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Voluntary Carbon Markets: Bridging Climate Solutions Through Sustainable Finance
Voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) enable companies and individuals to offset their carbon footprint by acquiring carbon credits from programs that decrease or eliminate emissions, such as renewable energy or forest conservation activities. As climate change mitigation becomes more prominent on corporate and investor agendas, voluntary carbon markets provide a framework for channeling funding toward emissions-reduction operations. The threat of climate change necessitates immediate action, pushing sustainable finance to the forefront. Carbon offsetting appears as an intriguing but contentious option in this changing ecology. It enables entities to compensate for their greenhouse gas emissions by funding programs that reduce emissions elsewhere. However, worries about the integrity of some offsets remain, emphasizing the need for strong standards and verification systems. This includes aligning lending, insurance, and investment agendas with sustainability objectives such as the Paris Agreement. As the global economy undergoes structural transformations to meet climate targets, sustainable finance invests in VCM projects to direct funds towards programs that reduce carbon emissions, boost renewable energy use, and support sustainable practices. This linkage strengthens the financial sectors role in combating climate change while also promoting economic growth and resilience. Integrating VCMs into sustainable finance strategies improves transparency and accountability in carbon offsetting methods, ensuring that investments contribute to emissions reductions and environmental benefits. This conceptual study seeks to contribute to a thorough understanding of the collaboration between VCMs, sustainable finance, and climate action, emphasizing the significance of collective action in companies and individuals achieving environmental sustainability and minimizer by the effects of climate change. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025. -
Voluntary cybersecurity risk disclosures and firms characteristics: the moderating role of the knowledge-intensive industry
Purpose: This study examines voluntary cybersecurity risk disclosures (VCRD) by listed Indian companies. It also investigates how it relates to firm-specific characteristics such as size, leverage, profitability, liquidity, beta, market growth and industry. Design/methodology/approach: The extent of VCRD was measured by assessing the cumulative occurrence of cybersecurity risk keywords in the annual report of 100 listed Indian non-financial companies. Keyword extraction and occurrence counts were performed using Python software. A multiple regression analysis was applied to predict the characteristics of VCRD. Findings: The results showed that the theoretical frameworks underpinned by agency and signalling theories continued to provide a valid explanation of VCRD by Indian companies. Specifically, the findings emphasized the importance of firm size, leverage, and beta as significant VCRD determinants. Additionally, the study found that knowledge-intensive industries had a favourable impact on the extent of VCRD. Research limitations/implications: This study is relevant because it informs company management, regulators and investors about the nature and characteristics of companies that satisfy stakeholder demands to prevent cyber breaches. Originality/value: Understanding disclosure characteristics is crucial from policy and regulatory perspectives. Studies on cybersecurity disclosures are related to developed economies such as the United States of America and Canada. This is the first study to explore this issue in a developing nation, in general, and in India, in particular, where cybersecurity risk disclosure has yet to be recognized. 2025, Harmandeep Singh. -
Voluntary cybersecurity risk disclosures and firms characteristics: the moderating role of the knowledge-intensive industry
Purpose: This study examines voluntary cybersecurity risk disclosures (VCRD) by listed Indian companies. It also investigates how it relates to firm-specific characteristics such as size, leverage, profitability, liquidity, beta, market growth and industry. Design/methodology/approach: The extent of VCRD was measured by assessing the cumulative occurrence of cybersecurity risk keywords in the annual report of 100 listed Indian non-financial companies. Keyword extraction and occurrence counts were performed using Python software. A multiple regression analysis was applied to predict the characteristics of VCRD. Findings: The results showed that the theoretical frameworks underpinned by agency and signalling theories continued to provide a valid explanation of VCRD by Indian companies. Specifically, the findings emphasized the importance of firm size, leverage, and beta as significant VCRD determinants. Additionally, the study found that knowledge-intensive industries had a favourable impact on the extent of VCRD. Research limitations/implications: This study is relevant because it informs company management, regulators and investors about the nature and characteristics of companies that satisfy stakeholder demands to prevent cyber breaches. Originality/value: Understanding disclosure characteristics is crucial from policy and regulatory perspectives. Studies on cybersecurity disclosures are related to developed economies such as the United States of America and Canada. This is the first study to explore this issue in a developing nation, in general, and in India, in particular, where cybersecurity risk disclosure has yet to be recognized. 2025, Harmandeep Singh. -
