RESEARCH REVIEW International Journal of Multidisciplinary

Grammatical Error Analysis of Korean Learners of Hindi: Focusing on Beginning Learners

2025-11-18T23:23:17-05:00

This study presents an empirical analysis of grammatical errors produced by beginning-level Korean learners of Hindi enrolled in a university course. Drawing on exam data from 30 students (20 female, 10 male) who took a beginning Hindi class at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in the second semester of 2025, a total of 450 error tokens were collected. Errors were classified into five categories: morphological errors, syntactic errors, postposition (case-marker) errors, tense–aspect errors, and transfer errors. Excluding transfer errors, the core grammar set (N = 415) showed the following distribution: morphological errors—including gender–number and subject–verb agreement—were most frequent (38.1%), followed by postposition errors (27.2%), syntactic errors (21.7%), and tense–aspect errors (13.0%). These results suggest that structural differences between Korean and Hindi, cross-linguistic influence from English, and the developmental trajectory of learners’ interlanguage operate jointly to shape error patterns. Pedagogically, the findings argue for error-based instruction in Hindi grammar, emphasizing explicit, systematic teaching at the beginning level—particularly focused on agreement systems and postposition use. agents.

Pastoral Women in the Himalayas: A Case Study of the Gaddi Community

2025-11-19T11:21:12-05:00

This paper examines the lives and labor of pastoral women among the Gaddi community of the western Himalayas, focusing on Chamba and adjoining districts in present-day Himachal Pradesh. While Gaddi pastoralism is often narrated through the movements of male shepherds and flocks across summer dhars and winter bans, the work of women sustains this economy’s ecological and social rhythms. Building on environmental history, political ecology, and feminist scholarship, the study situates women’s labor within layered regimes of property, access, and governance from the late nineteenth century to the present. It argues that colonial forestry regimes, justified by an ideology of “improvement,” transformed commons into regulated reserves, intensifying the time and risk burdens borne by women. The post-Independence state both widened opportunities (roads, schools, political reservation) and renewed constraints (hydropower corridors, conservation closures), producing a contradictory modernity in which Gaddi women navigate expanded public roles and persistent ecological labor. Drawing on the works of Thomas R. Metcalf, Mahesh Rangarajan, Bina Agarwal, K. Sivaramakrishnan, Ramachandra Guha, Chetan Singh, and contemporary reports and policy documents, the paper develops a historically grounded portrait of gendered mobility, subsistence, care work, and political voice. It concludes by highlighting emergent pressures—climate variability, conservation enclosures, hydropower infrastructures—and argues for policy grounded in gender-sensitive rights and participatory pastoral governance(Metcalf; Rangarajan; Agarwal).

Determinants of Health Seeking Behaviour among Families in Urban Patna, Bihar

2025-11-20T04:28:19-05:00

Health seeking behaviour plays a central role in determining the overall health status of a population, thereby influencing the broader trajectory of a country’s socioeconomic progress. The present study explores how families in Patna seek healthcare, tracing their illness responses and treatment preferences, while examining the key factors that influence their choices. Using a qualitative research approach, data were collected from 300 families across six administrative divisions of the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) through face-to-face interviews. Findings from this study show that health seeking behaviour of families is primarily shaped by their perception of the severity of the health issue. It is also affected by a complex interplay of sociocultural norms, economic constraints, and environmental factors. Based on the type and severity of health problems, families adopt a tiered approach, involving home remedies, self-medication, and non-professional advice, progressing to professional medical care when need is felt. It also reveals a clear inclination of families towards private healthcare facilities over public ones, attributed to factors such as availability of doctors, quality of healthcare services, ease of appointment, past experiences and reviews from social networks. Within families, patriarchal norms often shape healthcare decision-making, with male members retaining authority over financial commitments. Additionally, the increasing use of digital media, including the internet and mobile applications, highlights the transformative influence of technology in guiding contemporary health behaviours.

