Volume 14 | Issue 5 |

 Abstract

Abstract Digital financial inclusion has emerged as a key driver of inclusive economic growth in the digital era. India's rapid transformation from a cash-based economy to a global leader in real-time digital payments presents a unique and scalable model for analysis. However, existing literature often examines policy initiatives, technological infrastructure, and user adoption in isolation, lacking a comprehensive ecosystem perspective. This study addresses this gap by adopting an integrated framework to analyze India's digital financial inclusion trajectory from 2015 to 2024. Method :A longitudinal descriptive-analytical research design was employed using secondary data collected from credible sources, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), World Bank Global Findex Database, NITI Aayog, and the Ministry of Finance. The study applies an ecosystem-based analytical approach to examine the dynamic interaction among policy initiatives (Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana), digital identity infrastructure (Aadhaar), and payment systems (Unified Payments Interface). Results : The findings reveal that the interoperability of these components has driven exponential growth in digital financial transactions, with UPI transactions increasing from 1 billion to 131 billion over the study period. The ecosystem has significantly contributed to economic formalization, improved welfare delivery through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), and enhanced transparency in financial systems. However, the study identifies an "Inclusion-Vulnerability Paradox," wherein rapid digital expansion has simultaneously intensified challenges such as the digital divide, low financial and digital literacy, and increasing cybersecurity risks among users. Conclusion: The study concludes that while India's digital financial ecosystem represents a globally significant model of inclusive innovation, sustainable financial inclusion requires a balanced approach that integrates technological advancement with user capability development, infrastructural equity, and robust cybersecurity frameworks. The proposed ecosystem framework provides both theoretical contributions and practical policy insights for emerging economies seeking to build resilient and inclusive digital financial systems.

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 Keywords

Keywords Digital Financial Inclusion; Fintech Ecosystem; Unified Payments Interface (UPI); India Stack; Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) Trinity; Digital Payments; Financial Literacy; Economic Formalization; Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT); Digital Divide; Cybersecurity; Inclusive Innovation; Emerging Economies

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The present study, titled "Information and Communication Technology in School Education: A Study of Students' Attitude," was conducted to examine the attitude of secondary school students towards Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the context of school education. In the present digital age, ICT has become an important part of teaching and learning, as it supports access to information, interactive learning, digital communication, and academic development. The study adopted a descriptive survey method. A sample of 122 secondary school students was selected for the study. Data were collected through an ICT attitude scale designed to measure students' views regarding the use, usefulness, confidence, interest, barriers, and support related to ICT in education. The collected data were analyzed using appropriate statistical techniques. The findings revealed that secondary school students generally showed a positive attitude towards ICT. However, a significant difference was found between male and female students in their attitude towards ICT. This indicates that gender plays an important role in shaping students' perception and acceptance of ICT-based learning. The study highlights the need for equal ICT exposure, proper guidance, and supportive school environments so that all students can develop a positive and confident attitude towards technology in education.

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 Keywords

ICT, Attitude, Secondary School Students, School Education, Gender Difference, Digital Learning.

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Human Resource Management (HRM) plays a pivotal role in enhancing organizational effectiveness, particularly in knowledge-driven sectors such as education. This study examines recruitment, onboarding, and employee engagement practices in a private educational institution through an internship-based empirical approach. Using a descriptive research design and quantitative methodology, primary data were collected from 30 teaching and non-teaching employees through structured questionnaires. The findings reveal that while recruitment processes are moderately structured, the lack of digital tools affects efficiency. Onboarding practices are inconsistent, especially for non-teaching staff, and employee engagement initiatives lack continuity and strategic planning. The study highlights the need for digital HR integration, standardized onboarding procedures, and continuous engagement strategies. The research contributes to HRM literature in the education sector and offers practical recommendations for improving workforce management and institutional performance.

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 Keywords

Recruitment, Onboarding, Employee Engagement, HR Practices, Educational Institutions, Employee Satisfaction

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As artificial intelligence tools become ubiquitous in education, work, and daily life, concerns emerge about their impact on fundamental human cognitive abilities. This paper presents a comprehensive conceptual framework centered on the 'Learn, Unlearn, Relearn' cycle, examining how AI dependency threatens cognitive resilience across multiple domains. We identify a critical paradox: while AI systems require humans to maintain independent thinking for effective oversight, the ease and rewards of AI use create patterns of cognitive offloading that undermine precisely these capacities. The paper documents observable patterns of cognitive erosion--including declining patience for learning, deteriorating critical thinking, weakening memory retention, and reduced tolerance for intellectual difficulty--and traces these to a common root cause: the loss of patience as the foundation of all deep learning. We argue that the determining factor is not technology use per se, but rather the pattern of engagement: whether AI serves as cognitive augmentation or cognitive replacement. The paper proposes the 'Observe It First' principle as a practical intervention and identifies guided use, mastery-oriented approaches, and deliberate practice of independent thinking as essential protective strategies. This framework contributes to ongoing debates about technology in education and workplace settings while providing actionable guidance for individuals, institutions, and policymakers seeking to preserve human cognitive sovereignty.

