Authors: Rushali Bardhan, Monishka Khandelwal, Diksha Sharma, Aparna Maharana ABSTRACT India’s geographical location at the epicentre of Indian Ocean gives it a strategic edge. A bulk amount of India’s trade, nearly 90% passes via sea routes which directly proportionate maritime security to national development. This paper presents analytical study of how India as an emerging Maritime power could dynamically and efficiently wield the strategic location of Indian Ocean to become a sustainable maritime power? It further analyses the global trend of maritime order, focusing on Sustainable Ocean Governance, development in the arena of Blue Economy as well as Sea Lines of Communication. The study examines India’s unique maritime strategy within a broader focus of Indo-Pacific framework, where the external growing influence of China and its motive to captivate the vital chokepoints has been a prop of regional disruptions. Again, the paper highlights India’s initiatives such as SAGARMALA Programme, efforts to modernize the naval capabilities, Blue Economy developments and paving an inclusive path for holistic development under the SAGAR vision. Moreover, aligning the SDGs have also been critically assessed. The research points out a gap between India’s strategic intent and enduring enforcement, specifically balancing the environmental sustainability along with portrayal of hard power diplomacy. Hence, it shows that India’s establishment as a sustained maritime power needs regional cooperation, innovative technological support, good governance and most importantly a balanced competition in the region. Here the paper focuses to bridge the existing gaps by highlighting a structure connoting maritime sea power with a sustainable development of the ocean that keeps intact the stability and affluency of the region.

Authors: Aruna Iyappan, Gnanasree Nagavelly, Rachel Michael, Sarmin Rahman, Pratishtha Sharma, Muskan Rastogi ABSTRACT India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision places strong emphasis on women’s empowerment and self-reliance as key pillars of national development. However, it gives limited attention to the everyday mobility conditions that enable women to participate in education, employment, and public life. According to Census 2011, nearly 84 percent of women’s workrelated travel in India depends on public transport such as buses. Despite this high dependence, public transport systems are not traditionally designed to accommodate women’s distinct mobility patterns and safety needs. These conditions raise critical questions about how women’s mobility shapes their ability to become economically and socially self-sustaining. This study examines women’s everyday mobility experiences across six Indian states using a qualitative research design. In-depth interviews were conducted with 34 women from diverse socio-economic and occupational backgrounds, including students, salaried employees, and informal and daily wage workers. The study explores perceptions of safety, use of public transport, and daily travel decisions. The findings show that women’s mobility is shaped by constant negotiation rather than free choice. Fear functions as a persistent condition that influences travel timing, route selection, and mode of transport, even when no direct incident has occurred. These constraints are particularly severe for women in informal employment who have limited flexibility and fewer alternatives. Public transport and public spaces often operate as gendered environments where responsibility for safety is placed on individual women rather than institutions. The study suggests that women’s safe mobility must be recognised as a foundational requirement for self-sustaining and inclusive development within the Viksit Bharat 2047 framework.

Authors: Rebecca Dcunha and Ankita Das ABSTRACT Personality traits play an important role in shaping interpersonal relationships which include Dark Triad traits which are often associated with maladaptive relational outcomes. The present study delved the relationship between Dark Triad personality traits- videlicet egocentrism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy- and romantic relationship satisfaction, with attachment style proposed as an interceding variable. Given the growing body of literature pressing the interpersonal consequences of socially aversive personality traits, this study aimed to explore the underpinning mechanisms through which similar traits impact romantic relationship issues among youthful grown-ups in India. A quantitative cross-sectional correlational exploration design was employed, and data were collected through an online survey administered through Google Forms. The sample comprised youth between 18-30 years among the Indian population using convenience sampling. Participants completed a set of standardized tone- report measures assessing Dark Triad personality traits, attachment styles, and relationship satisfaction. Contrary to theoretical prospects, the results revealed that Dark Triad personality traits weren’t significantly associated with either attachment styles or relationship satisfaction. Likewise, attachment style did not significantly intervene the relationship between Dark Triad traits and relationship satisfaction. These null findings suggest that the associations between socially aversive personality traits and romantic relationship issues may be more nuanced and environment-dependent than being theoretical frameworks proposed.The findings of the study contribute to a better understanding of the complexity of the underlying mechanismsthrough which socially aversive personality traits influence romantic relationship outcomes among youngadults

