Search

This paper explores the evolution of the postmodern novel in Indian writings in English, with a specific focus on The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor. Through a close analysis of the novel's themes, structures, and techniques, the paper argues that The Great Indian Novel represents a significant shift in the trajectory of Indian literature, moving beyond the constraints of colonial and nationalist narratives. Drawing on the theories of postmodernism and postcolonialism, the authors examine how Tharoor's novel challenges traditional notions of history, identity and power, and instead offers a complex and nuanced vision of India's past and present. The study also considers the reception of The Great Indian Novel, both within India and abroad, and discusses its impact on the broader field of Indian literature. Overall, the paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the postmodern novel in India and its role in shaping contemporary literary discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian government made Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mandatory in 2013 by amending the Companies Act, complicating research studies on the topic. This paper is a bibliometric analysis of recent trends in research on CSR in India. VOSViewer is employed to visualize networks such as keyword co-occurrences and author collaborations. With the help of BibExcel, other aspects of bibliometric analysis are carried out. Based on an analysis of 685 papers/retrieved articles from Scopus, the study finds that a company's financial performance has become central to CSR orientation in recent years. Co-occurring keywords suggest that sustainability issue is becoming important and that CSR fosters a positive brand image of companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines whether companies that possess stronger capabilities in adapting to climate change yield market returns that are superior or comparable to those of other firms and the overall market portfolio by applying the Fama-French five-factor model. The paper is unique in the sense unlike previous studies where mutual funds with a green and sustainability focus or sustainable indices performance were evaluated, in the current paper green and nongreen portfolios are created by handpicked stocks. The paper also provides insights into the pertinence of the FamaFrench five-factor model in India. In all, 2,294 observations from the daily returns from October 25, 2013, to March 21, 2023, were applied in the study. The green portfolio includes banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) and auto sector stocks included in Nifty ESG, BSE Carbonex, and BSE Greenex. The non-green portfolio contains green house gas (GHG) major contributors and non-sustainable auto stocks. Empirical analysis shows that non-green portfolio outperformed over a decade with significant results. The highest alpha was achieved by non-green auto, BFSI, and GHG contributors. Companies with direct emissions excelled. Non-green companies surpassed green in achieving abnormal returns within the auto sector. Sustainable indices performed the least. All portfolios exhibited lower beta, indicating lower risk than the market. However, concerns remain about the applicability of Fama-French five-factor model in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper seeks to examine the broad trends in research on post-merger customer satisfaction, loyalty, and service quality in the banking sector. It identifies the top contributions to the body of knowledge in the sector in terms of authors, journals, countries, and institutions by examining the relevant literature in this area. The 189 research publications under analysis have a combined 455 authors, with more multiauthor studies than single-author ones. India has the most (111) publications in the dataset, while China has received the most citations overall. Graphic Era (Deemed to be University) from India is the leading research contributor in this area. The network visualization exercise also showed a substantial level of international cooperation in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper first presents a historical record of the caste system in India, shedding light on the socioeconomic disparities and discrimination that persisted for centuries. It then delves into the genesis and evolution of the Reservation System, highlighting its constitutional foundations and subsequent amendments. The paper outlines the intended goals of the Reservation System, emphasizing its role in promoting the social justice, equality, and empowerment of the marginalized communities in the society. The paper critically assesses the potential impact of a comprehensive Caste Census on the accuracy and relevance of reservation policies. An analysis of the implications of the Caste Census on the Reservation System follows, considering both potential positive outcomes and challenges. The study explores the prospect of identifying new beneficiaries who may have been historically excluded, as well as the risk of exacerbating social tensions or reinforcing stereotypes. The paper also investigates the implications for political representation, resource allocation, and the overall socioeconomic development of the marginalized communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banks are shifting from paper-based to electronic transactions. As of today, 50% of total transactions are electronic-based, and this share is increasing at an incredible rate. Hence, there is a need to assess the effects of electronic banking on business operations of banks. In this light, the present paper analyzes the computerization, expenditure on electronic banking and cost-benefit analysis of paper-based and electronic transactions. The paper notes that there is a swing from paper-based transactions to electronic transactions, with electronic transactions escalating drastically and earning business value at a triple rate. Per transaction value is 168 times per transaction cost which shows sound returns. The paper also evaluates the effect of transactions on cost and value through correlation-coefficient and concludes that electronic banking has positive and significant impact on cost and value of transactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a wealth of literature on technologically advanced innovations and entrepreneurship in grassroots innovation research. There is, however, a dearth of writings from the viewpoint of grassroots innovators. Hence, this paper investigates user innovation and entrepreneurship among grassroots innovators in India. Using multiple case study research approach, the paper thoroughly examines the experiences of ten grassroots entrepreneurs. These inventors found a low-cost local remedy to a pervasive social problem by coming up with bottom-up ideas, with their self-efficacy, logic and inventiveness supporting them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the extent of corporate disclosure in the Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) reports of companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. A sample of 55 companies is taken, and based on the disclosure checklist containing 52 information items, the extent of disclosure is measured both at the aggregate level and with respect to different