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Ensuring proper menstrual hygiene management remains a significant challenge for young women in India. The term "exclusive use of hygienic period products during menstruation" refers to relying solely on period products like sanitary pads, tampons, or menstrual cups. Poor menstrual hygiene practices not only increase the risk of reproductive tract infections but also lead to various negative health outcomes, including discomfort and potential complications. This study explores factors associated with the exclusive use of period products during menstruation aged 15–24, investigates geographic disparities, examines rural–urban gaps, and assesses inequality in India. Utilizing data from the fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), responses from 2,41,180 women aged 15 to 24 were analysed using logistic regression and multivariate decomposition analyses to explore socioeconomic predictors. Moran's I statistics also assessed spatial dependency, while Lorenz curves and Gini coefficients measured inequality. Quintile and LISA maps visualized regional disparities. The study found that 76.15% of women in India reported exclusive use of hygienic period products during menstruation. Rural areas reported a lower percentage of exclusive use of hygienic period products (72.32%) during menstruation compared to urban areas (89.37%). Key factors associated with the exclusive use of hygienic period products among 15–24-year-old women in India include age, education, place of residence, wealth, access to media, and healthcare discussions. Geographically, central districts exhibited the lowest coverage (< 65%), while the Southern region reported the highest (> 85). The GINI coefficient of 0.39 highlighted moderate inequality in distribution. Decomposition analysis revealed that household wealth contributed 49.25% to rural–urban differences, followed by education (13.41%), media access (7.97%), and region (4.97%). This study highlights significant regional disparities and low utilization of hygienic period products among young women in India, particularly in central districts. Policymakers should prioritize interventions targeting these regions, addressing socio-economic disparities. Strategies to promote education, improve media access, and enhance household wealth can facilitate menstrual hygiene adoption. Initiatives to reduce sanitary napkin costs and increase accessibility, particularly in rural areas, are crucial to mitigating geographical disparities nationwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the causes of rising economic inequality among Indian states between 2000 and 2017. To identify the components of output growth that are driving rising regional inequality in the Solow Model framework, we first create state-level data on capital stock and labour force, which are not published in India's national accounts. While we find beta divergence in per capita state domestic product (SDP) between states, there is no evidence of beta divergence in capital stock accumulation. Therefore, differences in TFP growth, rather than capital stock accumulation, may be one of the factors contributing to India's rising regional inequality. Furthermore, a productivity index for Indian states was created using the physical and social infrastructure, health, education, digital connectivity, and energy access to help explain the differences in states' TFP. When common factor models were used to account for the high cross-sectional dependence between state growth rates, the influence of capital accumulation and productivity index on state growth was significantly reduced. Hence, the Indian economy's common growth factor emerges as a major driver of the SDPs, with higher per capita SDP states benefiting more from overall growth than the lower per capita SDP states, resulting in growing regional disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disparity in child health outcomes across Indian districts, particularly in Eastern India, is alarming. Approximately half of the districts in this region exhibit very poor child health outcomes, evidenced by alarmingly high neonatal, infant, and under‐five mortality rates. This study analyses the existing levels and patterns of child health outcomes across 112 districts of Eastern India, a region known for its low levels of child health status. To do this, we have constructed a composite child health index (CHI) using nationally representative data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS‐5). Using Principal Component Analysis, the study uses the CHI values to categorize the districts into high, moderate, and low‐performing districts. The results show a significant variation in CHI outcomes across the districts, with striking regional disparities. Notably, all high‐performing districts were located only in the state of Odisha. In contrast, a substantial proportion of the low‐performing districts were in the state of Bihar, suggesting systemic healthcare deficiencies. Using discriminant function analysis, we obtain the critical determinants of CHI to be sanitation facilities, mother's education, marriage before 18 years, and low body mass index of the mother. Our findings confirm that improvements in these areas are crucial for enhancing child health outcomes and ending intergenerational transmission of poor health outcomes. The implications of this study extend beyond eastern India, offering valuable insights into similar challenges in global low‐ and middle‐income regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study explores the intricate anatomy of the proximal femur in the Indian population, emphasizing its significance in clinical, forensic, and orthopaedic contexts. Utilizing Gray's Anatomy and relevant literature, the study positions femoral anatomy as crucial for clinicians and researchers. Existing studies on femur length reconstruction contribute to forensic applications, while orthopaedic research underscores the importance of anatomical measurements in surgical interventions. Methodology: This cross-sectional study includes 165 femora from diverse regions in India. Anthropometric measurements, including femoral length, neck shaft angle, femoral head diameter, foveal dimensions, and intertrochanteric line length, were collected using standardized techniques. Statistical analyses and comparisons with existing literature, particularly studies conducted in various regions of India, were performed to provide a comprehensive understanding of regional variations. Results: Demographic characteristics, neck shaft angle, inter-epicondylar distance, femoral length, and femoral head diameter were analyzed. Comparison tables with southern, northern, eastern, and northeastern Indian studies highlight regional variations. Correlation analysis reveals positive correlations between femoral length and various parameters, while the absence of correlations with the neck shaft angle suggests relationship complexity. Conclusion: The study enhances understanding of proximal femur characteristics in the Indian population, providing essential data for optimizing hip arthroplasty procedures. Regional variabilities underscore the importance of nuanced approaches in clinical practice. This research contributes to the field, paving the way for future advancements in hip surgery tailored to diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oldest idea or original art of travel is pilgrimage tourism, which has a shorter history than modern tourism. Modern tourism was sparked by pilgrimages to sacred and holy locations. Hindu pilgrimages, known as tirtha yatras, appear to have originated and developed from a custom that predates even their civilization. There has been an incredible improvement in the expansion of pilgrimage tourism in Maharashtra. The fast increase in the influx of pilgrims significantly contributes to the regions sustainable development by producing socio-economic advantages including enhancing educational resources, fostering global awareness and national integration, opening up of new growth centres, creating jobs & raising domestic incomes healthcare facilities and effective demand of new infrastructure is a constant. Simultaneously, removal of regional disparities is crucial. The unrestrained & uncontrolled rapid expansion of pilgrimage tourism imposes significant costs on the environment and destruction of the environment, depletion of local resources, and other socio cultural and economic issues. The trust or the government should provide funding for such efforts of environmental conservation & protection. Boosting the natural areas economic significance, and encouraging locals & tourists in awareness of environmental values to protect these natural resources for future