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Contrarian investment behavior on paper or Demat gold by private investors, India as a country cherishes the status of holding a large number of private investors in gold. Gold as a common term usually takes to the picture of multiple shaped ornaments made up of shiny yellow metal carrying huge value in society since ages to explore the search bit wider gives the option of Gold available in paper or Demat format. The concept of paper gold which has value without physical existence is quite a new concept to the current existing trend. The study focuses on such contrarian investment and their behavioral science on financial investment in the Indian Market amidst COVID-19 Pandemic. The objective of the study is to identify independent factors influence on contrarian investment on paper gold and investor's psychological behavior on decision making when rejecting the current trends over new instrument or investment pattern. This paper also identifies the role of gender in gold investment pattern and knowledge on gold being private investors who care higher rate of risk. The study has been conducted with the sample of 110 individuals through structured questionnaire and with the help of statistical tools "two way anova and correlation" has been carried. The study concluded how the contrarian investment was not based on the age of a private investor but qualification makes much difference on their behaviorin the Indian Market amidst COVID-19 Pandemic and the same type of influence on gender over preference of gold is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, digital technologies have become ubiquitous, impacting and changing the ways society operates. Immense public and economic value is being created by improving access to information and resources. Hence, many public administration units around the globe continue to focus on digital transformation. Although mostly associated with digitizing services and workflow via software platforms, India's efforts have taken a "Lego building block approach" toward technology which can be repurposed and recombined to deliver solutions at the social level. These digital public infrastructure (DPI) blocks have had significant impact on socio-economic development. In this special issue, we explore the role of DPI in digitally transforming public service delivery and in creating public value. The issue aims to make an important contribution to public administration and digital government literature, by examining India's DPI and its positive externalities, in particular its role in financial and health inclusion. These papers include vital knowledge that can support policy processes on digital transformation and public value creation for India and other developing countries of the global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Digital Education Review is the property of University of Barcelona, Virtual Teaching & Learning Research Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tax Audit is a process of checking the correctness of accounting records from Income Tax Law view point for business and profession. The objective of the tax audit is to ensure the accuracy of the accounting records of tax payer and due tax payable. In India legally, only practicing Chartered Accountants can conduct the tax audit. Chartered Accountant conducting the tax audit are called as Tax Auditors. The proposed research paper is about the technological developments taken place in tax audit in the recent period in India. The objective of the study is to give an overview of developments in tax audit in the period of digitalisation and technological developments. The paper will give useful guidelines to tax payer and tax auditor for facing the present challenges of tax audit. The proposed study is based on secondary data. This paper will provide valuable information to tax auditors, businessman and professional tax payers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) play a salient role in converting scarce financial resources into capital formation. They supplement the role of traditional banks by meeting the financial needs of the organised and unorganised sectors. They fill the credit gaps where the reach of banks is minimal. The paper provides a general review of NBFCs in India. The paper throws light on how NBFCs can increase their scope in micro, small and medium enterprises and retail sectors. The NBFCs have a cutting edge over banks because of their customised product offerings. The paper discusses the role of digitalisation in NBFCs' functioning. The paper further evaluates the challenges faced by NBFCs due to the Infrastructure Leasing and Financing Services crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. The degrading asset quality, decreasing profitability and evasion of capital due to sluggish industrial growth and increased provisioning remain current challenges. The corrective actions taken by NBFCs and the Reserve Bank of India to mitigate the risks arising from these challenges are also discussed. The study is concluded by recommending that the entire framework of NBFCs be recalibrated such that precedence is given to enhancing corporate governance and establishing resiliency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unprecedented growth of 'Artificial Intelligence' (hereinafter referred to as AI) has brought immense benefits but at the same time has posed complex challenges that has impacted users' lives, including privacy and data security, particularly, children who are vulnerable to these problems. This paper examines privacy of children in the era of AI and the legal framework's adequacy in protecting children's privacy, focusing on India, the world's most populous nation in 2024,1 with over 833.7 million² internet users, accounting for more than half of its population. With the advent of AI, unprecedented accumulation, processing, and analysis of massive datasets has become possible by algorithms applying predictive analytics on discrete datasets. Nevertheless, AI's pattern recognition ability has blurred privacy boundaries which has enabled it to feed on sensitive information such as that concerning health, emotions, interests, and behaviours. Due to innate curiosity and digital immersion, children are more susceptible to privacy violations in this 'AI-driven' digital era. Since children possess a limited understanding of privacy risks, they are more likely to share information online. Consequently, there is an urgent need to address the issue concerning the increased digital footprint of children and the associated conflict between the 'age of consent' and the 'age of contractual capacity' for the purpose of fixing the 'digital age' of the child. Such a requirement can be potentially addressed through legislative intervention by enacting a comprehensive piece of legislation to regulate the ubiquitous collection of data. Facial recognition, predictive analytics, autonomous systems, and other AI applications, could be the reason for the apprehensions that systemic discrimination could occur and governance is also at stake that points out the need for transparency and accountability. While AI brings with itself exponential growth, there is also a need to underscore the importance of protecting children's right to privacy, given their vulnerability. A comprehensive legislative framework, responsible corporate policies, and increased awareness can help strike a balance, allowing children to harness AI's benefits while safeguarding their fundamental rights. [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]

