This paper explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping financial risk management in India. It highlights the diverse applications of AI, particularly its role in detecting and preventing fraud, evaluating and managing credit risk with greater precision, and streamlining regulatory compliance through automation. These advancements not only improve efficiency but also reduce the likelihood of regulatory lapses. The study also reviews the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) most recent policies and regulatory framework on structured finance with special attention to developments in the housing finance sector up to the 2024–2025 fiscal year. By examining the advantages and challenges of asset-backed securities for investors across different risk categories, the paper connects current practices with earlier scholarly findings while situating them within the fast-changing regulatory and fin-tech environment. Ultimately, the analysis emphasizes how AI-driven risk management tools and evolving RBI oversight are working together to build a more transparent, resilient, and future-ready financial ecosystem in India.

Through value-aligned decision-making in global business management this study investigates the new trend of providing technical managers with strategic hiring competencies. The study identifies skill gaps in technical managers’ human resource (HR) capabilities and assesses the effect of value-aligned hiring on organizational outcomes through a methodical literature review of secondary data. A thematic analysis identifies important trends such as the development of hiring procedures the strategic function of technical managers and the significance of systems that are aligned with values. Results show that although value-aligned hiring improves cultural fit and employee retention, technical managers frequently lack the HR expertise required for successful hiring. In order to close these gaps, the study suggests specific training frameworks adding to the conversation about values-based hiring and its effects on international industries.

Within the healthcare industry, which undergoes a growing degree of competitiveness, private hospitals experience a substantial amount of pressure to boost the organizational performance, and ensure a high-level of patient care. Auditing of human resource (HR) has become a very important instrument in the systematic review and betterment of the HR activities that ensure that the practices of the workforce become aligned to the institutional objectives. The research question guiding this paper is how HR auditing can be used to improve performance in a private hospital through its effectiveness in improving efficiency of business operations, engagement of employees and provision of quality services. Based on empirical data gathered via a sample of the private hospitals in a form of structured interviews, document review, and staff surveys, the present research examines the extent and the efficiency of HR audits. The results indicate that institutions, whose HR frequently undertakes HR audits record a quantifiable gain in terms of compliance with HR rules, talent acquisition, training scores, and staff retention. The audits also assist in revealing the loopholes in the HR practices so that suitable corrective measures can be adopted that can result in a much more skilled and motivated work force. In addition, the research emphasizes the contribution of HR audits to the culture of accountability, transparency, and perpetual growth. Audits contribute in the success of improved HR practices which directly affect the satisfaction of patients and reputation of an organization. Nonetheless, limited experience on the audit implementation along with the resistance in the change of HR staff also emerges as a problem in the undertaking of the research. The paper ends by suggesting a framework of HR auditing based on the strict and regular principle applicable to the healthcare institutions of individual cases. An institutionalized HR audit enables the private hospitals not just to ensure compliance with the regulation but also to realize sustainable performance improvements with the help of strategic human capital management.

The swift proliferation of social networking sites (SNS) has elicited apprehensions over their possible impacts on users' social well-being, especially among young adults.  Although social networking services provide avenues for contact, networking, and enjoyment, excessive or problematic usage has been associated with adverse psychological and social consequences, such as social isolation, anxiety, and diminished life satisfaction.  This work carefully analyses and synthesizes empirical literature, utilizing numerous databases to discern patterns and effect sizes in the association between PSNSU and markers of social well-being, including social connectedness, loneliness, and subjective well-being.  The review examines moderating variables like gender, cultural disparities, and platform-specific usage patterns to offer a thorough knowledge of the impact of SNS addiction on the social and emotional well-being of young people.  Moreover, gender variations suggest that females may endure heightened emotional suffering associated with excessive social networking service usage, whilst males may exhibit increased alienation from offline social contacts.  This study enhances the existing literature on digital addiction and mental health by offering quantitative data about the harmful effects of excessive social networking service usage.  The results have ramifications for mental health practitioners, educators, and legislators in formulating programs to cultivate better digital behaviours and encourage balanced social media usage. Overall, female respondents exhibit higher mean ranks in psychological, behavioral, and platform-related factors, indicating that they might be more vulnerable to problematic SNS use. In contrast, males tend to be more affected by social and relational factors, though the difference is not as strong.

Banking sector especially commercial banks in India is the most important sector in the economic growth of the country. The effects of Human Resource Development (HRD) practices in determining the performance capabilities, flexibility and sustainability of banks are very crucial. The current research work critically discusses HRD practices in Indian commercial banks with regard to recruitment, training, performance appraisal, and development as well as employee engagement. It examines the effects of such practices on issues like performance of the employees, the fulfillment of the organizational commitment, the job satisfaction and the quality of customer service. It further assesses the existing issues and proposes solutions to the same on how to better HRD to benefit the organization. Various practices of HRD in Indian commercial banks play a major role in determining whether a given bank is competitive, efficient and employee centric or otherwise. The progressive HRD strategies are being incorporated in the private banks whereas the public sector banks should learn flexibility and restructure their strategies in the sphere of modernization. Investing in digital transformation, employee healthcare, and HR data-based strategies, banks will be able to build a high-performance and resilient workforce. HRD should no longer be viewed as facilitating role but a commanding force behind organizational excellence in the Indian banking sector. The HRD practices in Indian banking sector have evolved where they could apply it as a legalistic necessity to a strategic facilitator of growth and innovation. With a stronger recruitment, training, appraisal, career development and employee well-being, banks have an advantage of facing challenges in the future and improving the overall performance in the organization.

As cloud computing becomes a strategic imperative, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing markets face mounting challenges in adoption—ranging from regulatory complexity to limited technical capacity. This study examines how channel partners act as catalysts in this transformation, enabling organizations to navigate compliance, integration, and risk. Drawing insights from 129 Indian SMEs, the research employs a structured Likert-scale survey and applies empirical tests including chi-square analysis, correlation, and principal component analysis (PCA). Five core factors were extracted: Channel Partner Strategic Influence, Regulatory Compliance Alignment, Security and Agility Trade-off, Partner-Led Regulatory Integration, and Partner-Driven Security Enablement. The results reveal that organizations increasingly depend on partners not just for infrastructure, but for strategic and regulatory clarity. This study reframes cloud adoption as an ecosystem-driven process, offering both theoretical and practical insights for providers, policymakers, and ecosystem stakeholders shaping cloud futures in emerging economies.