Cryptocurrency in India: Changing the Game for Governance and Finance

2025-11-21T02:34:38-05:00

Cryptocurrency is reshaping the world of finance and government control. In India, it is creating both opportunities and challenges. While more people are showing interest in digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, the Indian government is still deciding how to regulate and manage this fast-growing sector. This research paper studies how cryptocurrency is affecting governance and the financial system in India. The study is based on secondary data, including government reports, policy papers, financial news articles, and academic studies. It focuses on India’s key regulatory moves, such as the 30% tax on crypto income and the 1% TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) on crypto transactions. By analysing this data, the paper looks at how these policies have impacted crypto trading, innovation, investor behaviour, and regulatory compliance. It also explores how cryptocurrencies challenge traditional financial rules in areas like taxation, money laundering control, and capital flow regulation. At the same time, it highlights how blockchain technology which is used in cryptocurrencies can help to improve transparency, financial inclusion, and reduce corruption in public governance. The findings suggest that while India’s strong regulatory stance aims to manage risks and protect users, it may also slow down technological growth and push crypto activities underground. This paper argues for a balanced policy that supports innovation while maintaining financial security. Overall, the study provides a clear picture of how cryptocurrency is influencing governance and finance in India, and offers useful insights for policymakers looking to build effective and future-ready regulations.

Indian Knowledge System: Exploring the Politics of Cultural Revival

2025-11-24T09:37:07-05:00

With the emergence of Hindutva forces in India, the reinvention of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) has become a focal point in contemporary socio-political discourse. This paper explores the intersection of cultural revivalism and political strategy, analyzing how Hindutva forces seek to reclaim, reinterpret, and institutionalize indigenous knowledge traditions. It critically examines the ways in which ancient Indian epistemologies, including Vedic sciences, philosophy, linguistics, and governance models, teachings of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas, are being used to align with nationalist narratives. While proponents argue that such efforts restore cultural pride and decolonize education, critics warn of historical distortions and exclusionary politics. By engaging with primary texts, policy changes, and socio-political movements, this paper assesses the implications of this revivalist agenda for India’s pluralistic identity, academic integrity, and global positioning. The study ultimately questions whether this reinvention fosters an inclusive renaissance of Indian intellectual traditions or serves as an ideological tool for cultural supremacy.

Assessing the Financial Markets Inter-Relation during EBLR Regime: An Evidence from India

2025-11-24T09:40:40-05:00

This paper uses time series Co-Integration methodology and Granger Causality to check the status of financial market interconnectedness in India after the implementation of External Benchmark linked Lending Rate (EBLR) since October 2019 to July 2024. The markets used in the study are Money Market, Foreign Exchange Market, Government Securities Market and Stock Market. The results indicates that the stock market, despite having long-run relationship with all markets had stable relation only with foreign exchange market. Similarly, many pairs of market showed unstable long-run relationship. Causality test demonstrated causality from money market to foreign exchange market and government securities market demonstrating the independence of robust domestic liquidity operation. There is also causality from foreign exchange market to stock market and government securities market. Rest of pairs did not show any causality, showing the necessity of policy reforms to remove the barriers of free capital flow in the financial market.

JEL Classification Code: C01, E44, F36

Political Consciousness Depicted in Urmila Shirish’s Story “Morcha”

2025-11-24T09:46:55-05:00

Social consciousness includes several components such as family, religion, politics, economy, and culture. All these elements influence human life in similar ways. Just as family, religion, economy, and culture are essential for building a healthy society, politics also plays an equally important role. Urmila Shirish is one of the prominent and leading writers among contemporary women authors. She has made significant contributions to both the short story and novel genres. Her story “Morcha” is based on the contemporary political landscape. The political system was originally created for the welfare of the people, but the current situation suggests that criminals and corrupt individuals now occupy the most important political positions. They prioritize self-interest over public welfare. In “Morcha,” the author highlights corrupt politicians, corrupt officials, and the suffering of oppressed citizens. The primary duty of leaders and ministers is to provide security to the people. However, today these duties remain only attractive promises, which are not reflected in their actions.

