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Teacher identity can serve as an important lens to examine the way teachers traverse the various demands made of them by policymakers and stakeholders in the school system, with their own perspectives of self and their work. Official narratives and curriculum documents lead to the construction of a public identity and what it means to be a 'good teacher' in a broad and generic sense. However, much less attention is paid to teachers' biographical accounts of their professional identity, from a stance as practitioners of a specific subject, and their lived experiences, thereof. This article reports on a qualitative study undertaken as a pilot project for a doctoral dissertation, where six social science teachers from Mumbai and Bangalore, participated in three online focus group discussions. The framework used to analyse the data is Goffman's dramaturgical theory of impression management. Findings reveal that social science teachers present their professional identity using reified expressions of competence, idealise social science as a subject, and seek validation of their status as teachers of a nonutility subject. These are discussed in the context of recently proposed educational reforms in India, with the recommendation that policymakers must take cognizance of this fragile sense of subject identity and an acute sense of disempowerment facing social science teachers, who are not averse to accountability measures per se, to enhance their standing.

Intellectual disability in India is substantially under-reported, especially amongst females. This study quantifies the prevalence and gender bias in household reporting of intellectual disability by estimating the age-and-gender specific prevalence of the intellectually disabled by education, Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) score, place of residence, (rural/urban) and income of household head. We estimated prevalence (per 100,000) at 179 (95% CI: 173 to 185) for males and 120 (95% CI: 115 to 125) for females. Gender differences declined sharply with increased education, was higher for lower ages and low income and varied little by state development. Under-identification and under-reporting due to stigma are two plausible reasons for the gender differences in prevalence that increase with age.

Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) facilitate competency-based assessments. India is on the verge of implementing competency-based training for postgraduate programs. MD degree in Biochemistry is a unique program available exclusively in India. Postgraduate programs in most specialties have started working toward EPA-based curriculum, in both India and other countries. However, EPAs for MD Biochemistry course are yet to be defined. This study aims to identify EPAs for postgraduate training program in Biochemistry. Identification and attaining consensus on the list of EPAs for MD Biochemistry curriculum was done by modified Delphi method. The study was conducted in three rounds. In round 1, tasks expected from an MD Biochemistry graduate were identified by working group followed by expert panel validation. The tasks were organized and reframed to EPAs. Two rounds of online survey were conducted to achieve a consensus on the list of EPAs. Consensus measure was calculated. A cut-off value of 80% and above was considered to reflect good consensus. The working group identified 59 tasks. This was validated by 10 experts based on which, 53 items were retained. These tasks were reframed into 27 EPAs. In round 2, 11 EPAs achieved good consensus. Among the remaining EPAs, 13 achieved consensus of 60%-80% and were selected for round 3. Five EPAs achieved good consensus in this round. A total of 16 EPAs were identified for MD Biochemistry curriculum. This study provides a frame of reference for experts to develop an EPA-based curriculum in the future.

Mathematics education in India is offered in one of the 22 officially recognized state languages or in English even though there are at least 270 languages with more than 10,000 speakers each. Caste, a deep-rooted structure that stratifies Indian society, is integrally linked to shaping state languages. There is minimal research from India that looks at language and mathematics education and practically none that factors in caste. Focusing on Tamil Nadu, a state with a history of anti-caste movement on the one hand and pure Tamil movement (a movement that sought to create a Tamil language with no words from other languages) on the other, this conceptual paper seeks to explore this dimension. More specifically, by using caste as an analytical framework, and by drawing on examples from the mathematics textbooks published by the Tamil Nadu State Board of Education and the experience of a few teachers and learners, the paper seeks to make a theoretical argument that the use of pure Tamil in mathematics textbooks has negative implication for socio-culturally and economically marginalized students who are solely dependent on textbooks as the only source for learning mathematics. There is a strong need for carrying out empirical work that would highlight the nuances and complexities involved in realizing 'mother tongue' education in mathematics, particularly for those who belong to marginalized caste-class backgrounds, and we hope that such work would emerge in the future.

Purpose: Circular economy has emerged as one of the most important approaches to addressing environmental challenges. Organizations have begun to act on their abilities to enhance their sustainability management to enable a circular economy. The role of organizational learning and green human resource management in the transition to a more circular economy remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the inter-relationship between the factors of organizational learning and green human resource management, and it aims to rank the identified factors of manufacturing small and medium businesses (SMEs) based on their driving and dependency power and to detect the most substantial factors. Design/methodology/approach: This study identified 11 organizational learning and green human resource management (GHRM) factors after conducting a thorough literature analysis and consulting with experts. To investigate the interaction of the indicated factors and to build their structural hierarchy, this study used the total interpretive structural modeling method. Further, Matriced Impact Croises Multiplication Applique (MICMAC) analysis was used to establish each factor's driving and dependent power. Findings: This study discovered that factors "Green separation" and "Organizational learning culture" were found to be significant; "Green performance management" and "Green health and safety management" were observed to be extremely reliant on the remaining GHRM factors. Research limitations/implications: The recommended framework has been established in the Indian background and is restricted to manufacturing SMEs. Still, the same framework can be applied to other sectors by slightly modifying it. Also, the analysis is based on the experts' view and this may be biased. The findings of this study will help human resources managers and SME owner-managers clarify the most and least significant factors of organizational learning and GHRM and their relationships, leading to increased awareness of organizational learning and GHRM practices for enlightened environmental performance. Practical implications: The proposed framework might facilitate decision-makers and practitioners to comprehend the relations between organizational learning and GHRM factors. This will support SME owner-managers in understanding the influence of one factor on another factor in manufacturing SMEs. Originality/value: Until now, the protruding interest of researchers has been focused mostly on large manufacturing enterprises. However, manufacturing SMEs, which are much smaller when compared to large manufacturing companies, significantly contribute to the economy as well as environmental pollution. Thus, this study provides a vital contribution to the current literature by determining the suitable relationship between the organizational learning and GHRM components, as no previous studies focused on exploring the same using the total interpretive structural modeling approach in the Indian manufacturing SMEs environment. [For Part I, see EJ1354692.]

