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Intersecting Barriers: Gender, Religion and the Political Under-representation of Muslim Women in Local Governance in Bihar
Womens reservation policies have substantially expanded female political participation in India, yet the representation of Muslim women continues to remain disproportionately low across levels of governance. Drawing on detailed administrative data from the 2016 and 2021 Panchayat elections in Bihar, this study examines the institutional, structural and behavioural mechanisms that shape Muslim womens political inclusion. Using a supply-side framework, the analysis formalizes two key determinants of contest entry, past co-ethnic competitiveness and demographic potential, and shows how these factors jointly influence womens decisions to contest elections. The results highlight the central role of institutional design and strategic expectations in shaping minority womens political agency, even in communities where demographic conditions appear favourable for political representation. 2026 Lokniti, Centre For The Study Of Developing Societies -
Micro Borrowing an Amalgam of Structure and Strategy: Evidence from India
Micro borrowing was either an outcome of structure in the credit environment (termed the outreach stream), or a strategic response of the borrowers (termed the sustainability stream). Furthermore, borrower personal effects drove borrowing behaviour. This study draws variables from both the streams of literature and tests them against the amount borrowed and purposes loans are borrowed for. Results show how borrowing behaviour is neither an outcome of pure structure nor pure strategy, but rather, is an interplay of both, and further influenced by personal effects. The survey data (consisting of 839 rural borrower responses, from four districts of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh in South India) was subjected to a rigorous statistical analysis. Results show how a larger number of banks in the villages (a structural constraint), enabled the borrowers to receive larger loans, who defaulted more (a strategic response). Men borrowed larger sums (a personal effect). A similar amalgam of structure, strategy and personal effects drive borrowing behaviour even after controlling for loan purpose and district fixed effects. Yet, when district effects are introduced, amount borrowed is agnostic to personal effects, and is driven purely by structure and strategy. JEL Classifications: C25, C83, G51, Z13 The Author(s) 2022 -
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives; Organizational Culture; and Employee Retention: Situational TraitsMediated Model
The primary purpose of this study is to examine the role of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and organizational culture on employees situational traits and employee retention within contemporary organizational settings. In addition, this study investigates the mediating effects of employees situational traits on the relationships between DEI initiatives and employee retention, as well as on the relationship between organizational culture and employee retention. The study employs structural equation modelling to analyse a sample of 429 working employees. The findings suggest that DEI initiatives have a more substantial influence on employee retention compared to organizational culture. Employee situational traits mediate the effect of organizational culture and DEI initiatives on retention, emphasizing the importance of individual experiences. Therefore, integrating DEI initiatives into the organizational culture can create an inclusive workplace, attracting and retaining a diverse workforce. 2026 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage). -
Oil Price and Inflation in India: Exploring Asymmetric Relationship with the NARDL Approach
Understanding the dynamics of oil price volatility is a growing concern for oil-importing economies like India. Literature has examined the relationship between oil price shocks and economic growth with linear and symmetric assumptions. These assumptions mask the real effects on economic indicators with structural rigidity. This study examines whether oil price shocks cause asymmetric effects on inflation in India, and if so, how these effects differ in the short and long run. The study employed the non-linear autoregressive distributed lag model using monthly data from April 1997 to March 2025 of Brent Crude oil and the Wholesale Price Index of India. The results confirm long-run asymmetry, and positive oil price changes have a stronger and persistent effect on inflation. There is no significant short-run asymmetry observed. The error correction term indicates that 42% of long-run disequilibrium is adjusted within a month. Diagnostics and robustness tests confirmed model stability and prediction accuracy, and the result is not influenced by any structural break shocks. The results emphasize the need for an inflation-forecasting model to integrate the asymmetric transmission and to adjust its trading strategies and the fiscal policy. 2026 Fortune Institute of International Business -
Gender Matters: Psychological Drivers of Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior in India
Unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB), a phenomenon that has emerged through corporate misconduct worldwide, stands as a challenge to organizational and societal sustainability. Despite its impact, the influence of gender on UPB and other related psychological variables remains underexplored. This study tries to understand the role of gender, particularly on how UPB, often related to masculine traits, is affected by psychological ownership and psychological contract (relational). Given the predominantly patriarchal society of India, this study gains relevance as ethical decision-making might be affected by traditional gender roles, where nurturance, frequently associated with women, might have a say. A sample of 300 employees working as sales executives, team leads, and managers from various Ed-tech institutes in India were selected and employed the UPB scale, psychological contract scale, and psychological ownership scale. The data were then subjected to correlation, regression, t-test, and moderation using SPSS-24 and Hayes Process Macro. Results revealed a significant association between UPB, psychological ownership, and psychological contract, where the latter two significantly predicted UPB. A significant gender difference was found among all three variables, where the relationship between psychological ownership and UPB was significantly higher among males. These findings are then explained using various theoretical and historical antecedents and ultimately shedding light on what needs to be done for its alleviation. 2025 K J Somaiya Institute of Management -