Abstract in Hindi Language: सामाजिक चेतना के अंतर्गत विभिन्न घटकों का समावेश होता है- जैसे परिवार, धर्म, राजनीति, अर्थ, संस्कृति आदि। यह सभी घटक मनुष्य के जीवन पर समरूप प्रभाव डालते हैं । एक स्वस्थ समाज के गठन में परिवार,धर्म,अर्थ,संस्कृति की जितनी आवश्यकता होती है उतनी ही राजनीति का भी प्रभाव रहता है। उर्मिला शिरीष समकालीन लेखिकाओं के मध्य प्रमुख तथा अग्रगण्य हस्ताक्षर हैं। कहानी तथा उपन्यास विधा में उन्होंने अपना महत्वपूर्ण योगदान दिया है। “मोर्चा” कहानी समकालीन राजनैतिक परिदृश्य पर आधारित है। राजनैतिक व्यवस्था मनुष्य के हित साधन के लिए गढ़ी गई थी, परंतु समकालीन स्थिति को देखकर ऐसा लगता है मानो जैसे सारे अपराधी एवं भ्रष्टाचारी लोग हीं राजनीति के मुख्य पदों पर आसीन हैं। वे जनता के हित से ज्यादा स्वहित पर अधिक ध्यान देते हैं। मोर्चा कहानी में भी भ्रष्ट राजनेता, भ्रष्ट अधिकारी, पीड़ित जनता के कष्ट आदि पर लेखिका ने प्रकाश डाला है। नेता और मंत्रियों का प्रथम कार्य लोगों को सुरक्षा प्रदान करना है। परंतु आज यह सब केवल और केवल लुभावनी बातें हैं, जो उनके कर्मों में दिखाई नहीं देती।

Keywords: सामाजिक चेतना, समाज, चेतना, राजनैतिक चेतना, ग्रामीण राजनीति, नेता, मंत्री, सत्ता, भ्रष्टाचार

Implementation of TESOL Standard I of Planning while Teaching Students for IELTS in Bathinda and Greater Noida

2025-11-24T11:24:03-05:00

IELTS coaching has taken a completely new turn since the trend of migrating to English speaking countries has taken up. However, the major challenge faced by the majority of the students is the inability to either get their desired Band Score or to get in the given period of time. In order to address the same issue, one solution can be to follow the TESOL Standard Framework and implement its standards in IELTS training. In this study, a survey was conducted on 50 trainers from Bathinda and Greater Noida to understand whether the same is being followed at present of not. The study concluded in the fact that in Bathinda the implementation of the first standard of TESOL which is Planning has higher implementation rate than amongst the trainers of Greater Noida.

Vaccination in Pediatric Movement Disorders, Immune-mediated/ Inflammatory Central Nervous System Disorders, and Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies: Current Evidence-Based Recommendations

2025-11-28T11:30:40-05:00

Certain vaccines themselves, or vaccine-proximate fevers have been reported to, or postulated to trigger or exacerbate Pediatric Movement Disorders (MDs) [including Acute Cerebellar Ataxia (ACA) and Opsoclonus-Myoclonus-Ataxia syndrome (OMA)]; Immune-mediated/inflammatory Central Nervous System (IICNS) disorders [including Narcolepsy, Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, Rasmussen encephalitis (RE) and Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES)]; and Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies (DEE) including Dravet Syndrome (DS). The fear of triggering or exacerbating these conditions is an important reason for vaccine hesitancy, even with routine age-appropriate vaccines. This narrative review collates relevant level and grade evidence up to September 2025 pertaining to safety of various vaccines, and summarizes current recommendations for vaccination. Per current recommendations, in children with MDs, particularly in Cerebral Palsy, all vaccines are recommended, with no contraindication. Influenza and Pneumococcal vaccines are specifically recommended owing to vulnerability to respiratory infections; as also MMR, COVID-19 and Varicella vaccines. For ACA and OMS, epidemiologic evidence to establish a causal association with vaccination is lacking. For pertussis containing vaccines including acellular DTP, while the American CDC guidelines list progressive encephalopathy, infantile spasms and uncontrolled epilepsy as precautions and recommend deferment until neurologic status stabilization; the Australian guidelines recommend that these vaccines can be safely administered even to infants and children with active or progressive neurological diseases, since vaccination is the best prevention. The risk of narcolepsy has been definitely attributed to only one erstwhile Influenza vaccine brand (Pandemrix®). No convincing evidence implicates any vaccine in current use as directly causing any IICNS disorder. In the spectrum of DEEs, no consistent association with vaccination has been documented, other than in children with DS. Vaccine-Proximate Febrile Seizures (VP-FSs) could occur within 48 hours following inactivated (whole-cell DPT/influenza/Pneumococcal Conjugate) or 5–14 days following live-attenuated (MMR/varicella) vaccines, especially in DEE (DS); yet long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes are no different from unvaccinated. Overall, all scheduled vaccinations are recommended, but whole-cell DPT avoided and acellular DPT considered on case-to-case basis in progressive, unstable neurological disorders and VP-FSs/DS; and administered only under medical supervision. Vaccination during the phases of disease deterioration should be judiciously avoided.