reporting areas of the MD&A report. It is found that average level of aggregate disclosure is 64.8%, which is moderately high. The maximum disclosure score is 90% and minimum 25%. The variation in the extent of disclosure among the sample companies is measured by range and standard deviation, which are 65% and 11.2%, respectively. As far as disclosure in specific areas of the MD&A report is concerned, a few companies have made 100% disclosure in respect of industry structure and development, risk and concern, and segment reporting, while some have made no disclosure about outlook information. The overall results suggest that there exists scope for improving the quality of disclosure in MD&A reports of Indian companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the root of the second wake of export pessimism is the argument that exportled growth (ELG) models suffer from a fallacy of composition. Under constrained global demand, all exporting nations cannot simultaneously pursue ELGs, and the ensuing battle for markets would eventually cause more competitive exporters to drive out or displace less competitive ones. Considering how the Indian economy has witnessed a deceleration in her export of services since the mid-2000s, this paper enquires whether similar export-displacements could have lent to this status quo. Using bilateral service trade data for the years 2005-2015, the paper tests the displacement or crowding out of India’s export of services to advanced OECD nations by exports from other developing and emerging market economies. Our results show the remarkable presence of complementarity between service exports from India and that from other exporting powerhouses like China, Singapore and Vietnam, though the country appears to have been losing markets for her prime services to certain emerging exporters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) policy of free and fair trade has led to persistent decline in the average world trade tariff rates. It also ensured prior ratification of non-tariff measures implemented by countries. At the same time, countries across the world have introduced trade facilitation measures to ensure smooth flow of goods across borders. Despite these, countries still face substantial trade barriers. Against this backdrop, using data from India, the present paper aims at analyzing the impact of trade barriers on its exports by calculating a bilateral trade restrictiveness index based on tariff, non-tariff and border administrative and regulatory measures. The results show that trade restrictions faced by a country depend on its export basket composition, specific export products and its export destinations and hence are unique to each country. They confirm the existence of substantial trade barriers for a country, as against the general perception that trade restrictions have declined over the years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of technology and its advancements have brought various fundamental and structural changes to various sectors of the economy, including the banking sector. In India, the move towards e-banking was initiated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) by relying upon several recommendations provided by high-level committees formed for promoting the growth of information technology in the field of banking. In the current scenario, digital payment methods have replaced conventional paper-based methods due to their costefficiency and expediency. However, it is accompanied by certain challenges, such as poor security measures followed by institutions, which in turn create reputational, operational, or legal risks as they might lead to the disclosure and misuse of sensitive personal information of customers. In order to combat such risks and meet the challenges, the legal framework needs to be strengthened and made more stringent, while specific laws governing electronic payments need to be complied with. The paper examines the relevance of the growing electronic fund transfer systems in India, issues associated with them, existing statutory provisions, and directions issued by the RBI to combat such challenges, and offers suggestions to strengthen the legal framework in order to protect customers as well as participating institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper studies the relationship between poverty levels, per capita incomes and inequality by using a large sample of low and middle-income nations. The results, which indicate the requirement of a per capita income that is close to the one currently registered in Mexico for poverty removal, are used to predict the year of the "happy event" of poverty eradication in India. The tentative finding is that the portals to a better material life for the people of India may gradually open only in the early 2040. It is also observed that some countries like Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have succeeded in poverty removal at low per capita income levels, which may be attributed to greater success in removing inequality and to praiseworthy performance in the realm of non-monetary indicators of poverty. The paper is, of course, based on some important rational assumptions such as absence of any other major shock such as Covid-19, and the continuous average increase in India's GDP by 8%. Therefore, this is an exercise in rationality with the absence of major external positive or negative shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The POCSO Act of 2012 in India is a crucial legislative measure aimed at distinguishing between adult and child sexual offenses, and establishing a child protection framework. It aims to protect children from sexual abuse. However, its practical implementation faces challenges, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the situations involving the child victim. The Act, designed to create a legal sanctuary for children against sexual exploitation, hinges greatly on the judiciary’s aptitude to grasp the intricate challenges child victims confront. While the Act sets the stage for child protection, its effectiveness pivots on the sensitivity and comprehension of judges in handling cases involving child victims. This study endeavors to elucidate the obstacles faced by judges, ranging from limited awareness and entrenched biases, to the absence of specialized training. Sensitizing judges, the cornerstone of this paper’s discourse, is indispensable for fostering effective and empathetic decision-making. This study reverberates with a fervent appeal to recognize judges as torchbearers of change, instrumental in dismantling the shrouds of silence and indifference that have long cloaked child sexual offenses. Through a sensitized and empathetic judiciary, we aspire to build a society that unequivocally stands as a bulwark against the insidious menace of child sexual abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every day, all over the globe, people make the tough decision of leaving their homes in order to rebuild their lives and settle somewhere else for jobs or education; or they are compelled to leave their native lands and traverse international boundaries to provide a safe and sound environment for their families. Millions of people are also forced to migrate because of armed conflicts, insurgencies, or climate change. This paper explores the contemporary human rights issues faced by refugees and migrants, with special reference to Afghan refugees in India [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crowding out effect is an economic theory which argues that rising government spending or borrowing drives down private sector spending. In simple words, if the government borrows huge money from the money markets, then the private borrowers do not get access to the required capital. The excessive government borrowings can also influence interest rates, thus impacting the cost of funds for commercial borrowers. This paper tests, using statistical tools, if government borrowing affects the availability of funds for commercial enterprise. If it affects the availability of funds for private enterprises, then it could impact private sector spending. The paper also tests if government borrowing impacts the interest rates and consequently the cost of funds for private borrowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