The analytical study of financial literacy awareness programs for local train vendors in Navi Mumbai holds significant importance in fostering economic empowerment and enhancing the financial well-being of this unique segment of the workforce. Local train vendors often operate in a high-paced environment, relying on daily transactions to sustain their livelihoods. However, many may lack a comprehensive understanding of financial principles, such as budgeting, saving, and investment. By assessing the effectiveness of financial literacy programs, stakeholders can identify gaps in knowledge and skills among these vendors, tailoring educational initiatives that directly address their needs. Such targeted programs can equip vendors with essential financial skills, ultimately promoting better money management practices, increased savings, and informed investment decisions. Furthermore, improving financial literacy among local train vendors can lead to broader community benefits, contributing to the overall economic development of Navi Mumbai. When vendors are financially literate, they are more likely to contribute to the local economy through responsible spending, saving, and investment. Enhanced financial awareness can also foster a sense of financial security, reducing reliance on informal credit sources, which often charge exorbitant interest rates. As vendors gain confidence in managing their finances, they may also develop entrepreneurial skills, potentially leading to business expansion or diversification. Overall, an analytical study of financial literacy awareness programs can provide valuable insights into improving the financial stability of local train vendors, fostering a more resilient and prosperous community.

Competency managements has evolved itself to be a strategic approach for organisations looking to improve performance, optimize talent and stay competitive in this everchanging corporate scenario. This study gives a comprehensive overview of competencies, competency models, important elements and key strategies in competency management process. The study follows a Systematic literature review approach to explore different techniques and models that are used to describe and assess competencies.  The models thus explain how competencies are defined and categorised, they help us to understand what role competencies play in aligning organisational objectives with that of individual roles. The review examines the connection between competency and organisational effectiveness. The empirical evidences and case studies are discussed to understand the importance of competency management. The study finally concludes by providing valuable insights into the theory and practice of competency management and offers recommendations for organisations to implement competency based Human resource practices.

Purpose: In an era of emotion-driven consumerism, nostalgia has emerged as a powerful strategic asset in branding, particularly in culturally rich and memory-anchored markets like South India. This study investigates how regional fashion and lifestyle brands employ nostalgic storytelling to engage consumers and shape brand perceptions.  Design/ Methodology/ Approach: Adopting a qualitative netnographic approach, the research analyzes 100 user-generated Instagram comments drawn from 11 verified South Indian brands. Thematic coding was conducted across five pre-established categories: Personal nostalgia, Collective nostalgia, emotional engagement, brand love and purchase intention based on the literature reviews taken from scholarly publication. Findings: The findings reveal a frequent overlap between personal and collective nostalgia with both forms serves as a catalyst for emotional engagement and subsequently brand attachment. Notably purchase intention was less frequently expressed, emotional resonance consistently merged as a precursor to consumer intent. This study also extends Affect Theory by showing that affect is culturally co-constructed, and refines ELM by positioning nostalgia as a hybrid persuasion mechanism in collectivist digital contexts.  Originality/ Value:  This study contributes to the existing literature by extending the application of nostalgia marketing to regional, non-Western brand contexts and by demonstrating the methodological value of netnography for capturing affective consumer behavior in digital environments. By illuminating the emotional dynamics of consumer-brand relationships in South India, this paper offers timely insights into the evolving future of marketing in emerging markets.

The study reassesses Indian consumers’ acceptance of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) using an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). A survey of 162 qualified respondents who had test-driven an EV was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Five out of six hypotheses were supported: Perceived Usefulness (PU), Social Status (SS), Perceived Enjoyment (PE), and Perceived Risk (PR, negative) significantly influenced Behavioral Intention (BI), while Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) was insignificant. BI strongly predicted stated purchase. Reinterpreting these results in the 2025 context, India has seen EV sales accelerate—electric cars crossed ~4% of the market in May 2025—with more than 25,000 public chargers, and new incentives under PM E-DRIVE following FAME-II. Findings emphasize that PU and SS remain the most critical adoption drivers, while risk perceptions around cost, charging, and safety remain barriers. Policy and managerial implications highlight the importance of enhancing charging visibility, reducing range anxiety, positioning BEVs as green and aspirational products, and strengthening after-sales support. This study contributes by extending TAM with hedonic, risk, and social image constructs in an emerging market, while providing a benchmark against which India’s evolving EV ecosystem can be compared.

The blistering progress of digital technologies radically altered the structure of organizations, leadership styles and decision-making mechanism and that itself is a breakthrough in managing activities. The paper discusses how the field of management has changed in the digital era, how technological advancements, data-based decision-making, and the adoption of digital technologies have transformed the role and the responsibilities of managers. In contrast to the historically more prescribed practice of strictly arranged hierarchy of command and the uniformity of organisational process, modern management requires the tools and empowerment of agility, teamwork, and innovativeness as the key measures of organizational performance. Such aspects of the studied transformation include the growth of remote and hybrid work arrangements, the implementation of artificial intelligence and automation of the processes involved in operations, and the necessity to acquire digital literacy and adaptation to change on the part of both leaders and employees. Further, it examines the manner in which big data analytics and real-time communication technologies have transformed strategic planning, performance assessment and customer interaction. The paper grounds on both theoretical perspectives and practical cases in stating that the interaction between technology and human capital is dynamic and requires the two elements to work cohesively to bring about organizational resilience and competiveness. The results indicate that intelligent and humane leadership is only possible when it is balanced with integration of technology in the digital era. Managers should create learning cultures, which is ongoing and consider ethical aspects related to utilization of technology and adjust to evolving digital systems. On that note, the paper suggests that history of management practice is more than simple reaction to the technological change as it amounts to a proactive re framing of management strategies in line with the reality of a digitally interconnected world.

Purpose - The main purpose of this paper is to explore the strategic role of Electronic Customer Relationship Management (E-CRM) in transforming digital services of rural banking in India, In order to enhance the customer loyalty and satisfaction. This study critically evaluate how E-CRM strategies are increasing day by day for rural banks to compete in a digitized the age of economy, bridge service gaps, and promote financial inclusion. Methodology - This study is exploratory in nature, based on the qualitative research, and using a range of secondary data. An extensive literature review conducted, which is supported by current trends in technology integration. It includes the viewpoints like- benefits, challenges, and opportunities associated with Electronic Customer Relationship Management deployment in rural banking. Findings - The findings of the study suggested that, it is possible to enhance the customer knowledge, operational efficiency, and service personalization through Electronic Customer Relationship Management, while issues like digital illiteracy, resistance, and infrastructural limitations to change continue to interrupt full adoption.  Originality/Value - The research of the study concludes that for the sustainable growth and competitiveness in the rural banking age; it is strategically recommended to implement the customer-centric E-CRM systems.

