scenarios in which GST may or may not be applicable. The analysis covers various types of grants, including government grants, private grants, and grants received by nonprofit organizations, shedding light on the nuances that distinguish them in the context of GST.Additionally, the abstract explores the impact of GST on grant recipients and grantmakers, offering insights into the financial implications and compliance requirements. It discusses the challenges and ambiguities faced by businesses, non-profits, and government agencies in navigating the GST framework concerning gr ants.Furthermore, this abstract outlines the key legal provisions and recent developments related to GST on grants, including relevant case laws and amendments to GST regulations. It discusses the evolution of GST laws in response to the changing dynamics of grant-making and receiving, emphasizing the need for clarity and consistency in interpretation.The abstract also addresses the broader economic implications of GST on grants, such as its impact on the funding landscape, charitable activities, and government programs. It highlights the potential advantages and disadvantages of GST applicability on grants, aiming to provide a comprehensive perspective on the subject.In conclusion, this abstract offers a glimpse into the intricate landscape of GST applicability on grants. It recognizes the need for further research and clarity in this area, as it has a significant bearing on businesses, non-profit organizations, and government entities. Understanding the implications of GST on grants is crucial for ensuring compliance, managing finances, and making informed policy decisions in the ever-evolving tax landscape of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The failure of building façades is one of the prime factors governing economic losses due to extreme wind events. This paper presents the details of a postdisaster field investigation performed after the very severe cyclonic storm Vardah in the southern peninsular part of India. The paper documents a total of 164 cyclone-induced façade failures. Probable failure mechanisms and the location of the critical zones prone to façade failure are identified. A framework involving a two-tier categorization of the observed façade failures is proposed. The vulnerability of the façade components, such as panel, connections, and supporting back frames, are evaluated and quantified by their relative damage potential level of 53%, 35%, and 12%, respectively. A detailed study of the damage data indicates that inappropriate panel-to-mullion connections, the impact of wind-borne debris, the interference effect, and adopting inappropriate aerodynamic modifications are amongst the premier causes for façade failures. Finally, corrective measures are prescribed to improve the façade design methodology in order to evolve an improved resilient urban façade system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extant literature shows that competition and Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) have a bearing on the economic growth, investments and payout policies. However, studies in this area have been limited in India. The objective of this paper is to examine the influence of competition and EPU on the Dividend Payments of Indian Pharmaceutical Industry and whether the dividend payment was affected by the Financial Crisis of 2008/09. The study is conducted on 12-year data i.e. from 1.4.2007 to 31.3.2019. Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) is used to check the market concentration and EPU is measured by the newly developed Newspaper based EPU index. Profitability, leverage and firm size are used as control variables. Fixed Effects model in Panel regression is used. Chow test checks if there was any break in the dividend payment during the Financial Crisis. The study establishes that dividend payment is inversely related to industry concentration - when there is more competition, there is more dividend payment in the industry. Dividend payment is positively related to EPU. Higher the uncertainty, higher the dividend. While leverage is inversely related to dividend payment, size of the firm does not play any role. Chow test confirms that Financial Crisis did not influence the dividend payout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to identify the impact of economic integration on trade competitiveness and demonstrate its effects on trade and investment performance of member nations. Design/methodology/approach: The study compiles some price indices to provide a systematic assessment of competitiveness in the BRICS region. The panel regression framework estimates the impact of integration on trade competitiveness and the external sector performance of BRICS nations. Findings: The findings of the research highlight the prospects for strong, closer and sustained integration in BRICS and, more importantly, the contribution of competitiveness to FDI receipts and export growth. Research limitations/implications: The assessment of exports and investment experiences of BRICS nations, particularly China and India, provides further evidence in support of the logical design and strategic use of their foreign trade policies. Originality/value: The economic partnership that wants to sustain this high road to global economic space needs strategic orientations to promote their partnership in other interest areas to make the cooperation more competitive in price terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A leading cause of death from natural disasters over the last 50years is witnessed by none other than earthquake occurrences which have a negative economic impact on the world and claimed thousands of lives over the years, causing devastation to properties. In this paper, a novel Ensemble Earthquake Prediction Method (EEPM) is proposed and implemented to produce a strong learner (ensemble method) having better accuracy in prediction, less variance, and less errors. Data (parameters) which is continuous in nature is collected from two countries, India and Nepal, for five years, and surveyor's data (precursor) which is categorical in nature is collected from three countries India, Nepal, and Kenya for five years on the specific earthquake-prone regions. The preprocessed data is generated by combining parameters and precursor data. EEPM focuses on detecting the accurate and better early signs of an earthquake and finding the probability of occurrence of an earthquake in the specified region, i.e., better prediction and robustness. The results of EEPM produced better R 2 and less variance and less error in comparison to individual machine learning methods as well as better accuracy 87.8%, compared to state-of-the-art ensemble methods. The prediction of earthquake will alarm not only the people of the society but also the different organizations to explain the appropriate range of magnitude and dynamics of occurrence of earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Inflation and its related uncertainty can impose costs on real economic output in any economy. This paper aims to analyze the relationship between inflation and inflation uncertainty in India. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology uses a generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) model and Granger Causality test. Findings – Initial estimates show the inflation rate to be a stationary process. The maximum likelihood estimates from the GARCH model reveal strong support for the presence of a positive relationship between the level of inflation and its uncertainty. The Granger causality results indicate a feedback between inflation and uncertainty. Research limitations/implications – The research results have important implication for policy makers and especially the Reserve Bank of India. Practical implications – It provides strong support to the notion of an opportunistic central bank in India. Originality/value – The results of the paper are of relevance not only to the monetary policy makers but also to academicians in India and other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals who create business and employment are entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is actually the ability to develop and sustain a business associated with risk, and ultimately make profit. Every entrepreneur aims to make profit for his own concern. Entrepreneurship is also associated with conversion of new innovation and technology into business, which ultimately generates employment and profit in the economy and thus the entrepreneurs contribute towards the growth of an economy. According to Schumpeter, innovation in business is the primary reason for increased investment and business ups-and-downs in an economy. Recently, women entrepreneurship in India is also making a mark in the society. Indian women have started taking initiative to make a startup and start their career as entrepreneurs with small businesses and they are having success in their field as well. This means women in our society are progressive and capable of sustaining a business, which in turn helps in economic growth. Hence, the study also focuses on the women entrepreneur's contribution to the society. Along with this, the paper has also tried to focus on the growth aspects of entrepreneurship and its impact on the society and economy. Innovation in business improvises it as well as the role of the entrepreneur. It helps entrepreneurs to take decision to implement these new innovations in the business by taking risk and uncertainty. The paper will also highlight on this aspect of use of innovation by entrepreneurs in business expansion and analyse its impact on the sustainable growth of Indian economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical model to explore the economic consequences of an exogenous skill-biased technological change. Design/methodology/approach — The paper develops a theoretical model based on assumptions and conditions that replicate those of a government-sponsored poverty reduction programme in India. Findings — The paper finds that, under certain stated conditions, wage inequality between artisans with improved toolkits and those without is likely to increase, while, under a different set of conditions, this is likely to decrease. Research limitations/implications — Actual wage inequality implications of specific exogenous skill-biased technological changes need to be studied to take the theoretical model further. Practical implications — One major implication is that, when government help is provided by way of an exogenous skill-biased technological change to a fraction of workers, it may have the unintended consequence of increasing wage inequality between the beneficiary and the non-beneficiary workers. In extreme cases, it may even lower the equilibrium wages of the non-beneficiary workers. Originality/value — The paper brings out the critical role of efficiency units of workers with skill-biased technology (artisans with improved toolkits) and those without these in determining the wage inequality between these categories of workers (artisans) based on a theoretical model of the trajectory along which the rural economy moves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the association among energy consumption, carbon‐dioxide emission, and India's economic growth along with supplemental variables including foreign direct investment, population density, inflation, and agricultural land. An autoregressive distributive lag model is applied over annual time‐series data from 1985 to 2019. Further, the robustness and novelty of the model are confirmed by applying fully modified ordinary‐least‐square, dynamic ordinary‐least‐square, canonical co‐integrating regression, variance decomposition, and impulse response function. The analysis results indicate that a cointegration association exists among variables. In the short run, the profound determinants of economic development are energy consumption, carbon‐dioxide emission, inflation, and agricultural land. In the long run, both inflation and agricultural land significantly negatively influence economic growth while carbon emission drives a positive impact. Interestingly, a one‐way Granger causality runs from economic growth towards energy consumption, carbon emission, and agricultural land. The new research presents a comprehensive understanding of economic growth indicators, aiding policymakers, and advancing existing literature. Consequently, as a recommendation, the policymakers should constitute explicit goals for renewable energy consumption to stimulate sustainable economic growth with carbon emission reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]