The emergent technology has been increasingly incorporated with the tourism industry. In the digital world, social media plays an important role in identifying the most visited tourist places. More than 80% of people commonly used the social media platform called 'Twitter'. By using tweet reviews, tourists around the world know about the feelings, suggestions and opinions of most visited tourist places in the selected region. This paper recommends an approach for the development of trip planning in South India based on tourist's preferences. For the research, we use Twitter Application Programming Interface to collect information about the most visited tourist places in South India by using tweets reviews and store it as South India Tourism Tweet reviews database. This paper mainly focuses on analyzing Twitter reviews, which are very helpful to locate the most visited tourist place. In the tweets where reviews are mostly unstructured and heterogeneous, which are then classified into positive tweets, negative tweets and neutral tweets by using the preprocessing technique and machine learning algorithm called support vector machine. Performance measures are calculated by using the classification results. Finally, the results are plotted by using the classification results and performance measures as a wordcloud. This can be very useful for tourists to select the most visited tourist locations. The proposed system can satisfy individual tourist needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the massive growth in digital payments in India since 2010. In addition to discussing the various factors that have contributed to this, most notably the introduction of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), the paper also highlights some of the challenges facing the UPI, and how these might be addressed. By way of comparison, the paper also analyses a similarly successful system, namely Brazil's PIX. As many developing nations are now investigating UPI-like solutions and hoping for similar results, this paper sets out to improve understanding about digital payment infrastructure and the factors that have driven the successful growth of digital payments and the UPI in India in order to support such nations to determine the appropriate strategy going forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

InsurTech are technological solutions used by insurance companies to optimise the performance and improve customer experience. Numerous InsurTech applications are available for almost all functions of insurance product life cycle. Over 1500 InsurTech companies operate around the world and around 140 InsurTech companies operate in India. InsurTech applications provide number of benefits though, there are concerns with regards to technology, data accuracy, legal and regulatory framework with regards to how InsurTech application operate. The paper presents a review of InsurTech companies with respect to services offered by them, impact, benefits and concerns. A strategic model, is suggested to plan the development or deployment of InsurTech application, in order to address the concerns stated in the paper. The model can be useful to both the IT professional who develop the applications and insurance professional who deploy the applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This paper examines the transnational and translocal experiences of the Rohingya in India, a stateless, refugee community forcibly displaced from Myanmar, onward migrants from Bangladesh, who currently occupy a legally precarious space in India. Drawing on approximately 90 interviews conducted with refugees, community leaders and NGOs across three Indian cities, along with informal group discussions and field notes, this paper makes two arguments that shed light on the complex, multi‐factorial ways in which networks are rebuilt in displacement as well as the emerging characteristics of Rohingya onward migration in Asia. First, that early generations of Rohingya in India leveraged translocal network building spaces and encounters to rebuild their networks with others in the community and create translocal networks of care and support with local civil society actors, cementing the notion of a ‘Rohingya refugee community’ in India. Second, that the gradual internationalisation of the Rohingya crisis as well as the transnationalisation of the Rohingya diaspora in the last decade through multiple waves of displacement, onward migration and resettlement schemes has prompted a shift towards multi‐sited transnationalism, particularly reflected in the emergence of multi‐sited transnational families, digital transnational spaces among younger refugees and extended diasporic networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital technologies are now playing the important role behind the entrepreneurial ecosystem of India and nurturing the ventures from small to larger group. This paper talks about the how digital technology as platform helping the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India and then nurturing the venture in digital space. Although the increasing of technological paradigm shift to newer technology day by day, month on month and year on year is providing the advantages of robust entrepreneurial ecosystem and nurturing the robust venture in technological space. In line with the context of the objective, the paper talks about the key factors of digital entrepreneurial ecosystem such as internet penetration, adoption of deep-tech or advancement of technologies (AI/ML, Big data and analytics, robotics, 3D printing, AR/VR), availability of funding, volume of deal flow, MNC-startup relationship, pre-existing business relationship and skillset development of manpower. The research paper related to this area is correct and further study can be conducted to explore more insight information about how digital technology is enabling entrepreneurial ecosystem and nurturing the venture for emergence and growth. This paper is useful to study for research scholars, practitioners, management consultants and academicians. Later, the paper presents about the challenges and issues faced by the start-ups or entrepreneurs in digital transformation of business functions and adoption of digital technology in rural sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Development Research is the property of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

TikTok, one of the most downloaded apps in the world, has been banned in India since June 2020, following military clashes on the India-China border. This article focuses on government narratives of the TikTok ban in the Indian media and situates the issue within the broader geopolitical framework of deteriorating Sino-Indian relations and attempts for digital sovereignty. At a time of strong nationalist discourses dominating the political and social communication in India, it is perhaps unsurprising that the narratives have been seen outside India as protectionism. However, this paper argues that the digital sovereignty in the Indian context is not exclusionary but aims to create a robust digital infrastructure that is critical for economic development and self-reliance. Highlighting the lessons from India, this paper concludes the following: (i) digital sovereignty is a form of discourse which does not imply any specific policy, (ii) digital sovereignty relates to user control over their data, however, the role and limits of the State is not clearly defined and (iii) digital platforms are highly vulnerable to changing geopolitics in which their existence is not determined by user-platform interactions but by international relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic compelled the closure of educational institutions and forced students to complete nearly two years of schooling online, impacting their physical and emotional development tremendously. This exploratory study investigates the wide-ranging impact of online education on Indian students during the COVID-19 pandemic and discusses the challenges exacerbated by disparities in access to digital devices and reliable internet service. The paper also focuses on the physical and mental health issues that arose in student cohorts as a result of the abrupt shift to online learning, and investigates the relationship between students' socioeconomic status and the nature and frequency of health issues experienced by them. Methods: A total of 832 respondents completed a 40-item survey that was administered online and through interviews. The paper analysed the impact of access to digital resources and teachers' training in information and communication technology on the perception of the quality of education provided by the institutions. We further analysed the impact of the adoption of online educational platforms on students' mental and physical health. Results: The study found a positive relationship between the number of hours spent online, and the physical and mental health issues experienced by students. Participants reported an overall higher perception of stress and anxiety, loss of concentration, and dissatisfaction with the quality of education. Our data suggest that COVID-19 has exacerbated the digital divide. Discussion: Urgent investments are needed to provide universal access to reliable internet services, and to develop a pedagogy that supports an agile and adaptable