generations. The study came to conclusion that there is a favourable correlation between the rise in pilgrimage tourism and other forms of tourism, and that this expansion greatly aids in the host populations sustainable development. Taking Shirdi Sansthan Trust as a case study, a famous pilgrimage destination in Maharashtra, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines differences in learning outcomes across Indian states over ten years from 2009 to 2018. Even today, some states exhibit learning outcomes that are appallingly low and children face disproportionate disadvantages. The paper finds that most of the states show a downward movement of learning achievement over the study period. The fixed effects model is used to understand how the learning indicators are associated with the school infrastructure and the socio-economic background of the state. The regression analysis underscores the importance of female literacy rate, social background and NSDP per capita to predict learning outcomes among children from rural India. We find evidence in favour of σ-convergence in mathematics achievement but not in reading achievement. Also, Indian states exhibit the presence of absolute and conditional β-convergence in the learning indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study attempts to investigate genderinequality in India from a regional standpoint. An attempt has been made to investigate each area ofIndia independently in order to determine the true image of gender inequality in our nation, namely North-East India, Eastern India, Central India, Northern India, Western India, and South India. The current analysis is entirely based on secondary data. This study is based on the development of the Gender Inequality Index (GII) for all six representative sample states from India's six geographical regions. The extent of inequality in women's and men's achievement has been measured across three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment, and labour market involvement. According to the study, there is less gender inequality in Madhya Pradesh (with a Gender Inequality Index score of 0.33), a typical state in Central India, than in other areas of India. The Gender Inequality Index score of both Tamil Nadu (with a Gender Inequality Index score of 0.46), which is a representative state of South India, and Madhya Pradesh, is better than the South Asian region (Gender Inequality Index score of0.508) and close to the global average (Gender Inequality Index score 0.465). In India, the status of gender equality has improved in recent decades, yet females continue to outperform males in practically all parameters of growth. In all the study states, females' political engagement is much lower than male participation. Similarly, the proportion of women in India's workforce is lower than that of men. According to the study, gender inequality is quite severe in Bihar (Gender Inequality Index score 0.64), a sample state in Eastern India. Bihar performs worse than the other sample states on practically every indicator of gender inequality. In Bihar, female labour force participation, achievements of females in higher education etc. are very low. Also, the adolescent fertility rate is very high in this state. Among the many other reasons for gender inequality, Bihar's socioeconomic system, which is still patriarchal with a strong preference for son, is one of the factors contributing to the state's substantial gender inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of the remarkable economic growth and poverty reduction in India, the country has not witnessed a commensurate improvement in its food and nutrition indicators. The problem of food and nutrition insecurity in India is more pronounced when viewed from a regional perspective. This study constructs a State Hunger Index (SHI) for India based on data from two rounds of the National Family Health Survey and analyses the variation in SHI across states in the country in relation to accessibility, availability, and absorption of food. Our analysis revels that the majority of the Indian states had either 'alarming' or 'extremely alarming' levels of hunger in 2005-06. Even in 2015-16, only Kerala had a 'moderate' level of hunger and all other states had 'alarming' or 'serious' levels of hunger. Hunger is predominantly concentrated in BIMARU states namely, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Among these states, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh account for one-third of the total hungry population in India. Policies to provide safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, and public distribution system for food grains have had a significant positive impact on reducing hunger in India. The study underscores that policies and programs should be devised with a regional perspective to address the challenges of food and nutrition insecurity in India and overcome the wide variation in hunger across regions of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty disparity between STs and non-ST rose substantially in rural India. This study decomposes poverty disparity to capture the reasons behind this rising poverty disparity. Unlike the conventional studies, this study uses two stage decomposition techniques to decompose poverty disparity. First stage decomposes poverty disparity into two components - WRD and BRD. Second decomposes WRD further into BID and BDD. This study reveals that marginal contribution of BRD is significant to poverty disparity between ST and non-SC/ST. However, BID has been found as the prime factor to the poverty disparity between the social groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology (CKDu) refers to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the absence of diabetes, long‐standing hypertension, glomerulonephritis, obstructive uropathy or other apparent causes. An increasing number of CKDu cases have been reported from Latin America, Sri Lanka, India and others over the last two decades. These regional nephropathies share the following common attributes: (a) they affect low‐to‐middle income countries with tropical climates, (b) involve predominantly rural agricultural communities, (c) male predilection, (d) absence of significant proteinuria and hypertension, and (e) chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis on kidney biopsy. The current body of literature suggests that CKDu may be caused by heat stress, agrochemicals, contaminated drinking water or heavy metals; however, considerable regional disparities in CKDu research make it difficult to establish a common causal link. In the absence of a definite aetiology, specific preventive and therapeutic interventions are lacking. Improvement of working conditions of farmers and labourers, provision of safe drinking water and changes in agricultural practices are some of the measures that have been implemented; however, there is lack of data to assess their impact on the incidence and progression of CKDu. There is a need for a concerted global effort to address the current knowledge gaps, and to develop effective and sustainable strategies to tackle this devastating disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geographic access to medical care varies for nearly every specialty in India. Given the special nature of its treatments, which sometimes necessitate numerous visits over a lengthy period, and the substantial-high fixed cost infrastructure requirements for radiation facilities, radiation oncology is particularly prone to regional inequities in access to care. Brachytherapy (BT) is emblematic of several of these access difficulties since it necessitates specialized equipment, the capacity to maintain a radioactive source, and particular skill sets. The study was conducted to report the availability of BT treatment units in relation to state-level population, overall cancer incidence, and gynecologic cancer incidence. The availability of BT resources at the state level in India was and the population of each state was estimated using data from the Government of India's Census. The number of cancer cases was approximated for each state and union territory. The total number of gynecological cancers that required BT was determined. The BT infrastructure was also compared to those of other nations in terms of the number of BT units available per million people and for various malignancies. A heterogeneous geographic distribution of BT units was noted across India. India has one BT unit for every 42,93,031 population. The maximum deficit was seen in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Odisha. Among the states having BT units, the maximum units per 10,000 cancer patients was noted in Delhi (7), Maharashtra (5) and Tamil Nadu (4) and the least was noted in