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Gender disparity is present in many research fields including in Library and Information Science (LIS). This paper studied gender disparity among Indian LIS professionals and measure the intellectual output 20 years. The study reviewed 1,195 publications in the LIS field from 1999 to 2018, determining the gender of the first author. An analysis of the publication list determined the yearly contributions of male and female authors, together with the average distributions, yearly citation rates and other metrics, by gender. Across the whole study period, publications first-authored by men outnumbered those by women. Similarly, overall contributions by men were higher than by women. BM Gupta and M Tripathi were the most prolific male and female authors, respectively. "India" was the most common keyword used by both first author genders. "Bibliometrics", "Digital Library", "Scientometrics", "Academic Libraries", "E-resources" and "web 2.0" were the core research areas of both men and women. When journals were divided into national and international scope, articles by men outnumbered those by women on both levels. However, 65% of the articles published by women were in international journals, compared to 58% of the articles published by men (59% overall), suggesting that the quality of work produced by women was comparable to or higher than the quality of work published by men. Consequently, gender parity in Indian LIS publications may be some way off. As such, further research is required to highlight and mitigate the issues experienced by women in academia in order to increase productivity in the LIS field in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotional intelligence (EI) stands as a crucial factor in promoting mental well-being, and the malleability of intelligence opens avenues for diverse educational interventions. This paper delves into the transformative potential of expressive arts in augmenting EI among higher education students. The study focused on the social work department of a college in Kerala, India, where 164 students were randomly selected from the total departmental enrollment. Among these, 122 actively engaged in expressive arts, while 42 did not participate in such activities. To gauge EI levels, the study employed Schutt's Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test, comparing scores between students engaged in expressive arts and those who were not. The statistical analysis utilized an independent sample t-test, revealing a significant difference in EI measures between the two groups. These findings underscore the impactful role of expressive arts in cultivating emotional intelligence. Based on these outcomes, this paper advocates for the integration of expressive arts into higher education curricula. Such inclusion is proposed not only to foster elevated emotional intelligence but also to fortify students' mental health and enhance academic performance. The study suggests that incorporating expressive arts can contribute substantially to the holistic development of students in higher education settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of human population of any society can be judged through its literacy level. Literacy particularly female literacy plays a significant role in the social advancement and economic development of a region. North East India recorded a low level of female literacy in the past because of its isolated location and social taboo and restriction in female outdoor activities. However in independent India the progress in female literacy is significant. Though there has been progress, the gender gap in literacy was not covering till 2001 which remained wide. In 2011, significant progress in female literacy is observed recording 59.94 percent female literacy as against 68.99 percent male literacy. Besides, significant spatial disparity in respect of female literacy is observed across the region. Among the seven states of the region viz, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, the state Mizoram recorded the highest female literacy rate during the post independence period. Interestingly Mizoram ranked second in both male and female literacy among the states of India as per census of India, 2011. An attempt has been in this paper to analyze the changing pattern of female literacy in all the districts of North East India and the sex disparity in literacy in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the factors that influence the adoption of digital technology in rural areas of India, with a focus on the Digital India Program (DIP). By analyzing the age distribution, education levels, technology adoption rates, and utilization patterns among rural populations, this research provides insights into the effectiveness of the DIP in targeting specific demographics and promoting digital inclusion. Quantitative data were collected from 400 respondents in Kalahandi District in the Odisha state of India. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS. The findings reveal a predominantly young population in rural India, indicating a workforce with significant economic potential and a higher likelihood of embracing digital technologies. Moreover, the study highlights the high levels of education among respondents, indicating a population well-equipped to understand and benefit from digital initiatives. Unexpectedly, the research shows a higher rate of digital technology adoption among female respondents, challenging the perception of gender disparities in technology access. This finding suggests that the DIP has played a vital role in bridging the gender gap and empowering women in rural areas. Additionally, the study uncovers a trend towards mobile-based services over computer-based services, signaling a shift in technology utilization patterns. This emphasizes the need to prioritize mobile technology and improve connectivity in rural areas to ensure wider access to digital platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender inequality in literacy is higher in rural areas compared to urban areas and also in Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) compared to other communities in India. Comprehensive studies across regions and social groups are required to reduce gender inequality in literacy in this country. In this context, the study attempts to analyse the nature of gender gap in rural literacy of Bankura district in West Bengal, India from 1961 to 2011. Gender gap in rural literacy in this district has been assessed using logged gender odds ratios. Time series analysis has also been used to estimate the time period to achieve 100% rural female literacy in this district. During the study period, decline in gender gap in rural literacy has been observed in Bankura district, however, this gap has remained comparatively high in the western part of the district. Expansion of education infrastructure and adequate support towards the girls of agricultural distressed families are essential for reduction in gender gap in rural literacy. Special attention is also required towards the female education in SCs and STs of Bankura district in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital finance can act as a catalyst to promote the growth of financial inclusion. Since 2014, the Indian government has taken various steps to uplift the use of digital finance, one of them is demonetization. It was a major initiative by the government to move society towards cashless economy. In spite of large-scale demonetization overwhelming majority are not using digital finance in India. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the determinants and the impact of demonetization on digital finance and also whether demonetization has enhanced or reduced the pre-existing gender gap in terms of digital finance in case of India. Findings suggest that being a man, richer, more educated and older favours digital technology to avail financial services. The impact of education and income level on use of digital finance are more pronounced in post demonetization period (2017) than pre demonization period (2014). Results on gender gap have strongly proven this fact, but a positive gap still exits, implying women are still lagging behind than men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to study the trends and pattern of household expenditure on education of children, the extent of gender inequality in educational expenditure and the underlying reasons for such gender differences. The study is based on about 1000 sample households drawn from the rural and urban areas of Tamil Nadu. It is observed that there is gender parity at the level of primary education, but pro-male bias exists in secondary and higher education across all economic classes, social groups and regions. Poverty, caste inequalities, illiteracy, and woeful employment status of parents and gender identity of the household head intensifies the problem of gender discrimination. Further, gender differentiated ideologies and socialization processes that transcend all economic classes and social groups explain why even in economically well-off families, girls lag behind boys in access to education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does increasing the number of women in career stages that precede high-level positions affect female representation at the top of the career ladder? State legislature elections narrowly won by female candidates in India are exploited to examine the effect of expanding the pipeline of women in local politics on subsequent female representation and success in national legislature elections. For each additional state legislature election won by a woman, there is a 34 percent increase in the number of female candidates contesting in the subsequent national election, and a 2.6 percentage-point increase in the average vote share won per female candidate. This relationship is driven by new female politicians and not by the progression of female state legislators nor by continued candidacy of previous female candidates for the national legislature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A continuous rise of female life expectancy above that of males among older adults in India and China may give the impression that the relative gender gap in health in these countries is decreasing. However, given the systemic gender bias against older females in these countries across multiple dimensions of health, a fuller understanding of the gender gap in health calls for a multi-dimensional perspective. We estimate a multi-dimensional old-age threshold (MOAT) that specifies different old-age thresholds for female and male populations which accommodates multiple dimensions related to physical, intellectual and general health. We use the MOAT to evaluate the multi-dimensional gender gap in India and China by differencing the MOAT for females with that of males. Females in both countries have a lower MOAT than their male counterparts, indicating an earlier advent of 'old age' for females. The multi-dimensional estimates of the gender gap are also higher than the estimates based on only one dimension of health. A considerable level of variation is also observed in the gender gap across provinces. The study illustrates the need to understand the gender gap in health in India and China from a multi-dimensional perspective and provides an innovative way to quantify such a gap. Province-specific as well as health dimension-specific interventions are vital in reducing the gender gap among older adults in these countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurship is a symbol of business growth and strength which requires competency, skills and knowledge. Researchers from many countries point out gender gap in the choice of entrepreneurship for various socio-economic reasons. This gap in choice of entrepreneurship is wider as compared to gender difference in the labor force participation rates in India. This study has been conducted to investigate whether or not, there is gender differential attitudes in the choice of entrepreneurship as the career option upon completion of graduation among the students of engineering colleges in Indore district of MP in India. In this era of digitalization and technological innovations budding engineers both male and female, have plenty of opportunities for starting entrepreneurship. The study was based on primary data and respondents were selected from undergraduate students (male and female) pursuing engineering education. Both in the public and the private engineering college the statistical test of ANOVA among multiple groups of respondents shows that there is no difference in level of entrepreneurial attitude between male and female students of engineering colleges. The findings of the present study are different from findings of previous studies on gender bias attitude towards entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the disparity in authorship based on gender and nationality of institutional affiliation among journals from developed and developing countries.Materials and Methods: Original articles from two neuroscience journals, with a 5 year impact factor >15 (Neuron and Nature Neuroscience) and from two neurology journals from a developing country (Neurology India and Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology) were categorized by gender and institutional affiliation of first and senior authors. Articles were further divided by the type of research (basic/translational/clinical), study/target population (adult/pediatrics/both) and field of neurology. Data was collected for the years 2002 and 2012.Results: There are large disparities in authorship by women and from developing countries in high impact factor neuroscience journals. However, there was a non-statistical rise in female first and senior authorship over a 10 year period. Additionally there was a significant increase in first authorship from institutions based in developing countries in the two neuroscience journals examined (P < 0.05). In the two neurology journals based in India there was a significant increase in the number of articles published by international investigators between 2002 and 2012 (P < 0.05).Conclusions: Over the last decade, there has been a non-statistical increase in proportion of female first and senior authors, and a significant increase in authors from developing countries in high impact factor neuroscience journals. However they continue to constitute a minority. The disparity in authorship based on gender also exists in neurology journals based in a developing country (India). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality in Indian population with control approach of varied kind which the health system of the country needs to prioritize. The tobacco related cancer which account for major share of all the cancers could be largely controlled through primary prevention a strategy effective in terms of resources hence take priority in terms of cancer control activities. It would be worthwhile to study the cancer of sites and relative magnitude of the cancers which are tobacco related and are amenable for prevention. Materials and Methods: The age specific cancer incidence rates of cancer as available from the consolidated reports of the National Cancer Registry Program of Indian Council of Medical Research for the years 1990-96 an 2001-04 were utilized for computing proportion of tobacco related cancers which included population based cancer registries at Bangalore, Bhopal, Barshi a rural registry in Maharashtra, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai. As defined cancer of the sites oral cavity, lip, tongue, oropharynx, hypopharnx, pharynx, oesophagus, larynx, lung, urinary bladder were considered as tobacco related cancers. The statistical evaluation of proportion of tobacco related cancers between two time periods under consideration was carried out by proportion test. Results: There was a significant decline of proportion of tobacco related cancers from 1990-96 to 2003 for all the registries except Bhopal where around 50% of the total cancers attributed to tobacco habits for the two time periods under consideration. The Barshi also reported a decline but was not statistically significant. In females the proportion of tobacco related cancers ranged between 17% in Bangalore 10% in Delhi for the two time periods under review. All the registries showed significant decline in proportion of tobacco related cancers for the periods under consideration, except Delhi and Bhopal, while rural registry at Barshi revealed an increase of 3.3 %. The gender difference of the proportion of tobacco related cancers ranges between 19.8% to 34% during the period 1990-96, while it was 18.5% to 35% for the period 2001-03. While examining the difference between gender gap between the two time periods, the results from Mumbai registry revealed significant decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]