Volume 14 | Issue 2 |

 Abstract

Digital platforms have become central to India's economic transformation, reshaping commerce, finance, labour markets, and consumer engagement. While these platforms foster innovation, reduce transaction costs, and enhance market access, they also create risks of market concentration, anti-competitive conduct, data privacy concerns, data-driven consumer exploitation and consumer protection issues. This paper examines the evolution of digital platform regulation in India, analyses existing policy frameworks, evaluates their effectiveness, and proposes a balanced regulatory approach that fosters innovation while safeguarding competition and consumer welfare. It evaluates institutional mechanisms such as the Competition Commission of India and sector-specific regulations governing e-commerce and intermediaries. Drawing on economic theory and comparative regulatory models, the paper proposes a balanced, forward-looking regulatory framework that safeguards innovation while promoting competition and consumer welfare in India's digital century.

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 Keywords

Digital platforms, Competition policy, Consumer welfare, Data governance, regulatory framework

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Valli: The Voice of the Forest - An Ecological and Socio-Cultural tale of Sheela Tomy's narrative explores the multi-dimensional role throughout the novel. The forest of Wayanad emerges as a perceptive protagonist and as a living archive of memory, objection, and suffering. By examining the novel through the lens of ecocriticism and post-colonial history, this study investigates on how Tomy gives "voice" to a landscape that has been systematically silenced by colonial exploitation, migrant settlement, modern commercialization and deconstruction. Through Valli's experiences and perceptions, the story highlights the forest's role as a symbol of nature's wisdom, resilience, and the importance of preserving traditional knowledge. The article delves into themes of environmental harmony, cultural heritage, and the transformative power of nature by portraying Valli as a voice that bridges humans and natural worlds. The article focuses on the linguistic and symbolic weight of the title word, "Valli," which bridges the gap between the earth, the creeping vines of the jungle, the identity of the forest-woman, and the historical wages of the Adivasi laborers. The article further analyzes Tomy's use of multipart texture, incorporating letters, diaries, and lore to demonstrate how the forest's "voice" is deeply linked to the survival of the Paniyara and Adiya tribes.

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 Keywords

Adivasi identity, Deconstruction, ,Ecocriticism, Environmental Resistance, Forest, Indigenous Rights, Sheela Tomy, Valli.

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Examining the emotional intelligence of physicians working in both public and private institutions was the aim of the study. In order to complete this study, we divided the 160 doctors into two groups: 80 from private hospitals (40 men and 40 women) and 80 from public hospitals (40 men and 40 women). Information was gathered from various public and private hospitals. Compared to private physicians, public physicians have a higher mean score. But compared to women, male doctors had more emotional intelligence. Gender and hospital types did not interact to affect any of the variables or overall emotional intelligence

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Gender, Hospitals, Emotional Intelligence

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The objective of the study is to compare the research competency of teachers working in higher education institutions with reference to gender, qualification, experience, age, and stream. The investigator used a quantitative research design with the survey method to collect data. The sample consisted of 150 higher education teachers from the state of Odisha, selected using a stratified random sampling technique. A self-developed 54-item rating scale was used to assess research competency across five components: Planning, Designing, Conducting Field Work, Data Analysis and Interpretation, and Reporting and Sharing Research Findings. The scale employed a three-point Likert format--high competency (HC = 3), moderate competency (MC = 2), and low competency (LC = 1). Content validity was ensured through expert review, and reliability was confirmed with Cronbach's Alpha = 0.83. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS. The study revealed that research competency showed no significant difference with gender, but significant differences were found with respect to qualification, experience, age, and stream, with Ph.D. holders, teachers with 11-20 years of experience, those aged 41 and above, and Arts teachers demonstrating higher competency at the 0.05 level of significance. The educational implication is that authorities should provide opportunities for all teachers to participate in research methodology training, workshops, and professional development programs to enhance overall research competency in higher education.

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Research Competency, Higher Education Institutes, Higher Education Teachers, Research Competency Framework

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Occupational stress has emerged as a pervasive challenge in the teaching profession, affecting teachers' well-being, instructional quality, and institutional functioning. The present study investigated occupational stress among government school teachers and examined differences based on gender, teaching experience, locality, and academic stream. A sample of 150 teachers was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a standardized Occupational Stress Index. Statistical analyses included mean, standard deviation, and critical ratio tests. Results indicated significant differences in stress based on teaching experience, whereas gender, locality, and teaching stream showed no significant differences. These findings suggest that occupational stress among teachers is influenced more by professional exposure than demographic characteristics. The study highlights the need for institutional support mechanisms to reduce stress and improve teacher effectiveness.

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occupational stress, teachers, experience, educational psychology, school environment

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Climate variability and inefficient irrigation contribute to water stress and reduced crop productivity worldwide. This paper presents a Smart Irrigation Advisory System that integrates a hybrid rainfall forecasting model with an IoT-based soil moisture monitoring network to provide timely, actionable irrigation recommendations. The forecasting module fuses statistical and machine-learning (deep learning) approaches to improve short- and medium-term rainfall prediction. The sensing module comprises distributed low-cost soil moisture sensors (multi-depth), connected via low-power wireless links to a cloud backend. A decision-support engine fuses forecasted rainfall, real-time soil moisture, crop-specific crop water requirements and evapotranspiration estimates to produce irrigation advisories delivered through a mobile/web interface. A pilot deployment in a semi-arid region evaluated the system for one crop season: the hybrid forecasting reduced rainfall prediction MAE by ~14% versus single-model baselines, and advisory-driven irrigation scheduling reduced water usage by ~22% while maintaining yield within 3% of conventional scheduling. The results demonstrate that combining hybrid forecasting and IoT sensing enables more efficient, climate-resilient irrigation.