the Northeastern states (<1), Jharkhand, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh. In BT of gynecological malignancies alone an infrastructural deficit ranging from 1 to 75 units were noted across the states. It was noted that only 104 out of the 613 medical colleges in India had BT facilities. On comparing the BT infrastructure status with other countries India had one BT machine for every 4,181 cancer patients when compared to United States (1 every 2,956 patients), Germany (2,754 patients), Japan (4,303 patients), Africa (10,564) and Brazil (4,555 patients). The study identified the deficits of BT facilities in terms of geographic and demographic aspects. This research provides a roadmap for the development of BT infrastructure in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fay–Herriot (FH) model is widely used in small area estimation (SAE) for aggregated level data, but in several applications presence of spatial effect between contiguous or neighboring region cannot be denied which is not handled by this model. Conditional Autoregressive and Simultaneous Autoregressive specifications do incorporate spatial associationship while taking into account the spatial correlation effects among areas. However, none of these approaches implement the idea of spatially varying covariates through spatially dependent fixed effect parameters. Such approach in statistics is known as spatial nonstationarity. This article introduces spatial nonstationary version of FH model considering hierarchical Bayesian paradigm and then deliberates estimation of small area means. The proposed SAE approach is evaluated through extensive simulation studies. The empirical results from simulation studies demonstrate the superiority of proposed spatial nonstationary SAE method over the nonspatial and stationary alternatives. The method is also applied to estimate paddy (green) crop yield at district level in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India using survey data from the improvement of crop statistics scheme and linked with Census data. A spatial map presents a quick view to the regional variations or disparity in district level yield estimates and are certainly helpful to the decision makers for identifying the regions and areas requiring more attention for designing targeted interventions and policy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the role and progress of India's one of the major flagship early childhood care and education (ECCE) scheme, the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). The study focuses on various components of the ICDS and sheds light on its implementation across different regions i.e., States/UTs of India. Despite an overall increase in the number of Anganwadi centers over the years, the majority of States/UTs have struggled to effectively enrol children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers for availing supplementary nutrition, as well as enrolling children in pre-school education. Notably, a few southern states and UTs, such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Daman, and Diu, have performed relatively better in this regard. The research highlights the primary reasons behind the regional disparities, pointing out key implementation issues such as the lack of community participation and ownership of the scheme, and financial constraints. These challenges have hindered the achievement of expected results from the ICDS in several Indian States/UTs, and require urgent policy attention to meet the country's SDG ECCE targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper examines India's socio-economic attributes and different financial dimensions of financial inclusion (FI). Design/methodology/approach: The paper uses a principal component analysis (PCA) to build indexes related to financial dimensions. It applies the logistics regression model and the Fairlie decomposition method to determine India's socio-economic and financial characteristics of FI. Findings: Based on the logistic regression, socio-economic factors like age, gender, marital status, level of education and religion have an impact on FI. The use of financial institutions has positively contributed to the probability of FI, while the low proximity of financial service providers retards the process of FI. Fairlie decomposition concludes regional disparity and gender disparity in FI; however, the rural–urban gap in FI is not captured by the variables included in the study. The main reasons for the discrepancy are lack of education, financial literacy, the proximity of financial service providers and lack of financial institutions. Originality/value: This paper makes two important contributions: first, it presents a micro-level analysis of FI across the socio-demographic strata of India, and second, it demonstrates the regional, rural–urban and gender disparity in FI in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, the National Education Policy 2020 recommends ensuring universal access to high-quality early childhood care and education for children aged 3–6 years by 2030. Using the 75th round of National Statistical Office data (2017–2018), this paper analyses the regional and socioeconomic inequalities in access to pre-primary education. Also, we investigate the specific role of households' economic status and educational attainment in explaining these inequalities. We find considerable regional (rural/urban) and socioeconomic inequalities in access to pre-primary education in India, with girls and children belonging to historically disadvantaged social groups (scheduled castes and scheduled tribes) less likely to attend early childhood education, particularly in rural areas. We find that a substantial portion of the rural–urban gap in access to pre-primary education can be removed by controls for households' economic condition and household head's educational status. In addition, we find gender and socioeconomic inequalities in the household investment in early years education. These findings highlight the need to put policy efforts and commitments to reducing barriers to accessing pre-primary education for children in disadvantaged conditions in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a mechanism based on regional inequality in economic activity to explain the heterogeneity in the spread of COVID-19 and test it using data from India. Contagion is expected to spread at a higher rate in regions characterized by greater movement of goods and services. We argue that mobility is higher in regions with greater degree of intra-regional inequality in economic activity. Such regions are usually characterized by a core-periphery economic structure in which the periphery is dependent on the core for the supply of jobs, goods, and services. Such dependence leads to a greater degree of mobility between the core and periphery, which in turn leads to higher rate of contagion. Using nightlight data to measure regional inequality, we find evidence in support of our hypothesis. Using mobility data, we provide direct evidence in support of our proposed channel; the positive relationship between regional inequality and COVID-19 infection is driven by mobility. Our findings suggest that policy responses to contain COVID-19 contagion need to be heterogeneous across India, where the priority areas can be chosen ex ante based on a regional inequality-based criterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demographic profile of women in any country reflects the overall status of women. Economic development of any country significantly depends upon the participation rates of its women. Women's empowerment is crucial for raising their living standards and well-being. India is a country of diversity regarding the wide geographical, cultural and social variations. Haryana is known as one of the developed states of India, but even then there is prevailing much gender-based inequality and male dominance in all dimensions of life. The position of women in Mahendergarh district of Haryana is no better than the other districts of Haryana. The objective of the paper is to understand the demographic profile of women status in Mahendergarh District, Haryana as per Census 2011. It reveals the three main indicators sex ratio, women literacy and her work participation in the process of their empowerment with special attention to the gender perspective. This paper will examine the regional disparity of sex ratio, literacy rate and female work participation and the improvement of empowerment of women in the Mahendergarh district state of Haryana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic recession and global health crisis have surged the public debt levels across nations to an unsustainable level. Debt can be productive provided