Authors: Vilakshan Sharma, Shilan Ata Ali, Khushi Sibal, Vidushi Keshari, Shubham Kaswan, Hiya Chadha, M.Ayshwarya ABSTRACT The digital era has positioned social media platforms as critical spaces where gender, identity, and economic participation intersect. This study examines how social media enables women to assert digital identities and participate in entrepreneurial and economic activities. Drawing on thematic and survey-based evidence, the research uncovers that social media functions as a space of both empowerment and negotiationfor women. Respondents reported increased confidence, professional visibility, financial independence, and access to learning and networking opportunities. These findings align with global academic insights highlighting gendered platform preferences, algorithmic biases, and the commercialization of self-presentation online. However, the research also illuminates challenges such as emotional pressure, criticism management, cautious political expression, and mixed impacts on mental well-being. The study concludes that while social media significantly enables women’s economic empowerment and marketplace participation, these digital opportunities are shaped by persistent gendered structures, platform bias, and socio-cultural negotiation. This duality highlights the need for more inclusive platform design, digital literacy frameworks, and policy support to strengthen women’s equitable participation in the digital economy. Keywords: Social media, women’s empowerment, digital identity, digitalentrepreneurship, gendered platforms, economic participation.

Author: Uddipta Biswas ABSTRACT This paper traces the evolution of marriage laws in India from the colonial period to the present, analysing how legal frameworks, case laws, and personal law reforms have shaped the institution of marriage. It examines key shifts in legislation and judicial interpretation to show how marriage law has been used to negotiate questions of gender, community identity, and state authority. The study argues that the changing legal landscape reflects the ongoing tension between tradition, social reform, and constitutional principles in modern India. Methodologically, this paper adopts a doctrinal and interpretive legal approach, analysing statutes, judicial decisions, and secondary literature within a broader socio-legal framework.

Authors: Maryam Naik, Neha Bhowmik, Mehul Das Gupta, Omkar Mahajan ABSTRACT Neobanks represent a new wave of digital-first, branchless financial service providers that are gradually reshaping the financial landscape both globally and in India. Their emergence reflects a significant transformation in banking, as they integrate innovative technology, cost efficiency, and a customer-oriented approach into sectors that have traditionally been conservative and resistant to rapid change. In India, the growth of neobanks can largely be attributed to strategic partnerships with licensed banks and non-bank financial companies (NBFCs), which have not only facilitated product innovation but also spurred digital inclusion. Operating entirely online, these institutions aim to bridge the existing gap between traditional banking services and the evolving preferences of a tech-savvy clientele. However, despite their groundbreaking advancements, neobanks often find themselves navigating a regulatory grey area, as there is no specific licensing framework guiding their operations. This ambiguity not only impacts market dynamics but also influences how risks are allocated and affects public trust in digital finance. This research delves into the evolution, adoption, and regulation of neobanks in India, drawing insights from various studies focused on regulatory frameworks, financial inclusion, cybersecurity, and operational challenges. It emphasizes the vital role of government institutions, particularly the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in shaping the neobank ecosystem while highlighting ongoing issues related to service autonomy, user trust, and regulatory oversight. The findings suggest that while advancements in technology have fueled rapid growth and inclusion, the long-term sustainability of this ecosystem necessitates a careful balancing act between innovation and stability, achieved through enhanced governance and risk management practices. The paper argues that the future success of neobanks in India will hinge on the establishment of a clear licensing framework, bolstered digital safety, increased financial literacy, and improved public confidence through well-structured supervision and accountability mechanisms.