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 Keywords

artificial intelligence, cognitive dependency, attention span, critical thinking, patience for learning, cognitive sovereignty, learn-unlearn-relearn framework

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This paper presented an ethnographic study of the Gamara festival as observed in Wadda village, located in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India. This paper examined the Gamara locally known as Satu-Aathu festival of Kumaon (Uttarakhand) as a living assemblage of ritual, gendered performance, material culture and visual practice. Based on a field visit conducted at the end of August, the study adopted a day wise narrative approach to document ritual practices, gendered participation and the intricate process of idol making associated with Gaura and Maheshwar. Through participant observation and interviews with the local women of that place the paper tried to find out how ritual actions, material practices, and collective performances create sacred meaning within a cultural framework. Certain attention is given to the transformation of natural materials into divine representations emphasizing the role of craft in ritual embodiment. The result indicates that the Gamara festival operates as a site where cosmology, ecology, and social relations intersect. This documentation relatively underrepresented Himalayan tradition; the study adds its voice to broader discussions in anthropology, material religion, and folklore studies.

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Key words : Gamara festival, Kumaon, idol making, folk art and ritual art.

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This study investigates the effect of compression ratio on the performance of a dedicated CNG engine. Compression ratios of 10 to 13 and engine speeds ranging from 1000 to 5000 rpm were analyzed to determine the optimum compression ratio. The results show that increasing the compression ratio improves engine performance parameters such as power, torque, brake thermal efficiency (BTE), and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC). Due to lower emissions and cleaner combustion, CNG engines are becoming a sustainable alternative to conventional fuels. The study concludes that an optimum compression ratio enhances the efficiency and overall performance of dedicated CNG engines.

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Keywords: CNG engine, Thermal Efficiency, Compression Ratio, emission control, CO-NO?-THC-CH? emissions, ECU calibration.

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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India's expanding digital sphere is transforming the nature of individual participation in politics, and movements like #MeTooIndia, #DalitLivesMatter, #SaveArrey, the JNU protest, Anti-CAA Protest, the Farmers' protest, and others are reaching ever wider audiences. Yet this online empowerment of citizens is persistently challenged by recurring network disruptions, particularly during periods of civil unrest. While the administration argues that such connectivity blackouts are essential for maintaining law and order, there is growing concern over their impact on grassroots mobilization. This paper examines internet shutdowns not merely as administrative measures but as deliberate instruments of governance that reshape contentious political activity in the country. The research employs qualitative content analysis of secondary sources to evaluate the consequences of these blackouts on digital activism and to contribute to the broader discourse on democracy and state authority.

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 Keywords

Internet Shutdowns, Digital Activism, Digital Authoritarianism, Contentious Politics, Democratic Accountability, Social Movements

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A Study of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Status of Primary School Students in the Context of the NIPUN Bharat Mission

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A Study of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Status of Primary School Students in the Context of the NIPUN Bharat Mission

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Our research dives into the revolutionary shift happening in how we make tough choices, all thanks to Generative AI (GenAI). We're taking a close look at the main players--from the models that create realistic fake data (GANs) and the ones that help design structured ideas (VAEs), right up to the huge chat engines (LLMs) that power today's digital world. The big takeaway is that GenAI is dramatically speeding up decision-making in vital areas like finance and healthcare. However, this power comes with a major catch: these tools are unreliable on their own. They carry the risk of inherited bias and sometimes just confidently make things up ("hallucinate"). Because of this, the key to using GenAI successfully isn't replacing humans, but ensuring robust human-AI teamwork is in place, backed by clear rules on transparency and accountability. This paper reviews how we can properly harness these systems.

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 Keywords

Generative AI, Decision Making, Hallucination, GANs, VAEs, Diffusion Models, Large Language Models, Human-AI Collaboration, Bias Mitigation, Ethical AI

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition

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Aviation brackets are critical structural components that must sustain complex loading conditions while maintaining minimal weight. This study presents the finite element analysis (FEA) and structural optimization of an aviation bracket to improve its performance and efficiency. A 3D model is analyzed under realistic boundary conditions to evaluate stress distribution, deformation, and factor of safety. Critical stress regions are identified, and design modifications are implemented to reduce weight while maintaining structural integrity. The results demonstrate that FEA-based optimization significantly enhances performance and achieves an efficient strength-to-weight ratio, making it suitable for aerospace applications.

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 Keywords

Aviation Bracket, Critical Loading Conditions, Structural Optimisation, stress distribution, Efficient Strength-to-Weight Ratio, Aerospace Application

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition