Browse Items (16488 total)
Sort by:
-
Leveraging technology for sustainable economic growth: Advancing the SDGs through innovation
Raising long-term competitiveness of national economies is an important requirement with the broad use of digital technologies. In addition to offering the possibility of economic restructuring, information and communication technologies open up new avenues for all citizens to access a range of services, such as first-rate healthcare and education. As a result, these developments promote inclusive growth and significantly aid in the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Significant economic changes that raise living standards and boost global competitiveness can be sparked by the promise of digital transformation within a framework of sustainable development. Keeping in view the above, the chapter thoroughly examines practical and theoretical frameworks pertaining to the application of sustainable development, as well as an assessment of the possibilities for using digital technologies to promotesustainable competitiveness. The relationship between digital inclusion and its longterm effects on global economic development is also analyzed. 2025 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Leveraging cloud technology for sustainable innovation ecosystem: An ethico-legal perspective
Technological advancements affect the environment at great cost. The shift to cloud computing has intensified ethical and legal tensions over privacy, jurisdiction and regulatory requirements. The attention towards the socio-environmental consequences of economic and industrial interference is growing as corporations stress on the sustainable aspects of supply chain and product creation. The transformation of cloud technology to a sustainable innovation ecosystem depends on several ethical practices. The objective of this study is to analyse the critical factors required for the adoption of ethical, legal, and regulatory compliance for cloud technology in a sustainable innovation ecosystem. Design/Methodology/Approach: Under the doctrinal approach, the authors used an analytical method to analyse the ethical and legal perspective for the use of cloud technology in the innovation ecosystem. The authors critically analyse the international, regional and national regulatory guidelines concerning cloud technology. Findings: The study shows the lack of universally accepted framework to regulate the usage of cloud technology in a sustainable innovation ecosystem. Keeping in mind the ethical and legal impact of technology on the society and environment, the study insists global attention. Limitations: The analysis of the ethical and legal implications on the managerial and administrative aspects supports the stakeholders to comprehend the issues (ethical, legal and social) in relation to cloud technology. The study limits to focus on ethical and legal implications concerning usage of cloud technology in innovation ecosystem. Research Originality: This study critically explores the factors responsible for the rising ethical and legal issues in the usage of cloud technology in the tech-driven world. 2025 Ananya Pandey, Jipson Joseph, Amit Joshi and Vikas Kumar. All rights reserved. -
Global SDGs Strategic Policies: Catalyst for Digital Circular Economy
Theworldwide environmentalmovement originated with Rachel Carsons 1962 book Silent Spring, which cautioned the world about the adverse impact of chemical pesticides on ecosystem and sustainability. Thereafter, an unprecedent increase in global warming causing severer and harmful climate changes and environmental instabilities led to the establishment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2015, the United Nations accepted them into its global agenda for eradicating poverty, protecting the environment, and promoting peace to all people by 2030. Unsustainable development leads to depletion of natural resources, which is not simply a moral or ecological issue but are pertaining to economics, development, human health, and justice. The interconnected 17 SDGs acknowledge that the decision made in one area will have its repercussions in other areas and insist to strike a balance between environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability. The digital circular economy (DCE) has been well-known in recent years as a tool that answers some of the most urgent cross-cutting sustainable development challenges facing the globe. This model holds great promise for accelerating the 2030 Agendas implementation with the potential to achieve the various goals of sustainable development like SDGs 6 (energy), 8 (economic progress), 11 (sustainable cities), 12 (sustainable consumption and production), 13 (climate change), 14 (oceans), and 15 (life on land). This requires significant changes in the organization of societies and businesses to progress towards sustainable future. Limitations The study is limited to analyze the global SDGs and related policies that are helpful in catalyzing DCE. Findings This chapter analyzes the global strategic plans and policies aimed at enhancing SDGs affirming the significance of digital economy for synergizing with the SDGs. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025. -
Advancing Sustainable Agriculture Through Artificial Intelligence: Harvesting Greener Future