Purpose: The goal of this research is to create a conceptual model that identifies the relationship between organizational learning and green human resource management practices and its contribution to the circular economy. The focus of this research is to identify the organizational learning and green human resource factors that lead to a more circular economic transformation. Design/methodology/approach: The importance of the interaction of factors benefiting both individuals and organizations has been comprehensively explained by combining two well-known theories: resource-based view theory and organizational learning theory. As learning entails change, a climate of organizational learning combined with green human resource practices will efficiently help firms transition to a circular economy. The authors establish a conceptual model in this study, which they then apply to the small- and medium-sized manufacturing industry and report on in the second paper. Findings: This study concentrates on the factors of organizational learning and green human resource management practices that help to create a circular economy after conducting a thorough literature analysis and consulting with experts. Research limitations/implications: The conceptual model can be applied to organizations in any industry. In the second part, the authors would investigate the interaction of the indicated factors and build their structural hierarchy using the total interpretive structural modelling method for the small- and medium-sized industries and then present the findings. Practical implications: The proposed framework might facilitate decision-makers, practitioners and academicians to comprehend the relationship between organizational learning and green human resource management factors and their influence on organizations' transition into a circular economy. The study's findings will help HR managers clarify the significant organizational learning and green human resource management factors that play a vital role in transitioning organizations into a circular economy. Originality/value: This research adds to our understanding of the intricate interactions between organizational learning and green human resource management as they relate to the circular economy. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the conceptual model illustrating the inter-relationship between organizational learning and green human resource management is the first of its type, and it is a novel notion because no previous research has looked into it. [For Part II, see EJ1354693.]

Over the past decade the Teach for India (TFI) organisation has emerged as a prominent non-governmental organisation (NGO) involved in Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) with ailing urban municipal government bodies across select cities in India. An off-shoot of the Teach for America (TFA) programme, TFI aims to improve quality of education in under-resourced municipal government schools through English medium education. Through in-depth interviews with members associated with TFI, some municipal school teachers and information accessed through Right to Information (RTI) applications, this article delineates the modalities of the PPP arrangement within municipal schools in Delhi. It examines how the intervention is institutionalising parallel governance structures, accentuating class-based tensions and exacerbating pedagogical inequities within these long-neglected schools.

Teacher identity can serve as an important lens to examine the way teachers traverse the various demands made of them by policymakers and stakeholders in the school system, with their own perspectives of self and their work. Official narratives and curriculum documents lead to the construction of a public identity and what it means to be a 'good teacher' in a broad and generic sense. However, much less attention is paid to teachers' biographical accounts of their professional identity, from a stance as practitioners of a specific subject, and their lived experiences, thereof. This article reports on a qualitative study undertaken as a pilot project for a doctoral dissertation, where six social science teachers from Mumbai and Bangalore, participated in three online focus group discussions. The framework used to analyse the data is Goffman's dramaturgical theory of impression management. Findings reveal that social science teachers present their professional identity using reified expressions of competence, idealise social science as a subject, and seek validation of their status as teachers of a nonutility subject. These are discussed in the context of recently proposed educational reforms in India, with the recommendation that policymakers must take cognizance of this fragile sense of subject identity and an acute sense of disempowerment facing social science teachers, who are not averse to accountability measures per se, to enhance their standing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Teach for India (TFI) programme, an important offshoot of the Teach for All/Teach for America global education network, began as a public-private partnership in 2009 in poorly functioning municipal schools in Pune and Mumbai. Like its American counterpart, the programme in India has similar ideas of reform and recruits college graduates and young professionals to serve as teachers in under-resourced government schools and low-cost private schools as part of a two-year fellowship. Over the past 7 years, the organisation has expanded its reach to five other cities in the country--Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad--and is emerging as a focal point in a growing network of urban not-for-profit organisations seeking to infuse new logics of reform in municipal school administrative bodies. This article situates the emergence of the TFI programme in the Indian context and maps its links to local, national and global actors and organisations using Social Network Analysis (SNA). Through the use of SNA, the article highlights the growing network of non-state institutions in metro cities, most notably Mumbai and Delhi, which are playing a key role in school reform focusing on school management, school leadership, advocacy and teacher training.

An experiment was conducted at Kasaragod, Kerala, India for six years to study the impact of different coconut harvesting treatments on growth, yield and return. The treatments were; harvesting tender nuts from January to June and mature nuts from July to December, harvesting tender nuts from July to December and mature nuts from January to June, harvesting tender nuts throughout the year, harvesting tender nuts in alternate years, harvesting alternate bunches for tender nuts and harvesting of mature nuts throughout the year. The results showed that palms that underwent tender nut harvesting throughout the year, compared with harvesting mature nuts throughout the year, recorded high yields (175 nuts/palm), three times high net returns, and 68.7% high energy use efficiency. This study demonstrated the potential of harvesting tender nuts to improve the profitability and energy balance of coconut production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on the concept of Improv games as a promising mechanism and design principle for enhancing an organization's capacity for learning and adaptability. The study explores how Improv games can be used to create a mindset conducive to change, facilitate ideation and guide discussions on bringing about systemic change. In the case study that forms the basis of the paper, Improv games were found to be particularly useful in helping participants to identify and confront their anxieties with respect to accepting and implementing change. Further, instead of being dismissed or criticized, their concerns could be creatively deployed in a realistic assessment of the action plans they had drawn up for implementing change. The paper demonstrates the technique of the games and how they can be integrated into change management programmes, and summarizes the benefits of the practice.

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) recently reported that the world's population is shifting to its cities. India is no exception. Throughout the country, an increasing number of migrants are leaving agricultural lifestyles in search of economic and educational opportunities, often relocating to non-notified slums. Despite the fact that many families move in search of better schools, in reality, children living in non-notified slums lack access to high-quality early childhood educational opportunities, a situation that can disadvantage them throughout their lives. This paper describes an intervention implemented in an Indian non-notified slum in which local residents were recruited to run preschools. The authors reflect upon initial data that both elucidate the challenges associated with serving transitory early childhood populations and suggest that the programme shows promise as a scalable model appropriate for addressing them.

In this paper, situated in the context of elementary and secondary school mathematics curriculum in India, I argue that centrally determined uniform curriculum would have very little to offer a large majority of students in a country that is diverse in many ways.