This research paper examines the cinematic portrayal of Lord Shri Ram in Bollywood films in different decades. This research also traces how a sacred Sanatan Hindu culture has been adapted to reflect the evolving cultural, political, and moral landscapes of India. Shri Ram is the symbol of religion, justice, and the embodiment of Indian culture. Since the silence era, Shri Ram has been portrayed on the screen as an ideal man in Bollywood cinema. From early devotional films like ‘Lanka Dahan in 1917 and ‘Ram Rajya’ in 1943 to animated retelling. The research examines how cinema filmmakers have balanced artistic freedom with religious devotion. The present research paper employs a qualitative content analysis approach to examine the selected Bollywood films focusing on their narratives, aesthetics, audience perception, and shifts in ideological subtexts. The study also addresses the intersection of myth, media, and nationalism particularly how the cinematic representation of Shri Ram has shaped and reflected socio-political movements and campaigns. The study identifies the main challenges faced by filmmakers, including navigating cultural sensitivities, religious expectations, and the commercialization of sacred epics. Ultimately the research paper argues that the depiction of Lord Shri Ram in Bollywood is a dynamic, multi-layered phenomenon that mirrors broader currents within Indian society.

The children born between 2010 and 2025 are the first generation to mature entirely within a digital world, using and interacting through social media. Such platforms as Meta, Instagram, YouTube Shorts, and virtual spaces are an essential part of their everyday routine, and memes have become a staple of communication. To them, memes represent something more than a joke: an efficient mode of visual and relatable communication that allows them to exchange ideas in jokes, voice their opinions, and identify with others. This new form of communication has transformed the verse. Long advertisements, or print advertising, which are traditional forms of advertising, usually have difficulty keeping the attention of Generation Alpha members as they are fast, interactive, and trend-chasing in their media habits. Better suited to reach this group instead are marketing efforts that draw upon short, entertaining, meme-like material. This paper will seek to learn what ads are preferred by Generation Alpha, the importance of humor and culture, and how brands should learn to use memes without causing damage to their credibility. The paper will examine how the design, tone, and timing of the advertisement influence its success among this generation, as well as the ethical concerns surrounding the marketing of youth. Upon decoding these inclinations, the study will provide clear directives on designing campaigns that are catchy, closer to home, and respectful, thus enabling brands to reach out meaningfully to the most digitally native generation ever.

In online marketing, artificial intelligence (AI) has proven to be a game-changer for business houses so that they can provide data-driven, predictive, and personalised approaches having significant effects on customer experiences.  Opportunities and challenges both are present for AI-powered online marketing in the real estate sector in India, which is characterized by heavy competition, diverse customer expectations, and complex decision-making processes. This research investigates the contribution of AI in optimizing the effectiveness of digital marketing, its impact on firm performance and brand equity, based on theories related to technological adoption and brand equity.  The research examines the contribution of AI-related technologies such as chatbots, recommendation systems, predictive analytics, and automated content curation to enhancing customer engagement, brand awareness, and revenue. It does so by polling 500 employees and decision-makers of Indian real estate firms in the country's National Capital Region (NCR). The findings show the most influential drivers of brand equity and customer trust that, in turn, improve business performance being AI-powered personalisation and predictive modelling. The competitive market role of artificial intelligence (AI) is emphasized by structural equation modelling (SEM), which confirms that AI in digital marketing is a significant mediator of the relationship between customer preference and firm performance.  The research contributes to the growing literature on artificial intelligence in marketing by offering industry-specific empirical evidence from India, where real estate is technologically developed and economically relevant. Managers who seek to employ AI in digital marketing efforts to enhance brand placement and bring about long-term business development are provided with practical implications.

This piece of research will delve into the role of cultural and diversity management as an outstanding competitive advantage for multinational corporations. It will continue by exploring aspects ranging from the effect of diversity on organizational performance through the challenges facing a multinational culture, the role of leadership in ensuring inclusivity, and the effectiveness of diversity strategy on innovation and employee satisfaction. The study uses secondary data and thematic analysis to underscore cultural intelligence, intersectionality, and the alignment of diversity strategies with sustainable development goals (SDGs). The findings are for diversity management as a strategic tool for innovation, employee engagement, and global competitiveness.

Sustainable Retirement refers to holistic well-being to lead a financially secured, healthy and environmentally conscious life. Sustainable retirement is based on 3 major pillars – Financial Sustainability, Personal Sustainability and Environmentally sustainability. Out of all these, financial sustainability plays vital role to lead a healthy and environmentally responsible retired life. Retirement planning is multifaceted activity and it is important to have overall understanding of influence of multiple factors on financial retirement planning of an individual. The present research is literature review-based study. It is qualitative research based on secondary data. Total 131 research articles in the areas of financial retirement planning were systematically assessed and analysed to derive at key factors influencing the retirement financial sustainability.

Technology is here to stay for the future, forever”- Hon'ble Chief Justice DY Chandrachud. Internet and digitalization have brought a rapid transition globally. Almost every sector is impacted by the advent of internet technologies. During the ancient times, when technology was not much advance, the things were simple and less complex. Also, with the invention of Artificial Intelligence (AI), things are moving towards the different direction. It has pros as well as cons, certain advantages are seen while other disadvantages are being observed. It is declared by the experts that no job is safe from AI. One day, human jobs will be replaced by AI. The human labour and human intellect will be substituted by AI. Is it true? AI can become the third party who can act like an arbitrator, can it happen in reality? These questions will be answered in detail in the present paper. Apart from AI, digitalization has also changed many things. Let’s take an example of courts hearing during the covid-19 times, court hearings were taking place remotely. This was the result of digitalization. Nowadays, every meeting, conference, workshop and many such important events are taking place remotely due to which human interaction is reducing day-by-day. Man is a social animal, but nowadays, this quote is not justifiable. The paper will elaborate the role of digital technology as well as Artificial Intelligence advancements in arbitration. Along with it, the positive as well as negative impacts of AI will be discovered. Some of the suggestions will conclude the paper.  

Legal language and the slow process of drafting of a law have been a general hindrance to inclusive governance and responsiveness of policies. Over the past few years, the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and more precisely large language models (LLMs) have brought about the possibility of simplifying legislation, enhancing transparency and speeding up legal processes. The paper considers how democracy in the legislative process can be democratized through the use of AI-based solutions by making the process of legislation less hard to understand due to the complexity of legal sentences and the manual laboriousness of the process of consolidation and drafting and convergence-based and citizen-led policymaking. Based on empirical findings in recent uses, such as augmented legislative drafting systems, such as handwriting on LexDrafter and the European Commission-run LEOS invention, we elucidate how AI-based drafting technologies are capable of saving up to 80% of the drafting time and also consolidating legal documents with more than 60 percent success rates on challenging bills. ChatGPT/ Easy-to-Read and ChatGPT/ E2R simplification models have been generated with the Flesch readability increase over 25 points, yet human supervision is needed since they can cause the disruption of semantic coherence. The perception of the population about the AI-mediated governance is also examined in the paper. Experiments of human and AI-generated correspondence generated in the context of laws demonstrates that when deployed with transparency and human-in-the-loop controls, the use of the AI can boost both trust and perception of responsiveness among the constituents. With it you also get the threats. These are biases towards algorithms, lack of visibility of the logic, destruction of the possibility of a legal interpretation and the possible harm of the Rule of Law. Upon testing such systems as JusticeBot and causal logic frameworks, the paper concludes that although AI can create legally valid systems of logic, the existing models do not have causal inference capabilities that may enable good law. This study concludes that AI has concrete advantages when it comes to simplifying the process of legislation and responsiveness of law to change however, needs to be complemented by stringent ethical governance, algorithmic explainability and normative corruption in line with democratic elements. To summarize, the paper will suggest an AI-niche policy-technical roadmap of forming the responsible integration of AI into the legislative ecosystems in the high world. Through this, we desire to make transition towards more representative, easier, and accountable pieces of legislation and at the same time, do not reach any decrease in the values of transparency, justice and legal certainty.

This study employs computational methodologies, specifically molecular dynamics simulations and thermodynamic analyses, to explore the feasibility of rapid drug repurposing amidst viral pandemics, exemplified by the SARS-CoV-2 variant and Monkeypox. We focus on assessing drug-protein interactions at an atomic level, aiming to expedite the identification of potential therapeutic candidates. Our findings corroborate and extend the assertions made in the abstract. Notably, our results reveal robust binding interactions between Remdesivir and the SARS-CoV-2 variant protein, alongside the stable interaction of Tecovirimat over Brincidofovir with the Monkeypox virus. These outcomes, while preliminary, offer substantive insights into potential therapeutic avenues, emphasizing the indispensable role of computational approaches in pandemic response strategies. In parallel, we evaluated a lightweight AI/ML triage that learns from docking-derived descriptors to rank candidates at high recall. This step did not change the MD/MM-PBSA conclusions; it served only as an orthogonal, data-driven check.

Employee involvement has been determined as one of the major precursors in the performance of an organization particularly in industries like hospitality where human resource is the major driving force to the delivery of services. Faculty involvement in higher education especially in the self-financing colleges is appreciated due to its impact on the teaching- learning experiences as well as with regard to their satisfaction on students. It applies the research in examining the role played by employee engagement in determining the result of such an undertaking as the quality-of-service delivery by studying the experiences that the members of staff have had within the self-financing colleges. The study, in a review of the previous studies, along with the empirical evidence obtained with the help of the well-developed survey and interviews, demonstrates the direction in which cognitive, emotional and behavioral aspects of faculty engagement must be used to enhance the delivery of institutional services. The study establish that active faculty are more dedicated, more creative and student oriented and do, comparatively, increase institution reputation and student performance. The conclusion of the article is the implications on management and policy presented by the inference regarding what can be accomplished to facilitate the long-term engagement in a contesting environment in the educational area.

Transfer of training-use of training acquired skills and knowledge in the workplace is focal with respect to enhancing employee performance and accomplishment of organizational goals (Burke & Hutchins, 2008; Ford & Weissbein, 1997). The research question of the paper is how transfer of training influences the performance of employees by exploring some of the major variables that influence its effectiveness which include the validity that of the training program, managerial support, organizational and individual fixers as well as attitudes of employees. Using both theoretical models and empirical evidence, the study highlights that the successful transfer of training cannot be attributed only to the delivery of the material, but to the weaker mechanisms of supports after training and to the need to match training with the job (Rampun et al., 2020). Applying the quantitative research method two groups of 120 employees were used to achieve the findings that training transfer has a very high positive correlation with the employee performance, and that training transfer explained 78.2 percent of the variance in the performance-based outcomes. These results indicate the significance of developing comprehensive training programs which must combine organizational benefits, inspiration and job pertinence. The findings provide valuable practice to human resource managers who would like to improve the effectiveness of training and workforce productivity (Diamantidis & Chatzoglou, 2018).

The introduction of the federal corporate tax regime in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), effective from June 1, 2023, marks a transformative shift in the country’s fiscal and regulatory landscape. Designed to align with international tax standards and support the UAE’s long-term economic diversification strategy, the new framework imposes compliance obligations on most business entities operating within the country. This article provides a descriptive overview of the key procedures associated with corporate tax compliance in the UAE, including registration, recordkeeping, tax filing, transfer pricing requirements, and penalty enforcement. Unlike previous tax-free norms, the new system mandates that all taxable persons—whether on the mainland, in Free Zones, or operating as branches of foreign entities—must register with the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) and submit annual corporate tax returns. The article outlines how businesses are expected to calculate taxable income based on accounting profit, maintain compliant financial records, and file tax returns within nine months of their financial year-end. Special considerations for Free Zone companies and tax groups are also described. Real-life examples are included throughout the article to illustrate how different types of UAE businesses—from SMEs to multinational groups—are navigating corporate tax compliance. The corporate tax policy is also a strategic response to global economic pressures, the push for tax transparency, and the need for more diversified, stable revenue bases in post-oil economies. This article evaluates the UAE’s corporate tax policy from both fiscal and economic perspectives, focusing on its potential contributions to non-oil revenue, its structural design, and broader policy implications.

The rapid evolution of organized retailing in India, particularly in tier-II cities such as Nashik, has transformed consumer shopping behavior. This study examines consumer behavior patterns in selected shopping malls of the Nashik region, focusing on global and national retail trends, the growing digital integration, and the importance of customer-centric strategies. Using a structured questionnaire and drawing upon the Technology Adoption Model (TAM) and SERVQUAL dimensions, responses from 415 shopping mall customers across five districts of the Nasik Region were analyzed using factor analysis, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression. Findings indicate that consumer motivations are influenced by both hedonic (ambience, brand variety, social interaction) and utilitarian (convenience, affordability, accessibility) factors, confirming the significance of holistic shopping experiences. Service quality emerged as a key determinant of consumer behavior, with 80.6% variation explained by tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy dimensions. Digital payment adoption and promotional strategies also shaped purchase decisions, though satisfaction did not always guarantee loyalty, suggesting the role of emotional value and alternative retail options. Notably, satisfaction levels varied across Nashik districts, reflecting region-specific expectations. The study recommends adopting tech-enabled retail solutions, personalized promotions, service quality training, and district-focused strategies to enhance customer experience and retention. These insights hold practical significance for mall developers, retailers, and policymakers in designing inclusive, adaptive, and future-ready retail spaces in emerging urban India. The research concludes that beyond transactions, emotional connection, digital readiness, and localized service strategies are pivotal to sustaining consumer engagement in evolving mall ecosystems.