The growing population of the globe is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050. Its demands have led to widespread food insecurities and hunger, which conventional farming failed to address. To meet such a grim scenario, the United Nations drafted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end hunger (SDG 2), promote sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12), and promote life on land (SDG 15). To achieve these goals, the global farming system needs to make a substantial transition by adopting alternative methods and approaches. The concept of sustainable agriculture is an integrated system of animal and plant production practices to satisfy human food and fiber requirements. It enhances environmental quality, efficient use of energy resources, economic viability of farm operation, and quality of life of farmers and society. It has emerged as a viable alternative to meet such goals. Sustainable agriculture practice incorporates the true spirit of the abovementioned SDGs by combining the aspirations of the present and future generations. Smart technologies, which include the use of robotics, intelligent sprayers, satellite drones, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and climate sensors, appear as supplementary tools for sustainable agriculture to mitigate the accelerated demands of food across the globe. The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI)/IoT technologies has the potential to monitor the agricultural environment to ensure high-quality products. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), the integration of AI into the farming sector can provide an adequate food supply to the people. Such integration of smart technologies with sustainable agriculture has significant advantages for the world in achieving sustainable development goals. However, smart technologies are not free from challenges due to their novelty, complications related to the control and operation of IoT/AI machines, data sharing and management, interoperability and large amounts of data ownership, analysis, and storage. Keeping in view the above, this chapter explores the integration and interaction of AI-enabled smart technologies and smart agriculture analysing key challenges involved in this regard. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2026. -
Farmers Rights: A Euro-Indian Comparison through the lens of Intellectual Property Rights
Intellectual Property is profoundly contributing to the field of agriculture. It is used in agriculture to reward innovative breeding procedures that produce new varieties. In emerging nations, farmers have a significant role in the political, social, and economic facets of society. Agriculture provides a substantial amount of work and means of subsistence for people. Plant variety protection regulations are distinct from patent law in both India and European countries. Plant variety protection regulations are distinct from patent law in both India and European countries. This study aims to give a comparative perspective between the European and Indian regime's protection of farmers' rights and plant varieties, as well as the effect of international protocols and conventions. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act of 2001 is examined in this study along with its key components. More significantly, the measures that benefit farmers are emphasised, along with the importance of the awards and recognitions that the Indian government has instituted. This paper therefore aims to explore the state of farmers' rights under intellectual property law in two diverse regions: Europe and India. 2026, National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research. All rights reserved. -
Farmers Right to Seed at the Intersection of Intellectual Property and Human Rights: A Critical Analysis in SocioCultural Context
The interplay between farmers' Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and Human Rights is significant in socio-cultural transformations. Farmers in traditional and indigenous communities hold centuries of knowledge about biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, and seed management. However, the rise of commercial agriculture, globalization, and stringent IPR regimesoften favoring corporate interestspose challenges to preserving and recognizing this knowledge. This chapter critically examines the intersection between farmers' IPRs and human rights, exploring how evolving frameworks impact cultural identities, societal structures, and the rights of communities to food security, self-determination, and participation in decision-making processes. It discusses the tension between the patenting of genetic resources and the traditional knowledge of farmers, emphasizing the need for equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms. By bridging legal and socio-political perspectives, this chapter aims to highlight policies that uphold farmers' and human rights amidst ongoing socio-cultural transformations. Copyright 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global Scientific Publishing is prohibited. Use of this chapter to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is expressly prohibited. The publisher reserves all rights to license its use for generative AI training and machine learning model development. -
Technoscientific Impact of Agriculture on Farmers' Seed Sovereignty
Thetechnoscientifictransformationintheagriculturesectorhassignificantlyaltered the traditional seed system that has profoundly affected the rights of the farmers. The evolution of biotechnology including genetically modified crops, gene editing, hybrid seeds protected under the Intellectual Property regime has reshaped the farmers right to seed sovereignty, sharing, saving and exchanging practices. In the Global South, there exist a wide spectrum of conflict between the technological advancement and the rights of farmers. In light of the above perspective, by tracing the historical shift from community based traditional seed knowledge to corporate based seed and patent technologies, this chapter critically analyzes the innovation perspective that undermined the indigenous practices and farmer led initiatives concerning seed sovereignty. Therefore, this chapter calls for a rights based and inclusiveapproachtowardstheagriculturalinnovationthatsafeguardsseeddiversity and traditional knowledge. Copyright 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. -