Relationship Between Job Stress, Employee Engagement and Job Satisfaction: A Study Based on Women Managers in 4 and 5 star Hotels in India
Women account for a very small percentage of the employee population in Indian luxury hotels. While they have proved themselves as valuable assets, the average tenure of a woman in a managerial role in the sector is still around 2 to 4 years. The Government of India in its India Skills report has identified the sector as a focus area, in the drive to achieve better gender ratios. This study takes a small step towards understanding the factors that could influence the tenure of women in the hotel sector. The study examines the role of job stress in determining the levels of job satisfaction of women in the Indian hotel industry. The study also examines the mediating effect that employee engagement may have on the relation. The researchers have studied women in managerial roles in 4 and 5-star hotels, across India. The findings suggest that there is a strong negative correlation between job stress and job satisfaction and that this relationship is partially mediated by the presence of employee engagement. The findings are particularly important for the hospitality sector in India, as it struggles to retain its talented female employees. 2022 K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management -
Do Social Media Marketing Activities Help Create Masstige Brand Value of Fashion Brands Among Upper-middle-class Working Women
Upper-middle-class working women, due to their aspirational consumption behaviour, social mobility and high engagement in fashion trends, are a key segment for masstige brands. Their high involvement in social media makes it the right platform for masstige fashion brands to interact with them for elevated engagement. This study examines the impact of social media marketing activities like entertainment, interaction, trendiness, advertisements and customization on the dimensions of masstige brand value and its subsequent impact on brand loyalty and word of mouth among upper-middle-class working women. A quantitative approach was used to examine the correlation among the identified variables of the study. To analyse the projected relationships of the study, the authors examined the data by following a three-step approach: (a) exploratory factor analysis to identify underlying constructs, (b) confirmatory factor analysis to validate measurement models and (c) structural equation modelling to test hypothesized relationships. Results indicate that masstige brand value is enhanced by strategically designed social media marketing activities, strengthening brand loyalty and encouraging positive word of mouth. The findings of this study offer valuable implications for masstige fashion brands looking forward to optimizing their social media marketing strategies for building long-term consumer relationships. 2026 Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode -
Quarter-life Crisis Episodes in Emerging Adulthood: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Data From Eight Countries
Developmental crisis episodes that occur during emerging adulthood, also known as quarter-life crises, are emotionally unstable times of transition that typically last around a year or two. This study aims to expand the cross-cultural focus on this topic, by assessing prevalence and brief written descriptions of early adult crisis in 1829-year-olds from eight countries (UK, Greece, Czechia, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Brazil), with a total sample of N = 2,247, with the objective of exploring similarities and differences across cultures. Crisis prevalence rates found ranged from 40% to 77% per country. Thematic analysis of descriptions of crisis elicited external and internal crisis features. With regards to external features, the most prevalent were career transition, financial difficulties, studying-based stress and struggle, and family difficulties. Internal features that were most prevalent were feeling fearful/anxious/worried, negative self-evaluation, feeling sad/down, and feelings of confusion/uncertainty. The findings align with existing research on early adult crisis, pointing to both cross-cultural similarities and differences. 2025 Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood and SAGE Publishing. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage). -
Financial Socialisation, Decision-Making Power and Risk-Taking Behaviour of Rural Households: Moderating Mediation Analysis
Financial socialisation (FS) plays a vital role in determining the financial decision-making power and risk-taking behaviour of rural households. The present study investigates the interplay between financial socialisation, gender, and marital status in shaping decision-making power and investment risk-taking behaviour. A quantitative approach was employed, with 312 survey responses collected via a cross-sectional survey method from rural investors in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, India. Financial socialisation was assessed using adapted and validated items from prior studies, while trading frequency was a proxy for risk-taking behaviour. The moderated mediation framework (PROCESS Macro Model 8) was employed to investigate the interplay between the variables. Results show that FS significantly increases womens risk-taking behaviour, but this effect is partly reduced due to their lower decision-making power in rural patriarchal households. For men, the direct effect of financial socialisation on risk-taking behaviour is positive but weaker, with no mediation through decision-making power. Married individuals exhibit more conservative risk-taking behaviour than unmarried individuals due to familial responsibilities. The study also found that education and income do not significantly impact decision-making power, possibly reflecting deeper socio-cultural influences in rural settings. These findings imply that policymakers should design targeted financial literacy programmes to address gender disparities and cultural barriers to financial participation. By promoting inclusive financial socialisation, households can achieve more equitable decision-making processes and risk management, which will improve the financial well-being of rural communities. This study contributes to understanding financial socialisation within patriarchal contexts and offers insights into targeted financial empowerment initiatives. The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage). -
