Purpose This study examines whether gratitude for meaningful work (GMW) is positively related to extra-role performance (ERP) among Indian corporate employees, with optimism and self-efficacy as mediating factors. Grounded in Broaden and Build Theory (BBT) and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), this study explores how positive emotional experiences translate into discretionary workplace behavior via internal psychological resources. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 233 full-time employees across manufacturing and service sectors in India. Data were analyzed using CFA (confirmatory factor analysis) in AMOS, and Hayes’ (2018) PROCESS macro (Model 4) with 5000 bootstrapping iterations to assess measurement validity, structural relationships, and mediation effects. Findings GMW was positively associated with both self-efficacy and optimism, which significantly predicted ERP. Both indirect effects were significant, and the direct effect of GMW on ERP was non-significant, indicating an indirect-only mediation. Practical implications GMW may function as a performance-relevant psychological resource, operating through optimism and self-efficacy. HR practitioners may consider fostering GMW through practices like job crafting, meaning-centered leadership, and reflective interventions to strengthen optimism and self-efficacy, which may, in turn, translate into ERP. Originality/value This study shifts the focus of gratitude research from interpersonal appreciation to GMW as an internalized, purpose-driven emotional construct. By advancing BBT-SCT integration in India’s collectivist, high power-distance context, this study provides a culturally grounded perspective of how employees derive purpose from their work and channel it into proactive engagement.

The construction sector in India was adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This led to a re-examination of the rights of women construction workers, as the government’s support measures were largely limited to provisioning cash benefit transfers for registered workers. In this article, the authors explore how women respond to the exacerbated vulnerabilities of COVID-19 through strategies of agency in the absence of state interventions for women workers’ welfare at work and at home social systems during the pandemic. This qualitative multi-method study is based on field observations and semi-structured interviews with women construction workers at construction work sites in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, during October–November 2020 and June–July 2021. Women workers exercise agency in a gendered construction sector through their everyday practices of negotiation of workplace relationships, wages and solidarities. Substantial improvements in work participation and social security in the sector require mainstreaming gender and enhancing structural empowerment measures for women construction workers in Tamil Nadu.

ABSTRACT The rapidly growing Q-Commerce sector in India has made a significant transformation in the world of consumer behaviour research that is heavily focused on speed, convenience, and customisation. The current academic article intends to analyse the association between the brand passion and the customer engagement as well as the brand evangelism with AI-driven personalization being a moderating factor. Based on Social Exchange Theory, Engagement Theory and Experiential Marketing Theory, the research investigates how customer enthusiasm about a given brand promotes consumer engagement, which leads to subsequent brand evangelism. A quantitative online survey utilized Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) with 374 respondents from Generation Z and Millennials in the Delhi NCR region. The results verified that the relationship between brand passion and brand evangelism is substantially mediated by consumer engagement. However, although AI personalization enhances these relationships, the moderating effects are minimal, suggesting that engagement strategies should incorporate or be supplemented by AI personalization. Emotional and cognitive involvement were identified as catalysts of brand evangelism, serving as a rationale for the burgeoning engagement-based marketing strategies in Q-commerce.

ABSTRACT The primary objective of this study is to examine the impact of Green Marketing on Brand Equity and its subsequent influence on Corporate Reputation, while also analyzing the mediating role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in this relationship within the manufacturing sector in India. Data were collected using self‐reported survey instruments from 341 employees, consumers, and investors/shareholders associated with electronics manufacturing firms. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to estimate the proposed relationships. The findings indicate that Green Marketing has a positive and significant effect on Brand Loyalty, while its effect on Perceived Quality is negative but marginally significant, and its influence on other Brand Equity dimensions, such as Brand Awareness, Brand Association, and Other Proprietary Brand Assets, is non‐significant. Regarding Corporate Reputation, Other Proprietary Brand Assets exhibit a strong positive effect, whereas Brand Awareness shows a small negative effect, and Brand Loyalty, Brand Association, and Perceived Quality have non‐significant effects. The study also confirms that CSR significantly mediates the relationship between Green Marketing and Corporate Reputation, highlighting the importance of integrating sustainability initiatives with responsible business practices. These findings underscore the nuanced role of Green Marketing in shaping Brand Equity and Corporate Reputation and suggest that companies should focus on authentic environmental initiatives and strategic CSR activities.