In this paper we follow a lead provided by Basu and Basu ["The Greying of Populations: Concepts and Measurement," Demography India 16, pp. 79-89], in order to advance a class of "agedness" indices which, because they have been motivated by analogous considerations in the poverty measurement literature, can find application in that area of enquiry as well. The properties of the proposed indices are discussed, and illustrations of empirical application are provided. The note is intended as a contribution to the larger enquiry into the measurement of development indicators.

Autonomic imbalance is attributed as key mechanism altering metabolic regulation in diabetes mellitus. In view of controversial reports on autonomic function in FDRD and prediabetes, we aimed to assess and compare the autonomic function across the complete glycaemic spectrum in Indian population. Short term heart rate variability and cardiac autonomic reactivity tests – blood pressure and heart rate response to orthostatic tolerance and deep breathing exercise, and diastolic response to isometric handgrip exercise were recorded in normoglycemic apparently healthy individual, normoglycemic first degree relatives of diabetes, prediabetes and diabetes individuals. Resting heart rate is significantly higher in FDRD, prediabetes and diabetes as compared to controls (control < FDRD = prediabetes = diabetes). Total power, LF power (control < FDRD < prediabetes = diabetes) and HF power (control < FDRD < prediabetes < diabetes) decreased along the glycaemic spectrum. Time-domain variables of HRV (SDNN, RMSSD, NN50, pNN50) were reduced as we move along the glycaemic spectrum (control < FDRD < prediabetes = diabetes). Cardiac autonomic function reactivity parameters such as 30:15 ratio and E:I ratio are decreased in prediabetes and diabetes group as compared to control and FDRD group (control = FDRD < prediabetes = diabetes). Diastolic response to isometric hand grip increases along the glycaemic spectrum starting from FDRD (control < FDRD < prediabetes = diabetes). Autonomic dysfunction is observed even in first degree relatives of diabetes. Autonomic dysfunction increases as we move along the glycaemic spectrum (control < FDRD < prediabetes < diabetes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the making of the discourse on indigenous banking in colonial India, which was linked to the transformation of the Indian economy and involved the repositioning of indigenous banking and the brokerage business. The rationale underlying indigenous histories of capital and custom was based on the ideas of public good and trust, which could bridge the gap between regulation and law on the one hand and informal practices and custom on the other. This article examines a range of writings and histories composed in both English and vernacular languages by the colonial state and its subjects in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, which were concerned with defining and delegitimising or supporting indigenous banking, to revisit the conceptualisation of commerce and banking as a public good and subsequently retell the story of indigenous banking in colonial India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cow, Bos taurus , and female buffalo, Bubalus bubalis, are considered sacred animals that are a part of rural livelihood in India. The purity of products from these bovine species has significant sentimental implications in the dairy and meat industry. Therefore, the mitochondrial DNA and the sex origin, targeting the X and Y chromosomes from these bovine species, were selected to design three multiplex real-time probe PCR assays: Hi-PCR® Cow Detection Kit (MBPCR184), Hi-PCR® Buffalo Detection Kit (MBPCR185) and Hi-PCR® Cattle Sex Determination Kit (MBPCR186). Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) guidelines were followed to perform different studies using reference control DNAs. An Internal Reagent Control (IRC) was part of every assay, thus ensuring a successful reaction. The assays were 100% specific, with no cross-amplification of the two bovine species. The amplification of the X chromosomal target was observed for male and female DNAs, whereas Y chromosome amplification was observed only for the male DNA. The assays were 100% specific to the target genes in these organisms with no non-specificity towards any other targets or organisms. The limit of detection for sex determination was 0.01 ng/µl, whereas the differential capability of the assay was 3 copies/µl and 30 copies/µl for Bos taurus and Bubalus bubalis , respectively. The assays were reproducible at 1 ng/µl genomic DNA with 95% CI. The assays are open and compatible with other brands of Real-Time PCR systems used in forensic labs. The experiments presented here verify that the developed real-time PCR assays are robust, produce reliable and reproducible results for detection and differentiation of Bos taurus and Bubalus bubalis and their sex even at low DNA concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cinematic response in India to social justice movements, even when aimed at rectifying communal violence and tensions, reifies entrenched orders separating Hindu from Muslim, citizen from the 'Other,' native from the diasporic. To the polyphony of films focused on interfaith love, a recent indie film adds a new 'look'. Narasimhamurthy Padmakumar's, A Billion Colour Story (2016) focalizes on a child's point of view in a black and white filmic narration to dismantle old hatreds and re-ignite love of culture and nation for the very diversity that has become pixelated, walled, entombed and reactionary. More like Nollywood in its reliance on a smaller budget, a do-it-yourself chutzpah and decolonial vision, the story revolves around a child, Hari Aziz, who becomes the instrumental force behind rendering his parents' dream true of making a film about their beloved nation, its teeming diversity, and its border-crossing love. The director, Padmakumar, addresses a host of current crises faced by those living in the shadow of Late Capital, culturally steeped patriarchies, and right-wing Hindu fundamentalism, while pointing to the billion colours that make up this teeming 'democracy' that might make its most significant issues clear in the binary of black and white. A close reading of this film reveals its decentering and decolonizing of hegemonic notions of nation, gender, class, and religion,-and of the hegemony of the Bollywood Gaze that dictates who will love whom, to what degree, at what costs, and to what end. What Narasimhamurthy Padmakumar provides in the diegesis, alongside the love story of a Muslim man and his Hindu wife, and the 'product' of their love, a child, is a film that encapsulates their 'looking' at the world. However, his looking leaves a lot to be desired on two registers: his looking does not see the active youth-led contestations taking place on the ground against the Hindu-led political hegemony and his looking refuses to call out the culprit, the excesses of violence performed by the nation-state and its Hindutva brigade against its minoritized 'Muslim' and othered subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the efficacy of gabapentin in the treatment of low back pain patients. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted over 6 months to assess the efficacy of gabapentin in patients suffering from low back pain. Past medical history, pain severity by Visual Analogue scale (VAS) and sleep quality by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PQSI) were collected. VAS scores and PQSI scores before and after gabapentin treatment were compared, and gabapentin satisfaction post treatment were recorded. Results: This study included 100 low back pain patients with 65 males and 35 females, and the mean age was (39.0±10.5) years. The commonest presentation was non-radiating low back pain (40%). The mean VAS score and the mean PQSI score in the study before treatment were 7.70±1.91 and 10.95±5.02, respectively. After treatment with gabapentin, the mean VAS score and the mean PQSI score decreased to 2.75±1.79 and 4.90±2.20, respectively, and the differences before and after the treatment were significantly different (both P=0.001). Overall, 62% of the patients were extremely satisfied with gabapentin because they reported no adverse drug reaction. Besides, 31% of the patients were satisfied and 7%were strongly dissatisfied with the therapy. Conclusion: Gabapentin can improve sleep quality and reduce lower back pain as measured by the VAS and PQSI. The efficacy of this drug is relatively good, but further improvement is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality in India. Residual risk exists in patients receiving optimal guideline-directed medical therapy. Possession of certain somatic mutations, at a variant allele frequency of ≥ 2% in peripheral blood, driving clonal expansion in the absence of cytopenias and dysplastic hematopoiesis is defined as clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP). Recently, it was found that carriers of CHIP had a higher risk to have coronary artery disease (CAD) and early-onset myocardial infarction. Association of CHIP with heart failure and valvular heart diseases is increasingly being considered. The common link that connects CHIP mutations and CVDs is inflammation leading to increased expression of cytokines and chemokines. We intended to do a systematic review about the association of CHIP mutations and CVD along with identifying specific CHIP mutations involved in increasing the risk of having CVDs. We performed an extensive literature search in PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Out of 302 articles, we narrowed it down to 10 studies based on our pre-specified criteria. The methodology adopted for the identification of CHIP mutations in the selected studies included – whole-exome sequencing (n = 3), whole-genome analysis (n = 1), transcriptome profiling analysis (n = 1), whole-genome analysis (n = 1), and single-cell RNA-sequencing (n = 1). We found that the available literature suggested an association between CHIP and CVD. The most commonly described CHIP mutations in patients with CVD are DNMT3A, TET2, ASXL1, TP53, JAK2, and SF3B. We further analyzed the commonly mutated CHIP genes using bioinformatics tools. Protein function and interaction analysis were performed using the g: Profiler and GeneMANIA online tools. The results revealed significant bio grid interactions for molecular functions, biological processes, and biological pathways. Interaction analysis showed significant physical and co-expression interactions. Short conclusion: We conclude that there exists a significant association between CHIP mutations and CVD with DNMT3A, TET2, ASXL1, TP53, JAK2, and SF3B as the commonly implicated genes. The recognition of the link between CHIP and cardiovascular events will expand our understanding of residual risk and will open up new avenues of investigation and therapeutic modalities in the management of patients with CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 16 Jan 2021, India launched its immunization program against COVID-19. Among the first recipients were 1.59 million Health Care Workers (HCWs) and Frontline Workers (FLWs) of the Indian Armed Forces, who were administered COVISHIELD (Astra Zeneca). We present an interim analysis of vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates till 30 May 2021. The VIN-WIN cohort study was carried out on anonymized data of HCWs and FLWs of Indian Armed Forces. The existing surveillance system, enhanced for COVID-19 monitoring, was sourced for data. The cohort transitioned from Unvaccinated (UV) to Partially Vaccinated (PV) to Fully Vaccinated (FV), serving as its own internal comparison. Outcomes studied in the three groups were breakthrough infections and COVID related deaths. Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) was used to compare outcomes among the three groups to estimate VE. Data of 1,595,630 individuals (mean age 27.6 years; 99% male) over 135 days was analysed. Till 30 May 21, 95.4% and 82.2% were partially and fully vaccinated. The UV, PV and FV compartments comprised 106.6, 46.7 and 58.7 million person-days respectively. The number of breakthrough cases in the UV, PV and FV groups were 10061, 1159 and 2512; while the deaths were 37, 16 and 7 respectively. Corrected VE was 91.8–94.9% against infections. Interim results of the VIN-WIN cohort study of 1.59 million HCWs and FLWs of Indian Armed Forces showed a ∼93% reduction in COVID-19 breakthrough infections with COVISHIELD vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in the gut, gill, and muscle of edible fish Stolephorus indicus sampled from Tuticorin coastal regions of Tamilnadu, India was investigated. We recorded a total of 689 MPs which includes 510 and 179 MPs from males and females respectively. The total abundance of MPs was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the gut followed by gills and muscle. The sex-wise distribution of average MPs showed high in the females' gut and compared to that in males. Further, the length wise distribution of MPs was higher in the muscle in both male and female fish, followed by other organs. The predominance of MPs in tissues were transparent and blue colour with fibers and fragments in both males and females. Besides, polyethylene terephthalate and nylon were evidenced by the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy spectrum in all organs of fishes. • Microplastics (MPs) in the gut, gills, and muscle of Stolephorus indicus was recorded. • Females had a high abundance of MPs in the gut compared to males. • Mean lengths of MPs were high in the muscles of both male and female fishes. • Polyethylene terephthalate and nylon were identified in all organs of fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A twenty-four month long observational study conducted in an Asia's largest brackish water ecosystem, Chilika Lagoon, India, aimed to unravel dissolved organic matter (DOM) dynamics in this tropical brackish water ecosystem. The study assessed the interplay between allochthonous and autochthonous DOM sources during lean and active flow periods based on regional rainfall. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrogen (DON), and phosphorus (DOP) fluxes were analyzed, considering catchment runoff, phytoplankton production, benthic-pelagic interactions, and sea-lagoon exchanges as contributors. Contrary to conventional thinking, the study found autochthonous processes to be more significant than conservative mixing in shaping DOM dynamics. It introduced a novel conceptual model illustrating the multifaceted origins of DOM, encompassing catchment runoff, phytoplankton, benthic-pelagic interactions, bacterial activity, and sea-lagoon exchanges. These findings underscore the importance of holistic management strategies for Chilika Lagoon to preserve its ecological health, given its vital role in global carbon cycling, fisheries, and aquaculture. [Display omitted] • Results revealed a significant variations in DOM stoichiometry over time. • Sizeable seasonal shifts in benthic DOC fluxes for weedy and non-weedy environment. • Prevalence of autochthonous processes favoured DON and DOP mineralization over DOC. • DOC affected by catchment, phytoplankton, benthic-pelagic, bacteria, and sea exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lobsters