educational system, capable of providing effective learning and evaluation, while supporting students' physical and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among several other countries, India has launched numerous digital initiative programmes aimed at integrating and upgrading various socioeconomic, political and health and social care arenas. One such area is child adoption, where a move away from the analogue system and towards digitalisation began in 2015. The Indian Ministry of Women & Child Development introduced the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS), a digital adoption formalisation platform, under the Central Adoption Resource Authority, a nodal body that monitors and regulates both in-country and intercountry adoptions. This government initiative centralised adoption data from all over India, including the number of children declared free for adoption and the number of prospective parents registered and seeking to adopt. Against this context, this study aims to map the development of adoption in India through digital systems and the influence of digitilisation on those involved in the pre- and post-adoption phases. Drawing on both Western and Indian literature, as well as observations from an ongoing qualitative study on adoption digitalisation in India, this study discusses the benefits and limitations of digital systems for the people connected to them. The findings provide a comprehensive view of the interaction of technology and society and how this operates in the sociocultural context of adoption in India. Future implications for researchers and adoption social workers and consultants are discussed. Plain Language Summary: The process of adoption in India was largely paper based until 2015. With the launch of the Digital India movement in 2015, newer digital facilities were introduced in various socioeconomic, political, health and social care sectors. Adoption was one such area: the Indian Ministry of Women and Child Development introduced a digital adoption formalisation platform called the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS). It was established under the Central Adoption Resource Authority, which is responsible for monitoring and regulating both in-country and intercountry adoptions. CARINGS is a centralised database of the children waiting for adoption and prospective parents registered and seeking to adopt. It aims to streamline the adoption process and make it more efficient and transparent. A qualitative study was conducted to explore the impact of digital adoption on those involved in the pre- and post-adoption phases. The study included the perspectives of adoption social workers, adoption consultants, prospective adopters and adoptive parents. The present paper maps the influence of digital adoption in the pre- and post-adoption phases and discusses the advantages and challenges that arise from the interaction of technology and society. The paper concludes by presenting the future implications of digital adoption for researchers, adoption social workers and consultants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What are the effects of biometric and digital technologies on social protection for the poor in India? Drawing on ethnographic research from rural Tamil Nadu, this paper presents evidence of how new technologies are experienced by beneficiaries of the Public Distribution System (PDS), and analyses the impacts of technology innovations on transparency, exclusion and mediation. The authors focus on the implementation of 'smartcards,' new digitised and Aadhaar-enabled ration cards, introduced in ration shops across Tamil Nadu in 2017. They first document how digitised smartcards and mobile text messages transform transparency for beneficiaries by introducing new opacities and information gaps. They then demonstrate how a lack of transparency (re)produces forms of exclusion that remain a challenge under the automated PDS. Finally, the paper highlights how novel forms of kin and non-kin mediation play a mitigating role in accessing PDS, and constitute a vital part of the infrastructure underpinning social welfare delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to review and summarize the theme issue outcomes in relation to the strategic question: How is the hospitality and tourism industry in India responding to the dynamic digital era? Design/methodology/approach: This paper draws on the findings of the theme issue contributors to identify the response of the Indian hospitality and tourism industry towards the rapid pace of digitization and use of technology. Findings: The summary highlights the research on various facets of digital push with respect to marketing of products and services, role of data analytics, use of technology tools in operations to impact customer experience. It has implications for industry practitioners, researchers and policymakers. Practical implications: It is quite clear that technology needs to be embraced by the hospitality and tourism Industry in India at a faster pace to compete well globally, deployment of digital technology has potential to positively impact efficiencies and quality of customer experience. There are huge implications for how digital marketing is going to become a critical part of the marketing strategy at large. Originality/value: The research in this theme provides insight from both practitioner and academic perspectives provide a take on the ground realities with respect to how the hospitality and tourism businesses in India are changing how they work in the digital era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to introduce the background with the theme issue question: How is the hospitality and tourism industry in India responding to the dynamic digital era? Design/methodology/approach: The paper has discussed the importance of digital technologies and its scope in customer engagement and marketing of hospitality and tourism products; nevertheless, it also identifies the role of human touch and traditional marketing by suggesting the appropriate mix. This paper has examined the role of influencers and online reviews in impacting the purchase tech decisions related to travel and tourism. Findings: This paper highlights the current digital trends in hospitality and tourism of India and highlights the contribution of authors toward the strategic question. Practical implications: The theme issues draw extensively from industry leaders, digital agencies, restaurant owners and tech consumers to offer relevant and varied perspectives. Originality/value: India is making significant progress in the adoption of digital technologies; yet, there is limited research in providing insights and barriers about hospitality and tourism services. This theme issue will identify the untapped potential and issues with respect to the Indian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible and affordable health services and products including medicines, vaccines, and public health are an important health agenda of all countries. It is well understood that without digital health technologies, countries will face difficulties in tackling the needs and demands of their population. Global agencies including the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations (UN), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), etc. have been instrumental in providing various tools, and guidance through digital health strategies in improving health and digital health maturity of the countries. The Digital Health Platform Handbook (DHPH) is a toolkit published by WHO and ITU to help countries create and implement a digital health platform (DHP) to serve as the underlying infrastructure for an interoperable and integrated national digital health system. We apply the foundational principles of DHPH and provide a perspective of DHP components in a layered, enterprise architecture of a digital health infrastructure. India has rolled out the blueprint of its National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) to address the emerging needs for digitization of healthcare in the country. In this paper, we also illustrate the design and implementation of WHO-ITU DHP components at the national level by exploring India's digital health mission implementation utilizing various digital public goods to build a digital health ecosystem in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper delves into the landmark case of Amway India Enterprises vs. Union of India, adjudicated