The Necessity of Critical Scientific Literacy in the Context of India's National Education Policy 2020

2025-11-28T11:43:31-05:00

India's recent National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE 2023) signify a significant shift from rote memorization to inquiry-based, conceptual comprehension. This paper argues that, despite the potential of these educational improvements to enhance scientific literacy (SL), they primarily focus on functional and civic abilities (Roberts' Vision I/II), neglecting the essential aspect of Critical Scientific Literacy (CSL). CSL (Hodson's Vision III) integrates a socio-political dimension, equipping students to analyse scientific social contexts, interrogate authority structures, and engage in informed activism. This is especially significant within India's context, characterized by complex socio-scientific problems (SSIs) such as health-related disinformation, climate inequities, and industrial environmental pollution. This analysis first distinguishes CSL from traditional SL, then investigates the "critical deficiency" in these new policy frameworks. The conclusion proposes a localized CSL paradigm, asserting that Indian scientific education must advance beyond inquiry-based instruction to encompass socio-political participation for the full empowerment of citizens.

A study on the use of social networking sites by undergraduate agricultural students: with special reference to the College of Agriculture and Research Centre, Janjgir-Champa

2025-11-28T12:28:16-05:00

This study analyzes the usage patterns of social networking sites and their academic impact among undergraduate agricultural students of the College of Agriculture and Research Station, Janjgir–Champa. Based on data collected from 120 students through a survey, the findings show that WhatsApp, YouTube, and Instagram are the most frequently used platforms. Students primarily use social networking sites to access study materials, obtain technical information related to agriculture, and receive institutional updates. The results indicate that social networking sites enhance information flow, collaborative learning, and academic engagement, while challenges such as slow internet speed, difficulty in time management, and irrelevant content affect their effectiveness. Overall, the study highlights the usefulness and growing role of social networking sites in agricultural education.

Abstract in Hindi Language: यह अध्ययन कृषि महाविद्यालय एवं अनुसंधान केंद्र, जांजगीर-चांपा के स्नातक कृषि छात्रों में सोशल नेटवर्किंग साइट्स के उपयोग-पैटर्न और उनके शैक्षणिक प्रभाव का विश्लेषण करता है। 120 छात्रों से प्राप्त आंकड़ों पर आधारित इस सर्वेक्षण-आधारित शोध से पता चला कि व्हाट्सऐप, यूट्यूब और इंस्टाग्राम सबसे अधिक उपयोग किए जाने वाले प्लेटफ़ॉर्म हैं। छात्र मुख्य रूप से अध्ययन सामग्री, कृषि संबंधी तकनीकी जानकारी तथा संस्थागत सूचनाएँ प्राप्त करने के लिए सोशल नेटवर्किंग साइट्स का उपयोग करते हैं। निष्कर्ष दर्शाते हैं कि सोशल नेटवर्किंग साइट्स सूचना प्रवाह, सहयोगात्मक अधिगम और शैक्षणिक सहभागिता को बढ़ावा देते हैं, वहीं धीमी इंटरनेट गति, समय-प्रबंधन की कठिनाई और अप्रासंगिक सामग्री जैसी चुनौतियाँ इसके उपयोग की प्रभावशीलता को प्रभावित करती हैं। समग्र रूप से, अध्ययन कृषि शिक्षा में सोशल नेटवर्किंग साइट्स की उपयोगिता और उसकी बढ़ती भूमिका को रेखांकित करता है।