To make India self-reliant and for making India a global leader in manufacturing, Govt of India launched ‘Make in India’ initiative in 2014. The healthcare sector comprises of hospital, pharmaceuticals, health-tech online services, medical insurance, medical devices and equipment, and medical tourism. The healthcare sector contributes significantly to the economic development by creating millions of jobs and accounts for more than 3.3% of GDP. India’s dense population is over 140 Crore and about 10% of the population is over the age of 60 years. With such a huge population base and sedentary life style, the healthcare sector is growing very fast and it promises an optimistic picture in the future. The present paper aims to understand the impact of Make in India on the healthcare sector in India. The paper revealed that India’s healthcare sector is very much dependent on imports. However, make in India initiative reduces to some extent the dependency on import by manufacturing some of the products, medicines and medical devices, but much more is required to be done. The Govt should invest its resources through Make in India initiative in healthcare sector for not only making India self-dependent but also for contributing in export promotion and employment generation. Govt should also make reforms to strengthen the healthcare sector.

This study explores the critical success factors (CSFs) that contribute to brand growth and sustainability among social enterprises. Focusing on how social enterprises build brands that effectively communicate their hybrid value proposition, balancing social mission with market viability, this research employs the Gioia methodology with 29 in-depth interviews across diverse sectors in India. Findings reveal that social enterprise branding is a multi-dimensional process shaped by four core dimensions: Core Purpose & Impact, Value Proposition & Delivery, Stakeholder Engagement & Communication, and Ecosystem Integration & Legitimacy. These dimensions are interconnected through cross-cutting enablers of Leadership & Culture and Adaptability & Resilience. The study contributes to social entrepreneurship literature by providing a contextually relevant framework for understanding brand success in hybrid organisations. Practical implications include guidance for social enterprise leaders on balancing mission and market in brand development, and for ecosystem builders on supporting effective branding strategies. The research highlights that successful social enterprise branding involves social purpose, authentic engagement, and contextual fit within larger ecosystems, offering a roadmap for building brands that effectively communicate hybrid value propositions in emerging economies.

Purpose The aim of the current study is to investigate the influence of training on employee performance through different dimensions along with employee engagement (EE) as a mediator by considering the employees of the Indian tourism and hospitality industry. Design/methodology/approach A unified model is proposed highlighting the association between training and employee performance through the mediator of EE. Using the sample of 395 employees, structural equation modelling (SEM) has been employed using SmartPLS-(V.4.1.0.2) to test the hypothesis. Findings The findings of the study exhibited the highly positive and robust association between training and employee's performance, along with EE mediating the relationship in the tourism and hospitality industry. This study explicates the implications based on findings and makes some recommendations for real-world applications. Practical implications Managers and human resource professionals might utilise the study's findings to formulate specialised training programs to boost employees' performance depending on the considered factors. The results of this study also support designing industry-centric strategies and policies emphasising that training programs improve employee participation in organisational learning activities. Originality/value To further improve employee training and productivity, this research presents a novel theoretical framework and conceptual model. For providing a solid theoretical framework to this research, the social exchange theory provides a strong foundation to ensure the relationships among variables. This innovative study also investigates the mediating role of EE between training and performance using different dimensions together, focusing on the tourism and hospitality sector in India.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has led to ease of operations in the value chain of the agriculture sector, where the number of actors in the value chain is holding it back in the realisation of its full potential. These inefficiencies arise due to the non-adoption of technology in certain stages of the value chain. This issue of inefficiencies can be resolved with the help of an end-to-end solution in the total supply chain. Certain recent initiatives of the government and the private sector in India towards using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in terms of market information, input availability, and post-harvest management like geotagging of Agri warehouses, reefer vehicles and cold storages are a step in the right direction. Further, to address the issue of access to these technologies by smallholders, certain innovative pilot projects are being developed. Non-profit as well as private sector initiatives in this space are also highly encouraging. An attempt has been made in this paper, to evaluate opportunities and constraints associated with the use of ICT to enhance the productivity of agriculture and associated sectors in India.