Investing in Indias electric revolution: A case study of OLA electric
Subject Area: Entrepreneurship, Strategy. Study Level/Applicability: The case is best suited for a course on Entrepreneurial Finance while introducing the sources of finance and a course on Private Equity and Venture capital, while discussing target screening. It exemplifies how new-age ventures can position themselves to attract investments and how venture capital firms use environmental scanning to identify potential investment opportunities. Designed for second-year MBA students, the case assumes familiarity with strategic management concepts like Porters Five Force and Resource-Based View. Case Overview: Amala Menon is a seasoned venture capitalist, strategist, sustainability enthusiast, and founder of Samrithi VentureCaptial and has been actively looking out for investment opportunities in the Electronic Vehicle (EV) space. Believing in the huge potential and the push received by supportive government policies in India, Amala is assessing Ola Electric Mobility Pvt. Ltd (Ola Electric) as an investable option among a list of growing players in the space. A wholly owned subsidiary of ANI Technologies Pvt. Ltd, the parent company of Ola Cabs, Ola Electric, valued at USD 5 billion as of 2022, was founded in 2017 to facilitate mass electric mobility and hence reduce emission and fuel dependency. Though crunching financial metrics and valuation numbers come in during assessing an investment option, she strongly emphasizes evaluating the organizations readiness to obtain further funding in terms of its management team, the potential of the business model and several other crucial parameters. Ultimately, valuation exercise, according to her, aids founders and investors in confirming the strategic positioning of the venture and the business models validity. Hence, at this point, Amala, considering qualitative and quantitative aspects, is focused on assessing whether Ola is a wise investable option compared to its peers. Expected Learning Outcomes: This case study enables participants to: (1) Critically appraise investment prospects in new-age EV startups like Ola Electric considering industry-specific and organization-specific factors. (2) Explore both financial and non-financial factors crucial for evaluating Ola Electrics potential as a promising investment. (3) Evaluate Ola Electric as a potential investment option by leveraging strategic frameworks such as Resource-Based View, Internal and External Factor Evaluation to formulate an investment recommendation. (4) Apply the insights gained from the environmental scan to guide Amalas investment decision regarding Ola Electric. Association for Information Technology Trust 2024 -
Assessing the role and effectiveness of NGOs in enhancing elementary education in government primary schools in Karnataka: A SWOT analysis
Elementary education in Karnatakas government schools faces several challenges, including inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of human resources. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have emerged as pivotal players in addressing these gaps. This research paper conducts a comprehensive SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of NGOs involved in elementary education across Karnataka. Drawing on interviews with 50 NGOs across four revenue districts in Karnataka, the paper explores their internal strengths, challenges, and potential areas for increasing their impact. The findings highlight key strengths of NGOs including their strong relationships with stakeholders as well as their innovative and flexible approaches to implementing educational programs. However, weaknesses include limited funding and organizations heavy reliance on volunteers. Despite these challenges, opportunities exist to run more development programs and leverage technological advancements. At the same time, threats such as frequent changes in laws and regulations, resistance from authorities, and rigid teacher and parent mindsets pose barriers to the effective and efficient running of NGOs educational programs in Karnataka. The Author(s) 2026 -
Exploring the impact of creative movement on experential learning in Indian primary school education
This research paper explores the potential of creative dance as an innovative pedagogy for experiential learning in Indian primary school children. The study investigates the impact of incorporating creative dance into the curriculum on various aspects of child development, including cognitive skills, social-emotional growth, and physical well-being. Through a mixed-methods approach, including quantitative assessments and qualitative observations, the research examines the effectiveness of creative dance in enhancing learning outcomes and overall educational experiences. The findings suggest that creative dance can serve as a powerful tool for experiential learning, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and holistic development among Indian primary school children. The Author(s) 2025. -
Social Entrepreneurship for Digital Governance Services: An Empirical Analysis of Government and Societal Supporting Factors