Keywords: सोशल नेटवर्किंग साइट्स, कृषि छात्र, डिजिटल अधिगम, शैक्षणिक उपयोग, सूचना साक्षरता, ऑनलाइन शिक्षा

A Span of Nontoxic Printmaking in Indian Contemporary Practice: Delhi, Santiniketan and Kolkata

2025-11-30T01:44:01-05:00

21^st century's nontoxic printmaking is a movement and a transformation in contemporary art practice from conventional chemistry-based methods to the eco-friendly methods. Printmakers in advanced countries, have developed many alternatives in relief print, intaglios, planography and stencil print disciplines against the hazardous methods. The movement reached India, and printmakers adopted it late due to issues with material availability. Its span was found to be very less, in the first decade of this century. Its practice in India is gradually extending. The remarkable pioneering efforts in practice of nontoxic printmaking by the printmakers, teachers, and younger generations within Indian institutions of printmaking. Departments of Graphic Art (Printmaking) as in Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi, Visva Bharati – Santiniketan in West Bengal and Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata, West Bengal, implemented nontoxic printmaking as a part of the study programme. A few contemporary printmakers sharing talent and experience through Practical demonstration in institutions, and exhibitions to inspire new generations to build a health safety environment for art practice.

Microlearning-Embedded Reflection: Early Indicators of Pedagogical Competence in Pre-Service Mathematics Teacher Education

2025-11-30T01:50:12-05:00

Mathematics teacher education often struggles to bridge coursework and classroom practice, leaving pre-service teachers with limited capacity to align pedagogical strategies to topic structures and to cultivate sustained reflective habits. This study addresses that challenge by examining how concise, structured microlearning—paired with guided reflective diaries—supports the development of pedagogical content knowledge, adaptive method selection, and reflective self-awareness in a B.Ed. mathematics cohort. The objectives were to analyze how candidates articulate theory–practice links following micro-units, rationalize method–content alignment across mathematical topics, and evolve in reflective dispositions over time. Methodologically, the paper employs a qualitative literature review to position the problem, proposes a conceptual Microlearning–Reflection–PCK model, and reports a qualitative descriptive study using reflexive thematic analysis of diary entries. The findings presented in this article are derived from the reflection components (Units 1–3) of a broader study on microlearning-based pedagogy training; only the reflection diaries were analyzed for this publication. The review synthesizes three strands—microlearning in teacher education, reflective practice in pre-service preparation, and PCK with method–content fit—while the empirical section advances three themes: linking theory to practice, adaptability in method selection, and growth in reflective self-awareness. Findings indicate progressive movement from descriptive recall to conditional, context-sensitive reasoning, alongside measurable gains in reflective identity formation during the early weeks of the intervention. The study demonstrates that microlearning functions as a reflective engine, offering a scalable, low-bandwidth design that embeds iterative reflection into existing curricula. Implications include programmatic guidance for integrating micro-reflections and future research on prompt design, longitudinal transfer, and multimodal triangulation.

Faith Healing Practices in the Maram Tribe and their Global Comparisons

2025-11-30T02:31:51-05:00

This study aims to explore the faith healing practices of the Maram Tribe in Northeast India, analysing their cultural, spiritual, and medicinal significance. The primary objective is to compare the Maram Tribe's faith healing with other cultures across the globe and specific to India. The methodology employs a qualitative, comparative approach, focusing on content analysis of scholarly articles documenting faith healing practices from the last two decades (2004-2024). By comparing these practices to those in other cultural contexts, the research highlights how faith healing remains central to the Maram Tribe's identity despite challenges from modernization. Key findings emphasize the spiritual nature of faith healing, which in Maram culture is linked to animism and ritualistic interventions for spiritual imbalances. The study advocates for integrating traditional healing with modern healthcare systems to foster cultural sensitivity and improve accessibility in marginalized communities.