End semester examination answer scripts, research papers or assignments submitted by college students and researchers in English reveal serious lags in analytical approaches or critical and creative thinking skills in English language in higher education. Students are found guilty of plagiarism and copyright infringements, tarnishing the image of English studies in India at graduate, postgraduate and PhD levels. Professors waste their time in paraphrasing, driving students towards mugging up sans any attempts at producing inferences beyond prescribed texts. The texts are translated casually (often through second or third person accounts) in vernaculars and the entire focus is reduced to catering to the examinations. The present paper strings together opinions given by experts, researchers, professors, and scholars who have pointed out the fallacies in approaches adopted towards literature studies and researches in English language teaching. The paper argues that the directives used in literature question papers are misconstrued by teachers and students alike and have not been instrumental in evoking or nurturing original thoughts and ideas. The inclusion of comprehension, application, analysis and evaluation in literary studies would make it more meaningful, constructive and permanent since examinations are the main drive that leads students towards intensive studies. The paper concludes with a set of sample questions based upon Bloom's revised taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goods and Services Tax (GST) completed its four years in July 2021. It was expected that by implementing GST in the country, the governments (Central and States) would be able to solve many tax-related problems such as tax evasion, cascading effect, increasing competition among states for inviting investment, and most importantly increasing states' tax revenue, more autonomy and expenditure. Has the imposition of GST in India impacted the tax revenue of states? Has the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic impacted the GST of all the states and union territories? The paper deals with these specific questions constituting a sample of all states and some union territories for the period 2015 to 2021 categorized into pre-GST (2015-2017) and post-GST (2017-2021) period. The secondary data comprises average proportion of own tax revenue of states in their total revenue, and the data has been analyzed to find out whether imposition of GST has impacted the collection of own tax revenue of states, and whether the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the collection of SGST and UTGST of states and union territories. The tools and techniques applied for testing the hypothesis are Wilcoxon Sign Rank Test, paired t-test and Kruskal-Wallis H-test. The findings reveal that imposition of GST has no significant impact on own tax revenue of states, but Covid-19 significantly impacted SGST and UTGST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of embedded location options on Indian agricultural commodity futures returns has not been investigated systematically, despite the available anecdotal evidence suggestive of significant impact. Any significant impact on futures returns translates directly to an impact on hedging effectiveness of the futures. This paper investigates whether the addition of a return term due to the location option helps in explaining futures returns better relative to cash market and storage returns alone for the Chana contract when using regression analysis. Relative importance analysis is used to assess the relative contributions of regressors, and regression coefficients are tested for significance. It is found that the adjusted coefficient of determination improves significantly on adding location option returns as a regressor, and its regression coefficient is significant for the majority of the contracts studied. Relative importance analysis of the regressors shows that location option, on average, accounts for 28% of the explained variability of excess futures. These results suggest that location option impacts futures prices and returns significantly and is a key reason for the poor hedging effectiveness of Indian agricultural commodity futures. These results guide exchanges, regulators and policymakers to reduce the impact of embedded location options by optimizing contract delivery specifications to make futures contracts more useful to hedgers such as farmer producer organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advances in the area of Information Technology, the digital divide, i.e., the gap between the urban people (who have easy access to technology) and rural people (who do not have an easy access to technology) is increasing day-by-day. The success story of the Indian IT industry has benefitted only the urban populace, whereas the overall scenario for rural India is pathetic. Today, the Indian government authorities and organizations, and many NGOs are developing and experimenting with various business models, all over the country, with the objective of providing IT means and solutions to the rural masses; and at the same time taking care of their business interests. This paper examines and takes note of such IT initiatives, and highlights their basic approaches and makes distinction in terms of their objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptocurrency is a digital representation of value that is not a legal tender. It is a digital asset, sometimes also referred to as a crypto asset that works as a medium of exchange for goods and services between the parties who agree to use it. Strong encryption techniques are used to control how units of cryptocurrency are created and to verify transactions. Cryptocurrencies generally operate independently of a central bank, central authority or government. India ranks among the top five countries of the world from the perspective of share of currency held, which is at 44% of the world's share. Since the regulatory framework regarding cryptocurrencies in India is uncertain, this paper analyzes the taxation (or non-taxation) by considering them as goods and currency, and the major approaches currently prevalent across the world. The focus of this paper is to explain the legal aspects relating to cryptocurrencies and blockchain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]