Authors: Mercy Alexander, Tamanna Singh, Soumili Rakshit, Minakshi Chakraborty ABSTRACT Clean energy subsidies occupy a central position in contemporary climate policy, widely embraced as tools for accelerating decarbonization, fostering technological innovation, and supporting sustainable economic development. Governments increasingly justify these subsidies as necessary interventions to correct market failures associated with fossil fuel dependence. However, beyond their surface appeal lies a critical and under examined question of distribution: whether clean energy subsidies genuinely drive transformative industrial change or primarily operate as mechanisms that concentrate economic benefits among large corporate actors while displacing environmental costs across sectors, communities, and borders. This research interrogates the economic and environmental impacts of clean energy subsidies through a critical legal and policy lens. It seeks to determine whether subsidy regimes meaningfully restructure industrial systems or merely reinforce existing power asymmetries by favoring corporations with the financial capacity, technological sophistication, and regulatory access needed to capture state incentives. The study examines how subsidy design, eligibility criteria, and regulatory frameworks shape market participation, often marginalizing small-scale producers and local enterprises, thereby limiting inclusive growth and competitive innovation. Beyond economic allocation, it exposes hidden environmental externalities within subsidized clean energy systems. While subsidies often reduce emissions at the point of generation, they obscure significant upstream and downstream environmental costs, including intensive mineral extraction, land degradation, water pollution, waste management challenges, and cross-border ecological harm linked to supply chains. These burdens are disproportionately borne by environmentally vulnerable regions, resource-rich developing states, and marginalised communities, raising concerns of environmental injustice and regulatory displacement rather than genuine sustainability. The research assesses the extent to which existing legal instruments adequately internalise environmental costs, prevent regulatory capture, and ensure accountability across the clean energy value chain. Particular attention is given to environmental impact assessments, corporate disclosure obligations, and transnational regulatory gaps. The study adopts a doctrinal research methodology. The research analyses statutes and regulatory frameworks as primary sources, alongside journal articles, newspapers, and other secondary materials. Methodologically, it adopts a doctrinal and comparative legal approach to evaluate subsidy frameworks across selected jurisdictions. Ultimately, the study challenges the assumption that clean energy subsidies are inherently equitable and environmentally benign. It argues for recalibrated subsidy regimes that promote structural transformation, distributive fairness, and environmental integrity. By aligning economic incentives with robust accountability mechanisms, the study seeks to advance subsidy policies that deliver genuine clean energy transitions without exporting environmental harm or entrenching corporate dominance.

Author: Nimisha Aggarwal INTRODUCTION Climate change is not only an environmental challenge but also an economic transformation. As countries reduce carbon emissions and transition to renewable energy, a key question emerges: does climate action destroy jobs in fossil fuel industries, or does it create new employment in green sectors? According to the International Labour Organization (2018), the global shift to a green economy could generate up to 24 million jobs by 2030. Likewise, the International Renewable Energy Agency (2023) reports that renewable energy employment has exceeded 13 million jobs worldwide, with solar and wind sectors growing the fastest. While these figures suggest expansion, they do not imply that all countries benefit equally. A comparison between Germany and India highlights this unevenness. Germany, through its energy transition policy known as the Energiewende, has systematically reduced its reliance on coal and nuclear energy while expanding renewable energy and introducing carbon pricing. This transition has been supported by strong labour protections, retraining programs, and compensation schemes for displaced coal workers, reflecting a structured “just transition” approach. As a result, renewable energy now plays a significant role in Germany’s electricity system, and employment in the sector has grown steadily. Germany thus demonstrates how a high-income, industrialized economy can align climate action with labour market stability through coordinated institutional frameworks. India, in contrast, represents a rapidly developing economy facing a different set of challenges. While it has emerged as one of the fastest-growing renewable energy markets, particularly in solar power through initiatives such as the National Solar Mission (Government of India 2010), it continues to rely heavily on coal to meet rising energy demand. Additionally, India’s labour market is characterized by a large informal sector and relatively weaker social protection systems. Although green jobs are expanding, questions remain about their quality, stability, and inclusiveness. The Indian case therefore illustrates that green employment growth can occur alongside structural constraints linked to development priorities and institutional capacity. This paper asks: are green jobs an outcome of green economic transformation, or do they depend on institutional strength, labour frameworks, and development pathways? It argues that green job creation is not a mechanical result of renewable energy expansion. Instead, both the quantity and quality of green jobs are shaped by policy choices, industrial strategies, and socioeconomic conditions. While Germany and India both show that low-carbon transitions can generate employment, the nature and long-term developmental impact of these jobs differ significantly. This study contributes to broader debates on just transition, sustainable development, and the political economy of climate action. By comparing a developed and an emerging economy, it emphasizes that green jobs are not simply the by-product of green economies but are outcomes shaped by deliberate policy design and institutional context.