Digital transformation is reshaping the global business landscape, compelling traditional business models to adapt rapidly to maintain competitiveness. This paper investigates the multifaceted impact of digital transformation on traditional enterprises by examining both the challenges encountered—such as legacy system inertia, organizational culture resistance, data security concerns, and skill mismatches—and the opportunities presented, including process optimization, enhanced customer engagement, new revenue streams, and strategic agility. Through a comprehensive review of contemporary empirical studies, industry reports, and theoretical frameworks, this research synthesizes key insights into how digital technologies are redefining operational paradigms. The analysis further proposes a structured framework for guiding legacy firms through transformation journeys, emphasizing leadership, digital literacy, data governance, and organizational change management. The findings contribute to scholarly discourse by outlining actionable pathways for firms to leverage digital technologies as instruments of strategic renewal rather than disruptors of established models.

The efficacy of blue-collar laborers constitutes the foundation of industrial production and national economic performance.  In India, ongoing labor issues—such as inadequate working conditions, insufficient legal protection, informal employment, and weak regulatory enforcement—persistently impede worker productivity.  This research investigates the universal labor challenges affecting the productivity of blue-collar workers and analyzes their wider consequences on labor market dynamics, namely the disparity between labor demand and supply.  This study critically analyzes the Indian labor ecosystem through the lens of globalization and supply chain decentralization, revealing that insufficient salaries, lack of social security, subcontracting, and gendered labor exploitation are systemic obstacles to sustainable growth.  Utilizing reports from the International Labour Organization (ILO), Indian labor legislation, and pertinent empirical investigations, the research delineates deficiencies in labor governance and the pressing necessity for structural transformation.  The document proposes a thorough reform of labor policy emphasizing inclusion, job formalization, skill development, and corporate accountability to improve worker productivity and stabilize the labor demand-supply balance in India.

Pedagogy is the art and science of teaching, it’s a collection of both knowledge as well as skill which is required for teaching effectively. Teacher is an active agent in this changing society, the pedagogy too needs to change in order to meet the demands and expectation of the students and society. Successful learning is possible only with efforts of teachers and students. Faculty demographics includes years of teaching experience, department, gender, full time and part time status and education level. Efficacy is the capacity of producing a desired result or effect. Faculty efficacy can be measured by how well they can engage students, which can be done by motivating students with low interest, fostering student’s creativity, and gauge students’ capacity to comprehend, craft good questions for students and provide appropriate challenges according to student’s capacity. There is no single teaching strategy which matches with all the situations, for different groups of student’s different combination of strategies has to be used to increase the learning outcome, which a teacher learns only through experience. Faculty demographic factors bring about change in pedagogy and efficacy. Design/methodology/approach ‐ The Study was undertaken as an empirical frame work to study the role of demographics in influencing the pedagogy and efficacy of the faculty. In this context, a factor analysis was done to identify the pedagogical factors and then each of the identified pedagogical factors were tested for their association with each of the demographical factors such as age, gender, experience, course taught, marital status etc. The main study objectives were to comprehend & analyze the demographic variables that influence the pedagogy and efficacy of the faculty members and to identify the pedagogical factors via factor analysis. The study also aimed on examining the efficacy of faculty’s teaching approach in association with their age, teaching experience, educational level and other demographic variables.  A structured questionnaire would be developed and a survey among under-graduate and post graduate faculty would be conducted and further the responses so obtained would be tabulated and statistically analyzed using SPSS and the hypothesis formulated would be empirically tested. 

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is moving from a voluntary ethical practice to a legal requirement for businesses in many countries, including India. Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, marks a significant milestone in this evolution, mandating certain companies to allocate a portion of their profits towards CSR activities.  The paper aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on the role of law in promoting responsible business practices and societal well-being. Additionally, it delves into the challenges and opportunities faced by corporations in implementing CSR initiatives. The findings of this research underscore the importance of CSR as a tool for sustainable development and corporate accountability, highlighting the need for continuous refinement of the legal provisions to enhance their effectiveness.  This paper provides an in-depth analysis of Section 135, examining its legal framework, objectives, and the impact it has had on corporate behaviour and societal welfare since its inception.

Cognitive leadership, predicated on neuroscientific principles, significantly influences decision-making and thereby enhances organizational performance. Neuroscience offers perceptivity into leadership actions and cognitive processes, illustrating how leaders' brain functions, such as emotional regulation and superintendent control, are related to effective decision-making. Additionally, the rigidity of leadership styles, as informed by cognitive diversity, plays a pivotal role in stimulating platoon engagement and perfecting performance, particularly in dynamic surroundings. The interplay between cognitive impulses and leadership styles can shape decision-making quality, with notable influences from contextual factors. This conflation of neuroscientific perceptivity and leadership practices elucidates how cognitive rudiments bolster leadership efficacity, eventually fostering bettered organizational issues through informed and nimble decision-making. This study intends to analyse the role of neuroscience in cognitive leadership and its impact on decision-making and organizational performance.

The rapid evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT) interconnects billions of devices and systems servicing numerous applications. However, connectivity increases the risk of cyber-attacks and the overall impact of any security attack can be catastrophic. Keeping IoT systems, applications, and services secured and resilient is a growing challenge with security risks increasingly difficult to detect. Artificial intelligence, coupled with Cloud-based services and Web interfaces, can provide a powerful tool for building intelligent real time threat detection and defence systems. Key architectural challenges are identified and addressed. The use case of IoT WiFi network breach real time threat detection is presented. An AI Engine is developed and trained using supervised deep learning classifiers with time domain extracted features. The AI Engine architecture is Cloud-native in both deployment and operation. A Web-based UI that allows for the visualisation of live alerts completes the smart threat detection system. The resulting classification accuracy of 95.6% was shown to outperform existing similar solutions. The architecture can be adapted for a vast number of IoT threat detection use cases.