The healthcare sector in India is experiencing rapidly increasing demand while operating under limited medical resources. With national healthcare expenditure at approximately 3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the system faces shortages in hospital beds, medical professionals, and essential equipment. The widespread adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) devices for health and lifestyle monitoring has transformed modern healthcare by enabling continuous, real-time data collection. Additionally, sixth-generation (6G) cellular networks support IoT-based healthcare services through enhanced ultra-reliable low-latency communication (eURLLC), ensuring timely and reliable transmission of critical health data. This research proposes an intelligent and scalable framework to optimize healthcare resource management using advanced machine learning techniques. The system utilizes real-time data from IoT-enabled devices within a 6G environment to perform dual-task prediction: classification of resource utilization levels and regression-based estimation of efficiency scores. A Classification and Regression Tree (CART) approach is applied to enhance structured decision-making and model interpretability. The framework integrates multiple machine learning models, including Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) combined as the Hybrid Kernel Forest Network (HFKN), along with Gradient Boosting (GB), Logistic Regression (LR), and KNearest Neighbors (KNN) forming the TriVector Intelligent Fusion Model (TVIFM). Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) is proposed as the primary model due to its strong boosting capability and generalization performance. Implemented using a Flask-based architecture, the system supports data upload, training, evaluation, real-time prediction, and visualization of metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and R², improving resource allocation and operational efficiency.

This case study studies the concept of technostress among IT sector employees in India with a specific case reference of a company. As technology develops, it becomes inevitable for companies to focus on the employee wellbeing and their work life balance. The Indian IT sector employs over 5.8 million according to NASSCOM Report 2025. The industry’s growth has also resulted in delivery deadlines and boundaries which has a great impact on the employees which is caused due to the concept of technostress. This case briefs on the concept of technostress, its dimensions and strategic understanding of employee feedback by the HR Department.

ABSTRACT The study applied panel data regression analysis using Gretl software to investigate the impact of “Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSR) disclosures on the financial performance of “Indian oil and gas companies”. Triple bottom line approach and content analysis method was used to report CSR disclosure by oil and gas companies in India. Tripple bottom line approach categorised firm CSR disclosure in three categories namely disclosure on economic activities, social activities, and environmental activities. The sample included a panel of eight leading “Indian oil and gas companies” listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Relevant data were collected from secondary sources for a nine-year period (2014–15 to 2022–23). The study assessed financial performance through three profitability ratios named “Return on Asset” (ROA) and “Return on Equity” (ROE). Control variables such as firm size, age, and leverage were also included in the study. The study finally, concluded that both, total CSR disclosures and activity-wise CSR disclosures (viz. economic, social, and environmental), mostly do not have a statistically significant impact on the profitability of “Indian oil and gas companies”, in terms of ROA and ROE. Instead, firm-specific characteristics such as leverage, size, and firm age were found more influential factors affecting financial performance in the oil and gas sector in India.

The rapid growth of digital infrastructure and policy-driven reforms in India has significantly transformed the e- commerce industry, making it one of the fastest-expanding digital markets in the world. This study examines how government policies—including Digital India, BharatNet, Goods and Services Tax (GST), Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) rules, Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules 2020, and data governance initiatives—have influenced the structure, functioning, and expansion of the e-commerce ecosystem in India. A descriptive and qualitative research approach has been adopted using secondary data gathered from official government publications, policy documents, industry reports, and academic sources published between 2020 and 2025.