Trade vis-vis Human Rights of Farmers Under TRIPS
The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) plays a crucial role in shaping the global intellectual property system that significantly impacts farmers' rights. In agriculture, TRIPS grants intellectual property protection in the form of patents and plant variety protection. Such protection conflicts with the farmer's rights to save, sow and exchange the seeds. This raises human rights concerns related to farmers such as access to genetic resources and their cultural rights, food security, livelihood that are enshrined under various international human rights instruments such as International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR). This intersection between TRIPS and the human rights of farmers requires a more inclusive approach that balances human rights with innovation. In light of the above perspective, this chapter analyzes farmers' human rights integration under the domain of intellectual property rights protected under TRIPS. 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Conflict and Coexistence of Human Rights: An Exploratory Study with Reference to Intellectual Property Rights
Human rights and Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) have developed independently. Human rights are inalienable rights associated with human dignity while IPRs are the rights with the goal of promoting innovations and the interests of select communities to further economic and technological growth. The economic and personal interests of the individual have received prime attention under the international intellectual property law. Economic growth is given priority over human rights in the international criteria for IPRs in global trade. Whereas, it has a significant impact on the implementation of human rights for both individuals and communities, including the rights to adequate food, health, environment, and education. IPRs are gravely at odds with human rights, even though a connection between the two rights can be found in General Comment No. 17 on Article 15(1)(c) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). According to the UDHR, intellectual property is a human right in and of itself, but its enforcement often infringes other human rights. In light of the above perspective, the authors explore the interrelationship between IPRs and human rights and also analyze the evolving IPRs, in different fields of its application, causing adversarial impacts on several other human rights. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025. -
Intellectual property and human rights of farmers: Striking a balance in the era of globalization
Globalization has fueled a knowledge- based economy, and intellectual property rights (IPR) are a key driver of innovation. Agricultural businesses have traditionally not been linked to IPRs since farming and related processes were deemed common and traditional knowledge. Globalization of agriculture presents both threats and opportunities for innovative ideas and inventions. It creates a complex tension between IPRs and human rights of farmers, particularly in developing countries. IPRs restrict farmers' access to traditional seeds, limit ability to save and exchange seeds, and force them into dependence on patented technology. This dependence led to indebtedness, loss of biodiversity, and decline in food security. Providing farmers with access to information, training, and financial resources can help them to make informed decisions about their farming practices and to negotiate with corporations on equitable terms. Keeping in view the above, this chapter provides a comprehensive roadmap to explore the intersection of globalization, intellectual property, and farmers' human rights. 2025, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Farmers Rights vis-a-vis Plant Breeder Privilege: Exploring the Issues and Challenges
This chapter highlights the conflict between technical advancement and socioeconomic inequality by examining the complex relationship between biotechnology, farmers' rights, and human rights. Although biotechnology has the potential to improve food security, sustainability, and agricultural production, its use frequently marginalizes smallholder farmers due to seed monopolies and stringent intellectual property laws. The chapter looks critically at how national patent laws, TRIPS, UPOV, and other international legal frameworks disproportionately favor agribusinesses at the expense of traditional knowledge, seed sovereignty, and the right to survive. A more inclusive and equitable governance model that empowers farmers as stewards of food systems and biodiversity is advocated in this chapter by contrasting the technoeconomic agenda of agricultural biotechnology with the human rights imperative. 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Farmers' Rights in the Age of Agricultural Intellectual Property: From Soil to Statute
