Aditya Shafy Chandra1*, Sadiya Altaf Janwari2 1Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Studies, Khulna Agricultural University, Khulna-9100, Bangladesh. 2Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Pulwama, India Corresponding Author: adityashafy.chandra@gmail.com E-mail address: sadiajanwari20@gmail.com Abstract This study analytically investigates women’s financial inclusion across seven south Asian countries and has used World Development Indicators from 2011 to 2021. Financial inclusion can be defined as the availability and equality of opportunities to access and use financial services. It has emerged as an urgent priority of development linked to gender equality, reducing poverty and economic growth (Sarma & Pais ,2011; World Bank, 2014). This examination reveals significantly large cross-country variation with women owning an account, range from 2.95% in Pakistan to 89.28% in Sri Lanka by 2021. Panel regression analysis shows that GDP per capita impacts financial inclusion (p < 0.01) while female labor force shows a positive yet statistically insignificant relationship. India has witnessed a noticeable improvement with 192.76% growth over the decade, which resulted due to targeted policy interventions which includes Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (Kapoor,2014). Pakistan, on the other hand, despite witnessing significant percentage gains, it still maintained to have the lowest total inclusion levels, which reflects socio cultural and institutional barriers (Rahman, Rana & Barua, 2019). The findings mentioned in this paper highlight the vitality of integrated policy approaches that merge economic development, digital infrastructure expansion and initiatives to challenge the gender norms which are restrictive coercing women’s financial participation. Keywords: Financial Inclusion, Gender Gap, South Asia, Economic Development, Women Empowerment, Digital Finance 1. Introduction Financial inclusion has been identified as an important aspect of inclusive economic development and poverty reduction strategies across the world (Sarma & Pais, 2011; World Bank, 2014). Financial inclusion is described as the “process of ensuring access to suitable financial products and services at reasonable costs in a fair and transparent manner” (Hannig & Jansen, 2010). Financial inclusion helps people save money in a safe manner, invest in productive sectors, cope with economic risks, and become resilient to financial shocks. Financial inclusion has been recognized as a facilitator for achieving seven out of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (United Nations, 2015). For women in particular, financial inclusion is more than just an economic empowerment tool; it is also a means of achieving greater autonomy, decision-making capacity, and social mobility (Kabeer, 2005; Swamy, 2014). Financial inclusion can allow women to build assets on their own, invest in education and health, establish and grow businesses, and make their own decisions about household resources. Studies have shown that financial inclusion of women has positive spillover effects on child nutrition, education, and overall household well-being (Dupas & Robinson, 2013). Despite the rapid economic growth and development of financial systems in South Asia over the past two decades, the region still has some of the most visible gender gaps in financial inclusion in the world (International Monetary Fund, 2018). Women in South Asia are confronted with multiple barriers such as lower levels of education, limited participation in the labor market, digital divides, and deeply rooted socio-cultural factors that impede their economic empowerment (Ghosh & Vinod, 2017; Rahman, Rana, & Barua, 2019). Although some studies have been conducted on financial inclusion in South Asia, and some cross-country studies have been conducted, empirical evidence specific to South Asia, using standardized and comparable data sets for all major economies. In this context, the present study undertakes a comprehensive empirical analysis of women’s financial inclusion in seven South Asian nations, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, using World Development Indicators data from 2011 to 2021. Specifically, the study aims to: By addressing these objectives, the study contributes to the growing literature through a standardized, region-wide comparative framework. 2. Literature Review 2.1 Conceptual Framework of Financial Inclusion The literature on financial inclusion has progressed from the conventional focus on access to banking services to a broader focus that includes access, usage, and quality aspects of financial inclusion (Demirgüç-Kunt & Klapper, 2013). Sarma and Pais (2011) constructed a multi-dimensional index of financial inclusion that covered banking penetration, the degree of banking services, and the use of the banking system. Chakravarty and Pal (2013) further extended this line of thinking by incorporating an axiomatic structure that covered the distributional elements of financial inclusion. More recent literature suggests that financial inclusion must be considered not only as a function of account ownership but as engagement with formal financial services (Allen et al., 2016). This difference between access and usage becomes even more important in the context of women’s financial inclusion, where gender-specific barriers could result in a higher level of account dormancy among women (Demirgüç-Kunt et al., 2018). 2.2 Determinants of Financial Inclusion The existing literature has been able to identify some of the important determinants that affect the availability of formal financial services. At the macroeconomic level, economic development has been identified as an important determinant of financial inclusion. Economies with higher GDP per capita have better financial systems, more developed regulatory systems, and greater household capacity to access formal financial services (Sethi & Acharya, 2018). Sharma (2016) has also been able to identify important empirical relationships between economic development and financial inclusion in the Indian context. Education has been identified as an important determinant of financial inclusion. Education and literacy abilities enable people to understand financial systems and make important decisions (Mehrotra et al., 2009). For women, education has been identified as an important determinant of financial inclusion. Education not only increases financial abilities but also increases bargaining power in the household (Ghosh & Vinod, 2017). Labor force participation is another important determinant, although the correlation is complex. The formal sector job generates demand for banking services through salaries, as well as familiarity with financial institutions (Aterido, Beck, & Iacovone, 2013). However, in environments where the informal sector is the norm, the correlation between labor force participation and financial inclusion could be weakened. 2.3 Digital Technology and Financial Inclusion Recent studies have also emphasized the revolutionary potential of digital technology

