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Research and development (R&D) is a significant driver of innovation that leads to superior performance. The present study attempts to examine the relationship between R&D intensity and a firm's performance at both aggregate and industry levels in the emerging market of India using a battery of R&D intensity measures and stock market returns as a measure of a firm's performance. The study was conducted on 1097 companies from six R&D-intensive industries. The Fama-French portfolio formation method was used to evaluate the stock market performance of R&D-intensive firms for both equal-weighted (EW) and value-weighted (VW) returns. The findings suggest that R&D intensity and stock returns show a positive relationship. A long–short strategy in R&D-intense firms has yielded 1.43% (t = 4.22) per month in the sample. In general, the results suggest an undervaluation of highly R&D-intensive firms that investors can exploit for above-average returns. The effect is not homogeneous across return schemes (equal-weighted and value-weighted) or across industries. R&D growth measures and R&D capital are not found to have significant impacts on stock returns. Both the market firm size and age are included as control variables, and the results reveal that the relationship is robust to these control variables. The sub-periods ranging from 2000 to 2007 and 2008 to 2019 have been considered in the present study and the results are consistent with the overall sample. The study fills the existing empirical void for R&D intensity and stock returns in relation to the emerging market of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperatures have been shown to affect human cognition and decision-making in a variety of settings. In this paper, we explore the extent to which higher temperatures affect judicial decision-making in India. We use data on judicial decisions from the Indian eCourt platform, merged with high-resolution gridded daily weather data. We estimate causal effects by leveraging a fixed effects framework. We find that high daily maximum temperatures raise the likelihood of convictions and these results are robust to numerous controls and specifications. Our findings contribute to a growing literature that documents that the negative impacts of rising temperatures are often more severe in low- and middle-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence and genetic diversity of the protozoan pathogen Giardia duodenalis have been extensively studied worldwide. There is currently a lack of data regarding the genetic variability of the organism in eastern India. Understanding the circulating genotypes and associated risk factors is crucial for effective planning and implementing control measures. Therefore, the objective of the study was to conduct an epidemiological study to determine the prevalence and identify the various genotypes present. This survey adds to our knowledge on the occurrence and distribution of Giardia genotypes in the studied region. The overall prevalence was found to be 6.8%. This parasitic infection was significantly associated with two age groups, i.e., >0–5 years and >5–12 years. Using a multilocus genotyping method, we genotyped 52 human Giardia isolates that were obtained from diarrheal patients. Two distinct assemblages were found in the population—30.8% belonged to assemblage A; 63.5% belonged to assemblage B, prevalent in the population; and 5.7% belonged to a combined assemblage A+B. Sub-assemblage AII was found in 17.3% of the cases, followed by sub-assemblage AI (13.5%). High levels of genetic diversity were found within the population of assemblage B undergoing balancing selection. Overall, the high prevalence of the parasite observed, particularly among children, raises a major concern and necessitates implementation of robust control measures. Furthermore, we report the presence of numerous unique genotypes, circulating in this limited geographical boundary, which can be useful dataset for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigates the impact of female directors on firms' financial performance by scrutinizing the different roles they are empowered to fulfill. Design/methodology/approach: This study examines the impact of the roles performed by female directors on firms' financial performance using a panel dataset of the top 100 listed Indian firms over a period of 5 years. The study uses an appropriate panel data model for empirical analysis. For the robustness evaluation, a two-stage least square (2SLS) with the instrumental variable model were used. Findings: The findings reveal a significantly positive impact of the total percentage of female directors on firms' financial performance. Further, by disentangling the impact of the total percentage of female directors between independent directors and executive directors, the study shows that independent female directors make a significant positive contribution to their firms' financial performance. By contrast, the performance impact of female executive directors was insignificant. In addition, the findings reveal that firms with a higher proportion of independent female directors outperform firms with a higher percentage of female executive directors. Originality/value: This study is the first of its kind to unravel the performance impact of female directors and distinguish between the roles of independent directors and executive directors in the context of the emerging market of India, after the imposition of a gender quota for corporate boards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the problem of controlling turbidity, dissolved oxygen, ammonium‐ion concentration, and water‐temperature to maintain the desired water quality in an intensive aquaculture plant. The research is carried out to fit into the present scenario of intensive aquaculture in India. The plant model along with uncertain parameters are derived using physical laws and the data acquired from an aquaculture pond in Assam, India. A pre‐compensated multi‐variable quantitative feedback theory (QFT)‐based fully populated robust matrix controller is proposed to mitigate the control challenge. A novel method is used to design the pre‐compensator to enhance the diagonal dominance of plant transfer function matrix. The desired robust stability, reference tracking, and sensitivity specifications are fulfilled by the proposed QFT‐based robust controller despite the parametric uncertainty. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through numerical simulation. A comparative study against a H∞$$ {H}_{\infty } $$ controller shows that the proposed controller strategy gives a satisfactory performance compared to it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study presents the zero investment strategies based on the pricing impact of real earnings management (REM) on stock returns after taking into account the direction and endogeneity nature of REM. Design/methodology/approach: The authors use standard portfolio methodology and Fama–Macbeth cross-sectional regression to analyze the data for this study. Both upward and downward form of REM has been examined. Accrual earnings management (AEM) has been controlled while examining the association between REM and stock returns. Findings: The findings demonstrate that the REM anomaly exists in the Indian equity market and is consistent under different market conditions and investment horizons. It is robust after controlling for cross-sectional effects and AEM. Our subsequent analysis suggests that a decile-based zero investment portfolio strategy based on REM loadings generates an annual excess return of 17.90%. The presented annual excess return is highest among quantile and mean-based investment strategies. Further, the authors find that REM sorted proposed investment strategies outperform the AEM sorted investment strategies in all spheres. Practical implications: The findings suggest that investors can form an arbitrage profitable investment strategy by taking a long position in the bottom 10% of negative REM stocks, and a short position in the top 10% of positive REM stocks. Originality/value: This is the first study that examines the pricing impact of REM on stock returns and provides zero investment strategies by betting against REM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Emerging market, like India, is characterised by poor institutional structure, weaker regulations and higher information asymmetry which may lead to stock price manipulation. This study shed some light on such manipulation by investigating front-running behaviour around the bulk deals of stocks traded at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) from 2010 to 2019. Design/methodology/approach: The authors employ an event study methodology to identify front-running in pre-event period of bulk deals. The bulk deals are classified into Only Buy, Only Sell, Partial Buy and Partial Sell trades. They are further subsampled based on the category of investors. Through cross-sectional regression, the authors also identify factors explaining such front-running. Findings: The results show that the front-runners can achieve 5%–7% returns within a week around the event day. Abnormal Returns (AR) before the deals are higher for "Buy" deals than "Sell" deals. The authors also examine the role of volume and delivery in explaining the AR and cumulative abnormal returns (CAR). Lagged CAR, change in volume and change in delivery explain the AR. The results are robust after controlling for Bullish and Bearish Periods. Originality/value: To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first study that explores the front-running in "Partial Buy" and "Partial Sell" bulk deals. Further, it investigates whether the category of investors has any role in front running. It empirically tests the asymmetric market reaction between "Buy" and "Sell" trades. Finally, it examines the role of volume and delivery in front-running. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production reorganization at the firm level as an outcome of environmental mandates is rarely studied in the literature. This paper shows that when exposed to abatement policy to address environmental pollution, a large number of firms from pollution-intensive industries in India outsource production as abatement cost rises. Static and dynamic panel data estimates for firms normalized for size heterogeneity from 7 major industries in India between 2008 and 2020 show robust patterns controlled for a set of covariates. Application of difference GMM estimates avows that pollution abatement cost has a significant positive impact on outsourcing, while improvement in productivity lowers the overall rate. Moreover, when energy prices are high but post-tax profit is positive, the firms outsource less even if the abatement cost rises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study is to investigate the pricing impact of positive and negative accrual-based earnings management on stock returns. The study considers the moderating role of different cross-sectional effects, namely market effect, size effect, value effect, and momentum effect while examining the association between earnings management and stock return. The pricing impact is examined through univariate, bivariate portfolio methodology, and Fama–MacBeth cross-sectional regression. Based on a sample of 3085 Bombay Stock Exchange-listed stocks, results exhibit that investors perceive positive and negative earnings management differently. It has been found that investors demand a higher premium for stocks with negative earnings management, whereas investors hold stocks with positive earnings management at a lower rate of return. These findings are robust after controlling for cross-sectional effects. The study is among the pioneering attempts