by the Delhi High Court in July 2019. The case pertained to alleged interference by e-commerce giants such as Amazon and Flipkart in the contractual relationships between direct selling companies and their independent sales representatives. The paper dissects the intricate legal facets of this case, encompassing constitutional matters, intellectual property rights, information technology laws, consumer protection, and contractual and tort laws. A central issue examined was whether e-commerce platforms were bound by the Direct Selling Guidelines, 2016, and if their actions constituted trademark violations. The case also probed the applicability of Section 79 of the Information Technology Act and intermediary responsibilities. The Delhi High Court's judgment wielded substantial influence over the Indian business landscape. E-commerce platforms were mandated to cease commercial activity on plaintiffs' products and furnish detailed seller data, necessitating operational adjustments. In conclusion, the Amway India Enterprises case signifies the evolving commerce dynamics in the digital era and underscores the pivotal role of the legal system in ensuring fair competition, consumer safety, and intellectual property preservation. As business landscapes evolve, this case illuminates the path toward a responsible, transparent, and secure online marketplace in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Via a multiple case study of work in microfinance institutions in India, this paper reports on the experiences of field officers and branch managers following work digitalisation. It identifies and explains an intriguing post‐digitalisation paradox of reported increased job satisfaction and tighter technological control diminishing branch managers' work‐life balance. The paradox draws attention to the significance of context in workers' experiences of mobile digital technologies (MDTs) and contradicts previous studies on workers' positive experiences of adopting MDTs: the workers in this study did not experience greater autonomy or flexibility but reported enhanced employment security and status. The paper also adds to literature on employment relations following work digitalisation by revealing powerful enforcement of technological control, with 'WhatsApp' identified as a key managerial tool used for surveillance and discipline, and worker resistance at the margins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general insurance industry in India, established in the late 19th century, has undergone significant transformations including nationalization and liberalization. Despite recent challenges, it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15% over the next five years, aided by technological advancements like digitalization, AI, Blockchain, and Data Analytics. Digitalization, AI, Blockchain, and Data Analytics have significantly impacted the insurance industry. These technologies have streamlined processes, improved customer experience, increased efficiency, and enabled better risk assessment and fraud detection. The study aims to understand the new face of the Indian general insurance Industry and comprehend the technological and general reforms of recent times. The research adopts a cross-sectional design to investigate the evolving Indian general insurance industry. Primary data is gathered through structured questionnaires, with statistical analysis employed for interpretation. The findings reveal a positive impact of technology and digitalization on the Indian general insurance industry. However, there is a need for better communication with those who express uncertainty or perceive no significant impact. The study also highlights a diverse range of information sources used by individuals to stay informed about changes in the general insurance industry. Key suggestions include incorporating advanced technological solutions for personalized policies, leveraging technology for streamlined processes, enhancing customer services through digital technologies, and launching awareness and educational initiatives. The study acknowledges limitations such as restricted time for data collection and analysis, potential response bias due to flexibility in data collection methods, and feasibility issues that may have resulted in missed research papers or books. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to empirically validate the determinants of cloud adoption in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India and examine its impact on their economic performance. Design/methodology/approach: An integrated theoretical model interplaying technological, organizational and environmental aspects were applied for analyzing the variation in factors. Using data from 317 Indian SMEs, we have applied confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to test the hypotheses. Findings: The results demonstrated that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, technology readiness, top management support and trust were the influencing drivers of cloud adoption in SMEs in India. Compared to previous studies, we did not find compatibility and competitive pressure as significant, suggesting that there was no single set of factors influencing technology adoption. Economic performance achieved by reduced transaction costs formed the basis of favorable adoption. Research limitations/implications: The integrated model can provide space for new dimensions based on the category and geography of the SMEs. The paper does not address the supply-chain perspective of cloud adoption. Practical implications: The study directs the firm owners to visualize business logic by creating a digital ecosystem. Further, the model guides the stakeholders, including cloud service providers, to contribute to the economic proficiency of the SMEs. Originality/value: The paper empirically validates a model integrating both the drivers and consequences of cloud computing adoption as a unique study. Findings indicate that the usage of metrics such as return on investment and system efficiency form a part of the technology system approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluency Assessment and Benchmarking for Literacy in Education (FABLe) is the first mobile application being developed for the assessment of foundational literacy skills in India. FABLe passages are currently available in English for Grades 2, 3 and 4, with plans to expand to other Indian languages. FABLe is designed to administer curriculum-based measures for reading (R-CBMs) that have been validated in the Indian context. This paper describes the preliminary benchmarking procedures being undertaken for the Indian student population and how FABLe screens for students at-risk for reading difficulties. Student performance data based on initial FABLe results are compared with international benchmarks and teacher perception data. Overall, FABLe scores are lower than international benchmarks. FABLe was able to accurately identify students needing additional support, with the majority of students identified at-risk falling below the 19th percentile in FABLe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rampant adoption of digital technologies made momentous changes in all economic sectors. The agriculture sector cannot abstain from the digital revolution. Agriculture and farming are one of the oldest and most important professions in India. The sector remains the backbone of the Indian rural economy, which desperately demands technological impetus for the socio-economic development of rural areas. Smart agriculture is a revolution in the agriculture industry which helps to guide the actions that are required to modify and reorient the agricultural systems. The paper made an extensive survey of various technologies proposed for the agriculture sector. We have surveyed various smart agricultural applications developed and proposed a taxonomy for classifying them. Network infrastructure and connectivity remains the major challenge for rural areas. The paper explores the viability of deploying IoT-based technologies in agricultural sectors along machine learning techniques to optimize resource utilization, planning and cultivation, marketing, pesticide selection, price prediction, etc. An in-depth coverage of recent research works is also mentioned which will help the future researchers to address specific challenge and adopt suitable technology to help the farmers to improve their productivity and better decision making in cultivation. Apart