Volunteering-based student engagement: A model for student well-being in higher education institutions
Student well-being issues are rising alarmingly, and addressing these well-being concerns takes the predominant focus of higher education institutions, together with competency building. Understanding the importance of student engagement in student well-being, Christ University, Bengaluru, India, adopted a student engagement model based on volunteering. The current paper tries to understand the dynamics between volunteering and student well-being. It explores the relationship between volunteering and personal responsibility, social responsibility, meaning in life, and a helping attitude. It also tries to check whether the relationship between a helping attitude and student well-being is mediated by personal responsibility and social responsibility. Further, it explores whether volunteers and non-volunteers differ in their social responsibility, personal responsibility, and student well-being. A group of 350 students, of which 175 volunteers and 175 non-volunteers, were approached to participate in the study. Post data cleaning procedure, 327 data points qualified for analysis, and it was found that there exists a relationship between volunteering and personal responsibility, social responsibility and helping attitude, and personal responsibility and social responsibility mediated the relationship between helping attitude and student well-being. Results also revealed that volunteers and nonvolunteers differed in their helping attitude, personal responsibility, and student well-being. These findings point towards the fact that the student engagement model based on volunteering has a positive impact on student well-being. A detailed discussion of the application of these findings is provided in the full paper. 2024 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. -
Vulnerability of urban ecology of Bangalore: An examination of its contention with the politics of land administration
Through a critical examination of questions on the politics of land tenures, the study brings out two interpretations on the conflicts of land and water governance: (1), the concerted efforts and the physical processes of scaling the water terrain in parallel to the political missions of administering the land; and (2), how the scalar rearrangements of land at a local scale intersect with water, revealing the new structuration of land fragmentation and water. It demonstrates that the State has been instrumental in the process of the scalar deterioration of the urban wetlands in Bangalore since 1873. The comprehensive study of these political realignments of land and water, using the data from the Records of Rights obtained from the land revenue records of the Office of the Land Survey Settlement and Records Department under the Government of Karnataka, reveals the vulnerability of urban ecology as a corollary to land administration. Pieter Van den Broeck, Asiya Sadiq, Ide Hiergens, Monica Quintana Molina, Han Verschure and Frank Moulaert 2020. -
Wage Collapse and Gender Differences in Earning in India
The study found that the average daily wages almost increased three times between 1983 and 202122 in rural and urban areas of the country. The average wages rose more rapidly for women than men. We have observed that the wage growth of casual workers increased much faster over the years, reflecting less fluctuation than regular workers. However, at the same time, the growth rate of regular workers has collapsed several times, and in the recent period, the collapse was almost complete. From the analysis of Gini coefficient and decomposition, we observed that wage inequality has come down in India between 201112 and 202122, and much of the differences in earnings are explained by within-group factors. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Indian Society of Labour Economics 2026. -
Wage Rate: Is this Return to Education or Return to Physical Capability? Evidence from Rural India
This paper estimates the wage function for daily labor market participants inSemi-Arid Tropics of rural India within a traditional agrarian framework. Village level data on 18 villages for 20092010 and 20122013 have been used for this study. Three-years balanced panel estimation has also been conducted to test the time invariance of the findings from the cross-sectional study. A modified Mincerian earning equation is estimated for different types of workersregressing upon a set of human capital measures, socioeconomic factors and, demand influences after correcting for potential sample selection bias. The study finds differential impacts of education and physical ability to determine wages for male and female workers. It reveals the greater importance of education in explaining wages of male laborers while for females, nutritional status playing a significant role than education in wage determination process. Among the other factors, drought worksas a major exogenous shock and hence impacts wages badly. Working in the non-farm sector has a significant impact on wages.Also, thewageparticipation relationship has found more operativein the lower section of the society. 2020, Indian Society of Labour Economics. -
Walking an extra mile: Determinants of organizational citizenship behaviorAn exploratory study in faith-based organizations