As India continues to grapple with environmental degradation, climate change, and the increasing need for sustainable development, understanding the factors that influence consumer behaviour becomes critical. In the era of rising environmental concerns and sustainable development, green consumerism has emerged as a vital shift in consumer behaviour. This study explores the influence of media narratives in shaping consumer attitudes and behaviours towards environmentally responsible consumption in the Indian context. With a specific focus on Ahmedabad city, the research analyses how different media platforms—such as television, newspapers, and digital media—impact consumer perceptions and decisions regarding green products and sustainable lifestyle choices. A sample of 144 consumers from Ahmedabad was surveyed using a structured close-ended questionnaire. The study primarily seeks to examine the perception of consumers regarding the effectiveness of media in promoting green buying behaviour and to determine if there exists a statistically significant association between consumers' demographic profiles and their perceptions. The findings of the study suggest that media plays a powerful and persuasive role in encouraging environmentally conscious decisions. Positive stories, awareness campaigns, and sustainability-focused content significantly influence consumer intentions to adopt eco-friendly products. Moreover, demographic variables such as age, gender, and education level were found to be associated with varying degrees of perception towards media’s role in shaping green consumer behaviour. The study concludes by emphasizing the strategic importance of media communication in advancing green marketing and promoting sustainability in India.

The given conceptual research paper examines the strategic intersection of Smart HR 4.0 technologies and digital skilling frameworks to promote inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship with the view of achieving long-term development vision of India, which is Viksit Bharat 2047. The issue of human capital development in an environment of rapid digital transformation and Industry 5.0 innovative development can be reflected as a major source of the inclusive and sustainable economy. This research brings to light how HRM is starting to play a pivotal role not only as an administrator but as a strategic enabler with the help of artificial intelligence, automation, predictive analytics, and human-cyber-physical systems to increase the management of talent. At the same time national programs (Skill India, NEP 2020, and Digital India) are widening access to digital skills, either through upskilling and reskilling, or through literacy programs that target the nationwide workforce to ensure its preparedness to face the challenges of the future. The paper also looks at the role of inclusive innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem, including how the disproportionate capability of reaching digital platforms, innovation hubs, and government-supported incubators can be used to empower the underrepresented communities, i.e. women, rural persons, and the same. Using international policy frameworks and national policy documents, the study suggests a conceptual model which combines Smart HR 4.0, digital skilling, innovation ecosystems and strategic human capital development within the macroeconomic and policy goals. The report ends that the transition to Viksit Bharat 2047 will involve ecosystem-based collective action between the public, the private and the academic sectors, a people centric yet tech enabled and inclusive model of transforming workforce. It is an embedded package that offers a vision of creating a robust, innovative, and just economy and makes India a leader of the global economy in this digital era.

Purpose: This research examines the influence of online trading platforms on retail investor engagement in Odisha with a focus on important factors including ease of use, accessibility, perceived security, user experience, and the role of financial literacy as a mediator. The research seeks to establish a holistic picture of how the platforms affect investor behaviour and decision-making, as part of the changing financial environment in Odisha. Design/methodology/approach: The research uses an empirical, quantitative method with primary data gathered from 300 retail investors in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas of Odisha. A structured questionnaire with closed-ended and Likert scale-based questions captures information on platform adoption behaviour, ease of use, perceived security, user experience, and financial literacy. Stratified random sampling provides a balanced sample of various demographic profiles. Data analysis includes descriptive statistics, multiple regression analysis, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), correlation analysis, ANOVA tests, and regression-based path analysis to identify direct, indirect, and mediating relationships. Findings: The findings indicate that online trading platforms have a high positive effect on retail investor participation (O = 0.875, T = 34.675, p = 0.000). Accessibility and ease of use also contribute to higher adoption levels (O = 0.164, T = 2.896, p = 0.004), and perceived security is instrumental in fostering investor confidence (O = 0.642, T = 11.941, p = 0.000). User experience, such as interface design, speed, and reliability, also affects long-term platform use (O = 0.579, T = 1.247, p = 0.012). Financial literacy is found to be a significant mediator, enhancing the relationship between platform adoption and making informed decisions (O = 0.111, T = 1.097, p = 0.023). Originality: This research provides a new, region-focused analysis of digital trading platforms in Odisha, underscoring the relationship between technological adoption, user experience, security, and financial literacy. The results offer actionable suggestions for enhancing platform accessibility and promoting increased retail investor participation to further financial inclusion and market development in emerging markets.

The rising popularity of e-commerce and the inclusion of psychological triggers on internet channels have given the impulse buying phenomenon new dimensions in the digital age. Focusing on both internal and external influencing elements, this review seeks to investigate the behavioral and psychological foundations of impulse buying in virtual worlds. Internal elements including emotional states, cognitive biases, and mood congruency have been found to significantly influence unanticipated purchase decisions. Consumers' susceptibility to interact with appealing online stimuli might be increased by sentiments of boredom, worry, or excitement. External cues—specifically those embedded in e-commerce channels—such as painless UX design, urgency-based marketing, and social proof mechanisms—amplify these psychological triggers and transform shopping into buying. Based on recent research and digital commerce behavior models, the article emphasizes the contribution of tailored recommendation engines, flash sales, and influencer marketing in reducing the consumer decision-making process, sometimes bypassing rational evaluation completely. E-commerce businesses have effective means to forecast and promote impulsive behavior thanks to real-time sentiment analysis and artificial intelligence-driven customization. Opportunities and ethical issues arise from the interaction of technological efficiency and emotional manipulation. Moreover, accelerating and frequency of impulse purchases have been fueled by the impact of social media and peer-generated content in improving perceived product value and fostering trust. This behavioral review emphasizes how digital methods are used to manipulate cognitive-emotional interactions, hence altering consumer behavior and redefining purchasing standards. Understanding these psychological aspects is absolutely crucial not only for marketers and UX designers but also for consumers wanting to create more mindful consumption habits as e-commerce develops. In essence, this work presents a thorough examination of the behavioral anatomy of impulsive buying online, therefore proposing that future studies should concentrate on creating morally aware treatments to reduce its consequences without destroying corporate creativity.

Every business now needs a social media presence to thrive. Businesses and consumers can easily access social media websites. For this study, social media is the independent variable, consumer satisfaction is the dependent variable, and brand awareness is the mediating variable. The AIDA model is one of the most researched models. The researcher used a quantitative research design for this study. Three hundred questionnaires were distributed to respondents via a survey method. A total of 207 questionnaires were received, resulting in a response rate of 69%. Findings of this study reveal that social media, based on the AIDA Model, has a significant impact on consumer satisfaction levels. The researcher used Andrew Hayes’ method for mediation analysis. Social media users’ brand awareness positively influences the relationship between social media and consumer satisfaction. The results also indicate that brand awareness has a partial mediating effect. The study’s managerial implication suggests that restaurant owners and managers in Bokaro should implement social media marketing using the AIDA approach to attract consumers to their products and services. 