to examine the pricing impact of accrual earnings management by taking into account the direction (positive and negative earnings management) as well as the endogeneity nature of earnings management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we estimate the costs associated with an important suite of labor regulations in India by taking advantage of the fact that these regulations apply only to firms above a size threshold. Using distortions in the firm size distribution together with a structural model of firm size choice, we estimate that the regulations increase firms' unit labor costs by 35%. This estimate is robust to potential misreporting on the part of firms and enumerators. We also document a robust positive association between regulatory costs and exposure to corruption, which may explain why regulations appear to be so costly in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to environmental and waste disposal issues, enforced legislation and corporate social concern; companies are focusing on reverse logistics (RL) practices, especially in the present scenario dominated by intense competition, demanding customer and fast changing technologies. These practices are widely adopted by industries through reverse logistics partners. However, the evaluation and selection of the reverse logistics partner is a matter of concern which needs a very grave decision, involving complexity due to presence of numerous associated factors. In addition, it is hypothesized that the decision makers might be inconsistent to some extent in their views and preferences that affect other dominant constituents. Consequently, incomplete and inadequate sort of information may occur among various selection criteria, which is termed ‘multi-criteria decision making’ (MCDM) problem. The goal of the present study is to discuss an integrated model based on fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) for evaluation and prioritization of selection criteria and fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (FTOPSIS) for the selection and development of reverse logistics partner. This study is an attempt to present a genuine concern of Indian electronics industry using an integrated approach to demonstrate the application of the proposed framework as well. In this study two stage sensitivity analyses are performed to get further insight of evaluation and selection of RL partner and verification of robustness of the model. This study aims to provide a significant contribution to electronics organizations in evaluation and selection of third party RL partner while achieving efficiency and effectiveness in RL practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance analysis of mutual funds is usually made on the basis of return-risk framework. Traditionally, excess return (over risk-free rate) to risk ratios were used for the purpose mutual fund evaluation. Subsequently, the application of non-parametric mathematical programming techniques in the context of performance evaluation facilitated multi-criteria decision making. However, the estimates of performance on the basis of conventional programming techniques like DEA and FDH are affected by the presence of outliers in the sample observations. The present, accordingly uses more robust benchmarking techniques for evaluating the performance od sectoral mutual fund schemes based on observations for the second half of 2010. The USP of the present study is that it uses two partial frontier techniques (Order-m and Order- a) which are less susceptible to the problem of extreme data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to measure technical efficiencies, slacks and input/output targets for 50 large Indian pharmaceutical firms. Design/methodology/approach – The data are collected from Prowess of Centre for Monitoring of Indian Economy for the financial year 2010-2011. This study uses data envelopment analysis approach, taking raw material, salaries and wages, advertisement and marketing and capital usage cost as input variables and net sales revenue as output variable. Findings – The paper finds that out of 50 firms, nine firms were overall technical efficient while 19 firms pure technical efficient and thus defined the efficient frontier. The BCC model identified that the inefficiency is either due to inefficient managerial performance or scale utilization. Further, firms are classified as high, low and middle robust firms on the basis of peer count. The study also analysed the slacks which were found to be significant in regard of some inputs, especially advertisement and marketing. The targets setting results have shown that all the inputs have significant scope for reduction. Practical implications – The empirical results are useful in assessing the relative efficiency of the large Indian drug and pharmaceutical industry (ID&P) firms. The managers and owners can take corrective actions to reduce the cost of operations by optimizing advertising and marketing cost, capital usage cost and salary and wages so as to improve their efficiency. Originality/value – Unlike the previous studies on the efficiency of the ID&P industry, the paper have shown the significance of improvement in managerial performance and scale utilization. In addition to this, excess inputs used in the production process and also possible target values of inputs and outputs are shown in the study. The robustness and stability of efficiency scores is also checked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is built on the concept of optimal financial structure and examines its dynamics with the economic development process of India. Specifically, the present study intends to examine the evolving importance of banks and markets during different stages of economic development. Using annual data from 1988–2009 for India and selected benchmark OECD countries, we have conducted quantile and robust regression to assess the impact of deviation from the optimal financial structure on the output growth. To our knowledge the present study is one of the pioneer works in calculating the optimal financial structure in Indian context. The empirical evidence suggests that as the economy develops the services provided by banks are comparatively more important than those provided by the stock markets. The financial structure matters for the growth process. The deviation from the optimal structure has harmful effects on the economy and the financial structure gap retards the growth process. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) can affect the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) state of the following year, in addition to the well-known preconditioning by equatorial Pacific Warm Water Volume (WWV), as suggested by a study based on observations over the recent satellite era (1981-2009). The present paper explores the interdecadal robustness of this result over the 1872-2008 period. To this end, we develop a robust IOD index, which well exploits sparse historical observations in the tropical Indian Ocean, and an efficient proxy of WWV interannual variations based on the temporal integral of Pacific zonal wind stress (of a historical atmospheric reanalysis). A linear regression hindcast model based on these two indices in boreal fall explains 50 % of ENSO peak variance 14 months later, with significant contributions from both the IOD and WWV over most of the historical period and a similar skill for El Niño and La Niña events. Our results further reveal that, when combined with WWV, the IOD index provides a larger ENSO hindcast skill improvement than the Indian Ocean basin-wide mode, the Indian Monsoon or ENSO itself. Based on these results, we propose a revised scheme of Indo-Pacific interactions. In this scheme, the IOD-ENSO interactions favour a biennial timescale and interact with the slower recharge-discharge cycle intrinsic to the Pacific Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use a nationally representative survey of Indian households (NFHS-3) to conduct the first study that analyzes whether son preference is associated with girls bearing a larger burden of housework than boys. Housework is a non-negligible part of child labor in which around 60 % of children in our sample are engaged. The preference for male offspring is measured by a mother's ideal proportion of sons among her offspring. We show that when the ideal proportion increases from 0 to 1, the gap in the time spent on weekly housework for an average girl compared to that of a boy increases by 2.5 h. We conduct several robustness analyses. First, we estimate the main model separately by caste, religion, and family size. Second, we use a two-stage model to look at participation into housework (as well as other types of work) in addition to hours. Third, we use mother's fertility intentions as an alternative measure of son preference. The analysis confirms that stated differences in male preference translate in de facto differences in girl's treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a climate change scenario, the present work deals with the possibility of the changes in the rainfall pattern during the principal monsoon season (June 1-September 30) of the Indian summer monsoon. For this purpose three attributes are defined as DTMR, DHMR and DNMR representing the day when 10, 50 and 90 % of the accumulated summer monsoon rainfall is achieved respectively. Using a high resolution (1° × 1°) gridded rainfall data set for the last 50 years prepared by India Meteorological Department (Rajeevan et al. , in Curr Sci 91:296-306, ), the analysis has been carried out over the different parts of the Indian subcontinent. Using statistically robust significance tests, it is observed that the distribution of the three variables have changed significantly at 1 % (or 5 %) significance level in the last 50-year of period. The DTMR and DNMR arrive 2 days early over central India, whereas DHMR appears to arrive 6 days early over west India in the recent decades. The results presented in this paper are supported by the statistically robust significance tests; suggest an apparent change in terms of the arrival of the rainfall attributes during the last half century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, we employ recent and robust estimation techniques of cointegration to provide more conclusive evidence on the nexus of CO2 emissions, economic growth and coal consumption in China and India. Furthermore, the causal relationships among the variables are further examined using the Granger causality test. Our empirical results suggest that the variables are cointegrated in the case of China but not India. In other words, there is a long-run relationship between CO2 emissions, economic growth and coal consumption in China. Granger causality test for China reveal a strong evidence of uni-directional causality running from economic growth to CO2 emissions. Moreover, there is a bi-directional causality between economic growth and coal consumption as well as CO2 emissions and coal consumption in the short and long run. In the case of India, only a short-run causality is detected. Causality between economic growth and CO2 emissions as well as CO2 emissions and coal consumption are bi-directional. Nonetheless, there is only a uni-directional Granger causality running from economic growth to coal consumption in India. The implications of the results are further discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article discusses the application of Taguchi's robust parameter design (RPD) approach in the design of a motor in a large electrical company in India. There used to be specific customer requirements related to temperature rise and low efficiency of the existing model of motor, which the organisation was unable to meet. Taguchi's parameter design approach was successfully applied to