Objective: Our study is intended to explore the factors that promote organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB) in faith-based organizations, which has the potential to extend the scholarly conversation around a previously unexplored context. Methods: Our study used a purposive, homogeneous sampling technique in selecting the participants. We interviewed 30 employees who have at least 5 years of experience in faith-based organizations. We conducted detailed interviews and subsequent analysis involved a rigorous six-step thematic analysis process to better understand the phenomena being studied. Results: Our study revealed the significance of OCB in faith-based organizations and further elucidated those factors that determine the display of OCBs. Our findings have the power to enhance the existing comprehension of OCBs in different environments, specifically those present in faith-based organizations. Our study broadens our conceptual understanding of OCB in faith-based organizations by adding one more dimension to the existing framework of P. MPodsakoff etal. (1990). Conclusion: Our findings have important implications for organizational scholars in faith-based organizations. Our new conceptual framework offers insights into the distinct characteristics of OCBs in faith-based organizations and suggests directions for future scholars to engage with OCBs from different contexts. 2024 by the Southwestern Social Science Association. -
Wall jet nanofluid flow with thermal energy and radiation in the presence of power-law
The effectiveness of jet flow in the energy transfer process has made it very useful in industrial applications. These flows also have higher heat transfer coefficients than traditional cooling through convection. The appliances inclusive of the jet make effective use of fluid and enhance the heat transfer rate. The contemporary article investigates the jet flow of power-law nanofluid past a moving wall. The nanofluid is formed by suspending Cu and Al2O3 nanoparticles in water. Furthermore, the jet flow is analyzed in the presence of radiation, which is further assumed to be linear, and the application of Rosseland approximation is considered to be valid. Considering these aspects, the model is designed using partial differential equations (PDE), which are then converted to a system of non-linear ordinary differential equations (ODE) by implementing certain similarity transformations. Thus, the obtained system is solved using numerical methods, and the results are discussed with the help of graphs. The significant conclusions of the analysis were that the increase in the radiation parameter contributed to the increase in the temperature of the nanofluid. The increase in the Prandtl number reported a decrease in the amount of heat absorbed by the nanofluid. 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. -
War Strategy Optimization for Optimal Integration of Public Fast Charging Stations in Radial Feeders
In light of rising pollution and global warming, there is need for raising the acceptance rate of electric vehicles (EVs) across the globe for sustainable and clean transportation. However, low-voltage electrical distribution networks (EDN) are necessary to provide the electrical power needed to charge the EV batteries. Due to their radial construction and high r/x ration branches; these networks typically suffer from significant energy losses, inadequate voltage profiles, and low stability margins. Therefore, the performance of EDNs shouldnt be further compromised by the incorporation of EV charging stations. In light of this, this work presents a unique heuristic war strategy optimization (WSO) for integrating fast charging stations (FCS) as efficiently as possible utilizing the voltage stability index (VSI). The effect of equivalent EV load penetration in EDS is initially evaluated in terms of loss, voltage profile, and voltage stability for a certain number of EVs. Simulations are executed for IEEE 15-bus system for three different scenarios. The technological advantages seen in the simulations illustrate the efficiency of the suggested technique for real-time adaptation. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024. -
Waste elimination to porous carbonaceous materials for the application of electrochemical sensors: Recent developments
World is expected to face a big disaster from waste materials generated as a result of the ever-growing industrialization. Recent developments in the area of biomass-derived materials and valuable products has attracted many into its diverse applications. Biomass-derived porous carbonaceous materials are highly recommended for the development of electrochemical sensors due to their unique features like cost-effectiveness, distinctive structure, sustainability, and regenerative nature. The electrochemical and catalytic activity of the sensor differ based on their surface morphology specifically surface area, pore-volume, and pore size. Various techniques like activation, doping, and dispersion of metal nanoparticles are efficient in enhancing the performance of sensors. Some of the essential or seminal developments in the area of biomass-derived carbonaceous materials for detecting diverse target analytes like pharmaceutical drugs, metal ions, biomolecules, food additives, pollutants, and flavonoids are reviewed. 2020 Elsevier Ltd -
Waste Management for Waste Entrepreneurship: An Emerging Concept
