Authors: Sakshi Soni, Sumaiya Abdin, Nishesh Sharma ABSTRACT This paper compares air pollution governance in Beijing and Delhi between 2005 and 2025 to explain their divergent air quality outcomes despite sustained policy attention. Using policy frameworks, institutional analysis, and air quality trends, the study traces each city’s shift from episodic crisis responses toward longer-term governance strategies. The findings show that Beijing’s success in reducing PM 2.5 stemmed from centralized authority, legally enforceable mandates, and regional airshed coordination, while Delhi’s fragmented and litigation-driven approach yielded limited and inconsistent improvements. The analysis demonstrates that effective air pollution control depends on governance capacity and enforcement credibility rather than policy intent alone. By contrasting these trajectories, the paper highlights how institutional structure shapes environmental outcomes and draws policy-relevant lessons for strengthening air quality governance in Delhi NCR.

Authors: Prachi Dhoundiyal, Shristi, Ikrame Kohl, Sujay Bokade, Ruquin Nadigadda, Devi N ABSTRACT Background: Artificial intelligence (AI)–enabled disease surveillance systems have become increasingly prominent in public health, particularly during recent global health emergencies. While these technologies offer potential benefits for early outbreak detection and response, their widespread deployment raises complex ethical and legal questions that remain insufficiently synthesised. Objective: This scoping review aimed to map the existing legal and ethical frameworks governing AI-powered disease surveillance systems, identify dominant themes across jurisdictions, and highlight gaps relevant to policy and governance. Methods: A qualitative scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O’Malley framework and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were performed across major biomedical and legal databases, supplemented by authoritative policy and regulatory documents. The included sources were synthesised using thematic analysis to capture recurring ethical and legal concerns. Results: The reviewed literature demonstrated substantial heterogeneity in governance approaches across regions. Privacy and data protection emerged as the most frequently discussed ethical concerns, alongside challenges related to informed consent, accountability, transparency, and equity. Legal frameworks varied widely, with comprehensive data protection regimes in some jurisdictions contrasted by fragmented or outdated regulatory structures elsewhere. Across settings, a consistent gap was observed between high-level ethical principles and their operationalization in enforceable governance mechanisms. Conclusion: AI-powered disease surveillance is governed by diverse and evolving legal and ethical frameworks, yet significant governance gaps persist. Addressing these gaps through context-sensitive, enforceable, and equity-oriented regulatory approaches will be essential to ensure responsible and trustworthy use of AI in public health surveillance.

Authors: PRANAV VS, HIYA, GUNCHA DANDONA, SUKRATI SHAH, HARSHIT, SANIYA Sudan has been a highly conflict-prone zone and a perfect case study to understand global inequality, genderedorganizational structures, and persistent civilian violence. Humanitarian missions conducted by UN branches highlight the significance of SDG 10, which targets a reduction in global inequality within and among countries. The country has been in a civil war since due to the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), fighting over resource-rich areas like oil-bearing Kordofan and Darfur, displacing millions amid atrocities including civilian massacres and famine, dividing the country into north and south. International peacekeeping missions in Sudan have involved missions like UNMIS (2005-2011) and UNAMID (2007-2020), which aim at stabilizing postcivil war north-south divides and Darfur’s ethnic conflicts, while humanitarian aid addresses ongoing crises displacing millions of civilians. While the literature does acknowledge that mutual aid groups are much more effective than international NGO’s, it lacks information about how to integrate the informal and formal groups together for efficient funding mechanisms. It also fails to recognise the impact on certain vulnerable groups, such as displaced women and children. The research and insufficient data on the granular localisation strategy. The paper aims to examine the structural, human, and epidemiological crises affecting Sudan’s health system under conflict. They aim to explore how international funding architectures can be redesigned to accommodate unregistered mutual aid groups while maintaining donor accountability; analyze the coping strategies adopted by Sudanese healthcare workers working in conflict zones, with focus on gendered differences in resilience, risk exposure, and care labor; and assess the extent to which Sudan’s “quadruple burden” of disease; communicable illnesses, non-communicable diseases, conflict-related trauma, and mental health conditions—poses a systemic threat to long-term public health recovery. Together, the questions situate health system collapse within intertwined governance failures, frontline labor precarity, and compounded disease burdens, highlighting the need for conflict sensitive, gender-responsive, and locally anchored health financing and recovery strategies.

Authors: Shivangi Kaushik, Tanisha Banthia, Reena Choudhary, Mahima Chaudhary, Diyaa Goswami, Drushti Vagal and Noel Mathew ABSTRACT This article views the reestablished significance of economic statecraft in international relations, especially the major powers’ strategic employing of sanctions and supply-chain management. The authors of this paper argue against the ideas of liberal thinkers which suggest that economic interdependence is a guarantee of stability, by claiming that contemporary globalization has driven states that are strategically located in the financial and production networks to turn economic ties into a weapon for geopolitical advantage. The qualitative comparative case-study method is employed in the paper to explore two important cases, namely the United States–China technology conflict and the EU’s sanctioning of Russia in connection with the Ukraine crisis. These cases indicate that economic coercion seldom results in instant political surrender; rather, it precipitates longterm structural changes like switching suppliers, cutting ties, and moving production locations. The research adds to the discussion on interdependence through the use of power by clarifying that the use of economic statecraft is not a matter of short-term punishment but rather of changing globally dependent patterns in a highly disunited international order.