Author: Aayushmaan Malviya ABSTRACT The global balance of power is changing. After decades of being dominated by two major powers, the world is slowly moving toward a system where power is shared among several countries. This paper studies the shift from bipolarity—when two superpowers controlled global politics—to multipolarity, where many countries now influence international decisions. It looks at why this change is happening, focusing on economic growth, military strength, technological progress, and political influence. The study examines the changing role of the United States, the rise of China, the return of Russia as a major power, and the growing importance of countries like India and regional groups such as the European Union and BRICS. The paper also discusses how globalization and international institutions affect this transition. Finally, it analyzes how multipolarity impacts global peace, cooperation, and conflict, arguing that while a multipolar world allows more voices to be heard, it also creates uncertainty and new challenges for global stability.

AUTHOR CREDENTIALS ABSTRACT With the increasing environmental crisis across the globe, ecocide has achieved more widespread recognition and broader awareness. It is high time we recognised ecocide as 5th International Crime under the Rome Statute (International Criminal Court,1998) since the existing legal provisions lack regulations or frameworks. The focus is to solve the paradox of how can destruction of the environment during a war is crime, and the same destruction in peacetime is not considered a crime. The individuals or corporations must be held accountable for the collapse of biodiversity and the displacement of communities. There is a need for the creation of new justice mechanisms like national laws, an environmental tribunal or a special court dedicated just to ecological justice. This paper aims to examine the potential impact of criminalisation of ecocide and establish criminal liability for environmental harm by imposing sanctions and reinforcing justice. The cooperation between international organisations can help the authority to prosecute individuals, corporate leaders, and state actors responsible for large-scale environmental harm. We require political commitment and global cooperation for implementing ecocide laws and effective enforcement. Ecocide laws will drive the corporations and individuals into adapting new and healthier ways that can hold polluters accountable. Also, the government can take significant steps towards protecting the environment and promoting sustainability. It will support in achieving the sustainable development goals 13, 14 and 15 by compelling environmental stewardship across all sectors. Finally, the paper affirms a widespread support is needed to ensure that environmental havoc is no longer met with impunity but with justice. KEYWORDS: Ecocide, Criminalisation, Environment SDGs, Liability.

Authors: Milan Suryadipta Das, Kohana Singh, Lohitha Hamu Banothu, Arvind Kumar Mahto, and Varadharajulu Gayathri ABSTRACT Urban solid waste management in India operates under a formal regulatory framework mandating segregation at source and its preservation through collection. Yet segregation outcomes remain inconsistent despite widespread door-to-door collection coverage. This study examines why such implementation gaps persist at the ward level. Existing literature largely focuses on financial and governance constraints at national or city scales, with limited attention to operational dynamics during primary collection. Using a multi-city exploratory approach based on primary survey responses collected through a structured questionnaire (Google Form), the study analyses the segregation–collection interface where household practices intersect with municipal systems. Findings indicate that while segregation at source exists, it remains fragile and is frequently undermined during collection due to infrastructural gaps, limited supervision, and coordination challenges among actors. Mixing during collection further generates behavioural feedback that weakens sustained compliance. The study demonstrates that implementation failure is reproduced through routine interactions between institutional capacity constraints and coordination gaps at the frontline of service delivery. Strengthening segregation preservation at the ward level is therefore critical to translating regulatory intent into sustained practice.

Authors: Ishika Singh, Sadhika Sunil, Ashina Sharma, and Manaal Farooqui ABSTRACT Education plays a crucial role in the social and economic development of a country. In recent years, India has introduced several educational policy reforms and increased its focus on improving the quality and accessibility of education. This study examines educational policy reforms and budget priorities in India since 2014 and analyses their relationship with human development outcomes. The study is based on secondary data collected from government reports, research articles, and published sources. The research explores major educational policy reforms, trends in the education sector, and government budget allocation for education. It also examines the relationship between education and human development by analysing indicators such as education expenditure and educational attainment. The study highlights the importance of government investment in education for improving literacy, skills, and overall development. The findings suggest that educational reforms and increased government attention towards education have contributed to improvements in access to education and learning opportunities. However, challenges such as limited financial resources and inequalities in educational access still remain. The study concludes that effective educational policies and adequate budget allocation are essential for improving human development outcomes in India.