nation-states utilize it for rapid growth and servicing the cost of loans. It can be unproductive if spent on wasteful expenditure. Thus, a relevant question is—does public debt hinder or promote growth? Reinhart and Rogoff's (American Economic Review, 100: 573–578, 2010) empirical analysis observed a non-linear relation between debt and growth in developed countries. Kaur and Mukherjee's (Reserve Bank of India, Occasional Papers, 33:1–37, 2014) analysis of the Indian economy determined a statistically significant non-linear relationship between debt and growth at state levels. Given this overview, this research examines the temporal and spatial patterns of state debt in India utilizing a statistical analysis. Geographical data are utilized to study state liability in India for 29 states and 2 union territories i.e. National Capital Territory of Delhi and Puducherry. The following three questions are addressed in this paper: (1) what is the relationship between public debt, regional inequality, and development? (2) what are the trends of public debt and regional inequality in India? (3) what are the determinants of outstanding center and state liabilities in India during 1980–81 and 2019–20? Descriptive statistics (dispersion, Gini coefficient, moving averages, and Theil entropy) reveal a declining inequality during each decade as well as considerable inter-state inequality for the period. A time series regression analysis suggests lending rate, GDP growth and trade balance are negatively related to total liability at the center and state levels; net FDI flows, GDP, trade balance, and foreign exchange reserves, are positively related. Prediction maps suggest both the lagging and developed states would incur high public debts, wherein the former would utilize debt for servicing interest cost and non-plan expenditure, and the latter will utilize debt for servicing interest cost and planned expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional disparities are prevalent in almost all nations globally irrespective of whether being developed, developing, or under-developed. With the recent shift of focus towards human development, the presence of inequalities in social development is one of the major issues faced by developing nations and hence becomes the underlying theme of this paper. It attempted to explore the spatial inequalities in the social development of a selected region within and representing Kerala state, India. This research attempted to address the following question: whether a state which has been performing socially well has inequalities present among its regions. A set of relevant variables were shortlisted from a holistic literature review and further screened using various criteria followed by an expert opinion survey. Subsequently, spatial analysis of regional disparities was conducted in two stages. Firstly, a composite index to measure the development of settlements was constructed by adopting the principal component analysis approach. Secondly, the settlements were grouped into three homogenous clusters by k-means cluster analysis and named accordingly. The results revealed that, in terms of reduced inequalities, the settlements performed well in social infrastructure development followed by road infrastructure. At the same time, the performance of the settlements in social characteristics was poor. Significant variations were also found in employment and housing infrastructure development. While the composite index helped compare the development status of settlements, the classification of settlements aided in identifying regions and sectors that were backward in terms of social development. Accordingly, solutions and strategies were proposed for balanced regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male involvement in family planning results in improved reproductive health and gender outcomes for women. In India, the use of family planning methods remains largely female-dominated. Recent media reports have indicated a rapid decline in male sterilization use in the past few years. This study aimed to assess the trends in, patterns of and factors associated with the use of male sterilization and male spacing methods in India using data from four rounds of the National Family Health Survey, conducted from 1992 to 2016. Bivariate analysis was done to see the trends in, and patterns of, male sterilization and spacing methods, while multinomial logistic regression was used to understand the factors associated with male spacing methods and sterilization. The results show a marked decline in the prevalence of male sterilization from 1992–93 (3.5%) to 2015–16 (0.3%) in India. Of the 640 districts, only 21 had a more than 2% prevalence of male sterilization. Scheduled tribe couples were two times more likely to use male sterilization than other (upper/no caste) groups. Couples from the northern region were significantly more likely to use male sterilization (aOR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.43–1.97) compared with those from the south. There was a regional disparity in male condom use, with a very small proportion of couples in the southern (1.1%), north-eastern (2.4%) and eastern (3.3%) regions using the method compared with couples from the northern region (9.7%). Couples from the northern (aOR: 8.89, 95% CI: 8.44–9.38), north-eastern (aOR: 11.37, 95% CI: 10.62–12.18), eastern (aOR: 6.96, 95% CI: 6.60–7.34), western (aOR: 4.65, 95% CI: 4.40–4.92) and central (aOR: 10.89, 95% CI: 10.35–11.46) regions were also significantly more likely to use male spacing methods than those from southern India. Therefore, a greater focus on increasing the use of male sterilization and condoms is required in India to reduce the gender disparity in the use of family planning methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the study of the regional disparities in literacy rate and examination of the σ and absolute β convergence hypotheses among Indian states for 1951-2011 is implemented. A comparative analysis of absolute β convergence between the proreform (1951-1991) and postreform (1991-2011) periods is also carried out. Further, states are bifurcated into Empowered Action Group (EAG) and non-EAG states. A separate examination of these two groups is also performed. To eliminate the effect of minor states, the analysis is also carried out for seventeen major Indian states. This paper contributes in various ways. First, it examines the convergence hypotheses for the pre-and post-reform period, and EAG and non-EAG states and secondly, the data of all the censuses of independent India (1951-2011) are considered for the analysis. The σ convergence is analysed by the coefficient of variation (CV), and absolute β convergence is explained by regression analysis, regressing the growth rate in LR on the initial value of LR to test the catching-up effect. The time trend analysis is incorporated to test the significance of the change in CV. The result shows a downward trend in CV for LR during the study period, indicating a reduction in dispersion; σ convergence, except for the EAG states. This investigation also finds significant evidence of absolute β convergence in LR for the pre- and post-reform periods and throughout the period. The process of reduction in the regional disparity is rapid in the post-reform period, as revealed by the higher convergence speed for all states, EAG states and non-EAG states. Moreover, the result of the seventeen major states does not differ from the result of all states, indicating that there is no significant effect with regards to major or minor states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study aims to compare India's public health expenditure at the international and state levels. The paper also empirically examines the regional disparities in NRHM spending across the 21 selected states of India. Design/methodology/approach: The tools of absolute β-and σ-convergence are used in the analysis to test the regional convergence. The average annual growth rate across the states is the dependent variable for β-convergence, and time is the second dependent variable but is used for s-convergence. In contrast, the initial value of NRHM expenditure and the coefficient of variation of NRHM expenditure are used as independent variables, respectively. Descriptive statistics are also used for the study. The data are annual and cover the panel from 2007 to 2020. Findings: The study attests to the hypothesis of β-and σ-convergence for the selected states in the period mentioned. The observed convergence in NRHM expenditure is due to the shift in the government's attention from the non-high focus high focus states to high states through the national rural health mission policy. The coefficient of variation across the states also shows