This empirical study investigates the strategic drivers of sustainable marketing by examining the influence of green advertising and social media marketing on consumer choices in the context of Rajasthan, India. In an era dominated by digital engagement, understanding how marketing tools shape sustainable consumer behavior is critical for businesses seeking long-term value creation. Data were collected from 280 respondents using a purposive sampling technique and analyzed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM 4). The results reveal that both green advertising (β = 0.397, p < 0.001) and social media marketing (β = 0.431, p < 0.001) significantly enhance green awareness among consumers. Furthermore, green awareness strongly influences sustainable consumer choices (β = 0.822, p < 0.001), acting as a key mediator in the model. Social media marketing emerged as a more dominant driver compared to traditional advertising in fostering eco-consciousness and behavioral change. These findings offer valuable implications for marketers and policymakers aiming to design targeted, consumer-driven sustainability strategies, particularly in emerging regional markets like Rajasthan.

The vast landscape of the metaverse evokes interest from all spheres, academic and corporate alike. Despite various studies prevalent, there exists a gap in the knowledge in dealing and understanding the nuances of cognitive dissonance in the nonphysical scenario. This study aims to investigate the negative aspects of the metaverse, focusing on the complex relationship between cognitive dissonance and areas such as self-concepts, persona branding, social commerce, and impulsive purchase. This research explores the hitherto untapped area of cognitive dissonance in the metaverse, providing insight into its complex forms and consequences. This research attempts to investigate the conflicts that occurs due to gap between the expectations and reality and the route of escapism an individual takes and the influence of various factors contributing to the differences in logical understanding, the cultural environment, the responsibility of forced compliance in one’s behaviour and the experience of an individual in the nonreal world.   It demonstrates the complex interaction between opposing ideas and experiences in virtual settings. Moreover, it examines the profound influence of virtual contacts on people' self-perceptions, emphasising the dynamic process of constructing identity and the surfacing of repressed negative features that are not often expressed in real life.  In addition, this study attempts to relate cognitive dissonance and purchase behaviours which are impulsive in the nonphysical scenario bringing into the fore the differences in the perceived value pre and post purchase. On the foundation of the above, this research develops a framework helpful in the reduction of cognitive dissonance and ways to navigate the world of ever growing metaverse. Bridging a gap in the existing literature this study attempts to aid the experiences of the users and satisfaction in the virtual world.

In response to growing demands for quality, accountability, and inclusivity in higher education, academic staff's voluntary actions are vital. Organisational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB), based in organisational psychology, involves discretionary acts that boost effectiveness without official reward. This review explores literature on OCB in academic settings such as schools, colleges, and universities, where staff engage in extra-role activities that enhance performance. It considers factors like job satisfaction, motivation, personality, leadership, culture, and support. Findings indicate OCB improves morale, collegiality, and student outcomes, enhancing overall performance. Yet, excessive or unrecognised OCB may cause burnout, role conflict, and gender gaps, especially in underfunded or bureaucratic contexts. The review also examines how differences between developed and developing countries influence OCB expression and valuation. Ultimately, OCB is crucial for academic excellence, but sustaining it long-term needs policies that recognise and promote voluntary efforts. This overview offers a foundation for future research and strategies to foster citizenship and resilience in higher education.

Forensic accounting has emerged as a critical tool in fraud examination, combining accounting expertise with investigative skills to detect, prevent, and resolve financial misconduct. Despite its growing significance, gaps persist in the knowledge and practical application of forensic accounting techniques. This study explores the effectiveness of forensic accounting methods in fraud detection and resolution, focusing on the knowledge gaps that impede their broader implementation.The research examines key challenges, such as limited professional training, lack of standardized practices, and the evolving complexity of financial crimes, are analyzed to understand their implications for practitioners and stakeholders.

The current study is based on query formulation to retrieve information on Robo-advisors from the Scopus database. The information retrieved is used to perform the Bibliometric Analysis. Corpus of the study consists of 240 articles indexed in the Scopus database as of 11^th December 2024. Bibliometric indicators like Keyword Co-occurrence Analysis, Co-citation Analysis, Co-authorship Network Analysis, etc. have been used and analysis has been performed using VosViewer and Biblioshiny. Publications on Robo-advisors have started gaining momentum from 2017 onwards. China, United States, and Germany are leading nations contributing to Robo-advisory theme. Keyword Co-occurrence analysis illustrates that “Robo-advisor”, “Fintech” and “Artificial Intelligence” are commonly occurring keywords. Sustainability and Journal of Wealth Management are the two sources with the maximum number of published articles on this theme. It provides a gateway for investors and policymakers to harness the advantages of Artificial Intelligence in making informed portfolio management decisions to optimize returns.

In today’s experience-centric market landscape, brands are shifting from traditional promotional tactics to immersive experiential strategies to connect with consumers on emotional, sensory, and cognitive levels. This conceptual study aims to explore the impact of experiential marketing on the loyalty of millennial consumers—a segment characterized by its preference for authenticity, personalization, and interactive brand engagement. The primary objective is to examine how key dimensions of experiential marketing—sensory experiences, emotional engagement, intellectual stimulation, and behavioral interaction—influence loyalty outcomes such as brand trust, satisfaction, emotional attachment, and advocacy among millennials. Drawing from an extensive review of interdisciplinary literature in marketing, psychology, and consumer behavior, this study proposes a conceptual framework that maps the relationship between experiential marketing and millennial consumer loyalty. The model also identifies potential mediators (e.g., brand authenticity) and moderators (e.g., digital engagement) that may shape this relationship. The expected outcome is a theoretically grounded understanding of how experiential marketing fosters loyalty in the millennial cohort, offering a foundation for future empirical validation. This paper adds value to existing literature by integrating fragmented insights into a cohesive framework and contributes to the strategic marketing discourse by guiding brands on designing meaningful experiences. From a managerial perspective, the study provides actionable implications for businesses in sectors such as retail, hospitality, and digital services, enabling them to cultivate deeper consumer relationships and long-term brand commitment among millennials.