This chapter explores the evolving landscape of Farmers' Rights in the context of intensifying agricultural intellectual property regimes. It critically examines the intersection of international legal frameworks, national legislations, and customary practices that shape farmers access to seeds, biodiversity, and knowledge systems. Through a multidisciplinary lens combining legal theory, environmental justice, and agroecological insights, the chapter interrogates how intellectual property regimes, such as UPOV and TRIPS, impact traditional seed systems, biodiversity conservation, and food sovereignty. It highlights tensions between privatized biotechnological innovations and community- centric stewardship of genetic resources, particularly in the face of climate change and digital sequence information. By tracing the trajectory from soil to statute, farmers' rights emerge from grassroots agricultural practices and struggles, evolving into legal recognition and protection through policy and law. 2025 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Safeguarding Traditional Knowledge and Farmers Rights: A Balanced Approach to IP Protection
Traditional Knowledge and farmers rights are considered to be the backbone of the agriculture system that is responsible for preserving the biodiversity, cultural heritage and sustainable development practices. Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) protection is inclined towards the protection of the commercial interest rather than the rights of the creators or individuals. A balanced approach towards the protection of traditional knowledge and IPRs is required that safeguards the rights of farmers as well. The inclusive policies that enable and ensure equitable benefit sharing, protect the rights of the community, harmonize the customary laws with the IPRs are crucial in the present time. By promoting and advocating for the participatory governance, this chapter analyses the rights of farmers that foster sustainability and protect traditional knowledge simultaneously. It also examines the international legal instruments that recognize the protection of traditional knowledge. 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. -
The analytical study of public sentiments about nCovid-19 using twitter comments
People's sentiments are the mirror of their cognition, and these sentiments play a very significant role in predicting and shaping one's behaviour. At present the entire world is fighting with this pandemic situation due to the nCOVID-19 outbreak and people are experiencing a variety of sentiments. This research aims to explore various sentiments that people are experiencing during this epidemic. To achieve this objective sentiment analysis was conducted on 30,000 random Twitter comments using R software. Data mining of data was done using three hashtags: #Coronavirus, #Covid19 and #Covid19India. After the analysis, it was found that the nature of people's sentiments about nCOVID-19 is majorly positive. This study also elicits other noticeable patterns of netizen's expression through their comments while combating nCOVID-19. The present research provides insight into the type of sentiments which people are undergoing across the world during this pandemic situation and based on the obtained data, risk prediction can be done, and various awareness programmes can be designed to overcome the present issue which is prevailing worldwide. 2026 Author(s). -
An Exploratory Study on Vancharya as a Therapeutic Approach to the Bio-field of Young Adults Using Electronic Photographic Imaging
Background: Amid the fast-paced world, nature has a therapeutic modality for healing individuals both physiologically and psychologically. One such practice mentioned in an ancient Indian text is Vanacharya, which provides a deep connection with nature and a means of achieving overall well-being. Vancharya is a practice with profound roots in Indian spiritual and philosophical traditions that view the environment as a sacred and valuable source of knowledge and healing. Purpose: This purpose of this experimental research is to explore the therapeutic benefits of vancharya, in healing subtle systems of energy or the biofield present within the body like Aura Field (AF), Overall Alignment of Chakra (OAC), Overall, Chakra Energy (OCE), Stress Level (SL), Overall Energy Level (OEL). Methods: This research aims to evaluate the effect of vancharya, by examining 50 young adult participants over a one-week period (7 days). The study utilised a non-experimental single-group pre- and post-research design. The data collection was done using an advanced Biowell machine. The obtained data were analysed through a Paired Sample t-test by using SPSS software. Results: The obtained results indicated significant changes in the AF, OAC, OCE, while showing no significant impact on participants SL and OEL. Subjects also reported improved sleep patterns, less impulsivity, reduced aggression and fewer fluctuations of mood during their sessions in day-to-day activities. Conclusion: Therefore, the research indicates that Vancharya as a therapeutic modality had a significant impact on the subtle systems of energy among young adults. The obtained result from this intervention programme clearly indicates that subtle systems present in the body can have an impact as early as within 7 days itself, whereas, for visible impact within the individual (for instance stress level or overall energy level of the body), the duration of the intervention can be increased. 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 page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage). -
Spectroscopic Studies and Theoretical Analysis of Some Selected Heterocycles