Influence and Transformation of Mughal Art in Murshidabad Company Paintings (1700–1850)

2025-12-01T10:44:10-05:00

This research paper offers an in-depth study of the influence of Mughal art and its artistic transformation within the “Company Painting” style that developed in the Murshidabad center of Bengal during the historical period from 1700 to 1850. The mid-eighteenth century marked a turning point in Indian art history. As the Mughal Empire weakened and the political power of the European East India Company grew, new regional centers like Murshidabad experienced a distinct cultural shift. It was in this environment that the Company painting tradition emerged, created mainly to meet the demands of European officials and merchants who wanted visual records of local life, flora, fauna, court scenes and people as “souvenirs.” The study shows that Mughal art left a lasting impact on this style. It can be seen in subject selection (such as portraits of nawabs and courtly scenes), technical features (fine detailing, decorative borders, use of vibrant colors) and the overall aesthetic. At the same time, the paintings went through a meaningful process of transformation. Key forces behind this change included European artists (such as Tilly Kettle, the Daniell brothers and George Chinnery), local Indian painters (such as Sheikh Muhammad Amir) and the cultural exchange between the two groups. This interaction brought together core Mughal features with European realism, perspective, chiaroscuro and naturalism. In conclusion, Murshidabad Company paintings reflect not only the enduring imprint of Mughal artistic heritage but also a strong narrative of dynamic transformation. They revived a traditional form within a new socio-economic setting and created an important chapter in Indian art history. These works stand as unique documents of cultural adaptation in colonial India.

Abstract in Hindi Language: यह शोध पत्र 1700 से 1850 ईस्वी की ऐतिहासिक अवधि में बंगाल के मुर्शीदाबाद केंद्र में विकसित 'कंपनी चित्र' शैली में मुगल कला के प्रभाव और उसके कलात्मक रूपांतरण की गहन पड़ताल प्रस्तुत करता है। अठारहवीं शताब्दी का मध्य भारतीय कला इतिहास में एक निर्णायक मोड़ साबित हुआ, जब मुगल साम्राज्य के क्षीण होने तथा यूरोपीय ईस्ट इंडिया कंपनी की बढ़ती सत्ता के बीच मुर्शीदाबाद जैसे नए क्षेत्रीय केंद्रों पर एक नए प्रकार का सांस्कृतिक अंतराल उत्पन्न हुआ। इसी संदर्भ में 'कंपनी चित्र' शैली का उदय हुआ, जिसका प्राथमिक उद्देश्य यूरोपीय अधिकारियों एवं व्यापारियों की स्थानीय जीवनशैली, वनस्पतियों, जीवों, दरबारी दृश्यों और लोगों को 'दृश्य स्मृति-चिन्ह' के रूप में संरक्षित करने की मांग को पूरा करना था। इस अध्ययन से स्पष्ट होता है कि मुगल कला ने इस शैली पर एक स्थायी प्रभाव छोड़ा, जो विषय-वस्तु के चयन (जैसे नवाबों के पोर्ट्रेट, दरबारी दृश्य), तकनीकी पक्ष (सूक्ष्म विवरण, सजावटी सीमाएँ, जीवंत रंगों का प्रयोग) तथा समग्र सौंदर्यशास्त्र में स्पष्ट परिलक्षित होता है। साथ ही, एक सारगर्भित रूपांतरण की प्रक्रिया भी देखी गई, जिसके प्रमुख कारक यूरोपीय कलाकार (जैसे टिटी केटल, डैनियल बंधु, जॉर्ज चिन्नरी), स्थानीय भारतीय कलाकार (जैसे शेख मोहम्मद अमीर) तथा दोनों पक्षों के बीच हुआ सांस्कृतिक आदान-प्रदान थे। इस संवाद के फलस्वरूप मुगल कला की मूलभूत विशेषताओं में यूरोपीय यथार्थवाद, परिप्रेक्ष्य, प्रकाश-छाया विज्ञान (चायरोस्कुरो) और प्रकृतिवाद का समन्वय हुआ। निष्कर्षतः, मुर्शीदाबाद कंपनी चित्र न केवल मुगल कलात्मक विरासत के दृढ़ प्रभाव का प्रमाण हैं, बल्कि एक गतिशील रूपांतरण की सशक्त गाथा भी कहते हैं, जिसने एक पारंपरिक कला को नए सामाजिक-आर्थिक संदर्भ में पुनर्जीवित किया और भारतीय कला के इतिहास में एक महत्वपूर्ण अध्याय का सृजन किया। ये चित्र औपनिवेशिक भारत में सांस्कृतिक अनुकूलन के अनूठे दस्तावेज सिद्ध होते हैं।