The potential for neuromarketing to revolutionize consumer insights and marketing strategies has led to its increasing popularity as a multidisciplinary field that blends marketing and neuroscience. This paper explores the multitude of factors that influence the use of neuromarketing in India, a fast-growing market with unique cultural, economic, and regulatory contexts. This review article's goal is to look into the various factors that affect neuromarketing's use in India. The field of neuromarketing makes use of techniques and ideas from neuroscience to understand consumer behavior. In addition, the study synthesizes the body of current literature and empirical research to identify the key elements that are encouraging and hindering the use of neuromarketing by Indian enterprises. Technological infrastructure, legal and regulatory frameworks, moral issues, cultural quirks, and organizational preparedness are all important concerns. A study that uses mapping to analyze research on neuromarketing in India finds important themes, patterns, and connections between different factors by using methods like co-citation analysis, co-word analysis, and network analysis. A thorough bibliometric analysis, which provides information on a wide range of issues and publication trends, can address this problem. This review summarizes the existing literature, identifies areas that require additional research, and proposes strategic applications of neuromarketing strategies that are suitable for the Indian market.

This research paper is focused on finding and examining the effect and significance of individual employee Locus of control (LOC) on their performance in manufacturing companies for shopfloor employees around Pune. Locus of control has been defined as the extent to which individuals believe that they are masters of their own lives, and they have decisive control over their own life and destiny. Locus of control has a significant role to play for an individual to sustain the individual work performance. Our results conclude that locus of control positively related to the individual work performance. Individual employees with higher internal locus of control (internals) tend to be better performers and result achievers whilst employees with higher attribution to external locus of control don’t reach the desirable organization performance requirements and has need to be better at their jobs at their workplace. This difference in the performance can be explained with the direct relation of locus of control with other employee factors like employee satisfaction at workplace and employee organization commitment which in turn has a result on the employee performance and is medium through which Locus of Control creates an indirect impact on the employee work performance. This is also supported by perceived helplessness and effort expectancy where employees with internal locus of control which have higher beliefs of control over their results perform better to achieve better results for organization and in turn for themselves.  The research helps to establish that there is a significant relationship between the employee performance and locus of control which recommends future work to be done on employee locus of control to enhance individual workplace performance and organizational performance.

Well, the fusion of Artificial Intelligence in the marketing of organic products is reshaping the communication between the brands and eco-conscious consumers. The need for organic products is limitless, companies are adopting AI technologies to develop marketing strategies which can assist brands in obtaining superior consumer engagement while supporting sustainable consumption through organic consumer behaviours. The manuscript offers an important conceptual lens to research on possible areas in which AI can complement marketing with an emphasis on organic-product orientation. Artificial intelligence has the ability to comb through massive consumer datasets, segment target groups, and create marketing programs through the use of machine learning algorithms. Predictive analytics allows businesses to anticipate trends and behaviors of potential customers, so they can better position products and monitor inventory. Furthermore, the recommendation systems based on artificial intelligence boost the relationship by nudging consumers towards organic by tracking their previous buying behavior and then creating a deep insightful brand relationship with the environment care consumer. AI — What part can it play in strengthening traceability in the supply chain and how does this provide the necessary credentials up or down the chain for consumers to build or expand their trust in eating organic via better information on such product passports? The article discusses the probable challenges ranging from data privacy issues, ethics of AI implementation, and the risk of further marginalizing certain consumer segments that might have limited access to digital platforms relying on AI interfaces, although artificial intelligence brings many clear benefits. The authors construct a conceptual framework which describes the interconnections between artificial intelligence, consumer behavior, and organic products marketing theories offering a framework directing future research and practice. For instance, Artificial intelligence technologies can replace conventional approaches to the marketing of organic products so that they will continue to be environmentally friendly – however, there are ethical and practical consequences of utilization that should be carefully considered.

Self Help Groups (SHGs) could be defined as the organised forum of people which is planned, shaped and structured by the people themselves to attain present/pre-identified goals and purposes. These groups are the agents of social change and catalysts for the entire empowerment and development process in a community. It is proved that the most sustainable groups in a society are the grassroots level community organisations which believe in empowerment, decentralisation, and participation. Even though these groups are small in size their advocacy power is high through their federated structure within the locality and also in the region. Many SHGs come together on one platform at local, regional, and district levels, which enables the groups to gather strength not only to influence the legislature but also to mobilise public opinion in favor of gaining adequate space and opportunities for the community members to respond to various complex issues concerning their livelihoods. SHGs are identified as socially viable community organisations having democratic values, relevant developmental orientation and oriented towards attaining individuals’/groups’ own sustainability. In the current development scenario, the effective functioning of these grassroots organisations become almost inevitable and rather challenging too. Community-based self-help institutions are being promoted at the village level to take responsibilities for a variety of development activities, which include management of natural resources, employment generation, and human resource development. Most government programmes emphasise adoption of participatory approaches envisaging participation of village communities through these institutions. Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) involved in rural development activities are also largely operating through Self Help Groups (SHGs). In some instances, SHGs have emerged without direct assistance from government or non-government organisations and have taken responsibility of the overall development in the area.

Benami transactions—where properties or assets are held by a proxy while the actual ownership and benefits lie with another—continue to present a critical challenge to India’s financial and legal systems. Despite the enactment of the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act (PBPTA), 1988 and its substantial amendment in 2016, traditional mechanisms of enforcement and public awareness have not proven sufficient to prevent the misuse of identities, fraudulent layering of ownership, or the diversion of illicit wealth. This paper re-examines India’s anti-benami framework through the lens of sustainable innovation and introduces a comprehensive tech-legal approach to enforcement. It highlights how cases such as the 2023 Noida GST Scam and multiple post-demonetization incidents reveal systemic gaps in verification and legal outreach. These gaps cannot be effectively bridged through awareness programs alone. To support this claim, a structured field survey was conducted with 120 respondents from mixed socio-economic backgrounds and a Chi-Square Goodness-of-Fit test was applied to assess their trust in traditional versus technology-enabled enforcement methods. The result showed a statistically significant preference for tech-integrated tools like facial KYC, SMS alerts and AI-led ownership checks over conventional awareness campaigns—leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. The paper proposes the integration of AI, blockchain, GIS mapping and big data analytics as sustainable tools in anti-benami enforcement. It argues that these tools not only improve detection and compliance but also contribute to environmental sustainability (by reducing paper usage and carbon-intensive raids), economic sustainability (through improved tax revenue and reduced illicit asset hoarding) and institutional sustainability (by building long-term enforcement capacity). The paper concludes that combating benami transactions effectively requires a scalable, adaptive and ethically governed digital ecosystem. This model supports India’s progress toward SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, positioning tech-enabled enforcement as both a strategic governance reform and a sustainable innovation imperative for a corruption-free economy