Since the very beginning of civilization, waste has always been an incessant problem and their management remains burdensome till date, as the rate of waste generation is increasing with the increase in population, land use and development of economy. Waste is generally considered as an unavoidable trash/nuisance with zero value and concerns which can be overruled by the waste management system. It is a well-organized holistic expensive process that includes segregation at sources, on-time collection, transportation, reuse, recycle, reprocess and disposal of the leftover materials into the landfills, which usually receives inadequate attention as public get easily acclimatized to live along with the generated wastes. Managing waste in an environmentally favorable, culturally acceptable and techno-economically feasible manner is a need in recent times. Society is in a need to think of ways to minimize and utilize waste for other uses. Understanding waste management in terms of its challenges involves knowledge dissemination to the public, waste prevention, valorization, responsible material production and packaging, maximum recycling, conservation of resources, enhancement of sustainability and reduction of greenhouse gasses. Opportunities in waste management could be achieved by exercising circular economy practices which reinforce environmental, societal and economic benefits. Role of entrepreneurs in the waste management system encompasses a cluster of skilled as well as unskilled workers, as it is a labor-intensive system. Entrepreneurs may invest money as well as infuse novel skills and technologies to transform trash into treasures. The efficacy and significance of waste management will eventually increase with the active participation of entrepreneurs. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024. -
Waste Management: Learning and Challenges from a Case Study of a University Model in India
Christ University (CU) has implemented an integral and sustainable waste-management system for better environmental impacts on its five campuses in India. The university has well established zero-waste campaigns. The waste-management model is introduced at CU campuses with multiple purposes: 1) for a cleaner environment on the campus, 2) to create an educational impact on students on waste management, 3) to initiate a movement towards a zero-waste society in India and 4) to employ people living around its campuses. The Christ University waste-management model is done through three different segments/wings: 1) solid waste management, 2) wet waste management and 3) wastewater management. The amount of waste recycled for each year is measured, and the processes are documented. The model is a replicable, sustainable and socially impactful model for managing waste on university campuses for more significant societal impacts. 2024 CRC Press. -
Wastewater treatment using chitosan and its derivatives: A mini review on latest developments
Effluents and contaminants released from the industries are needed to be treated before releasing them to water bodies. Most common effluents from these industrial wastes are organic compounds, dyes and heavy metals. Heavy metals and their associated anions, as well as organic material, have been separated from wastewaters in industries using a variety of methods. Adsorption is an effective method for water treatment as they are less energy consuming and cost effective. Biopolymers such as chitosan, cellulose, keratin are used for the process of adsorption as they are present abundantly and recyclable. Chitosan is a deacetylated product of chitin. Chitosan and its derivatives are extremely essential due to their abundant availability, low cost, environmental friendliness, and biodegradability and can be widely applied in wastewater treatment.-NH2 and-OH groups are present in chitosan and provide chitosan an opportunity to make physical and chemical modifications. Modifications of chitosan into hydrogels and nanocomposites provide wider applications in wastewater treatment. 2022, Horticulture and Forestry Society from Transylvania. All rights reserved. -
WATCHING AND BEING WATCHED: POWER, SURVEILLANCE AND AGENCY WITHIN THE DEVADASI SYSTEM
This article explores the devadasi system in India through the dual thoughts of Michael Foucaults Panopticism and Agency Theory, examining how power dynamics and social control mechanisms were both enforced and resisted. The devadasi system, originally a revered religious practice, evolved into a complex structure of exploitation and marginalization, where women dedicated to temple service were subjected to pervasive surveillance and disciplinary practices. By applying Panopticism, this study reveals how the British administrators and the nationalists maintained strict control over devadasis, ensuring their subjugation within the social hierarchy. Simultaneously, Agency Theory illuminates how devadasis challenged these oppressive structures, asserting their autonomy in subtle but significant ways. This analysis not only deepens our understanding of the devadasi system but also contributes to broader discussions on the intersections of power, control and agency in marginalized communities. The study also highlights the importance of examining historical systems of oppression through critical and theoretical frameworks to uncover both the mechanisms of control and the resilience of those subjected to them. 2025 Journal of Dharma: Dharmaram Journal of Religions and Philosophies (DVK, Bangalore), ISSN: 0253-7222. -
Watching the Watchers: Digital Panopticism in the Age of Algorithmic Culture