are one of the premium ocean resources and a highly sought-after seafood commodity globally. The increasing demand for spiny lobsters in both domestic and international markets has led to a growing interest in mariculture as a means of meeting demand. Capture-based mariculture (CBM) by the coastal communities is the only way to cater the existing demand. However, there is scant published information and continued ambiguity on the viability of spiny lobster aquaculture in the Indian subcontinent and a similar gap exists in countries engaged in lobster fattening. Thus, to bridge the gap between the viability information and CBM stakeholders, we examined the profitability and economic performance of mud spiny lobster, Panulirus polyphagus , production in open sea farming systems, specifically sea cages. Our analysis focused on economic indicators such as input costs and return value. We found that the estimated annual revenue for a single operation was USD $3605.04, with an internal rate of return (IRR) of 33% and a net present value (NPV) of USD $1226.17, demonstrating profitability. Despite this, certain bottlenecks such as limited seedstock and feed availability and cost concerns, disease management issues, regulatory complexities, market demand fluctuations limit the expansion of the industry beyond a certain threshold. This study provides useful information for enterprise building and developing better strategies for building food security and supporting traditional communities-oriented commercial lobster farming in India, and potentially in other lobster farming nations as well. • Growing demand for spiny lobsters drives interest in mariculture as a solution. • The revisited economic indicators showed annual revenue of USD $ 3605.04 with net profit USD $ 1226.17. • Wild seed limitations for larger-scale mariculture impede business growth. • Lobster marine cage farming shows potential for profitability and sustainable livelihood. • Study bridges technological gap between the economic sustainability of lobster farming and stakeholder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rise of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in India, lockdown was imposed from March 25, 2020. We studied post-lockdown scenarios and evaluated health-care constraints. Our aim was to identify the scenarios in which health-care availability would not be overwhelmed. A modified compartmental SEIR stochastic model was used to calculate peak cases at various levels of effectiveness of prevention of transmission. Health-care constraints were evaluated using a Delphi study. We developed "q-metric" to evaluate the epidemic. Key constraints were matched against scenarios generated, and a monitoring mechanism was devised. Continuing lockdown ("q-metric" of >50) until mid-August was theoretically the most effective solution to end the epidemic. Lockdown might however be lifted earlier owing to various compulsions. The key constraints were identified as trained manpower and ventilators. It was estimated that shortfall of specialists to operate ventilators for COVID-19 intensive care units was approximately 40,000. This requires re-purposing of other specialists and short-term training to meet the surge. The shortage of ventilators is around 40,000–50,000. Procuring beyond those numbers would be infructuous owing to limits of training manpower. After lifting lockdown, the aim should be to contain the epidemic within the availability of key constraints. Our model suggests that this can be achieved by community containment and other non-pharmacological interventions at a "q-metric" of 19. An algorithm using "q-metric" was developed to monitor the epidemic. Various post-lockdown scenarios were simulated. Trained manpower and ventilators were identified as key health-care constraints. Partial community containment measures will require to be continued after the current lockdown is lifted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, the SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 epidemic has grown to 1251 cases and 32 deaths as on 30 Mar 2020. The healthcare impact of the epidemic in India was studied using a stochastic mathematical model. A compartmental SEIR model was developed, in which the flow of individuals through compartments is modeled using a set of differential equations. Different scenarios were modeled with 1000 runs of Monte Carlo simulation each using MATLAB. Hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) requirements, and deaths were modeled on SimVoi software. The impact of nonpharmacological interventions (NPIs) including social distancing and lockdown on checking the epidemic was estimated. Uninterrupted epidemic in India would have resulted in more than 364 million cases and 1.56 million deaths with peak by mid-July. As per the model, at current growth rate of 1.15, India is likely to reach approximately 3 million cases by 25 May, implying 125,455 (±18,034) hospitalizations, 26,130 (±3298) ICU admissions, and 13,447 (±1819) deaths. This would overwhelm India's healthcare system. The model shows that with immediate institution of NPIs, the epidemic might still be checked by mid-April 2020. It would then result in 241,974 (±33,735) total infections, 10,214 (±1649) hospitalizations, 2121 (±334) ICU admissions, and 1081 (±169) deaths. At the current growth rate of epidemic, India's healthcare resources will be overwhelmed by the end of May. With the immediate institution of NPIs, total cases, hospitalizations, ICU requirements, and deaths can be reduced by almost 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Indian ROS studied lack amenities with accessibility and usability features for elderly. • SEM was undertaken with primary survey data of 51 ROS across three Indian cities. • Positive impact of age specific amenities and universal design on ROS attractiveness for elderly. • Vital to integrate universal design in Indian ROS for diverse people with multiple capabilities. Abstract Many studies have highlighted the numerous benefits of access to inclusive public open spaces globally, focusing on various age groups. However, there exists a knowledge gap in understanding the needs of elderly users of urban Indian recreational open spaces that impact their usage behaviour, specifically regarding design and amenities provision. This study assesses the perceived accessibility and usability of an open space as an effect of its design features and tests it for the quality and availability of the age-specific amenities provided. A study of 51 recreational open spaces across three Indian cities of Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai was undertaken to evaluate their performance and age appropriateness, using multivariate analysis methods for derived empirical evidences. The findings indicate a considerable deficit in basic entry convenience and movement in public open spaces for people with movement difficulties and the shortfall of age-specific amenities. The outcome of the study highlighted the high positive impact of amenities provision and universal design features of a recreational open space on the perceived 'Attractiveness' of the open space, causing greater usage by the elderly. Backed with supporting empirical evidences, incorporation of universal design with barrier-free concepts while designing and developing recreational open spaces is strongly recommended for the Indian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Odoiporus longicollis is a threatening pest found among the majority of banana plantations in India. This study was conducted using kairomones to determine a strategy for controlling the infestation by this pest. The kairomones were isolated by fractionation of headspace volatiles obtained from a highly preferable host, Poovan, and identified as fatty acid derivatives of Tetradecanoic acid and Hexadecanoic acid, which induced more response in female than male pests. 