from listing the applications, we also propose an architecture for smart agriculture and implemented smart price prediction model for crops like cotton and cardamom along with a prototype for smart irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work of school counsellors has become complex with the increasing technological advances and adolescents' dependency on them. There is a surprising lack of study in the Indian context, aimed at school counsellor's challenges in dealing with adolescents' digital use. This paper provides better understanding of the challenges of school counsellors involving adolescents' digital use in Indian schools. Three significant themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) negative aspects of digital use among Indian adolescents, (b) the need to effectively teach how to navigate the digital world and (c) the challenge of integrating technology with traditional counselling approaches to educate adolescents about their digital use. Furthermore, this paper presents implications for school counselling practice and research within Indian context. Practitioner points: School counsellors address challenging situations involving adolescents' use of digital media.School counsellors play a crucial role in teaching and modelling how to navigate the digital world.Little research has been conducted in the Indian context; hence this study is a good step forward to understand and acknowledge the challenges of school counsellors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalization in India has become essential and necessary in our day to day life. It has become indispensable and very important part of every individual, business organization and other financial or banking services. As we are moving towards cashless economy, it is possible with implementing digitalization in India. It will boost the digital literacy in India and India is a developing country so there is need to literate every individual and other organization about digital literacy, to move towards becoming a developed country. Therefore, this paper analyse impact of digitalization on education in India. For this analysis considered time series data from 2000 to 2019. In this paper applied regression method for the analysis and before applied the regression we have checked the normality and multicollenerity with the help of descriptive and correlation analysis. Regression results reveal that the coefficient of Government expenditure on education is negative which means there is need to improve the education with more proper funds and efforts towards education for increasing the literacy rate among youth. The Digitalization variables positively correlated to the education's variables, like literacy rate positively correlated to the secure internet server which shows that through the internet server literacy rate is going to increase and in future it will have better impact to the society with the increasing rate of literacy and internet service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper points to an underexplored relationship of reinforcement between processes of quantification and digitisation in the construction of mental health as amenable to technological intervention, in India. Increasingly, technology is used to collect mental health data, to diagnose mental health problems, and as a route of mental health intervention and clinical management. At the same time, mental health has become recognised as a new public health priority in India, and within national and global public health agendas. We explore two sites of the technological problematisation of mental health in India: a large-scale survey calculating prevalence, and a smartphone app to manage stress. We show how digital technology is deployed both to frame a 'need' for, and to implement, mental health interventions. We then trace the epistemologies and colonial histories of 'psy' technologies, which question assumptions of digital empowerment and of top-down 'western' imposition. Our findings show that in India such technologies work both to discipline and liberate users. The paper aims to encourage global debate inclusive of those positioned inside and outside of the 'black box' of mental health technology and data production, and to contribute to shaping a future research agenda that analyses quantification and digitisation as key drivers in global advocacy to make mental health count. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Indian construction firms are falling behind in the use of digital technology in the workplace, and this study aims to give a framework and assess the role of enablers in the implementation and continuing digitalization of the Indian construction sector. Design/methodology/approach: An exploratory qualitative research technique is used in this article, and multiple detailed interviews and surveys are done with professionals from the industry and academia. To conclude the significance and relevance of the different constructs and indicators, the partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach is used. Findings: Barriers are essential enablers for effective implementation, while success factors are important drivers for the successful continuance of digitalization in the construction sector. However, stakeholders' perceived benefit has a substantial role in both implementation and continuance. Research limitations/implications: In this research paper, the scope of this investigation for a generalized exploratory study is restricted to construction firms within India. Further, a rigorous longitudinal study may also be performed to examine the subjectivity of the responses in order to ensure digital continuation. This study identifies limited manifest indicators. Additional indications, however, may be included based on the other company's resources, structure and geographic location. Practical implications: The study's findings have two implications. In the beginning, it gives a direction to the construction sector by highlighting the framework in which implementation and continuance both should have to be executed, and this is the critical area for the successful continuance of digitalization in construction. Second, the research shows that the digitalization process is similar to the adoption of innovation, in which the deployment and persistent use of the new technology are important for facilitating the transformation. Originality/value: In two respects, the study is distinctive. To begin, this is one of the limited efforts to comprehend digitalization from the Indian perspective. Second, the study reveals that the PLS-SEM approach can be effectively used in the developing subject of the construction digitalization concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines whether a one-time, extensive, but temporary shock to cash supply can affect the adoption of digital payments. We exploit the 2016 demonetization episode in India, which overnight discontinued 86% of cash in circulation. Using novel administrative data from retail debit card transactions, we identify a 12% increase in digital payments in areas adversely affected by the cash shortage, which persisted well after the restoration of cash supply. Examining mechanisms, we find a limited role for social networks and stronger support for learning by doing. Further, information frictions hinder the immediate adoption of digital payments. (JEL E5, 023) Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix , which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Following a crucial COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the coronavirus has affected every academic institution, particularly libraries and information centres. To address this unprecedented scenario, libraries' staff has decided to provide their services via digital access while staying close to the users. To predict users' intention to use digital libraries after COVID-19, the authors combined the technology acceptance model (TAM), the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and perceived risk. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected via a paper-based questionnaire using a convenient sampling method which was distributed at two major libraries; Maulana Azad Library, Aligarh Muslim University and Dr Zakir Husain Library, Jamia Millia Islamia in India. Findings: Empirical findings suggested that all the proposed hypotheses were supported, and the integrated model had strong explanation power as the proposed model explained a 74.5% variance in users' intention to use digital libraries after COVID-19. Research limitations/implications: This study offers substantial information to librarians, digital libraries, universities, institutes and other stakeholders and sheds light on the potential for a developing nation to transition to an economy with a strong digital infrastructure. The scope of the study is constrained to the users in India only, hence, leading to the possibility that it may be challenging to generalize the findings. Originality/value: According to the best of the authors' knowledge, it is one of the few studies to predict users' intentions for using digital libraries after COVID-19 by applying the integrated model of TPB and TAM in an emerging economy. It helped understand the users' attitudes towards using the digital services and resources available at the respective libraries. It also contributed considerably to the argument that users have grown accustomed to harnessing digital libraries during the post-COVID-19 period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the link between creative and innovative leadership and FinTech adoption through the transmission mechanisms of perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU). This study used a questionnaire survey method to collect data from a sample of 721 employees working in the Indian financial services sector. The data were analyzed using structural equation modelling. The study results revealed a significant and positive influence of creative and innovative leadership, PEOU, and PU on FinTech adoption. Moreover, PEOU and PU mediated the link between creative and innovative leadership and FinTech adoption. This study proposes a new vision for managerial procedures to understand the critical aspects regarding FinTech adoption. The study advises that engineering managers should offer simple and user-friendly technology to enhance the adoption rate. Additionally, the results suggest the importance of creative and innovative leadership for competitively exploiting novel technologies. Given India's digital revolution and huge market potential, the FinTech sector could prove a game-changer, especially in generating employment for the young and technologically qualified population. Tech-driven organizations could use the study findings strategically in this digital era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosocial P2P lending platforms are a novel and powerful example of a digital social innovation (DSI) in which the operating model relies primarily on digital technologies and the overarching focus is on the "social" aspect of the innovation. These platforms establish a virtual connection between low‐income individuals and lenders, helping the former access loans at low rates of interest. In realising their mission of fighting poverty, prosocial P2P lending platforms maintain a challenging hybrid – online and offline – focus. This paper explores how prosocial P2P lending platforms enact their hybrid orientation. It draws on an inductive qualitative study of Rang De, India's first prosocial P2P lending platform. The analysis highlights five clusters of actions: digital attention‐building, digital credibility‐building, digital empathy‐building, intermediary relationship‐building, and borrower relationship‐building. The paper argues that significant strengths on the online side help establish a sustainable business model. A willingness and commitment to maintain a high degree of engagement with the complex offline world of low‐income borrowers helps develop the model as an impactful social innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital identity platforms are a recent e-governance innovation for improving social assistance programming in the development context, the most well-known of which is India's Aadhaar. While a significant number of studies have accumulated on Aadhaar, so far under-researched is the importance of local government practices and processes in shaping usage of the platform to support social assistance programming. In this paper we theorize how local government intermediation on digital identity platforms can improve social assistance programming through a case study of the Aadhaar-enabled Fertilizer Distribution System (AeFDS) in Andhra Pradesh. Our findings show how the relevance of the platform for low-income farmers depends crucially on the proactive adaptation of the technology by key local government intermediaries. From a policy perspective, this result emphasizes the importance of supporting efforts to acknowledge the role of responsive local government agencies in ensuring that centralized digital identity platforms remain relevant for implementing social assistance programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization of global populations with augmented and convenient living standards of people are driving towards techno-enabled and sustainable smart cities in the future. With this, technology plays a key role in making the existing cities smart and intelligent in a way that the citizens are being served better and safer. Over the past 1-decade, the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in different sectors like Environment, Education, Healthcare, etc. is well-supporting the idea of Global Digitalization and Smart Cities. In this paper, we highlight and discuss the multiple sectors where the AI approach is expected to grow to make a Global Smart City. Further, the paper contributes to presenting the AI approach for urban and rural India using AI-enabled drones. For Urban India, we discuss how and where the AI can be used to make urban India smart and sustainable. Lastly, the paper contributes to exposing the challenges faced by rural India and giving a wholesome approach to integrating AI into different sectors for rural enhancement and upliftment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial inclusion, that is, access of excluded households and small firms to financial products and services, is seen as a way to promote more inclusive growth by providing the previously unbanked with access to means for savings, investment, consumption smoothing, and insurance. Financial technology (Fintech), that is, using software, applications, and digital platforms to deliver financial services to consumers and businesses through digital devices such as smartphones, has become recognized as a promising tool to promote financial inclusion. The present paper investigates the developments of financial inclusion and Fintech in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries and India to identify the ways that Fintech is contributing and can potentially contribute to increased financial inclusion. It also examines potential risks arising from use of Fintech, highlights differences in the strategies and implementation of financial inclusion and Fintech between India and ASEAN, and draws lessons and policy recommendations from these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of digital transformation programs requires careful allocation of software developers to a variety of digital products and services with different levels of modularity. This paper investigates how deadline orientation (an individual‐level preference of developers for completing work close to deadlines) and architectural modularity (a characteristic of products) influence central outcomes in software development. We argue that architectural modularity positively interacts with deadline orientation to influence software quality and the job satisfaction of developers. Our empirical analyses, using rare and high‐quality data from 131 software developers and 29 product owners working at a captive software development center in India of a leading global software firm, confirm our hypotheses. We contribute to the literature on software development by showing that the fit between the technological characteristics of the software product (i.e., architectural modularity) and people factors (i.e., the temporal work style preferences of developers) plays an important role in shaping both software quality and job satisfaction. Our study has wider implications for the literature on software development, temporal work styles, and architectural modularity. It is instructive for practitioners tasked with hiring or allocating software developers for software products with varying technological characteristics in their digital transformation efforts. Highlights: The success of digital transformation efforts