a declining trend and provides the robustness of the σ-convergence. Originality/value: As far as the literature is concerned, none of the existing studies examines the convergence of a public health expenditure scheme like the National Rural Health Mission across the Indian states by applying the techniques of β-and σ-convergence. The novelty of the study is using the newly updated dataset and validating the convergence hypotheses in the National Rural Health Mission expenditure case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates disparities in healthcare services in the districts of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous and one of the poorest states of India in the health sector. To measure the disparities in healthcare services, a composite index has been computed using Principal Component Analysis in three domains namely, health availability, health amenities and health affordability and 12 representative indicators. On the basis of the results, districts have been clubbed into five categories, such as high, high-medium, medium, medium–low and low according to their composite scores. The study also uses k-means cluster analysis to find out the set of districts which are similar within the group, but they are different between the groups. Key results indicate that the districts of the western region are more developed in comparison to the districts of the eastern region in terms of three indices such as availability, amenities, affordability of healthcare services and overall composite health index. Also, k-means cluster analysis shows that there are many districts which are identical in many respects; however, they are located in different regions of the state. This study may be helpful to understand the poor availability and affordability of healthcare services in the districts of Uttar Pradesh, which should be improved to meet the objectives of the basic-needs approach and the millennium development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper empirically explores the determinants of Japanese multinational enterprise (MNE) activity in India using firm‐level data, with particular focus on the country or regional characteristics predicted from a North–South firm‐heterogeneity model featuring foreign direct investment (FDI), the exchange rate, and endogenous wages. We identify the economic variables and country or regional characteristics that significantly affect the activity of Japanese MNEs. We show the importance of accumulating human capital and improving infrastructure to raise the sales level of Japanese MNEs in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is an attempt to look at the change in the regional disparity in the likelihood of educational transition from lower to higher levels of education from pre to the post-liberalization period. Secondly, we try to investigate the association between the likelihood of educational participation and educational transition from one to the next level of education and two labour market outcomes, such as likelihood of getting employment and expected earnings after the completion of education. This enables us to comment on the impact of the labour market outcomes on educational participation vis-à-vis this allows us to explain the reasons behind the inter-regional disparity in educational transition and overtime persistence of this disparity. For the accomplishment of these objectives we use the datasets provided by six quinquennial employment and unemployment surveys conducted by National Sample Survey Offices and third annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (2019–20), and we employ the sequential logistic model of regression. Findings reveal that there was a substantial regional disparity in educational participation and educational transition in school and college/university education across Indian states, though this disparity had declined satisfactorily in school education without any satisfactory decline in college/university education from pre-liberalization to post-liberalization period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a distinctive set of data from 2006 to 2018, this study inquires into the various factors of Public‐Private Partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure projects. Sixteen exogenous variables from extant literature are used to identify significant factors to forecast the future flow of PPPs in the different states of the Republic of India. Two measures of PPP infrastructure projects that is, cost of the project (log value) and the percentage of total project cost are used as endogenous variables. The used data set is associated with a total of 62 PPP projects financed in 10 states of the Republic of India. Three alternative methods namely, OLS, FMOLS, and DOLS are used to check the consistency of the findings. According to three techniques of unit root tests, the data series of different variables are found to be stationary at the first difference. Johansen's cointegration technique reflects that there is cointegration in both the proposed models for the PPPs. Further, the empirical findings of the study reflect that the size (population), capital and revenue budgets & development expenditures have a positive relationship with the dependent variables. On the other side, some of the exogenous variables namely, regional disparities, GDP, FDI, political stability, debt, and fiscal indicator showcase an adverse effect on the flow of the PPP projects. The present study shall be lucrative for the state governments in addition to the private parties involved in the PPP projects. The identified significant variables of the present study will be useful to forecast the upcoming number of PPP projects in the various Indian States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the regional disparities of multidimensional poverty (MPI) in the context of India. This study to our knowledge is the first of its kind which examined MPI disparity at a regional level. The study has classified the geographic area of India into six regions: Northern, Eastern, North Eastern, Central, Western and Southern region. Further, we explore MPI across population sub-groups within a region. Using the latest available household data from the National Family and Health Survey over 2005–2006 and 2015–2016 we explored how at the regional level multidimensional poverty changed within a decade. The paper estimates MPI in India at a regional level following the methodology of Alkire and Foster (2011). The Eastern rural region has the highest MPI 0.43 (2005–2006) and 0.21 (2015–2016). The lowest MPI is in the Northern region 0.14 and 0.03 respectively. The Northern region further has lowest MPI across all social sub-groups. The results also demonstrate regional concentration of MPI particularly in the Central and Eastern regions. A major disquieting feature is that the regional variation in MPI across the Eastern and the Northern region increased by four times in 2015–2016 compared to the earlier period. The study further obtains that though multidimensional poverty has reduced significantly over the decade the decline is regressive. It can be traced to the nature of regressivity in the decline in the different deprivation indicators. The present study suggests that India must endeavour the process of balanced regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Urban shrinkage, an emerging phenomenon marked by a decline in city population, is experienced by both developed and developing countries. In Asia, India hosts a significant number of shrinking cities. Over traditional population measures, night-light data emerges as a great replacement for advanced measurement of socio-economic and demographic parameters without any constraint of time and administrative boundaries. This study aims to measure urban shrinkage in India using night-light data captured by DMSP/OLS and VIIRS satellite sensors, examine spatial patterns, and verify them using population-based estimates. Despite increased economic development and availability of electricity compared to 1990, there has been a reduction in night light reflection in many parts. The results show that 20 % of cities experienced urban shrinkage in India during 1992–2021. The shrinking cities cluster in eastern, southern, and northern zones, and the spatial pattern matches with population-based estimates. The paradox of urban shrinkage in India signals a need for the enhancement of urban policies and programs. Striving for balanced urban growth is crucial for fostering economic prosperity and reducing regional inequality. An inclusive development approach for all urban settlements may help address the premature issue of urban shrinkage in India and achieve sustainable development goals. • The global phenomenon of