Author: Madhulika Mishra & Sparsha Singam ABSTRACT The rapid increase of electronic waste has, among other things, escalated the concerns of the global community regarding environmental and health effects such that India is one of the top e-waste generators in the world. This research paper, through the analysis of secondary data and two-city level case studies, i.e. Hyderabad and Bangalore, investigates the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in India. The study reveals that apart from the regulatory progress, the enforcement of the regulation is still very weak; the provision of services is not sufficient, and the governance of the fragmented local government units is still very weak, which together impede the EPR implementation in the area under study. It is necessary to strengthen data systems, integrate informal actors, and elevate institutional capacity if we are to open up the way for India’s circular economy. Keywords: Electronic Waste Management; Extended Producer Responsibility(EPR); Policy Implementation; Recykal; Producer Responsibility Organizations(PROs)

Authors: 1. Hafsha Rahman, Independent Researcher2. Manashi Parashar, Assistant Professor, Assam Don Bosco University3. Thal Blankson, Independent Researcher4. Faisal Mahmood, Assistant Professor, Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi5. Ceren Kale, Independent Researcher6. Sandeep Singh ABSTRACT This paper examines the reconfiguration of strategic diplomacy in an era defined by the transitionfrom unipolarity to multipolarity. The diffusion of power which is marked by the rise of India,China, Russia and the expanded role of the European Union has challenged the institutionalarchitecture built during the post World War II and the post Cold War eras. While traditionalmultilateral forums such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization remain pillarsof international legitimacy in world politics, their operational capacity is increasingly constrainedby geo-political contestation and institutional challenges. This study is an investigation of twointerrelated dimensions: first, the ability of established multilateral organisations, includingBRICS, to facilitate cooperation among competing powers, and second, the emergence of adaptivestrategies such as digital diplomacy, climate diplomacy and minilateralism–that seek to circumventor complement institutional inertia. The paper explores recent scholarship and content analysis of various secondary data available. It argues that diplomacy in a multipolar world is not defined bythe decline of old forums but by their coexistence with innovative, flexible mechanisms tailoredto specific issues and coalitions. By conceptualising strategic diplomacy as hybrid and adaptive,this study highlights the need to rethink global governance as a process of institutional layeringrather than wholesale replacement in a fragmented international order.

Author: Urvi Wadhwa ABSTRACT This paper investigates whether India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) can serve as a scalable model for reducing transaction costs and enhancing financial integration in cross-border payments. UPI has revolutionised India’s domestic payment ecosystem by reducing costs, improving efficiency, and fostering financial inclusion. Building on this success, India has pursued cross-border collaborations with Singapore, the UAE, Bhutan, and Nepal. Using a case study and comparative analysis methodology, this paper reviews secondary data from the RBI, NPCI, BIS, IMF, and World Bank to assess the role of UPI in cross-border integration. The findings suggest that while UPI reduces costs and improves access, challenges such as interoperability, foreign exchange management, and regulatory harmonisation remain. The study applies Transaction Cost Economics and Network Effects theory to frame UPI’s scalability and evaluates policy implications for the G20’s cross-border payment agenda. The paper concludes that UPI offers a promising framework, though its global adoption depends on sustained policy coordination and technical interoperability.

Author: Adiba Saifi ABSTRACT India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP, 2023–2025) represents a watershed moment in the country’sevolving digital privacy landscape. This research provides a critical examination of the Act’s legislative ambitions,practical implementation realities, and the persistent “user experience gap” that often transforms consent forms and terms of use from enablers of privacy into obstacles to meaningful engagement. Employing a dual-lens framework that integrates technical infrastructure considerations with human behavioral practices, the paper draws on original empirical survey data complemented by comprehensive policy analysis to reveal persistent gaps in user awareness, consent usability, and equitable access to digital privacy protections (Saifi, 2025).The study synthesizes these insights with scholarly literature to propose actionable recommendations aimed attransforming data protection laws from abstract rights into everyday lived realities. Crucially, the researchforegrounds the concept of “security as practice”—the understanding that privacy protection is not merely a legal or technological product but a dynamic, context-driven process shaped by the interplay of technical tools, institutional frameworks, and user behaviors (Schneier, 2000; Williams, 2020). Findings reveal that while the DPDP Act establishes a robust legal foundation, its transformative potential depends fundamentally on bridging the critical divide between formal protections and the lived experiences of diverse user populations. This research contributes to the broader understanding of how emerging digital governance frameworks can balance legal rigor, technological innovation, and user-centric design in diverse socio-cultural contexts, with particular relevance for other Global South nations navigating digital policy reform.