9-Octadecenal is a female-specific volatile and attracts male weevils for the performance of reproduction. Results showed that the host plant volatiles act as kairomones, and behavioral responses in male weevils to 9-Octadecenal, Hexadecanoic acid, and Tetradecanoic acid were recorded as 72.5%, 70%, and 67.5% of attraction, with the average time required to reach the target being 1.48, 1.57, and 2.36 min, respectively. Male and female weevils also exhibited responses of 60%, 55%, 50%, and 47.5% to Nonanal, Ethyl-4-ethoxy benzoate, 2-Decenal, and β-Ocimene, respectively, with the average time to reach the target being 3.10, 2.18, 3.02, and 3.47 min, respectively, for the attraction of the weevil, and it had significantly more attractant (p < 0.01). To improve the activity, the volatile blends were mixed in different proportions, which exhibited 77.5% of attraction. A vulnerable host was used as a reference for evaluating which volatile displayed a more attractant property to female weevils for feeding and oviposition; similarly, male weevils were used for attraction to their conspecific females for fecundity development. The semiochemicals characterized in this study could be used as a trap to collect male and female O. longicollis weevils, which could help prevent the development of this pest in banana plantations. Highlights • Selection of a highly susceptible host to the banana pseudostem weevil Odoiporus longicollis based on screening. • Plant kairomones extracted from this preferable host by headspace volatile collection and characterized by GC-MS. • Identification and evaluation of synthetic kairomones by GC-EAD and wind tunnel bioassay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioavailable dissolved organic carbon (B DOC ), nitrogen (B DON ) and their degradation rate constants were measured for the Chilika Lagoon, India. Long-term laboratory incubation experiments (90 days) were conducted at a constant temperature (25 °C) to quantify the bioavailable dissolved organic matter (DOM) and the possible degradation rate coefficients. The results showed that 41 ± 12% of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and 47 ± 17% of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) were B DOC and B DON respectively, with their stoichiometry found to be higher than the Redfield ratio. A first order exponential non-linear fitting routine was used to estimate pool sizes. The degradation rate constant (k) for the B DOC varied from 0.127–0.329 d −1 and B DON from 0.043–0.306 d −1 during the study period. Half-lives of the B DOC and B DON ranged from 2.1–5.4 and 2.2–15.9 days, respectively. Overall, the results showed that a fraction of the labile DON was transported from the lagoon to the adjacent coastal sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About 85% of petroleum oil need of India is being met through imports. Indian economy is growing steadily resulting in rapid increase of vehicular population and demand for transportation fuels. Indian Government has already mandated blending of ethanol in gasoline by 10% to reduce the oil import. Bureau of Indian Standards is finalizing the specification of 20% ethanol blended gasoline for use as vehicular fuel. In this context, this review presents the current and future scenario of Indian transportation, petroleum oil and bio-fuel sectors including global progress on utilization of ethanol as an alternative transportation fuel in spark ignition vehicles. The data from various standard reference sources were compiled, analyzed and is presented. The review indicates that the gasoline demand would be around 44 billion liters by the year 2020 and India has a potential to produce ethanol to the tune of 30 billion liters per annum in addition to existing capacity. Apart from augmenting production of first generation ethanol, the second generation ligno-cellulosic ethanol and thermo-chemical conversion of carbon-rich agricultural/petroleum residues are seen as alternative options. The potential of such alternative feed stocks and ethanol conversion technologies need to be exploited to increase ethanol availability for blending. The review indicates that ethanol is most suitable fuel for spark ignition engines due to its higher octane number. Ethanol blending reduces sulphur, aromatics, olefin and benzene content in gasoline and can reduce vehicular emissions such as hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the physiological characteristics of crab egg mass ( Portunus sanguinolentus) crude extract. Methods: Assays were followed by standard methods. Results: A maximum of 256 hemolytic units (HU) and a minimum of 128 HU were found in chicken and goat erythrocytes. In an antimicrobial assay, Salmonella paratyphi and Aspergillus niger showed most susceptibility (8.0 mm and 13.0 mm) against n-butanol extracts. In the tail flick method, 5.33±0.19* AR the maximum analgesic response was recorded 30 min after the administration of crude extract (150 mg kg-1). In the hot plate method, 5.13±0.13* AR maximum paw licking was recorded 15 min after the administration of crude extract (150 mg kg-1). In an anti-inflammatory assay, 0.31±0.23* anti-inflammatory response and inhibition of paw edema 39.22% were observed 1 h after the administration of crude extract (250 mg kg-1). Primary structural groups gained through Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) analysis peaks were observed and assigned as amide groups I (1517.81-1633.12 cm-1), II (1446.58-1517.81 cm-1) and III (1342.47-1406.85 cm-1). Conclusions: The results indicate that crab egg masses have remarkable antimicrobial, hemolytic and cytotoxic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The objective of the present study was to isolate halotolerant bacteria from the sediment sample collected from Marakanam Solar Salterns, Tamil Nadu, India using NaCl supplemented media and screened for amylase production. Among the 22 isolates recovered, two strains that had immense potential were selected for amylase production and designated as P1 and P2. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that P1 and P2 have highest homology with Pontibacillus chungwhensis (99%) and Bacillus barbaricus (100%). Their amylase activity was optimized to obtain high yield under various temperature, pH and NaCl concentration. P1 and P2 strain showed respective, amylase activity maximum at 35°C and 40°C; pH 7.0 and 8.0; 1.5M and 1.0M NaCl concentration. Further under optimized conditions, the amylase activity of P1 strain (49.6U mL−1) was higher than P2 strain. Therefore, the amylase enzyme isolated from P. chungwhensis P1 was immobilized in sodium alginate beads. Compared to the free enzyme form (49.6U mL−1), the immobilized enzyme showed higher amylase activity as 90.3U mL−1. The enzyme was further purified partially and the molecular mass was determined as 40kDa by SDS–PAGE. Thus, high activity of amylase even under increased NaCl concentration would render immense benefits in food processing industries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To isolate antibacterial potential of sponge endosymbiotic bacteria from marine sponges at Lakshadweep archipelago. Also to identify the potent bacteria by 16s rDNA sequencing and determine the antibacterial activity against clinical pathogens by MIC. Methods: Sponge samples was collected from sub-tidal habitats at Kavaratti Island and identified. The endosymbiotic bacteria were isolated and selected potential bacteria which show antibacterial