Purpose: In a fast-growing social entrepreneurship field, the societal entrepreneurial intention is vital to understand to meet social needs and create sustainable rural development. This research study aims to investigate e-governance service core constructs, Hockert's (2017) societal entrepreneurial intention (SEI) and the social cognitive career theory (SCCT) model core that determines rural societal entrepreneurs intention in establishing e-governance social service centres. Design/methodology/approach: Based on a convenient and purposive sampling method, 596 survey sample data were collected through an online questionnaire from an e-governance-based social entrepreneur in Karnataka, India. The partial least square-based structural equation modelling was utilised to analyse the survey data and conceptual model. Findings: The findings indicate that empathy, appointing agencies support (APS), perceived societal support (PSS), prior experience, and government support significantly predict societal entrepreneurship self-efficacy (SES). Hence, social image and perceived process support were insignificant in predicting societal entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Furthermore, societal self-efficacy significantly influences outcome expectations and societal entrepreneurship intention to embark on e-governance social service centres. Originality: The current study was the first to explore the fully integrated model approach of Hockertss societal entrepreneurial intention theoretical model, SCCT and e-governance service supporting factors in framing rural societal entrepreneurs intention in establishing e-governance social service centres development. Key points for practitioners: The study results provide valuable insights for governments, agencies, social entrepreneurs, and social communities to establish a framework for developing and efficiently operating digital seva service centres and generating a positive social impact in rural and distant regions. The Author(s) 2025. -
Telehealth-Delivered Mindfulness-Based Exposure and Response Prevention for Sexual Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder with Comorbid Depression: Feasibility and Clinical Outcomes
Sexual Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (S-OCD), when comorbid with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), presents significant treatment challenges due to heightened distress, avoidance behaviors, and cognitive inflexibility. While Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP) remains the gold standard for OCD, its efficacy in S-OCD cases complicated by MDD is less established. This case-series study examines the feasibility and effectiveness of Telehealth-delivered Mindfulness-Based Exposure and Response Prevention (Telehealth-delivered MB-EX/RP) in treating individuals with S-OCD and comorbid MDD. Five participants underwent 17 bi-weekly therapy sessions delivered via a digital platform. Standardized assessments of OCD severity, depressive symptoms, obsessive beliefs, mindfulness, and mental well-being were conducted at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and a four-month follow-up. Results demonstrated significant reductions in S-OCD and depressive symptoms, along with sustained improvements in mindfulness and well-being. The digital format facilitated accessibility and engagement, suggesting that Telehealth-delivered MB-EX/RP is a viable intervention for individuals with S-OCD and comorbid MDD. Findings highlight the potential of mindfulness-enhanced digital interventions in addressing complex OCD presentations, warranting further investigation in larger clinical trials. The Author(s) 2025 -
Reimagining Career Growth for Gen Z and Millennials: Role of Career Lattices in Enhancing Employee Engagement
Problem: Widespread disengagement among the working professionals and changing career expectations of Generation Z and Millennials pose a risk to talent management, retention, and performance in the IT sector. Solution: This quantitative study examines how employees perceived competence translates into engagement via multi-directional career development pathways (career lattice, career-goal progress, professional ability improvement, and promotion) using a survey of 304 IT professionals and PLS-SEM. Results show that employees who felt more competent reported higher engagement, and this relationship was strengthened when organisations provided career lattice pathways such as skill development, lateral mobility, and goal progress. Stakeholders: The findings identify actionable levers for organizational leaders, HRD practitioners, and talent managers to design adaptive career frameworks that increase engagement among Gen Z and Millennial employees. Implication: HRD leaders and talent managers should prioritise flexible, skills-based mobility and career-goal supports to boost Gen Z and Millennials engagement. The Author(s) 2026 -
Navigating the transition to preschool: Understanding the experience of parents in urban india
This qualitative study explores the experiences of parents in urban india as they navigate the process of selecting a preschool for their children, particularly in light of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, which started in March 2020. In this study, preschool refers to formal early childhood education programs for children before entering primary school (typically serving children aged 35). This research examines the factors influencing parental decision-making, including the perceived importance of play-based learning, health and safety protocols, school proximity, and teacher qualifications. The study also explores the range of parental emotions experienced during this transition, from anxiety to excitement, as their children begin their preschool education. Using narrative analysis, the study involved interviews with 12 parents of children aged 37 who had recently enrolled their children in preschool. The findings highlight the significant influence of childrens perceived responses to the preschool environment on parental satisfaction and subsequent decision-making. The COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a key contextual factor shaping both the transition process and preschool selection criteria. This research highlights the active role parents play in seeking enriching early learning environments for their children. It also suggests the need for educational policymakers to support high-quality preschool education, particularly by fostering effective parental engagement, to facilitate smoother transitions for families and bridge the gap between quantitative educational targets and the qualitative dimensions of parental experience. The Author(s) 2026 -