often requires the development of new software in a quick and iterative manner with high quality and the ability to retain software developers through high job satisfaction.The study considers two key factors in software development: deadline orientation, defined as the preference for doing work shortly before deadlines versus an alternative approach of doing most of the work either upfront or with a steady pace throughout, and software modularity.The study finds that ensuring a fit between developers' deadline orientation and software modularity is important, as deadline‐oriented developers will produce higher‐quality software and will be more satisfied with their job in regard to software with high architectural modularity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts a global shortfall of 18 million health workers by 2030, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like India. The country faces challenges such as inadequate numbers of health professionals, poor quality of personnel, and outdated teaching styles. Digital education may address some of these issues, but there is limited research on what approaches work best in the Indian context. This paper conducts a scoping review of published empirical research related to digital health professions education in India to understand strengths, weaknesses, gaps, and future research opportunities. Methods: We searched four databases using a three-element search string with terms related to digital education, health professions, and India. Data was extracted from 36 included studies that reported on empirical research into digital educational innovations in the formal health professions education system of India. Data were analysed thematically. Results: Most study rationales related to challenges facing the Indian health care system, rather than a wish to better understand phenomena related to teaching and learning. Similarly, most studies can be described as general evaluations of digital educational innovations, rather than educational research per se. They mostly explored questions related to student perception and intervention effectiveness, typically in the form of quantitative analysis of survey data or pre- and post-test results. Conclusions: The analysis revealed valuable insights into India-specific needs and challenges. The Indian health professions education system's size and unique challenges present opportunities for more nuanced, context-specific investigations and contributions to the wider digital education field. This, however, would require a broadening of methodological approaches, in particular rigorous qualitative designs, and a focus on addressing research-worthy educational phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public sphere has moved online, and with it, several versions of "protests" and "movements" too. We are living through a moment in history where the "due process" of law and justice may or may not follow the public demonstration of either injustice or democratic dissent. A "public" protestation in such a situation has very often meant "on social media", giving even more credence to the idea that a successful protest is often one that "trends". This paper will address some of these issues in the context of India, where the spread of internet and social media in the past several years has been as quick as it has been widespread. Using two examples – that of the Indian #MeToo movement and the Anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh – this paper attempts to trace the complexities of online movements in India that have grown online and spread offline. The many inequalities of access, class, caste, language, and internet literacy that exist in India provide a background for these movements and the idea of seeking justice. The complexity of opaque algorithms that curate social media feeds makes the endeavour of seeking for and finding various forms of justice or solidarity – especially through the internet – even more complicated. The two movements – one that was born online and the other that was entirely offline; both operationalised the internet and particularly social media in ways that gave them more visibility and popularity. Both movements were led by women, but one was mostly a movement of elites, while the other was led by those usually considered outside the mainstream. Using insights from Science Technology and Society (STS), this research effort hopes that reading these two cases together will be able to reveal some of the intricacies of the tricky nature of online justice seeking and the complex Indian digital space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research on technology affordance rarely considers the role of social structures in shaping the interaction between human actors and technology. In this paper, we draw upon the concept of social positioning to explore how socialized affordances of technology adoption, as well as their impact in work and social life, are shaped by the social positions that human actors occupy within multiple social structures. We do so by examining the adoption of mHealth devices by community health workers in India. The study generates theoretical implications for research on affordances of technology and social structures by integrating social positioning of actors in the analysis of a digital practice, and enriching IS research by incorporating the broader social arrangements and power relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital lending industry has seen a remarkable growth in India over the last few years. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has played a crucial role in supporting this initiative by establishing regulations and providing timely guidelines on digital lending to various regulated entities. The latest directive by RBI in June 2023 has allowed First Loss Default Guarantee (FLDG) as a safeguard among regulated entities and lending service providers against potential losses resulting from borrower defaults. The new regulation is likely to strike the right balance in the digital lending ecosystem, fostering innovation while effectively managing the associated risk. In this paper, the authors discuss the evolution of the regulatory framework pertaining to digital lending in India and implications of the latest FLDG related guidelines for the financial markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries play a crucial and multi-faceted role in the implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP) of 2020 in higher education in India. They function as hubs of knowledge and are instrumental in supporting the educational goals outlined in the NEP. This article examines the intricate and significant part that libraries play in the effective execution of the NEP, specifically within the context of NEP 2020. It discusses how libraries can promote access to diverse knowledge resources, encourage research, and foster critical thinking skills among students. By utilizing the potential of libraries as centers of learning, higher education institutions can establish a more inclusive and just learning environment according to the NEP's vision. The primary focus of this study is to comprehensively elaborate on the multi-faceted involvement of libraries, including the active promotion of digital literacy, cultivation of research efforts and innovative initiatives, and facilitation of an all-encompassing and impartial approach to acquiring information for all segments of society. The article notes that libraries can contribute to the promotion of digital literacy, which is a critical aspect of the NEP. As the use of digital technologies in education increases, libraries play a vital role in providing access to a wide range of digital resources, such as ebooks, online databases, and various digital learning materials. They can provide instructional guidance and assistance to both students and faculty members on the effective use of digital tools and platforms, leading to a significant improvement in their digital literacy skills. Libraries also offer access to a vast array of scholarly resources, including academic journals, research papers, and books. This accessibility empowers students and faculty members to engage in significant research endeavors. They also provide guidance and direction for conducting literature reviews, accessing relevant research databases, and keeping up with the latest developments in various disciplines. Therefore, libraries serve as collaborative spaces for