Authors: Arushi Rohilla, Shaikh Altamash Khalid, Akshara A, Ayush Singh, Sourav Midya, Vaidehi Dudhrejiya ABSTRACT Over 40% of the world’s population suffers from at least one type of neurological disease with neurological conditions accounting for 11.1 million deaths yearly. Treatment methods for neurological diseases have received increasing scholarly and clinical attention. BCI stands for Brain Computer Interfaces- a device that interfaces neural electrical activity with external devices. Conventionally, they serve as assistive devices. A prominent example within this class of technologies is the N1 implant developed by Neuralink, a US-based neurotechnology company founded in 2016, developing high-bandwidth, fully implantable BCIs moving beyond traditional assistive and compensatory devices several implications for behavioural and economic outcomes. Essentially, the chip detects brain neural activity through electrodes and allows individuals to control external devices with their thoughts, not by voice command or eye tracking but through direct neural signals translated into digital commands. Neuralink’s work with brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) are primarily designed for people who have lost the physical ability to move, speak, or sense the world, even though their minds remain active and capable. These physical limitations often block people from fully participating in education, social life, and the workforce, essentially capping their potential contributions to society, often referred to by economists as “human capital. For individuals with lost motor abilities, BCIs like Neuralink can restore autonomy and functioning and can contribute to inclusion into workforce, gains in skillset, educational development. However, this raises profound questions and concerns: with the development of such invasive technology, are we potentially altering aspects of human identity through technological mediation? Does the widespread commercialisation of such technology, though decades away, raise the possibility of applying this technology to non-neurologically-affected individuals, implying enhanced cognitive abilities beyond typical human capacity? Neuralink’s launch into public media has raised scientific curiosity, controversy and ethical concerns- similar to AI. Tracing back to AI evolution, AI was created to stimulate human intelligence in machines. Today, we find ourselves dependent, and use it as an assistive tool from everyday functioning to large-scale tasks. At its core, technology confronts one of humanity’s oldest philosophical tensions: the relationship between mind and body, human agency, between human limitation and technological possibility. Neuralink allows us to reach potential that is unknown, and to discuss its implications is where this paper stands. This paper evaluates how Neuralink may alter labour market outcomes among both neurologically impaired and non-impaired populations. Through this paper, we aim to understand the role Neuralink could have post commercialization and wide-spread adoption. Our primary research objective is to understand the impact of Neuralink implantation on human capital formation and economic outcomes, with specific reference to labour force participation and wage premiums across different population groups.

Authors: 1. Dr. Omkar Shinde 2. Sneha Naresh Yada 3. Calvin K. Makok 4. Karandeep Singh Sandh 5. Deeksha Ramesh Banger 6. Saniya Khan 7. Dr. Devraj Bikash Das 8. Shraddha Jain ABSTRACT Background: Artificial intelligence (AI)–enabled disease surveillance systems have become increasingly prominent in public health, particularly during recent global health emergencies. While these technologies offer potential benefits for early outbreak detection and response, their widespread deployment raises complex ethical and legal questions that remain insufficiently synthesised. Objective: This scoping review aimed to map the existing legal and ethical frameworks governing AI-powered disease surveillance systems, identify dominant themes across jurisdictions, and highlight gaps relevant to policy and governance. Methods: A qualitative scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O’Malley framework and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were performed across major biomedical and legal databases, supplemented by authoritative policy and regulatory documents. The included sources were synthesised using thematic analysis to capture recurring ethical and legal concerns. Results: The reviewed literature demonstrated substantial heterogeneity in governance approaches across regions. Privacy and data protection emerged as the most frequently discussed ethical concerns, alongside challenges related to informed consent, accountability, transparency, and equity. Legal frameworks varied widely, with comprehensive data protection regimes in some jurisdictions contrasted by fragmented or outdated regulatory structures elsewhere. Across settings, a consistent gap was observed between high-level ethical principles and their operationalisation in enforceable governance mechanisms. Conclusions: AI-powered disease surveillance is governed by diverse and evolving legal and ethical frameworks, yet significant governance gaps persist. Addressing these gaps through context-sensitive, enforceable, and equity-oriented regulatory approaches will be essential to ensure responsible and trustworthy use of AI in public health surveillance.