Effective detection of Covid-19 using Xception net architecture: A technical investigation using X-ray images
The disastrous era of COVID-19 has altered the perspectives of nearly all nations concerning the health and education sectors. Artificial intelligence is a pressing need that needs to be implemented thoroughly in the medical and educational fields. Imperatively, the diagnosis of Covid-19 has become crucial. In this study, we have designed a classification model based on Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and transfer learning. The COVID-19 chest X-ray images have been considered for the proposed methodology and are classified as COVID-19 positive and normal cases. The proposed shallow CNN Model achieved an accuracy of 96%, which is computationally very effective as only three Convolutional blocks are required. Then, the Xception architecture-based model is experimented with. The accuracy and loss of the proposed model have been evaluated using Adam and SGD optimizer. With the Adam Optimizer, Xception Net achieved the best classification accuracy of 99.94%. The precision, recall, and f1-score of 100% are achieved. The proposed model has outperformed the previous studies in the same domain, which highlights the models state-of-the-art performance. Our study will be helpful for decision-makers and can help further minimize mortality and morbidity by effectively diagnosing the disease. The Author(s) 2025. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage). -
Exploring Trajectories of Youth Suicide and Prevention Strategies Within Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India
Suicide is a major public health challenge globally, and although universal public health frameworks exist, suicide prevention efforts need to be tailored for specific cultural communities. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, one of the union territories of India with particularly high rates of suicide-related deaths, provide a unique socio-historic, economic, political, and healthcare context to understand suicidality. In this qualitative study, we explored factors that trigger suicide and potential solutions for suicide prevention that may be feasible and relevant for migrant youth within the resource-limited healthcare infrastructure of the islands. We completed individual semi-structured interviews with 10 key informants (7 men, 3 women), who included youth who attempted suicide, peers, and professionals. Overall, youth suicide on the islands needs to be situated within historic trauma rooted in British colonial rule and continued sociopolitical and economic marginalization. Youth experience academic pressures, interpersonal challenges, substance use, and challenges unique to island life, which along with the public perception trivializing youth distress and access to means, elevate risk for suicidal behavior. Sustained investment in infrastructure development, along with innovative approaches that move beyond traditional suicide prevention frameworks to help foster compassionate communities and empower youth with entrepreneurial and life skills would be beneficial. The Author(s) 2026 -
Decolonizing Counselling: Integrating Non-Western Perspectives in Mental Health Intervention
This paper discusses the need to decolonize mainstream counseling practices, predominantly influenced by Eurocentric perspectives, by incorporating non-Western views and experiences. It highlights the importance of recognizing the fluidity of self and identity within diverse social and ecological contexts, particularly in countries like India, where mental health issues are on the rise. The paper critiques the limitations of Western therapeutic approaches in non-Western cultures. It emphasizes the significance of integrating local knowledge systems, such as indigenous healing traditions like the Siri cult, which promotes communal healing and addresses the spiritual dimensions of mental health. It advocates for a holistic approach to therapy that incorporates spiritual elements, encouraging self-transcendence and interconnectedness, and ultimately challenges the individualistic focus of Western psychotherapy. Integrating traditional practices and philosophies, such as Bhakti and mindfulness, is essential for fostering a more inclusive and effective mental health framework. The Author(s) 2025 -
Where is the Ground? Cultural Transmission and Psychological Adaptation of Sri Lankan-Tamil Ethnic Repatriates
This qualitative study aimed to explore the cultural transmission and psychological adaptation of the Indian-origin Sri Lankan Tamil ethnic repatriates (SLTER) in the context of life in repatriation (LIR). Participants were SLTER living in the northern interior regions of Kerala. Thematic analysis derived two major themes, Psychological consequences and expectations of repatriation and Mechanisms for coping with the aftermath of repatriation. Desire for settlements in Sri Lanka despite not holding Sri Lankan citizenship, psychological consequences of repatriation, including longing for the land of origin, manifestations of cultural and emotional shock, and the adoption of food styles analogous to Sri Lankan Tamil Culture (SLTC) were highlighted in the study. Gender and generational differences in psychosomatic symptoms upon arrival were observed. The coping mechanisms included rationalization and language internalization. Participants used ostensive and pointing gestures as initial steps to internalize Indian culture. They are also connected with their Sri Lankan Tamil culture and transmitted that culture to subsequent generations through various socially acceptable forms. They try to find a middle ground between citizenship and refugee status, often feeling torn between their Indian culture and their connection to Sri Lanka due to limited social and economic rights and experiences of marginalization in both countries. Although these aspects have been little investigated, they warrant significant scholarly attention in the context of ethnic repatriation. The Author(s) 2025