urban shrinkage has been prominent in urban India. • The trend in night-light growth has slowed down, and shrinking cities have emerged across the states in India from 1992 to 2021. • Overall, 20.6 % of urban centers experienced a high intensity of urban shrinkage during 1992–2021. • The Spatial pattern of SCII and AUSI highlights that shrinking cities were predominant in both advanced states and less developed states. • Night-light and population data revealed new shrinking urban centers in India, not captured by census data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study undertakes a sector-by-sector account of economic growth, historically since the inception of economic planning, and analyses the spatiotemporal patterns of both rural and urban poverty in India. The services sector bypassed the successful completion of industrialization and prematurely emerged as the dominant driver and key lever of economic growth. The supremacy of services sector strengthened the resilience of the economy to the exogenous shocks of weather aberrations affecting agriculture. The regional disparities have tended to increase over time. The study finds support for unconditional divergence, rather than convergence, in the level of per capita real income across states. The cross-sectional and panel data models estimated for a comprehensive set of 24 states—separately for the rural, urban, and combined rural–urban sectors—provide strong support to the poverty-reducing effects of economic growth. The income-elasticity of poverty hovers around − 2 for the number of persons living below the poverty line. The gains of economic growth are distributed unevenly across states and shared asymmetrically between rural and urban sectors. The economy witnessed a mixed picture of decline in rural–urban poverty, rise in regional disparities, and surge in income inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The north-eastern region of India presents intra-regional disparity, which is reflected in every aspect of development. The transport sector, especially railway transportation, is one of the important aspects, and the development of railway infrastructure seems to be very different in every region. The research question addressed in this study was "Which factors, geo-physical or socio-economic, influenced the variation in the level of railway development in Northeast India?" The aim of the study was to delineate regional differentiation on railway development in Northeast India and to analyse the reasons for different development patterns of railway lines among the north-eastern states. The research was based on secondary data collected from multiple sources, and the existing synthetic indicator was applied for the classification of eight states based on their railway infrastructural status. An alternative approach called the alternative synthetic indicator has been proposed and found to be more efficient than the existing synthetic indicator. The degree of inequality among the northeastern states by considering railway infrastructural variables was measured by plotting a Lorenz curve; the corresponding Gini coefficient specifies the unequal distribution of railway infrastructure among all the northeastern states. The causality of such unequal development has been analysed through a correlation test by defining the composite dimension index. The analysis revealed that all the externalities of regional inequality significantly influence the development of railway lines in northeastern states. Environmental determinism plays a crucial role in railway development in Northeast India, but political willingness is also crucial for creating an actual state of differentiation and will play a special role in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examine how efforts taken by states to combat corruption act as a mediator in the relationship between fiscal decentralization and regional income disparities. Fiscal decentralization may affect regional disparities via access to funding, but corruption could limit the ability to efficiently transfer fiscal resources. India is one of the most decentralized nations of the world and also exhibits high regional disparities. Under this scenario, we estimate whether institutions, in the form of anti-corruption efforts by the states, interact with fiscal decentralization and affect divergence across states of India. We find that fiscal decentralization reduces the disparity across states, and the effect of fiscal decentralization is stronger under efforts to control corruption by state vigilance bodies. The results are robust across different specifications of fiscal decentralization and alternate estimation methods accounting for endogeneity. From the policy perspective, in order to harness the potential benefits of decentralization to reduce regional income disparities, governments should focus on improving the quality of institutions through control on corruption at the sub-national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture plays an essential role in the process of economic development of less developed countries like India. Besides providing food to the nation, agriculture releases labor provides saving, contributes to the market of industrial goods and earns foreign exchange. Agricultural development is an integral part of all strategies of planned socio-economic development in India. Since times immemorial India continues to be an agrarian economy, which holds true for the economy of Rajasthan as well. The economy of the state is mostly dependent on agriculture. Rajasthan, with varied agro-climatic conditions, shows inter-district agriculture disparities. Therefore, it is very important to examine various characteristics of a district. The present study, therefore, attempts to examine the regional disparities in the levels of agricultural development at the district level for the state of Rajasthan. The study is based on secondary data obtained from the directorate of economics and statistics, Rajasthan. Based on HDI technique of UNDP, a composite index of agricultural development has been computed taking 12 indicators. The study highlights that northern, eastern and south-eastern parts of the state are agriculturally more developed than western and southern parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the inequity in irrigation distribution in India using a variant of Theil's entropy measure for the period 1995–2010. The analysis reveals that the level of inequity in irrigation distribution has increased over time. Inequity has declined in canal, tank and well-irrigated systems and increased in the tube well-irrigated system. Decomposition analysis revealed that regional disparities have declined in all sources of irrigation except for tube wells. The role of property rights to groundwater, groundwater markets, energy pricing policy and competitive deepening of wells in worsening the inequity in access to groundwater resources is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the role of the enforcement of property rights, human capital formation, and the efficiency of various components of state governments' developmental expenditure on states' economic growth and interstate income inequality. Together with private sector investment in rural areas, property rights enforcement, human capital, government expenditures on economic services, and health and education are found to have positive effects on states' growth. We also observe that the interstate difference in the provisioning of government economic services is the leading factor in contributing to interstate income divergence in India. These findings can serve as vital technical inputs for formulating economic policies to achieve faster economic growth and mitigate regional income inequality in transitioning developing economies like India and hold greater relevance for other developing economies on their way to experiencing similar social and economic transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key challenge of India is to provide access to safe drinking water for the increasing population. Hence, it is important to access the current status and progress in the sources and availability of safe drinking water in India for improving the prevailing policies. This paper studies the spatial and temporal patterns in safe drinking water availability and accessibility in Indian states and union territories. State-wise data of safe drinking water sources have been obtained from the Census of India for the period 1981–2011. Their spatial distributions have been shown using choropleth maps in geographical information system (GIS) environment. Rural–Urban differential and Safe Drinking Water Sources Availability and Accessibility Index (SDWSAAI) is computed for all the states and union territories for the year 2011. Findings indicate that India gained a significant advancement in access to safe drinking water from 38% (1981) to 85.5% (2011). In 1981, 26.5% and 75.1% of rural and urban households had access to safe drinking water, respectively, depicting a huge gap of around 49% point. This gap has brought down to only 8.7% point in 2011. Households having a source of drinking water within the premises have increased from 39% to 46.6% during 2001–2011. Nevertheless, households getting drinking water away from the premises have also recorded a marginal rise during the same period. Pondicherry has the highest score in the SDWSAAI followed by Daman and Diu, Chandigarh. Among states, Tamil Nadu has scored the highest, followed by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Manipur and Odisha have scored lower in the index. Regional disparity in access to safe drinking water still exists in India and needs further improvement and management for a better quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the first in-depth analysis of spatial differences and factors influencing wealth distribution among households in India. It uses data from the latest National Family Health Survey, covering 707 districts. Techniques like the Lorenz curve, Gini coefficient, Location Quotient, Morans statistics, and Univariate and Bivariate LISA methods explore inequalities, concentration, and clustering patterns of rich-poor households at the district level. Additionally, spatial regression models such as OLS, GWR, and MGWR help to uncover spatial disparities and variability. Our findings demonstrate significant regional disparities, with the affluent household concentration being notably higher in north-western and southern India, while central, eastern, and northeastern regions exhibit greater inequality. Key factors impacting wealth inequality include rurality, low female literacy rates, educational level of household heads and prevalence of Scheduled Castes/Tribes. This study highlights the spatial dimensions of wealth inequality and provides a nuanced understanding of the factors contributing to these patterns. The GWR and MGWR models prove most effective, explaining more than 90% of the variation in wealth distribution factors. This study sheds light on the spatial dynamics and factors behind wealth disparities in India, offering strategic insights for equitable growth initiatives targeting diverse socio-economic sectors. • Widening wealth gap has far-reaching consequences for society. • Sharp Rich-Poor contrast: Northwest & south vs. central, eastern & northeastern India. • Education, rurality, female literacy are key factors influencing rich-poor divide. • Bi-LISA reveals localized clustering pattern for both Rich vs. Poor. • GWR, MGWR models explain over 90% of wealth distribution variation effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the definition, measurement, and determinants of energy poverty among Indian households. Access to clean energy sources is vital for the welfare and development of citizens in any country. Therefore, energy poverty encompasses the deprivation of affordable, reliable, and essential energy services. The definition of energy poverty and its metrics can vary across different approaches. Hence, the metrics used to measure energy poverty are crucial for determining who is energy poor. Against this backdrop, using data from NFHS-5 (2019–21) survey, we compute a multidimensional energy poverty index (MEPI) for Indian households using the methodology introduced by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative. The MEPI score suggests that India is still a moderately energy poor country with regional disparity in energy poverty. We also examine determinants of energy poverty for Indian households by employing linear and fractional logit regression. Our results suggest that wealthier, more educated, or small-sized households fare better in terms of energy poverty. Households belonging to lower castes, rural areas, or having unemployed heads are more likely to be energy poor. Our baseline results are econometrically robust and inform policies that aim to address such deprivations. • India is multidimensionally and moderately energy poor; with Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index (MEPI) values ranging from 0.29 to 0.31. • Clean fuel access deprivation contributes the most to energy poverty. • Regional disparity in energy deprivation is prevalent, with rural Northern states being the worst performers. • Wealthier, more educated, or small-sized households fare better regarding energy poverty in India. • Households belonging to lower castes, rural areas, or having unemployed heads are more likely to be energy poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bihar, India's poorest state, witnessed impressive yield growth in its three principal crops during the last decade or so. This paper examines whether a reduction in regional yield disparities accompanied these state-level productivity gains. The convergence test allows the district-specific element of productivity to vary with time, thus permitting divergence in interim phases. District rice yields converged towards a common growth path. The results for wheat and maize are not as conclusive. However, there is strong evidence of divergence for each crop in recent years. This divergence, nonetheless, happens in the presence of club convergence. The club classification transcends agro-climatic boundaries, indicating a role for policy to aid growth in the lagging districts. The shifts in credit allocation over the years do not appear to be driving the yield divergence, highlighting the limitations of a macro credit-driven policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to examine the convergence in per-capita income (measured as per-capita net state domestic product) of regions in India during the period 1990–1991 to 2017–2018. Two separate analyses have also been done for the sub-periods, i.e., 1990–1991 to 2003–2004 and 2004–2005 to 2017–2018, to find out the effect of the second phase of economic liberalization in India. Design/methodology/approach: In a panel data study, the estimation of absolute and conditional beta (β)-convergence and sigma (σ)-convergence across 17 Indian regions have been done. To measure the dispersion of per-capita income across the regions in India, the standard deviation of logs, Gini coefficient, Mehran measure, Piesch measure, Kakwani measure and Theil index have been estimated. In addition to this, these indices have been regressed over time. Findings: This study finds the presence of absolute and conditional β-convergence; the regions with low initial per-capita income have grown faster than the regions with high initial per-capita income. Further, this study finds that foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow and the availability of power enhance growth across regions. However, this study finds the presence of σ-divergence, which indicates that the economic inequality among the regions in India has widened over the periods, calling for policy interventions to promote growth in the backward regions through the promotion of FDI inflow and the availability of power. Originality/value: This study highlights the rising economic inequality among the regions in India by analyzing the latest available data through appropriate econometric techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Ensuring that the benefits of growth are shared equitably requires a strong focus on greater convergence of regions in terms of output and productivity. The present study examines the regional disparities in Total Factor Productivity (TFP) in India by using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) based non-parametric, Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI), especially in the post-crisis period. It utilises panel data for 3-digit industries from Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) for the period from 2003-04 to 2017-18 for 18 Indian states. The study period has been divided into a pre-crisis period (2003-2008) and post-crisis period (2008-2017) to see the impact of global financial crisis (GFC) on productivity as well. The results show that at the all India level, TFP of Organised Indian Manufacturing has declined in the post-crisis period as compared to pre-crisis period. The decomposition of the productivity growth further reveals that technological changes propelled growth in the pre-crisis period and efficiency changes were responsible for driving post-crisis growth. However, the inter-regional variations in productivity reduced during the post-crisis years signalling towards convergence of growth which is a welcome change. The author found that TFP is positively impacted by education, health and road infrastructure whereas relationship with telecommunication was found to be statistically insignificant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the editor's views about how individuals can stay connected to issues involving the Global South as of 2021, and it mentions the COVID-19 pandemic, historians, and studies involving the Global South region. According to the article, disparities involving education, responsive government, and resources have contributed to a surge of coronavirus cases in places such as India and Brazil.