Authors: Mohammed Faizaan, Kashvi Mangal, Richard Odhiambo Okech, Vaibhavi Gunjan, Aparna Jha, Manishita Das, Ikpa Ochanya Euginia, Chrisma Gabriela ABSTRACT Stereotypes in recruitment and admission continue to shape approaches for possibilities regardless of the developing commitments to inclusion, equality and equity. This abstract evaluates how biases based on gender, race or disability influence the overall decision making processes in selection, recruitment and admission. Gender-based stereotypes often assume manifestations about lack of leadership quality, emotional capacity, commitment towards career, this results in the discriminative evaluation of candidates. Bias based on race controls through both obvious biases and subtle systematic biases such as name-based biases, hampering ethical screening and testing schemes, disadvantage towards individuals from marginalized communities who suffer from disproportionality in academics and professionalism. Disability based stereotypes, often overlooked, reflect an discriminative attitude that evaluates and correlates disability with incompetence or excessive infrastructural expense, leading to the aligned and structured way of exclusion of qualified candidates based on biases. This abstract particularly further highlights the influence of unconscious bias which is exclusively rooted deep inside social and cultural conditioning of mindset and organizational cultures. Such stereotypes not only pulls from fairness and equity but also restricts organizational inclusivity, innovation and individual dignity. By neutralizing structural inequalities, these biases in hiring and admission results in long term organizational loss and underdevelopment. Using contextual terminologies like “racism” in western context, “castebased discrimination” in south Asian context and “ethnicity based” stereotypes in multicultural regions, the paper ensures the acknowledgement of accuracy and inclusivity in order to sustain the ethical and dignified representation. The topic demands for the need of transparency, standard recruitment methods and inclusivity that actively challenge all such biases. Acknowledging biases is not only an ethical or legal obligation or duty but a crucial step for the upliftment of the entire society by instilling meritocracy, institutional diversity, justice, human policy and overall achievement of ethical organizational goals and objectives in both professional and academic fields.

Authors: 1. MANASA NALLAPURAJU 2. MANSHI MAAN 3. PRAGATI SINGH 4. SNEHA S S 5. VIRINCH BHASKAR PADMNABHAM ABSTRACT This study reflects on the enduring gap that exists between the different laws that have been set up in India over the years and how safe women really are. It is noted that after the “Nirbhaya” incident in 2012 the Indian government shifted from a colonial, era protectionist approach to an autonomy, based jurisprudence, leading to the enactment of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 as part of India’s broader criminal law restructuring framework intended to strengthen responses to gender-based violence.16 This report, however, argues that these reforms are still one of the “reactive legislative wins” which do not acknowledge a sizable judicial and fiscal administration implementation gap. By institutional performance audit, the research identifies judicial lethargy and long-standing shortages in judicial manpower remain central constraints, with national pendency levels exceeding five crore cases across courts.23 as the primary causes of the justice system where trial pendency cancels the deterrent effect of stricter penalties. The research uncovers the “safety paradox” of urban governance, in which fiscal resources are disproportionately allocated toward surveillancebased interventions rather than structural prevention mechanisms.20, 21 in that most of the fiscal resources are being used for “negative liberty” measures, such as technological surveillance, which places the responsibility of safety on the victim instead of dealing with the root social causes. In addition, this paper argues against the “literacy myth” and arguesthat formal education is an insufficient solution for violence arising from patriarchal social control. When compared to international “wellbeing” models, such as New Zealand’s Te Aorerekura national prevention strategy, which frames violence prevention as a long-term wellbeing obligation coordinated across justice, health, and social institutions14, the study suggests a shift towards implementation, focused governance. The following sections build on this argument by situating the issue within global and national contexts, followed by an analysis of institutional, fiscal, and urban governance factors shaping women’s safety in India.

ABSTRACT As children increasingly navigate the digital world for education, social recreation, and interaction, they face a growing spectrum of cyber threats that exploit child vulnerabilities rather than technical flaws. This paper reframes cybersecurity as a child rights issue, focusing on how behavioral factors such as curiosity, trust, and limited digital awareness make young users particularly susceptible to online exploitation. Employing a multidisciplinary methodology, the study draws on case studies, global cybersecurity incident reports, behavioral research, and policy analysis to examine how malicious social engineering infiltrates child-centric platforms, especially gaming and social media. It proposes a human-centered cybersecurity framework that integrates age-appropriate digital literacy, accessible safety tools, and ethical design principles to safeguard digital well-being. The paper advocates for treating cybersecurity as an essential component of childhood, calling for coordinated action among educators, policymakers, technology designers, and guardians to build safer, more principled online ecosystems for vulnerable populations.

Authors: 1. ABHIMANYU CHHIBBER (Graduate, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi) 2. PRANAV SARNA (Student, Amity University) ABSTRACT “In the shadows of the digital realm, cybercrimes have emerged as a formidable threat to global security, economic stability, and personal privacy.” As technology embeds itself deeper into daily life, the vulnerabilities it carries have grown exponentially. This article explores cybercrime as a global complication advanced by rapid technological progression, highlighting the urgent need for cybersecurity and international cooperation. It underscores the critical role of the human element in cyberattacks, identifies systemic flaws in current defense mechanisms, and advocates for a multidisciplinary, collaborative model of cyber resilience. Drawing on digital trends and current evidence, this research offers a comprehensive perspective directed towards fostering a more nuanced and actionable cybersecurity framework that accounts for the intricate interplay between human behavior and technological infrastructure in combating cyber threats.