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Keywords: Smart Irrigation, IoT, Soil Moisture Monitoring, Hybrid Rainfall Forecasting, Decision Support System, Precision Agriculture, Water-Use Efficiency.

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Sahachara is an important medicinal plant described in Ayurvedic classics for the management of Vatavyadhi, Palitya, Mutravaha Strotas Vyadhi. Classical texts and Nighantus describe Sahachara under various synonyms such as Saireyaka, Kurantaka, Bana, Dasi, and Kurabaka, and is classified into Peeta, Shweta, Neela, and Rakta varieties based on colour of the flower, each with specific therapeutic indications. Botanically, these varieties correspond to Barleria prionitis Linn., Barleria cristata Linn., and Barleria strigosa Willd.(both Shweta and Rakta) of the family Acanthaceae. This integrative review compiles Ayurvedic descriptions from classical texts and correlates them with contemporary phytochemical and pharmacological studies. The review highlights traditional Ayurvedic knowledge and modern scientific evidence, while emphasizing the need for precise research studies, standardization, and clinical validation to support evidence-based use of Sahachara.

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An Integrative Review of varieties of Sahachara in Ayurveda and Contemporary Scientific Research.

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The Boro Kachari Mandir represents an important example of rural religious architecture and community-based worship traditions in the district of South 24 Parganas. Situated within the culturally vibrant and ecologically distinctive landscape of southern Bengal, the temple reflects the synthesis of devotional Hindu practices, local administrative history, and village-level social organization. Although not widely documented in mainstream historical scholarship, the temple holds considerable significance for the surrounding population as a spiritual center and focal point of communal identity. The nomenclature "Boro Kachari" suggests possible historical links with former revenue or administrative establishments during the colonial or zamindari period, indicating how secular governance spaces in Bengal often evolved into sacred sites over time. Architecturally, the temple embodies features typical of Bengal's rural temple forms, including brick construction, modest shikhara elements, and adaptations suited to the deltaic climate. Its structural simplicity contrasts with the monumental temple traditions of other regions, yet it underscores the adaptive ingenuity and localized aesthetic of Bengal's vernacular religious architecture. Beyond its physical structure, the temple functions as a dynamic socio-cultural institution. It plays a vital role in organizing annual festivals, ritual gatherings, and collective observances such as Shivaratri, Kali Puja, or other regional celebrations. Through these activities, the temple strengthens intergenerational cultural transmission and reinforces social cohesion within the village community. In the broader geographical context extending from the urban periphery of Kolkata to the ecological frontier of the Sundarbans, Boro Kachari Mandir exemplifies how localized sacred spaces contribute to the cultural landscape of South 24 Parganas. This study highlights the need for systematic documentation and scholarly attention to such rural temples, as they provide valuable insights into grassroots religious practices, regional identity formation, and the transformation of administrative heritage into sacred memory.

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 Keywords

Boro Kachari Mandir, South 24 Parganas, Rural Temple Architecture, Bengal Temple Style, Vernacular Architecture, Zamindari Administration, Kachari Bari Tradition, Folk Hinduism

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Background: Amlapitta is a common gastrointestinal disorder described in Ayurveda, characterized by symptoms such as sour belching, burning sensation, indigestion, nausea, and anorexia. It is closely comparable to hyperacidity and gastroesophageal reflux disease in modern medicine. The condition mainly results from aggravation of Pitta Dosha and impairment of digestive function. Due to modern lifestyle changes, irregular diet, and stress, the incidence of Amlapitta has increased significantly. Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy of traditional Amla candy prepared from Amalaki and Sharkara (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) in the management of Amlapitta. Methods: An open-labelled randomized clinical study was conducted on patients diagnosed with Amlapitta based on classical Ayurvedic symptoms. Patients were administered traditional Amla candy for a specified treatment duration. Assessment was carried out before and after treatment using subjective clinical parameters such as sour belching, burning sensation, indigestion, nausea, and appetite. Results: The study showed significant improvement in major clinical symptoms of Amlapitta. Patients experienced reduction in sour belching, burning sensation, indigestion, and nausea, along with improvement in appetite and digestion. The intervention was well tolerated, and no adverse effects were reported. Conclusion: Traditional Amla candy was found to be effective, safe, economical, and well accepted in the management of Amlapitta. It can be used as a therapeutic dietary supplement for improving digestive health and managing acid-related gastrointestinal disorders.

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 Keywords

Amlapitta, Amalaki, Amla candy, Hyperacidity, Ayurveda, Emblica officinalis

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Sustainable waste management is a multidimensional challenge that demands the active participation of diverse stakeholders to ensure environmental protection, economic viability, and social equity. This abstract explores the pivotal roles played by key actors, including government bodies, private enterprises, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local communities, and informal waste workers, in shaping and sustaining effective waste management systems. Governments provide regulatory frameworks and infrastructure investments, while private sector innovation drives efficiency and technological advancement. NGOs and civil society foster awareness, education, and grassroots mobilization, empowering communities to adopt responsible waste practices. Informal sector workers, often overlooked, contribute significantly to recycling and resource recovery, highlighting the need for inclusive policies. Collaboration among these stakeholders enhances transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability. By aligning interests and fostering partnerships, a circular economy can be achieved, transforming waste from a liability into a valuable resource. This integrated approach underscores the importance of stakeholder synergy in achieving resilient and sustainable waste management systems.

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Keywords: Sustainable Waste Management Systems, Informal Sector Workers, Regulatory Frameworks, Infrastructure Investment

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