activity in preliminary screening against clinical pathogens Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella typhi (S. typhi), Klebsiella pneumoniea (K. pneumoniea) and Streptococcus sp. by disc diffusion assay. The crude extracts of potential bacteria LB3 was tested against clinical pathogens by MIC. The LB3 strain was identified by 16s rDNA sequencing, 1 111 bp was submitted in NCBI (HQ589912) and constructed phylogenetic tree. Results: Sponge sample was identified as Dysidea granulosa (D. granulosa) and potential bacteria LB3 identified as Enterobacter sp TTAG. Preliminary screening of sponge isolates against clinical pathogens, LB3 strain was selected as potential producer of secondary metabolites and crude extract was implies on MIC of LB3 have confirmed with lowest concentration of 5.0 mg/mL in broth medium influence of crude extract on growth inhibitory activity after 5 h of incubation period and completed the inhibitory activity at 15 h. Conclusions: The present study concluded that phylogenetic analysis of endosymbiotic bacteria Enterobacter sp from sponge D. granulosa of Lakshadweep islands showed significant antibacterial activity against clinical bacterial pathogens. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To explore the biomedical and pharmacological activity of Paracondactylis indicus (P. indicus), Paracondactylis sinensis (P. sinensis), Heteractis magnifica (H. magnifica) and Stichodactyla haddoni (S. haddoni). Methods: The live sea anemones were kept inside the glass bowl along with some amount of distilled water in an ice container for 15 min. During stress condition, nematocysts released from the tentacles were collected and centrifuged at 5 000 rpm for 15 min. The supernatant were collected in separate cleaned beakers for lyophilisation. Results: The protein content of crude extracts was 15.2, 28.7, 18.2 and 35.4 μg/mL. In hemolytic assay, the P. indicus was sensitive (16.842 HT/mg) on chicken blood but P. sinensis was less sensitive (1.114 HT/mg) on chicken and goat blood. Whereas H. magnifica and S. haddoni showed hemolysis (0.879, 0.903 HT/mg and 56.263, 0.451 HT/mg) in chicken and goat blood. In antimicrobial assay, the methanol extract of P. indicus showed maximum inhibition zone of 9.7 mm against S. typhii and P. sinensis showed 9.8 mm against K. pneumonia in methanol and ethanol extracts. Whereas the H. magnifica and S. haddoni showed maximum of 10 mm against S. typhii, K. pneumonia in methanol and ethanol extracts. Conclusions: The high toxic sea anemones may also contain some biologically active agents which has haemolytic, analgesic and anti-infilamatory activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Shields around core and blankets form major part of reactor assembly in fast reactors. Among the advanced shield materials considered for use in future FBRs, planned to be constructed in India, Ferro-boron is a cheap and indigenously available material. This paper reports the results of experiments conducted in the south end neutron beam of KAMINI reactor on the fast, epithermal and thermal neutron flux attenuation behaviour of Ferro-boron with different percentages of boron as well as boron carbide. The attenuation factors were found over a thickness of 20-30cm for the measured reaction rates of Pt195 (n,n’) Pt195m, Cd111 (n, n’) Cd111m, Rh103(n,n’) Rh103, In115 (n,n’) In115m, Hf180(n,n’)Hf180m, Cu63 (n,) Cu64, Na23 (n,) Na24, Mn55 (n,) Mn56 and Au197 (n,) Au198 reactions representative of fast, epithermal and thermal neutron fluxes. A comparative analysis with the neutron attenuation behaviour measured in boron carbide powder is also made. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Differences in height by wealth, education, caste, geography, and birth years are examined for men and women born between 1961 and 1981 in India using data from the 2005–2006 Indian National Family Health Survey. There is a positive association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and height with lower SEP individuals being shorter. Height varies across the 29 Indian states even after accounting for individual differences in SEP, with substantial variation in height remaining at the neighborhood and state levels. Among men, height appears to have modestly increased for all birth cohorts as compared to the 1961–1965 cohort, with smaller increases for the most recent cohorts. For women, height across birth cohorts has shown little increase. These results suggest that inequalities in several health outcomes for low SEP adults may be reflected in inequalities in height, which can be used to represent long-term health at the population level. Shorter stature and slower growth among some groups may indicate that they did not experience the improvements that were assumed to have occurred across the population. This study presents a comprehensive, empirical description of mean height differences and the underlying variation among adults in India across diverse socioeconomic, demographic, and geographically oriented groups as well as birth cohorts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Much is discussed about privacy laws in developed economies such as The US, EU, Japan, Canada, and Australia. However, not many studies have focused on privacy laws that are evolving in emerging economies such as India. As the economy becomes global and companies resort to global outsourcing, much of the data of clients, customers and common citizens are slowly being dispersed around the world for processing, analyzing and simple storage. Therefore, developing countries that handle such data are no longer exempt from the privacy concerns associated with them. This paper studies and critically analyzes the evolution of privacy laws in India. India, being a democracy of 1.2 billion people, is an especially interesting 'subject' to study in this regard. The study offers an illustration of the interactions of security, privacy and politics of its citizens, interest groups, security agencies and politicians - as they all mash together, constantly reposition themselves, pressure and compromise with each other to arrive at ways to define and protect privacy while not compromising on security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Coastal zones are dynamic areas that are constantly undergoing change in response to a multitude of factors including sea level rise, wave and current patterns, hurricanes and human influences. On 26th December 2004, huge waves smashed across the shore between Kanyakumari and Ovari. As they crossed the beach, the waves up to 30 feet tall. Many people are dead due to crush and pull to sea and drowned as the mighty waves withdraw. Many villages have been obliterated, the death tale could exceed 300 but the damage to the property is very high. The size of the tsunami is related to the area that moves on the ocean bottom and how far it moves. This region is manifested with marine terrace, sand dunes, beach ridges, estuaries, floodplains, beaches, mangroves, peneplains, uplands, sea cliff, etc. We have attempted the shoreline dynamics using beach profile survey, and coastal environment changes through online survey, governmental, records and coastal geomorphological studies using remote sensing technique. The major destructions are identified in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The present study was carried out to understand the current contamination status of organochlorine compounds (OCs) in human breast milk from three metropolitan cities in India (New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata). Among the OCs analyzed, DDTs were predominant followed by HCHs and PCBs. CHLs and HCB levels were much lower. Contamination patterns were different in human milk found in our previous study in Chennai, a metropolitan city in southern India, indicating region specific exposure routes and variable sources. In comparison with previous data, levels of DDTs and HCHs generally declined with time, implying the effect of various bans and restrictions on their usage. No association between concentrations of OCs and demographic characteristics such as parity and age of mothers was observed which might be due to narrow range of mother''s age. Estimated daily intake shows that some infants are exposed to OCs to a greater extent, particularly HCHs than the guideline standard. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Uranium naturally occurs in groundwater and its concentration is mostly controlled by the geology of an area. The regular human consumption of groundwater with uranium causes health effects and hence the assessment of radiological and chemical toxicity effects on humans is essential. Hence, the present study was carried out to assess the general hydrochemistry of groundwater in different geological formations of southern India and its relation to uranium as well as to estimate the health risks posed to humans due to consumption of groundwater with uranium using both deterministic and probabilistic approaches. Four river basins representing the major geological formations of southern India were chosen for this study, from where a total of 141 groundwater samples were collected in the year 2016 and analyzed for the concentration of major ions and uranium. The groundwater occurring in granites had high concentration of uranium followed by gneiss and charnockites. Radiological risks to humans were higher in granitic terrain of Bhima basin, where about 1 in 10,000 may get affected due to cancer. The chemical toxicity risks were higher for the people in granite and gneissic terrain of Bhima basin followed by the people in charnockite terrain of Vaniyar basin. The deterministic method has overestimated the actual risk in comparison to the probabilistic risk assessment. The sensitivity analysis indicates that increase of exposure frequency and ingestion rates increases the chemical risks, whereas decrease of body weight increases the chemical risk. Therefore, the probabilistic approach is much superior to deterministic method since it exhibits variability in the values. The current study highlights the risks to humans by consuming groundwater with uranium, emphasizing on the urgent need for supplying treated water to the community. [Display omitted] • Uranium in groundwater occurring in different geological formations was assessed. • Importance of uncertainty analysis in risk assessment was emphasized. • Significance of probabilistic risk assessment over deterministic approach was highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We investigated the geographic distribution and the relationship with neighborhood wealth of underweight and overweight in India. Using multilevel modeling techniques, we calculated state-specific smoothed shrunken state residuals of overweight and underweight, neighborhood and state variation of nutritional status, and the relationships between neighborhood wealth and nutritional status of 76,681 women living in 3204 neighborhoods in 26 Indian states. We found a substantial variation in overweight and underweight at the neighborhood and state levels, net of what could be attributed to individual-level factors. Neighborhood wealth was associated with increased levels of overweight and decreased levels of underweight, and was found to modify the relationship between personal living standard and nutritional status. These findings suggest that interventions to address the double burden of undernutrition and overnutrition in India must take into account state and neighborhood characteristics in order to be successful. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Reducing the cooling time of spent fast breeder reactor (FBR) fitel, thus reducing the doubling time and introducing metallic fuels into FBRs, is essential for meeting the increasing energy demand of India. Development of pyrochemical reprocessing technology for processing the spent FBR fuels is another prerequisite. Accordingly, studies on the molten salt electrorefining process for metallic fuels and the oxide electrowinning process for oxide fuels have been carried out at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam. A laboratory-scale argon atmosphere facility for molten salt electrorefining process studies is operational. Using this facility, studies on all the unit operations of the process have been carried out on uranium alloys. A code, PRAGAMAN, based on thermochemical modeling has been developed to simulate the electrotransport behavior of elements during the electrorefining process. Based on our studies, the eutectic MgCl2-NaCl-KCl-ternary salt has been proposed as the alternate electrolyte for the conventional 2CsCl-NaCl electrolyte for oxide processing. A facility to demonstrate the remotization of all the process steps of the molten salt electrorefining process flow sheet for metallic fuels at 1- to 3-kg scale is being set up. Basic electrochemical studies on the reduction behavior of the chlorides and oxychlorides of uranium and the lanthanides in molten salts have also been carried out. This paper describes the studies carried out so far and the plans for the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biography of Edavaleth Kakkat Janaki Ammal, botanist and plant cytologist who made significant contributions to botany and cytogenetics is presented. She was born in Kerala, India on November 4, 1897 and obtained her honors degree in botany from the Presidency College in 1921. She spent the years from 1939-1950 in England doing chromosome studies of a wide range of garden plants. Some of her works include the book "The Chromosome Atlas of Cultivated Plants."

This article uses a historical and critical perspective to analyze the growth of India's IT industry. India's quest for technology development in the pre- and post independent period of its history is analyzed. Its history, colonial past, culture, entrepreneurship climate, educational facilities and IT diffusion are all examined within this umbrella. The study uses historical data starting from the turn of the twentieth century as it tries to identify the factors and then go beyond those factors to understand the strong historical and cultural roots that have affected the gradual evolution of the IT industry in India. The study shows that India's current position is a result of almost eight decades of sustained efforts by its political leaders and intelligentsia — aided by social, cultural, and historical factors that have driven public policy — to build a strong technology-infrastructure and to achieve self-reliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study constructs a district and state level series of farmland prices using the village level data from MIMAP-India survey and identifies the major determinants of farmland prices. The estimates at micro level showed that density of population in the rural areas, food grain yield and distance from the nearest town were the major determinants of farmland prices. When macro variables were added at the All India level, it was found that density of rural population, road density and share of non-agriculture in GDP as well as in work force affected farmland prices positively while rural poverty affected them adversely. The results appear to have implications for urban planning, industrial location and various government programs for rural development and poverty alleviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]