Authors: Megha Gupta, Pallavi Shaktawat, Kanupriya Awasthi, Sachin Gupta, Muskan Dugar, Nehmat Deol, Aradhya Srivastava, Lakshita Purwar Abstract The study paper explores the area where gender budgetary practices meet food security, and further discusses how financial policies can significantly contribute to the occurrence of who possesses equal access to food. This study enlightens on how gender-responsive budgeting could be used to bridge the gaps regarding the distribution of the resources by analyzing the existing structures and government initiatives which will aid the marginalized groups (particularly women) to ensure their food supply at home and community levels. It discusses that gender lenses are relevant in the financial planning, where the investment in a specific project with women emphasis can return higher agricultural harvest, nutrition, and socioeconomic prosperity rates. Based on the qualitative and quantitative information, this paper displays the obstacles of implementation of the gender budgeting indicating policy gaps, a lack of awareness, and structural obstacles, offering at the same time effective case studies, which can be used to model effective approaches. The extended implications of gender-sensitive fiscal policies on sustainable developments further elaborated in the paper put more emphasis on the inability of achieving food security if there is equitable governance and inclusive decision making. It connects budgetary allocations and direct results in nutrition and livelihoods, whose evidence shows that strategic gender-based interventions have the capacity to decrease food insecurity, the reduction of poverty and inclusive growth. Conclusively, this research paper suggests an integrated approach of using gender budgeting, in which it acts as both a means of creating social change as well as a means of financial change by balancing economic planning based on the needs of the vulnerable populations and the long-term fix of food security among all people. Keywords: Gender budgeting, Gender responsive budgeting, South Asia, Gender roles, Food security, Social Security Initiatives, Household resources, Food Equity, Nutrition Outcomes, Food policy, Government schemes, Post-COVID, state-level gender budgeting, India, Constraints, Comparative analysis, food policy

Authors: Manish Singh, Paawanpreet Kaur, Vemana Vijaya Naga Durganjali, Zaira Bashir and Anjali Kushwaha Abstract This paper examines how India’s climate diplomacy operates as a soft power strategy within contemporary international relations. Rather than treating soft power as an outcome or reputational attribute, the study analyses the mechanisms through which climate-related engagement may generate non-coercive influence. Focusing on climate finance, institutional initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and emerging clean technology pathways including the National Green Hydrogen Mission. The paper explores how India seeks to enhance legitimacy, institutional presence, and normative standing within global climate governance. The analysis situates India’s climate diplomacy within broader debates on equity, South–South cooperation, and development-sensitive sustainability, highlighting its dual positioning as both a developing country advocate and an increasingly active climate actor. By linking finance and innovation with diplomatic practice, the study contributes to understanding climate diplomacy as a constrained yet significant avenue through which states pursue soft power in a system shaped by voluntary cooperation and normative contestation. Keywords: Climate Diplomacy, Soft Power, Climate Finance, Technology Transfer

Author: Atish V. Meghe ABSTRACT This paper evaluates how large mergers and acquisitions affect the performance of corporations within India’s fast‑moving consumer goods (FMCG) and adjacent consumer‑tech ecosystem. The study focuses on two recent, high‑profile case studies: Zomato’s all‑stock acquisition of quick‑commerce player Blinkit (formerly Grofers) in 2022, and Dabur India Ltd’s acquisition of a 51 percent stake in spice manufacturer Badshah Masala at the end of 2022 (effective January 2023). The analysis compares pre‑ and post‑merger financial performance over a multi‑year horizon, typically three years on either side of the transaction. The deals are evaluated using financial parameters such as revenue, revenue growth, gross margin, EBITDA margin, net profit margin, operating expense ratio, and cost–revenue ratio. These indicators are used to assess whether the acquisitions contributed to scale, profitability, and cost efficiency. Descriptive statistics are complemented with two‑sample t‑tests to examine whether changes in mean values between the pre‑ and post‑merger periods are statistically significant. While the short time window and reliance on firm‑reported data limit strong causal inference, the findings provide case‑based evidence on how M&A activity in India’s FMCG landscape is associated with shifts in financial performance, shareholder value, and strategic positioning.