Drawing on theories of emotional contagion, psychological safety, emotional intelligence, and e‑leadership, this study investigates how leaders' expressive behaviours over webcams impact emotional dynamics and team performance in virtual settings. While emotional contagion has been widely studied in co-located teams, its digital transmission via video conferencing remains underexplored, especially in high power-distance, tech-forward cultures like India. This research fills that gap by analyzing how leader expressivity shapes affective climates and output in remote teams. Using a sequential mixed-methods design, the study combined a three-wave survey of 400 professionals across IT, finance, and consulting sectors in India with behavioural observations of 20 virtual meetings. Validated instruments (WLEIS, ECS, Edmondson's scale) were analyzed via CFA, SEM, bootstrapping, moderation analysis, and random forest regression. Findings showed leader expressivity significantly predicted emotional contagion (β=0.49), which enhanced psychological safety (β=0.54) and team output (β=0.61). Emotional intelligence (β=0.21) and camera-on culture (β=0.18) moderated these relationships. Observations confirmed that expressive leaders triggered higher engagement and team mood alignment. The study positions webcam expressivity as a measurable, culturally grounded lever for emotional leadership, extending traditional leadership models into digitally mediated workspaces.

Public-private partnership offers a strategic opportunity for lymphatic filariasis elimination in India by 2030.

Abstract The practice of aquaculture involves the cultivation of aquatic organisms such as fish and shellfish, and has emerged as an important sector in India’s economy. Oppositely, the use of antibiotics in aquaculture raised worries about its effect on the environment and community well-being. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant challenge in the field of aquaculture due to the use and misuse of antibiotics as growth promoters which lead to the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), making it difficult to treat bacterial infections. It can also contribute to the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment, which has implications for human health. Modern aquaculture systems act as a “hotspot” for the source of pollutants such as AMR, sanitizers, disinfectants, heavy metals, pharmaceutical effluents, pesticides, and industrial, hospital, animal, and domestic wastes. Further, hygienic practices by workers, biosecurity measures and all inputs, such as fish feed, therapeutics, probiotics, metaphylactic agents, water and seeds are important drivers of AMR. Recognizing the urgency, sustainable aquaculture practices are crucial in India to reduce antibiotic use and combat AMR. It also promotes a more holistic and sustainable approach to aquaculture in India, according to the original source. To combat AMR in aquaculture, it is essential to implement responsible antibiotic use, strengthen monitoring, and adopt alternative disease prevention methods. Given the global reach of aquaculture and the risk of ARB spreading across borders, coordinated action is needed at all levels, from local to international, to address this issue.

Agriculture is a vital sector in India, supporting over 80% of the rural population through farming and related activities. To meet the food demands of the country’s growing population, it is essential to achieve optimal crop yields. However, challenges such as urbanisation, environmental pollution, biotic and abiotic stresses, and micronutrient deficiencies adversely affect seed germination and crop productivity. This review addresses the various factors hindering seed germination and plant growth, with a particular focus on seed priming techniques and mechanisms. Seed priming enhances the uniformity and vigour of germination, thereby improving crop establishment and yield. The technique activates key metabolic processes that prevent seed deterioration, break dormancy, and induce systemic resistance to stresses. Physiological and biochemical changes induced by seed priming are thoroughly examined. Numerous priming approaches—including hydropriming, halopriming, osmo priming, hormone priming, nutripriming, biopriming, and nano priming have been extensively investigated. Additionally, emerging research on bio-nano seed priming, which integrates nano fertilisers with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, presents a novel avenue to further enhance crop productivity.