Authors: 1. Agrawal Damini Rohit, MA Political Science IGNOU2. Arundhuti Panda, BA Hons. Political Science St. Xavier’s College ABSTRACT The “Silicon Valley of India”, Bangalore, has come a long way to be recognized as more thanjust an Tech Hub; it has also become a nodal point of India’s Digital Diplomacy. This paperstudies how para-diplomatic actions, which includes the involvement of non-central governmentsin international relations, are crucial in shaping the global narrative of India’s potential in the ageof Evolving Artificial Intelligence, Tech Advancements and developing Digital Infrastructure.The study highlights historical trajectories, policy frameworks and the role of non-state actors,among other engagements, making the city not merely a tech hub but a geopolitical asset for thefuture of India as a leading Global Power with respect to the Quaternary Sector. The role of India’s IT Capital in integrating the lesser focused upon Sustainable DevelopmentGoals (SDGs), especially goals post-SDG6, that is SDG7 to SDG17 with the fast-paceddigitalization, Artificial Intelligence and tech diplomacy is also scrutinized through this paper.Majorly, secondary resources have been used to conduct this research and analyze thetechnological ecosystem of Bangalore boosting India’s soft power diplomacy and foreign policynarrative along with boosted Global Partnerships. It also explores the foreseeable challenges andsuggests various recommendations for overcoming those challenges. The paper positions Bangalore in the limelight and aims at promoting paths of recognizing paradiplomacyto shape international cooperation and digital governance of India.

Authors: 1. Sagrika Singh, BA in Economics & History, University of Delhi2. Anika Srivastava, BA Hons. Political Science, University of Delhi ABSTRACT This paper explores the rise of Gen Z-led protests in Nepal as a part of broader trend of youthmobilization across South and Southeast Asia. It examines how these protests connect toSustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16), which focuses on peace, justice, and stronginstitutions. The paper places Nepal’s 2025 digital-era uprising, triggered by state censorshipand corruption scandals, in the context of similar movements in Bangladesh, Indonesia, andthe Philippines. This comparison highlights shared regional issues of accountability,inclusivity, and transparency. Using comparative literature and recent case evidence, thestudy illustrates how digitally connected youth activism is turning SDG 16 from a policyframework into a real political demand.The paper delves deeply into the institutional responses prompted by the leaderless anddigitally synchronized protests occurring in Nepal and throughout the broader region. Itreveals that state institutions have exhibited a fluctuating approach, swinging betweenoppressive measures, extensive surveillance, and targeted digital crackdowns, contrasted withattempts at reform, dialogue, and strategies for co-optation. This dichotomy reveals acomplex tension: on one hand, authorities strive to maintain political control in the face ofsocietal unrest, while on the other hand, they grapple with genuine demands foraccountability and reform from the populace.Furthermore, the study meticulously examines how these varying governmental reactionsinfluence public trust in institutions, the perceived legitimacy of democratic governance, andthe overall long-term outlook for inclusive political processes. By placing the Nepal 2025uprising within this wider comparative context, the analysis emphasizes a pressing question:do the adaptations made by these institutions ultimately foster stronger mechanisms foraccountability, or do they simply entrench existing authoritarian practices?Ultimately, the paper posits that the mobilization of Generation Z transcends mere temporarydissatisfaction; it represents a profound political force driving change. This demographic isurging governments to move beyond mere rhetoric and actively implement the principlesenshrined in Sustainable Development Goal 16 encompassing ideals of peace, justice, and theestablishment of robust institutions transforming these principles into tangible realities thatimprove everyday life and governance.