Authors: Pulkit Raikwar, Gautham Shine ABSTRACT This paper focuses on a comparative India-based exploration of the policy frameworks and institutional reformsexpected to help achieve sustainable development goal 4 ( Quality Education) in the choice of countries in the South Asian region India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Having acknowledged education as the key pillar to sustainable development, the paper explores how these countries are converging their education policies with SDG 4 goals (4.1 – 4.7) that include universal access to education, gender equality, quality education, and lifelong learning. Based on secondary research sources, including UNESCO, UNICEF, World Bank, and national education policy reports, the study analyzes the variation between the governance models, financing scheme, teacher education changes, and digital inclusion. Results show that there has been a significant improvement in access and gender equity yet inequality in quality, monitoring, and resource distribution persists. India National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 presents a revolutionary policy that unites digital learning and inclusivity, whereas Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are promising in terms of gender parity and ICT-promoting quality improvement. It is observed in the paper that SDG 4 in South Asia can be achieved through regional cooperation, evidence-based policymaking and institutional reforms that are sustained. Keywords: SDG 4, Quality Education, India, South Asia, Policy Framework, Institutional Reform, Inclusive Learning

Authors: Vedala Varshith and Kuldeep Sisodiya ABSTRACT This study exploreshow AI chatbots are transforming digital banking by improving customer satisfaction and shaping customer trust. Chatbots are now widely used by banks to provide quick, accurate and personalised support, making banking more convenient and available 24/7. The review of existing literature shows that chatbot quality—especially usability, reliability and empathy—strongly influences how satisfied customers feel during interactions. Higher satisfaction further strengthens customer trust, particularly when chatbots provide secure, consistent and human-like responses. At the same time, concerns related to privacy, bias and lack of emotional understanding continue to affect user confidence. Different cultural and regulatory environments also create variations in how customers respond to chatbot-based services. The overall findings suggest that while AI chatbots can significantly improve digital banking experiences, their success depends on responsible design, transparent data practices and emotionally aware interactions. When implemented effectively, chatbots help banks enhance service quality and build long-term, trust-based relationships with customers.

Authors: Aisha Akhtar and Payal Kumari ABSTRACT India’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regime has evolved through distinct historical, legislative, and policy phases, culminating in a TRIPS-compliant legal framework that seeks to balance innovation incentives with public interest. While statutory development has been substantial, persistent gaps remain in enforcement effectiveness, judicial capacity, and policy coherence. This paper critically examines whether India’s contemporary IPR enforcement mechanisms meaningfully translate legal protection into practical outcomes for innovators and rights holders. Using doctrinal analysis and judicial interpretation, particularly the Supreme Court’s decision in Novartis AG v. Union of India (2013), the study argues that India’s IPR regime prioritizes access and competition but suffers from fragmented enforcement and underdeveloped institutional capacity. The paper concludes that stronger analytical integration between policy objectives, judicial standards, and enforcement mechanisms is necessary to transform India’s IPR system from a formally robust framework into a substantively effective one. Keywords: Intellectual Property Rights, India, History , Evolution , Patents Act 1970, Copyright,Trademarks, Awareness, Enforcement, Novartis v. India, IPR Policy

Authors: Payal Kumari, Anuradha Padhy, Pallavi Chikkala ABSTRACT Climate change in India poses a severe challenge for marginalized and low-income communities. It exacerbates poverty, threatens food and water security, and increases health and livelihood risks for vulnerable populations. This review examines evidence on climate impacts among India’s marginalized groups, focusing on how caste, tribal status, and gender influence vulnerability. We summarize findings on how extreme events and gradual climate changes affect health, agriculture, migration, and livelihoods. Using a vulnerability and environmental justice perspective, we highlight how social inequality shapes differential outcomes. Finally, we discuss policy implications for more inclusive adaptation and outline areas for future research. Keywords: climate change; marginalized communities; vulnerability; India; policy.