derive the optimum design. Orthogonal arrays were used to design the experiments with 13 control factors, each at 3 levels and 2 noise factors. The experimentation was carried out by a computer simulation and the data were analysed using signal-to-noise ratio method. From the analysis of variance along with main effect plots, the optimum factor level combination for the new product was reached. As per the optimum design, prototype was made and tested with respect to the customer requirements and was found to give satisfactory results for all performance characteristics. This approach has given the result in just 10 weeks' time, whereas the traditional design approach used to take 12 to 15 months to arrive at the optimum design values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an unconventional but high-performance differential pressure (DP) monitoring instrument constructed using a new class of sensor, i.e., a pulsating sensor developed in-house. This instrument of unique design is of industrial grade, and it is specially made for online monitoring of pressure in the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), located in Kalpakkam, India. It measures pressure in two different ranges--2 to 25 mbars (0 to 2.5 kPa) and 0 to 60 mbars (0 to 6.0 kPa)--using two specially designed capacitance-based robust probes made of stainless steel (Type 304L). The performance of this innovative instrument using both probes was thoroughly investigated at ambient room temperature as well as at elevated temperatures (above 30°C to 60°C) in order to assess its suitability for reactor application. The precision, sensitivity, response time, and lowest detection limit of measurement using this pulsating DP monitoring instrument are <0.01 mbars (0.001 kPa), 423 Hz/mbar (4230 Hz/kPa), ~5 s, and 0.07 mbars (0.007 kPa), respectively. The influence of temperature up to 60°C on the measured parameters was found to be insignificant. A calibration technique has been evaluated to calibrate these pressure sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The main purpose of the present study is to develop an integrated approach combining data envelopment analysis (DEA) and neural network (NN) for assessment and prediction of performance of Indian B-schools for effective decision making as error and biasness due to human intervention in decision making is appreciably reduced. Design/methodology/approach - DEA, being a robust mathematical tool, has been employed to evaluate the efficiency of B-schools. DEA, basically, takes into account the input and output components of a decision-making unit (DMU) to calculate technical efficiency (TE). TE is treated as an indicator for performance of DMUs and comparison has been made among them. A sensitivity analysis has been carried out to study robustness of the ranking of schools obtained through DEA. Finally, NN is used to predict the efficiency when changes in inputs are caused due to market dynamism so that effective strategies can be evolved by the managers with limited available data. Findings - A total of 49 Indian B-schools are chosen for benchmarking purpose. The average score of efficiency is 0.625 with a standard deviation of 0.175 when Charnes, Cooper and Rhodes (CCR) model is used. Similarly, when the Banker, Charnes and Cooper (BCC) model is used the average score is 0.888 with a standard deviation of 0.063. The rank order correlation coefficient between the efficiency ranking obtained through CCR and BCC model is 0.736 (p=0.000) which is significant. The peer group and peer weights for the inefficient B-schools have been identified. This is useful for benchmarking for the inefficient DMUs. They can identify the parameters in which they lack and take necessary steps for improvement. The peer group for the inefficient B-schools indicates the efficient B-schools to which the inefficient B-schools are closer in its combination of inputs and outputs. The TE obtained through DEA is used as output variable along with input variables considered in DEA as input and output parameters in a generalized regression NN during training phase. It can be observed that root mean square error is 0.009344 and 0.02323 for CCR- and BCC-efficiency prediction, respectively, during training. Similarly, root mean square error is 0.08585 and 0.03279 for CCR- and BCC-efficiency prediction, respectively, during testing. Now, individual schools can generate scenario with the data within their control and test their own performance through NN model. Originality/value - This work proposes integration of DEA and NN to assist the managers to predict the performance of an individual DMU based on input consumed and generate various "what-if" scenarios. The study provides a simple but comprehensive methodology for improving performance of B-schools in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new yet simple reference logo watermarking scheme based on fractional Fourier transform (FrFT) and singular value decomposition (SVD) is proposed. The core idea of the proposed scheme is to segment host image into non-overlapping blocks by the means of Hilbert space filling curve and a reference image is formed by considering Human visual system (HVS). First, reference image is transformed into FrFT domain and embedding is done by modifying singular values of the reference image using singular values of watermark. After embedding, modified reference image is segmented into blocks and these modified blocks are mapped into their original places for constructing watermarked image. For extraction, a reliable watermark extraction scheme is proposed. The experimental results demonstrate better visual imperceptibility and resiliency of the proposed scheme against intentional or un-intentional variety of attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares economic outcomes across areas in India that were under direct British colonial rule with areas that were under