Keywords: मुर्शीदाबाद, कंपनी चित्र, मुगल कला, रूपांतरण, यूरोपीय कलाकार

Performance of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Accessing Formal Banking Services: Evidence from Rural Assam

2025-12-01T11:00:09-05:00

The Self-Help Group (SHG) movement has emerged as a vital instrument for promoting financial inclusion, women empowerment, and rural development in India. The present study, titled “Performance of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Accessing Formal Banking Services: Evidence from Rural Assam,” examines the extent to which SHGs in Nagaon District have been able to access and utilize formal banking services under the SHG–Bank Linkage Programme (SBLP). Using both primary and secondary data, the study adopts a descriptive and analytical research design covering 100 SHG members from 10 groups operating under the Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission. The findings reveal that most SHGs have successfully opened bank accounts and availed loans for productive purposes such as agriculture, handicrafts, and micro-enterprises. The repayment performance is highly satisfactory, with 80 percent of SHGs maintaining regular loan repayment schedules. However, challenges such as lengthy documentation, limited digital literacy, and procedural delays continue to affect accessibility. Statistical analysis using correlation (r = +0.78) and hypothesis testing confirms a strong and significant relationship between banking access and SHG performance. The study concludes that enhanced financial literacy, digital training, and simplified banking procedures are essential for improving SHG efficiency and ensuring sustainable financial inclusion in rural Assam.

Tourist’s Perceptions towards Social Media: A study of Himachal Pradesh

2025-12-01T11:06:16-05:00

The aim of the study is to examine tourists’ perceptions towards social media and its effectiveness in travel planning in the context of Himachal Pradesh. With the rapid growth of digital platforms, social media has emerged as a key source of information, entertainment, and interaction for travellers. This study focuses on assessing tourists’ views regarding four major characteristics of social media—entertainment, information, credibility, and economy—along with their overall attitude towards its use in planning trips. Data were collected from 600 tourists across the districts of Shimla, Kullu, and Kinnaur using a structured questionnaire. The findings reveal that tourists strongly perceive social media as entertaining, credible, and cost-effective, with high mean scores across these dimensions. While timely information is appreciated, the relevance of information is rated moderately, indicating scope for improvement in content accuracy and usefulness. Overall, tourists consider social media an enjoyable, economical, and trustworthy platform that positively supports their travel decisions. The study concludes that enhancing the quality, relevance, and engagement of social media content can significantly strengthen its role in promoting tourism. These insights can assist tourism marketers, local businesses, and policymakers in designing more effective digital strategies to attract and engage visitors in Himachal Pradesh.

Cultural Adaptation and Mental Health: A Dual Review of Acculturation, Enculturation, and Psychological Outcomes

2025-12-03T10:30:43-05:00

Cultural adaptation is a multidimensional process involving both acculturation, the adoption of mainstream cultural norms and enculturation, the retention and internalization of one’s heritage culture. Although both constructs play a central role in shaping psychological functioning, research examining their impact on mental health reveals highly inconsistent findings. This review synthesizes evidence across studies on acculturation, enculturation, and mental health outcomes, integrating results from empirical literature on psychological distress, depression, anxiety, positive mental health, collective self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Enculturation was generally associated with enhanced positive mental health, particularly through cultural identity and community support, though certain behavioural aspects of enculturation were linked with increased anxiety in unfamiliar contexts. Conversely, acculturation demonstrated mixed associations, showing both protective and risk pathways depending on measurement methods, cultural groups, and contextual stressors. Measurement heterogeneity, overreliance on unidimensional acculturation scales, and the concentration of studies in Western populations contribute substantially to inconsistent findings. This dual review emphasizes the need for multidimensional frameworks that consider both enculturation and acculturation simultaneously, along with contextual moderators such as discrimination, identity formation, and social support. A more integrated approach offers stronger explanatory power for understanding how cultural adaptation shapes psychological outcomes across diverse populations.