The chapter deals with the ideology of Digital Panopticism as basically one of the major features of the algorithmic culture where power is exercised through the routine surveillance, data extraction, and predictive analytics. Using Michel Foucaults idea of the Panopticon as a starting point, the authors suggest that digital systems - for example, social media and algorithmic governance - are control structures that are spread out and therefore it is difficult to distinguish the zones where one is being observed and the zones where one is participating. The chapter links the concept of Digital Panopticism with the theories of the radical surveillance and digital capitalism and also examining the impact of the phenomena on subjectivity, autonomy, and behavior. The authors end the chapter by looking at moral theories and resistance movements to facilitate openness, taking responsibility, and the peoples control in the age of digital technology. 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Water Demand Prediction Using Support Vector Machine Regression
Water is a critical resource for sustainable economic and social development of a country. To maintain health hygiene, energy agricultural products, and the environment management water plays a key role. Water demand prediction is essential to analyze the requirement that indicate emergency state for water management decisions. This paper explores the water usage data for dairy plants to understand the spatial and temporal patterns for future water requirements, to optimize the water demand estimation. It uses concept of Machine learning algorithms to compare and achieve an effective and reliable system for water prediction. 2019 IEEE. -
Water Diplomacy in the Cauvery River and Mullaperiyar Dam: A Case Study of Tamil Nadu's Experience With Karnataka and Kerala
Water sharing by multiple nations internationally often leads to issues concerning access, utilization, and sustainability. In South India, Tamil Nadu's incident with water diplomacy, mainly in managing the Cauvery River Basin shared with Karnataka, presents important implications for reserve management and conflict resolution. The state relies heavily on its river systems for irrigation, drinking water, and industrial use, but the scarcity and irregular allocation of water resources pose a significant challenge. Efficient water diplomacy can help achieve sustainable water administration by fostering common thought and cooperation among riparian states. This paper critically evaluates the challenges and opportunities in Tamil Nadu's water peacekeeping, focusing on its commitment to neighboring states over collective water resources. It explores key themes such as the historical context of interstate water-sharing disagreements, the efficiency of existing lawful and institutional frameworks, and the role of political and social arrangements in shaping water-sharing negotiations. The paper also underscores the need for a more practical and mutual approach to water distribution, moving away from legal arbitration and political negotiation to embrace the values of sustainable and evenhanded water management. 2025 Policy Studies Organization. -
Water dispute in Central Asia: Conflict potential
The Central Asian republics (CARs), which emerged as independent states in the post-Soviet phase, faced several challenges. During the Soviet era, the CARs were agriculturally oriented towards the Soviet economy and, accordingly, river water management was also centralized under the command economic model. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the CARs had to review the existing water management arrangements. This is where the absence of a Moscow-centric central authority has proven detrimental to the region endowed with two major rivers and their several subsidiaries. In this context, the paper suggests an emphasis on multilateralism, rather than bilateralism, as a more feasible approach to river water management. Clearly, multilateralism would promote a more equitable solution compared to bilateralism, which does not adopt a holistic approach to the region. Considering the fact that the region is characterized by a water crisis in addition to the fragility of the environment makes a multilateral arrangement significantly more appropriate for the region in the long term. 2019, CA and C Press AB. All rights reserved. -
Water is life and death: Symbolic representation in all customs and rituals in India
For the Koch, Koch Rajbongshi, and Rajbanshi people of India, water is central to their culture. They share river music and ancestry. They lost their language in 1931 and split into three or more clans due to flood relocation. They also introduced food, the river, the sun, the moon, the bamboo tree, and cactus plant worship to the highlands. The parent group was identified as tribal in the 1931 census. Still, the Indian government could not grant Koch, Koch Rajbongshi, and Rajbanshi scheduled tribe status for Assam and conserve their culture, traditions, and language. Indian scientists are trying to solve Assam's centuries-old flood issues, which are worsening. The new Indian water framework must treat water access and value of water resources as essentially good and human rights issues. India must review its Assam flood failures and compensate locals. Assam needs political, social, economic, and administrative procedures to develop and manage water resources and offer services at different societal levels. 2023 Policy Studies Organization.