Authors: Aakshi Dalmia, Mansi Kavluru, Izyan Ilyas Basha, Mohit Raj ABSTRACT Oceans play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance, regulating climate systems, supporting biodiversity, and contributing significantly to global economic development. As awareness of marine sustainability grows, the Blue Economy has emerged as a strategic model for aligning environmental protection with economic growth. However, increasing threats such as overfishing, marine pollution, habitat degradation, and climate change have exposed major financing gaps in ocean conservation and sustainable water management. In response, Blue Bonds have been introduced as an innovative financial instrument designed to mobilize capital for projects that promote marine and coastal sustainability. Despite their promise, the regulatory framework governing Blue Bonds remains fragmented and underdeveloped. Unlike Green Bonds, which operate under more established taxonomies and reporting standards, Blue Bonds lack globally harmonized definitions, standardized disclosure requirements, and enforceable compliance mechanisms. Many issuances rely on voluntary guidelines and adapted green finance principles, which do not fully address the unique ecological and socio-economic characteristics of marine ecosystems. This regulatory weakness creates risks such as limited transparency, weak monitoring systems, reduced investor confidence, and “blue washing,” where projects claim environmental benefits without measurable impact. This study conducts a qualitative review of existing regulatory and policy frameworks related to Blue Bond issuance. Using secondary sources such as academic research, institutional reports, and case studies of sovereign and corporate issuances, it evaluates governance standards, reporting practices, verification mechanisms, and cross-border regulatory challenges. The findings reveal significant gaps in taxonomy development, impact measurement, disclosure consistency, and technological monitoring tools. To address these shortcomings, the study proposes a Hybrid Blue Bond Regulatory Framework that combines international sustainability principles with stronger national oversight, mandatory environmental impact assessments, independent thirdparty verification, and technology-enabled monitoring systems. Strengthening these elements is essential to improve accountability, enhance transparency, and ensure that Blue Bonds effectively contribute to long-term ocean sustainability and resilient economic development.

Authors: Ishika Batra, Andressa Viana, Vanshika Bhardwaj, Mridula Gupta, Het Jani and Thompson Alexious ABSTRACT Understanding why some conflicts sustain global attention while others fade requires examining how legitimacy is constructed through narratives, making this study essential for analysing contemporary international responses to war. This study compares the Russia- Ukraine conflict (2022-2024) and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan (2019- 2021) to analyse how media and institutional narratives shape perceptions of legitimacy, responsibility, and moral urgency. Drawing on a qualitative analysis of over 70 secondary textual sources- including global and regional media coverage and official statements from international organisations such as the United Nations, NATO, and the European Union- the study employs a deductive coding framework centred on legitimacy, agency, moral framing, temporal framing, civilian portrayal, and the role of external actors. The findings reflect that while the Ukraine conflict is portrayed as an active sovereign resisting an aggressor generating sustained international support, the Afghanistan conflict is framed as concluded resulting in diminished external engagement reducing it to a humanitarian issue, highlighting how discourse, rather than material conditions alone, structures international political responses. By revealing how narratives shape divergent global responses to similar conflicts, the study contributes to post structural and constructivist theories in international relations highlighting the role of discourse in framing war legitimacy and determining which wars remain morally urgent and which fade into the aftermath.

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.