A Comprehensive Review of Audiovisual Entrainment (AVE) and Its Effects on Psychological Variables

2025-12-03T10:43:26-05:00

Audiovisual Entrainment (AVE), a technique that uses rhythmic light–sound stimulation to synchronize brainwave activity, has gained increasing attention as a non-invasive method for enhancing psychological well-being. The present review synthesizes 200 empirical studies published between 1960 and 2025 to examine the effects of AVE on key psychological variables, including stress, anxiety, mood, cognition, sleep, relaxation, and neurophysiological functioning. Studies were included based on predefined criteria involving the use of combined auditory-visual rhythmic stimulation and the measurement of psychological or neurophysiological outcomes. Research spanned experimental, quasi-experimental, clinical, correlational, and review-based methodologies across international and Indian settings. Findings consistently indicate that AVE produces significant reductions in stress and anxiety, enhances emotional regulation, improves attention and memory, supports sleep quality, and increases alpha-theta activity and neural coherence. Collectively, the evidence demonstrates AVE’s effectiveness as a cost-effective, accessible, and scientifically supported intervention for psychological enhancement. The review highlights the need for standardized protocols, larger samples, and long-term follow-up studies to strengthen future applications of AVE in clinical, educational, and wellness domains.

Women’s Economic Participation in India: The Contribution of MSME, Mudra, and SHG Initiatives

2025-12-03T10:49:53-05:00

The economic involvement of women continues to be at the core of the discourse of inclusive development, women household welfare and gender equity. The increase in Female Labour Force Participation rate in India over the last few years has occurred in the context of a growing ecosystem of financial inclusion, collective mobilisation and micro-enterprise support, which is being offered to women. This paper looks at how three major aspects of that ecosystem such as microcredit that is being given to women, the development of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and the rising number of women-owned MSMEs are in line with national FLFPR trends. The analysis, based on annual data and Pearson correlations and bivariate log-linear regressions, which are suitable in cases with small samples of macro time-series, shows that there are significant correlations between all the variables. SHG expansion is the highly elastic one among them, preceded by women-owned MSMEs and MUDRA lending. These results resonate with some historically established arguments within the frameworks of empowerment and capabilities, which emphasises the absolutely joint significance of financial access, social networks, and development of the enterprise in the formation of the economic activity of women. The research also provides more general time-series information in a research area that has historically featured micro-level evaluations, and emphasises the importance of future studies to understand job quality, industry variation, and the causal relationships in more detail with more detailed data.

Tracing Sisterhood and Solidarity in Select Contemporary Feminist Revisions of the Ramayan

2025-12-04T08:11:16-05:00

Sisterhood emerged as a pivotal concept during the second wave of feminism roughly dated between 1960s-1980s. Since then it has been a radical force in shaping feminist thoughts and discourses. It was envisioned as a unifying force among women in their collective struggle against patriarchy. Transcending social and political activism it has percolated into literary expression exploring beautiful unheard bonds between women characters. The emotional and personal bonds portrayed between women across various works serve as a subtle yet strategic form of collective resistance against patriarchy, depicting women supporting one another and voicing their unified protest against the long-standing injustices they have endured. In the Indian context, feminist re-visionist mythology writers have embraced mythological retellings as a tool to resist patriarchy. Through re-imagined narratives, the writers along with reclaiming female voices often exhibit unprecedented female bonds in their works. Sisterhood is a central concern and driving force in feminist revisionist mythology, shaping characters and storylines that portray women as united in purpose and agency. These works actively dismantle patriarchal narratives that once depicted women as suffering in isolation. It rejects the idea of inherent rivalry among women disrupting traditional binaries of women such as good versus bad, ideal versus wicked, and privileged versus marginalized bringing them together on the common ground of shared awareness of womanhood through imagined interactions between them. The present study seeks to analyze feminist revisionist mythologies namely The Liberation of Sita, Sita’s Sister, and The Forest of Enchantment through the lens of sisterhood in feminism, understood in its broader sense. These texts vividly illustrate threads of female solidarity, foregrounding women's concerns and uniting them in resistance against patriarchal structures.