The volatility of emerging stock markets during systemic crises is critical for policymakers and investors, yet comparative studies on sectoral risk–return dynamics are limited. This study provides a comparative analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stock market performance across key sectors in India and South Africa, identifying resilience patterns and recovery trajectories. Focusing on these two major yet structurally distinct BRICS economies, the study examines six common sectors—basic materials, energy, financials, healthcare, technology, and telecom—over a seven-year period (2017–2023), segmented into pre-COVID (2017–2019), during COVID (2020–2021), and post-COVID (2022–2023) periods. Utilizing secondary data from the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), the analysis employs descriptive statistics and a three-way ANOVA to assess differences in returns (proxied by mean share prices) and risk (standard deviation). The findings reveal that both markets experienced significant volatility surges during the pandemic (main effect of time: F = 21.21, p < 0.001; time × country: F = 4.18, p = 0.016), with India demonstrating stronger return performance, particularly in healthcare and telecom (healthcare: F = 5.54, p = 0.008; telecom: F = 7.04, p = 0.003; with telecom increasing in India from −1.73 pre-COVID to 9.19 during COVID). While risk subsided in the post-COVID phase for most sectors, the energy sector remained highly volatile (nonsignificant time effect indicating persistent variability: F = 2.32, p = 0.112), especially in the commodity-dependent economy of South Africa. The study confirms that sectoral performance and risk absorption are influenced by a nation’s economic structure and exposure to crises (industry effect: F = 2.57, p = 0.028; time × industry: F = 2.33, p = 0.012). The results offer valuable insights for portfolio managers seeking sectoral diversification and for policymakers designing targeted stabilization measures to enhance financial resilience in emerging markets.

ABSTRACT India’s unemployment challenge has been steadily gaining attention, even as the government continues to roll out policies aimed at boosting job creation. Measures such as higher capital investment, more relaxed foreign direct investment (FDI) norms, and efforts to improve the ease of doing business have certainly helped in some areas, but they haven’t fully solved the problem. Data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) by the National Sample Survey Office highlights the situation clearly. In FY2017–18, unemployment stood at 5.3% in rural areas and 7.8% in urban areas, bringing the national average to 6.1%. These figures underline the need for fresh, more sustainable approaches to employment generation. One promising solution lies in the growth of green jobs. Sectors like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, waste management, and environmentally responsible manufacturing are not only expanding but also offer strong potential for creating new employment opportunities. In the long run, focusing on green employment—supported by thoughtful policy design, targeted skill development, and effective implementation could provide a balanced path forward. It offers a way to tackle unemployment without compromising the country’s commitment to sustainable economic growth. Keywords- Unemployment, Inflation, Gross Domestic Product, Human Resource, Population, Wealth Distribution

The rapid growth of digital technologies has significantly transformed the banking sector in India, compelling financial institutions to redesign their marketing approaches to remain competitive and customer-centric. This study presents a comparative analysis of the digital marketing strategies adopted by HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, with particular emphasis on customer engagement practices. Both banks are among the leading private sector banks in the country and have made substantial investments in digital platforms to strengthen their market presence and enhance customer interaction. The research examines various components of digital marketing, including social media outreach, mobile banking applications, personalized email campaigns, content marketing, search engine visibility, and the use of data analytics for targeted communication. The study evaluates how these strategies influence customer awareness, satisfaction, loyalty, and overall engagement. Attention is also given to the user experience offered through digital interfaces, responsiveness on social media channels, and the integration of innovative technologies such as chatbots and AI-driven support systems. Primary and secondary data have been considered to understand customer perceptions and preferences regarding digital communication by both banks. The findings highlight differences in strategic focus, content style, platform utilization, and engagement metrics. While one bank may emphasize technology-driven personalization and automation, the other may ocus more on relationship-oriented communication and brand storytelling. The study concludes that effective digital marketing in the banking sector extends beyond promotional activities and plays a vital role in building trust, transparency, and long-term customer relationships. The comparative insights offered in this research may assist banking professionals, marketing practitioners, and researchers in understanding evolving digital engagement trends and in developing more responsive and customer-focused digital strategies.

A Study on the BFSI Sector Drives Employment and Innovation in India Sivakumar P1*, Ms Keerthi S1 Abstract Technological advancements, regulatory changes, and digital financial services have transformed the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) sector in India over recent decades, and this sector is essential to the country’s economic progress. The growth of the […]