interdisciplinary research and innovation, facilitating knowledge sharing and networking among students and faculty members, which is essential for NEP 2020. This research emphasizes the expected academic roles of libraries in enhancing all educational programs and proposes specific strategies to improve their functions. Previous literature is combined with qualitative research data from semi-structured interviews with 125 faculties, including Professors, Associate Professors, and working librarians from four universities associated with higher education institutions. Questionnaires and interview tools were used to explore the relevant data collection instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital revolution has created numerous opportunities in India. Internet penetration rate is very high in India which in turn has created the requirement of making India digitally active. Indian government is working on crucial projects like Smart City, Make in India and Digital India. The internet penetration rate is increasing in rural areas but this increment is less than urban areas' internet penetration rate. The purpose of this paper is to understand the policies launched by the government of India to increase the internet self-efficacy level of people in rural areas. The paper explores the Digital village scheme and Digital Village 2.0 campaign and its impact on villagers after its application in selected villages. There is a strong need to impart digitalization knowledge to rural India for creating balance between urban India and rural India and its success motivates the government for taking the next step for enhancing digitalization in rural India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reading stories to children when they are young is the most effective way to keep them creatively engaged. Children in multilingual countries require free access to story repositories for leisure reading. In India, a country with hundreds of mother tongues, books are largely published in English and Hindi, owing to market economics. Various studies have shown that learning and reading become more important in one's mother tongue, and that when a child reads in two or more languages during early years, gains a deeper understanding of language and its effective use. In this paper, the researchers have tried to discover; to what extent Storyweaver (SW) helps fill the gap between different types of reading requirements and availability of resources in their native language? This paper explores the possibilities for more visibility for educators, parents, authors, publishers, illustrators and translators to showcase their capabilities across the global platform especially in under resourced areas. The paper will also explore if the educators can customize the resources of SW according to their individual requirements. This paper will try to determine whether SW can serve different leveled readers with appropriate resources. This paper will also explore the usage and popularity of this digital repository in context to literacy promotion and act as a savior for vanishing regional languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid the rapid advancement of digital technology in India, there is a growing concern regarding data protection and digital privacy. The recent DPDP Act 2023 also reflects the significant emphasis on a robust privacy practice. This paper examines the effectiveness of consent, a crucial principle and a subject of many debates in data privacy regimes. Despite being a cornerstone of privacy regimes globally, the consent-based approach has significant limitations. For instance, its binary character allows for a yes or no response and its inability to guarantee data subjects to make an informed choice. The study is set against the prominent data breaches and the Indian Government’s effort to strengthen data protection measures. The study also examines the theoretical and legal aspects of consent by analysing the fundamental ideas that form the basis of the DPDP Act, 2023, protecting the consent framework. It questions whether the current form of the Act aligns with the landmark Privacy Judgement. It concludes by exploring alternative and more adaptable mechanisms for implementing informational privacy that might effectively address the specific issues in the Indian context while taking inspiration from other jurisdictions like the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On-demand work applications (ODWAs), a type of digital platforms (DPs), are technology-enabled intermediaries for gig workers. In this paper, we study these platforms and their impact on women belonging to the low socio-economic section in a developing economy. These women act as primary unpaid workers while being expected to make an economic contribution. Hence, they suffer from time scarcity where they need to find mechanisms to generate economic success from the limited time they have, in a largely informal economy. We employed the theoretical lens of affordances to delineate the affordances that are provided by the various features of ODWAs and their impact on life satisfaction of women. We conducted a mixed method study using interviews of 20 female gig workers, supplemented by a survey of 927 workers on one of the largest ODWAs in India. Our analysis points to the sense of identity and individuality that these platforms provide as well as lowering the market boundaries for greater inclusion. Our research is significant from both, the information systems and inclusion research perspectives, as it contributes to the theoretical understanding of the impact of DPs on breaking societal structures and providing avenues to marginalised sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments across the developing world are adopting digital technologies to improve the performance of public sector supply chains. However, empirical evidence regarding the impact of these technologies on performance is mixed. In this paper, we evaluate the impact of using biometric authentication (BA) devices on the performance of India's food security program. The program aims to deliver subsidized food grains to nearly 160 million low-income households through approximately 500,000 fair price shops (FPSs). Nearly half of those grains do not reach the beneficiaries and are diverted to the open market for private benefit. We estimate the impact of installing BA devices on reducing diversion in more than 3,300 FPSs in the Indian state of Karnataka between 2013 and 2015 using a difference-in-differences approach. We find that BA devices reduce up to 4% of the current diversion at the last mile. We argue that this relatively low impact is due to the presence of a workaround mechanism which results in imperfect monitoring and validate the decrease in diversion mechanism by estimating the differential impact of BA devices. We complement the empirical analysis with a simulation exercise to estimate the additional value that can be unlocked by using the BA devices. We find that the value of better replenishment planning using sales and inventory information captured by BA devices can be significant. The value of better planning can be as high as six times the value of reduction in diversion, depending on the preintervention levels of demand from genuine beneficiaries and diversion at the FPSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The recent COVID-19 pandemic like situation has killed a large numbers of people and caused havoc across the world. With the aim of providing the COVID-19 related updated information about facilities, availability, utilization of COVID-19 related resources like vaccines, hospitals, beds, oxygen to the people and preventing its surge, many websites were developed for health guidance to the general masses. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to investigate the accessibility and usability of websites providing COVID-19 information in India. METHODS: This study evaluates the 38 websites providing COVID-19 information in India using automated tools. RESULTS: It was found that digital healthcare information is far from accessibility conformance and none of the websites conformed to web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 completely. The website adhered to understandability with average errors of 2.8 while less compliant to perceivability with average errors of 30.5. It was also found that most of the websites were mobile friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]