Author: Afra Anam ABSTRACT Climate change has become a defining challenge for developing economies striving to expand their energy capacity without worsening environmental degradation. Among the various policy tools available, carbon pricing has emerged as a mechanism designed to internalize the social cost of greenhouse gas emissions and encourage a shift toward cleaner energy sources. This study evaluates whether carbon-pricing policies have influenced renewable energy investment in developing countries between 2015 and 2023. Using secondary data from the World Bank Carbon Pricing Dashboard and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the research compares renewable energy trends in countries with carbon-pricing mechanisms against those without. The analysis relies on descriptive statistics and visual representations to observe investment patterns and identify differences across both groups. The findings indicate that while carbon pricing is associated with higher renewable energy investment, its effectiveness varies based on governance quality, policy design, and financial capacity. The study underscores that carbon pricing alone is insufficient—it performs best when supported by broader institutional and financial frameworks.

Authors: Ashmita Kulabhi, Trisha Dev, Ankit Gautam, Jerin Jojy ABSTRACT Climate change, environmental degradation, and resource depletion have emerged as some of the most pressing global issues of recent times. Transitioning towards a low-carbon economy that safeguards natural resources is therefore imperative for achieving a sustainable future. In this context, India’s ambitious targets of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuelbased power generation capacity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2070, underscore the urgency of a green economy transition capable of meeting the nation’s burgeoning energy demands in a sustainable yet reliable manner. This paper analyses India’s green transition by examining sectoral pathways of decarbonisation across key domains—urbanisation, transport, industry, and MSMEs. It explores the country’s evolving energy landscape, focusing on the growth trajectory and changing composition of non-fossil fuel-based installed capacity, while also highlighting the regional disparities and policy drivers underpinning renewable expansion. To capture these regional dynamics, a comparative case study approach is employed, analysing Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar as representative examples of high-, medium-, and low-performing states in the green transition. This approach provides deeper insights into how policy frameworks, institutional capacity, and investment flows influence renewable energy outcomes. Further, the study constructs a Green Inclusiveness Index (GII), composed of four equally weighted indicators, to assess the extent of regional inclusiveness in renewable energy deployment. The findings reveal that, although India has made consistent progress in expanding its non-fossil fuel capacity and diversifying its energy mix, the distribution of renewable energy remains spatially uneven, reflecting a distinct green divide among states. The paper concludes with evidence-based policy recommendations aimed at promoting a just and inclusive green transition. Keywords: Green Transition, Green Inclusiveness Index, Energy Transition Trajectory, Green Industrial Corridors, Transport Decarbonisation, Green Divide

Authors: Om Dwivedi, Vivek Kumar, Riddhi Singh, Upasna Sharma, Garvit Chandra ABSTRACT There is something deeply contradictory about India’s development record. Between 2005 and 2021, over 415 million people were lifted out of multidimensional poverty, a feat remarkable by any global standard, and yet India continues to sit near the bottom of international rankings on female economic participation, safety, and autonomy. This paper investigates that contradiction. The central research problem is not simply that gender equality lags behind poverty reduction; it is that the metrics used to track poverty reduction are structurally incapable of detecting women’s individual capability deprivations because they measure at the household level rather than at the level of the person. Through Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach and Martha Nussbaum’s articulation of Central Human Capabilities, this paper argues that India’s patriarchal social structure acts as a dominant negative conversion factor, meaning a structural barrier that systematically prevents household-level resources from becoming individual freedoms for women. Drawing on NFHS-5, the NSSO Time Use Survey (2019), NITI Aayog MPI reports, World Bank poverty estimates, and Oxfam India’s labour data, the study finds that across four domains of economic capability, asset control, political agency, and bodily safety, women’s combined capabilities remain severely constrained even within technically non-poor households. Spousal violence affects 29.3% of ever-married women. Female land ownership stands at 18.7%. Labour force participation hovers between 25 and 30%. These are not residual problems but structural features of how gender inequality persists beneath an apparently successful poverty reduction story. The paper concludes with specific, actor-directed policy recommendations and calls for a reorientation of national data collection toward individual-level capability measurement. Keywords: Gender Inequality, Multidimensional Poverty, Capability Approach, Sustainable Development Goals, Women’s Empowerment, Intra-Household Inequality, Development Measurement