indirect colonial rule. Controlling for selective annexation using a specific policy rule, I find that areas that experienced direct rule have significantly lower levels of access to schools, health centers, and roads in the postcolonial period. I find evidence that the quality of governance in the colonial period has a significant and persistent effect on postcolonial outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space constraints in developed urban cities necessitate utilizing existing capacity of the drainage system for actively controlling and optimizing the flow during a flood event. This is mainly achieved by the use of non-structural control measures (in the form of suitable controllers and control strategies) for controlling existing structures such as gates in the drainage system. However, the timely opening and closing of gates is fully governed by the rapid feedback and real time control of these structures. Hence, for an extreme rainfall event and flooding, it is necessary to rapidly model the peak flow and time to peak in the drainage system, the results of which can be used for the timely operation of the control structures. Owing to the fact that the conventional modeling methods are quite time consuming and cumbersome, a simplified approach based on transfer function formulation of Saint-Venant's equations have been proposed in this study. The simplified approach has been validated with the help of carefully planned laboratory experiments in which a test setup consisting of a model drainage channel with upstream and downstream gates have been developed. This laboratory model was used to simulate different flow conditions by the appropriate opening and closing of upstream and downstream gates. It was noted that the results obtained using the simplified approach matches well with the experimentally observed trends. This demonstrates the robustness of the new simplified approach for modeling flow conditions in drainage system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for money, especially in the developing countries, is an important relationship for formulating appropriate monetary policy and targeting monetary variables. In this paper the demand for narrow money in India is estimated and its robustness evaluated. It is found that there is a stable demand for money for almost half a century from 1953 to 2003. There is no evidence for any significant effects of the 1991 financial reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many malaria endemic countries are heading towards malaria elimination through the use of case management and vector control strategies, which employ surveillance, improving access to early diagnosis, prompt treatment., and integrated vector control measures. There is a consensus that elimination of malaria is feasible when rapid detection and prompt treatment is combined with mosquito-human contact interruption in an efficient and sustainable manner at community levels. This paper describes results of an integrated case management and vector control strategy for reducing malaria cases in 1233 villages over 3 years in district Mandla, Madhya Pradesh, India. Methods: The project enrolled the entire population (1,143,126) of Mandla district for fever surveillance followed by testing of febrile cases and treatment of positive subjects using T4 strategy, which is Track (by fever), Test (by RDTs), Treat (by ACT) and Track (for completion of treatment). In addition to the active and passive surveillance for detection and treatment of febrile cases, the project conducted mass screening and treatment to clear the asymptomatic reservoirs of infection. Febrile cases were also tested in the out-patient department of the District Hospital from June 2018 to September, 2018 and in a community-based medical camp from November 7 to 14, 2019. The project also used vector control measures for interrupting human-mosquito contact, and information, education and communication (IEC) campaigns to increase demand for malaria services at community level. Results: This project has revealed about 91% reduction of indigenous cases of malaria during the period from June 2017 to May 2020, through case management and vector control strategies. A total 357,143 febrile cases were screened, out of which 0.19% were found positive for the presence of malaria parasites, with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax ratio of 62:38. The prevalence of malaria was higher in individuals > 15 years of age (69% cases). The positivity rate was 0.33% in 2017–18, 0.13% in 2018–19, and 0.06% in 2019–20. In all of the 3 years of the project, the peak transmission correlated with rains. Mass screening revealed 0.18% positivity in Sep-Oct 2018, followed by 0.06% in June 2019, and 0.03% in December 2019, and these were mostly asymptomatic cases in the community. Imported cases into the district were mostly contributed by the distant state of Telangana (51.13%). Fever patients tested for malaria parasites in the District Hospital and medical camp revealed zero cases. Conclusion: Using the current intervention and prevention tools along with optimum utilization of human resources, a 91% reduction in indigenous cases of malaria was seen in the district in 3 years. The reduction was similar in the three high prevalence blocks of the district. These results reveal that malaria elimination is achievable in India within a stipulated time frame. The reduction of malaria at the community level was further validated when zero malaria cases were diagnosed during hospital and community-based studies in Mandla. Prompt detection and treatment of imported/migratory cases may have prevented outbreaks in the district. This project has demonstrated that field programmes backed by adequate technical, management, operational, and financial controls with robust monitoring are needed for achieving malaria elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]