A study was conducted to examine the interrelationships among socioeconomic factors, household consumption patterns, calorie intake and greenhouse gas emissions factors in rural eastern India based on household survey data. Findings indicated that higher monthly per capita incomes (12.1–80.1$) were associated with greater average calorie intakes (2021–2525 kcal d−1). As estimated by the FEEDME model, in total 17.2% of the population was calorie malnourished with a regional disparity of 29.4–18.2% malnourishment. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were calculated only on the basis of crop and livestock production and consumption. Rice accounted for the highest share of total GHG emissions, on average 82.6% on a production basis, which varied from 58.1% to 94.9% in regional basis. Rice contributed the greatest share (~ 65% and 66.2%) in terms of both calories and GHG emissions (CO2 eq y−1), respectively, on a consumption basis. We conclude that extensive rice farming and increasing animal product consumption are dominant factors in the higher carbon footprint in this region and are likely to further increase with increase in per capita income. This study provides useful information to help for better crop planning and for fine-tuning food access policy, to reduce carbon footprint and calorie malnutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing literature on the importance of persistent regional inequalities in developing countries, with evidence that the lack of convergence in incomes across regions is associated with a rise in conflict and social unrest. However, there is a relative paucity of literature on the stochastic characteristics of gross domestic product at the sub‐national level. In this paper we identify new stochastic properties of Indian states' gross domestic product between 1960 and 2019 using a fractional stochastic convergence approach. We test for fractional stochastic convergence in relative incomes in order to identify high persistence and mean reversion. Interval estimates of the largest autoregressive coefficient for the relative incomes of Indian states are wide, thus including many alternatives that are persistent. Interval estimates of the half‐life of relative income shocks suggest that in several cases shocks die out within 0–10 years. Finally, we estimate a fractionally integrated model and obtain mixed evidence of mean reversion and non‐stationarity, with six out of 16 states experiencing mean reversion. These results are highly encouraging and contradict earlier studies which show long‐term divergence and polarization of regional incomes across Indian states, and are thus of great relevance to policy‐makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: National averages obscure geographic variation in program performance. We determined Parliamentary Constituency (PC)‐wise estimates of TB notification to guide political engagement. Methods: We extracted district‐level TB notification data from the 2018 annual TB report. We derived PC‐level estimates by building a 'cross‐walk' between districts and PCs using boundary shapefiles. We described the spatial distribution of the PC‐wise estimates of Total Notification Rate and percentage of Private Sector Notification. Results: The median PC‐wise Total Notification Rate was 126.24/100 000 (IQR: 94.86/100 000, 162.22/100 000). The median PC‐wise Percentage Private Sector Notification was 18.03% (IQR: 9.56%, 26.84%). Only 16 (2.94%) PCs met the target of 50% private sector notification. Most of high notification rates in PCs were driven by high notification in public sector. There was geographic – both interstate and within state inter‐PC – variation in the estimates of these indicators. The study identified some geographic patterns of notification – high positive outlier PCs with adjoining PCs in lower deciles of notification rates, intra‐state differences in PC performance, and similarities in notification rates of adjoining PCs in different states. Conclusion: In addition to regional inequality, the study identified geospatial patterns that can aid in the formulation of suitable interventions. These include decongestion of overburdened facilities by strengthening poorly performing units. The PCs with a high percentage Private Sector Notification can act as role models for neighbouring PCs to improve private sector engagement. MPs can play a crucial role in mobilising additional resources, creating awareness, and establishing inter‐PC and inter‐state collaboration to improve TB program performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the primary objectives of growth and development for economic planning initiated after Independence has been reduction of regional disparities in social and economic development. To achieve this objective, investment by central government and Centrally monitored and regulated private sector investment played a crucial role. During the initial Five year plans, government focused on the growth and development of agriculture sector followed by industrial sector. In terms of institutional agricultural credit, co-operative banks played a major role as Regional rural banks and scheduled commercial banks came later. Agriculture sector requires heavy investment to purchase capital inputs to improve the production and productivity therefore largely dependent on credit. In this paper, the goa; and objective is to understand the regional disparity in the agricultural credit deployed by scheduled commercial banks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial inclusion, especially for a developing nation like India, plays a vital role in framing policies to ensure the development of the underprivileged. Applying the maximum–minimum technique for normalization and inverse of the Euclidean distance for consolidation, the present study attempts to construct an index of financial inclusion across all the states and union territories of India for 2003–2018. It further explores the effect of regional classifications and productivity on the achievement of financial inclusion. Analysis suggests Chandigarh be placed at the top in terms of mean financial inclusion scores for the study period. In addition, comparison among the regional classifications advocates for significant differences. Whereas the difference between the groups based on productivity remains nonsignificant. Theoretical propositions expect uniform achievement in financial inclusion among the states of a country. However, certain macroeconomic and other factors seem to reduce the esteemed equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to estimate and identify the regional disparity of India's agricultural labour productivity growth by decomposing it into technical changes, efficiency changes and input accumulation per worker during the 2000–2016, the period marked with the launch of employment guarantee programme in rural India in 2006 and 2007. The study observes a significant growth in agricultural labour productivity despite variation in their sources, across the states in India during the sample period. While growth of India's agricultural labour productivity mainly depended on the accumulation of inputs and technical progress, efficiency changes contributed more towards regional disparities in agricultural productivity growth. Improving efficiency to promote TFP growth is important for agricultural labour productivity growth for the low-performing states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reveals distinct spatial variability of summer monsoon precipitation in Indian subcontinent during Northgrippian to Meghalayan transition. Protracted dry phase lasting ~1000 yrs was observed ~4.2 ka BP in southern and northwestern India whereas 200-300 yrs event occurred in northeastern parts. Strong El Niño conditions beginning ~4.3 kyr BP were associated with the millennial long dryness in western parts but its influence was limited in the eastern region. Cross-verified, high-resolution records from different geographic regions of India are still required to ascertain if regional differences occurred in span and magnitude during Northgrippian to Meghalayan transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]