Authors: Ishita Kumar & Kritvi Dutta ABSTRACT Precarity among university students represents a structurally produced condition of instability that shapes academic engagement, financial security, and psychological well-being. This quantitative study examines how financial and academic experiences influence well-being and perceived support among 209 undergraduate and postgraduate students in India. Using a cross-sectional survey design, the study employed descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis to assess relationships between key variables. Results indicate that academic experiences emerged as a significant positive predictor of well-being and support (p<.001), while financial experiences did not demonstrate a statistically significant direct effect. Qualitative responses, however, reveal that financial precarity operates subtly constraining career choices, intensifying academic stress, and shaping students’ emotional experiences. The findings suggest that well-being is determined by the interplay of academic demands, structural constraints, and institutional responses, rather than isolated events. Addressing student precarity requires moving beyond individualised resilience frameworks toward structural reforms that integrate well-being into academic environments, recognise the diverse realities of student populations, and embed support systems within institutional practice rather than leaving students to navigate instability alone.

Authors: Harsh Agarwal, Lekshmy Iyer, Thakur Diksha, Sakshi Singh, Aman Sharma, Srishti Yadav ABSTRACT This paper provides a socio-legal evaluation of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) and its direct impact on the financial autonomy of rural women in India. Moving beyond standard metrics of basic financial inclusion, such as the mere opening of bank accounts, this study defines true financial autonomy through measurable indicators: subjective control over loan expenditure, influence in household financial decision-making, and the successful graduation to sustainable micro-enterprise management. Central to this evaluation is a comparative methodology analyzing two divergent state-level frameworks: Bihar’s “Mass Saturation” model, which prioritizes broad social mobilization, and Madhya Pradesh’s “Economic Intensity” model, which focuses on deeper capital investment. By evaluating empirical data on Self Help Group (SHG) outcomes, the study demonstrates that while Bihar has successfully mobilized over 1.48 crore women, its low average loan disbursement of ₹0.93 Lakh per SHG limits women’s capacity to scale their businesses. In contrast, Madhya Pradesh’s higher average loan disbursement of ₹1.62 Lakh and intensive digital tracking have yielded a higher entrepreneurial success rate, converting 37.7% of its SHG members into “Lakhpati Didis” (women earning over ₹1,00,000 annually) compared to Bihar’s 28.6%. Ultimately, this research argues that overcoming deeply entrenched socio-legal and patriarchal barriers requires transitioning policy focus from mass SHG formation to ensuring deeper credit linkage and genuine financial decision-making power for rural women.

Author: Vanshika Shukla ABSTRACT Modern tort doctrines such as negligence, strict liability, and vicarious liability provide foundational tools for addressing harms caused by artificial intelligence (AI), yet they struggle to accommodate the unique features of autonomous, opaque, and continuously evolving systems. This paper employs a combined doctrinal, comparative, and normative methodology to argue that a hybrid liability architecture is the most appropriate pathway for India. Specifically, this paper advocates for: (i) strict liability for physical, safety-critical harms caused by autonomous AI systems; (ii) a calibrated fault-based regime for informational and reputational harms; and (iii) statutory algorithmic duties supported by procedural and institutional reforms. Drawing on Indian constitutional principles, landmark domestic and international jurisprudence, and the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (EU AI Act), the paper identifies structural doctrinal failures in existing law, critically evaluates the applicability of European regulatory models to the Indian legal context, and proposes concrete legislative provisions tailored to India’s socio-legal environment.

Author: Anusha Garg and Glory Saikia ABSTRACT India’s Act East Policy has increasingly repositioned Northeast India from a peripheral frontier into a strategic gateway linking India to Southeast Asia. This paper argues that this transformation is best understood as a narrative shift with uneven material consequences. Rather than treating Act East as a straightforward success story of connectivity-led regional integration, the paper examines the gap between policy rhetoric and actual outcomes. It develops a causal argument linking policy narrative, infrastructure strategy and regional integration outcomes. The central claim is that the gateway narrative has legitimised infrastructure-led initiatives such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project and BIMSTEC connectivity frameworks, but these initiatives remain constrained by domestic political economy conditions, governance fragmentation, conflict legacies and regional instability. The paper therefore situates India’s Act East Policy within a hybrid model of South-South regional integration, where the language of partnership and mutual benefit coexists with India’s leadership role and uneven implementation. Northeast India emerges as both the symbolic anchor of India’s eastward strategy and the site where the limits of infrastructure-led regionalism become most visible.

AUTHOR: DYKSHA VERMA INTRODUCTION This paper answers the following research question: can Alternative Dispute Resolution function as the primary legal mechanism for solving disputes In the outer space, and if so what enforcement architecture is constitutionally, institutionally and technically required to make is work legally This paper proceeds on the assumption that outer space requires not merely dispute resolution, but a legally enforceable system of adjudication capable of operating in the absence of territorial sovereignty. Humanity stands at the threshold of an era in which the human beings will not just visit outer space but also live in it on orbital stations, lunar outposts, and eventually Martian colonies. With habitation there comes human conflict which calls for a need of laws. Laws require enforcement. This simple and basic argument contradicts with the reality of outer space: a frontier that has no police force, no prison system and no government authority capable of compelling compliance with any legal decision.