Seven derivatives of heterocycles benzimidazole, benzoxazole and benzothiazole were studied, five of which were synthesized and characterized. The molecular geometry and newlinespectroscopic data of the compounds in the ground state were calculated using the density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP) method with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. A comparison between the experimental and calculated data was attempted. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) and global reactivity parameters were deduced using theoretical calculations. HOMO-LUMO energy gap for each compound was determined by DFT and cyclic voltammetry. The cyclic voltammograms were recorded in acetonitrile solvent using lithium perchlorate as the supporting electrolyte. For all the compounds experimentally determined HOMO LUMO energy gap in polar solvent was lesser than that from DFT calculated energy gap. Using the HOMO-LUMO energy gap, global reactivity parameters were calculated. The effect of solvents of varying polarity on the absorption and emission spectra of the compounds was studied. Large excitation and emission energy differences were observed for all the selected heterocycles. The excitation and fluorescence spectra of selected heterocycles were recorded in eight solvents of different solvent polarity. It is evident from the excitation spectra that on increase of the solvent polarity, a bathochromic shift takes place for and#960;-and#960;* transition, and this is attributed to the high influence of solvent polarity in the excited state of heterocycle newlinecompared to its ground state. The dipole moments in the ground and the first excited state of heterocycle derivatives were newlinecalculated using Lippert-Mataga and Kawski-Chamma-Viallet methods. Guggenheim-Debye method was adopted to calculate ground state dipole moment. The dipole moments of the compounds were also calculated using Time Dependent-Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT). The dipole moment values of the compounds suggested that the excited state has more charge separation and thus becomes more polar. -
-
The impact of audit committee independence and competence on investors investment decision making: A study in the Indian context
This study examined the impact of an independent and competent audit committee on the decision-making process of investors in the Indian capital market and adopted a quantitative approach in which cross-sectional data are gathered with the help of a self-administered questionnaire survey. The selection of participants involves a stratified random sample technique, specifically targeting 441 regular investors associated with nine prominent brokerage houses in the Delhi NCR engaged in equity market investments. Descriptive analysis is applied to discern respondent characteristics, whereas correlation and regression analyses are utilised to test and elucidate the relationships and influences among variables in the model. The findings of this study, which indicate a notable correlation between investors' investment decision-making in India and the independence and competence of the audit committee, are in line with the expectation that independence and competence are essential attributes that the audit committee must possess. These characteristics, in turn, have a notable influence on investors' investment decisions. The outcome of this paper fills a gap in the literature by offering insights into the vital attributes of audit committee independence and competence that notably contribute to investment decision-making in India. This research examined the impact of an independent and competent audit committee on the decision-making process of investors in the Indian capital market, which has never been examined before. Thus, the findings shed light on the influence of board independence and competence on the decision-making process of investors in the Indian capital market. 2025, Malque Publishing. All rights reserved. -
Spotlighting recruitments: is AI dominating human resource practices? Qualitative research using NVIVO
Technology enriches and empowers organizations, making them more competitive and profitable. Any organization function is now technology-driven, helping to make faster and better decisions. Human resource management practices are also automated nowadays. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has gained enough importance in the recruitment process. Most of the literature emphasizes the use of technology and AI in establishing an effective and efficient recruitment process; however, the dominance of AI arouses the need to cast light upon the imbalance created after Al implementation. This study focuses on identifying the adverse impact of automated recruitment processes, which, due to a lack of human consciousness and intelligence, may sometimes not find the right candidate for the vacant position. Thus, a qualitative study was conducted to check the need for a balance of collaboration between humans and AI in recruitment. Primary data was collected through structured interviews with 21 HR professionals of IT companies in India implementing AI in their recruitment process. The findings highlight the positive impact of AI tools on recruitment efficiency but raise concerns about the loss of human connection, the potential misuse of AI, and the need for balanced decision-making in the hiring process. Based on the study's findings, it is recommended that a framework that combines humans and AI can be created. This study enables organizations to develop a customized recruitment process aligned with their vision, optimizing the use of AI and human intelligence to improve procedures and understand the impact of AI on hiring. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2025.