South Asian Nations Research Articles

SAARC: An Overview

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1985, comprising eight South Asian nations: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan. SAARC aims to promote regional cooperation and development across various sectors, including economics, agriculture, human resources, tourism, and culture. The organization facilitates dialogue and collaboration through regular summits, where leaders discuss common challenges and opportunities. Despite facing challenges related to geopolitical tensions and bilateral issues among member countries, SAARC continues to strive towards fostering regional integration and addressing shared concerns in the South Asian region.

Breast cancer incidence and mortality, by age, stage and molecular subtypes, by race/ethnicity in Canada.

Breast cancer (BC) characteristics and outcomes in Canada related to race/ethnicity are not currently documented. Age-specific and age-standardized BC incidence and mortality rates, age distribution of cases, proportions of stage, and molecular subtypes were calculated for women aged 20+, by race/ethnicity, using 2006 and 2011 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort databases of linked census, cancer, and death data. In 47105 BC cases, age-specific incidence rates were higher in Filipina (rate ratio (RR) = 1.27, 95%CI, 1.11-1.46) and multiethnicity (RR = 1.57, 95% CI, 1.18-2.08) compared to White women aged 40-49; and Filipina (RR = 1.16, 95% CI, 1.02-1.31) and Arab (RR = 1.3, 95% CI, 1.02-1.65) women aged 50-59. Median age at diagnosis was 63 among White women and 52-60 among other race/ethnicity groups, with 22.4%-41.1% of cases (P < .001) diagnosed before age 50 compared to 16.6% among White women. BC was diagnosed at stage I less frequently among Filipina (38.6%), Black (39.2%), South Asian (40.6%), and First Nations (40.7%) compared to White (46.5%) and Chinese (49.6%) (P < .05) women. Black women had higher proportions of BC diagnoses at stages III and IV combined (26.3%) than White women (17.0%, P = .001). The proportion of triple-negative BC among Black women (20.5%) was higher than among White (9.5%, P < .001). Compared to White, age-specific BC mortality rates were higher among Black women aged 40-49 (RR = 1.4, 1.06-1.85) as well as First Nations (RR = 1.21, 1.01-1.45) and Métis (RR = 1.48, 1.15-1.91) women aged 60-69. Compared to White women, other Canadian women had an earlier peak age of BC diagnosis and higher proportions of cases diagnosed under age 50. Although many race/ethnicity groups had lower BC incidence and mortality than White, the higher age-specific BC mortality among Black 40-49 and First Nations and Métis women 60-69 merits further investigation.

Effects of foreign direct investment on climate change in the Asian region

Purpose ― This research aims to empirically investigate and compare the effects of foreign direct investment on climate change in five South Asian nations.Methodology ― This research uses yearly data covering 1980–2020 in five South Asian nations: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Vector Autoregressive (VAR) methods with variance decomposition and impulse response function provide the basis of the empirical data for comparison analysis. Findings ― This research shows that foreign direct investment's impact on pollution ranges from 1% to 10% in four countries and 16.13% in Pakistan. This indicates that in five South Asian states, there is little endogenous correlation between foreign direct investment and pollution. Furthermore, a shock to foreign investment improves the environmental conditions in Bangladesh and India while harming the growth of other nations.Implications ― The impact of foreign direct investment on pollution may vary based on each country's economic situation. Public efforts to enhance capital goods, education, health, and infrastructure are essential for reducing pollution and attracting foreign investment. Therefore, improved transparency and governance are essential for a positive relationship between growth and foreign investment.Value/Originality ― This research contributes to analyzing and comparing the effects of foreign direct investment on climate change in five South Asian nations using Vector Autoregressive (VAR) methods.

Carbon dynamics: A holistic analysis of FDI, trade liberalization, urbanization, economic growth, and effects on CO2 emissions in South Asia

In recent years, South Asian nations have experienced robust economic growth, prompting concerns among policymakers about the sustainability of this growth due to rising pollution emissions. This study conducts an objective assessment of the impact of key variables, such as trade liberalization, economic growth, foreign direct investment inflows, and urbanization, on environmental outcomes across selected economies of South Asia from 1990 to 2022. To describe cross-sectional dependencies in the dataset, panel cointegration techniques are employed alongside cross-sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) models. For added robustness, dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) techniques are utilized to investigate the long-term coalition among the variables. The study integrates first- and second-generation panel methods to improve the depth and reliability of the analysis by addressing methodological limitations. The pragmatic results reveal that trade liberalization, FDI inflows, economic growth, and urbanization increase CO2 emissions by 0.392%, 0.354%, 0.275%, and 0.429%, respectively. Dumitrescu and Hurlin (D–H) causality tests show a unidirectional causal link from trade liberalization to environmental degradation. Additionally, a bidirectional causal link is observed between environmental deterioration and both FDI inflows and urbanization in South Asian countries. To mitigate environmental impact, these nations should evaluate foreign investment conditions and enhance technology transfer from foreign enterprises. Furthermore, implementing trade-related policies to reduce CO2 emissions is imperative.

The Governance-Growth Nexus and Its Environmental Implications in South Asia

This research delves into the correlation between economic growth, governance quality, and CO2 emissions within a cohort of seven nations in South Asia: Between 1996 and 2020, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Using dynamic panel data models and fixed effects, this research documents the role of per capita gross domestic product (GDP) and the capacity of governance to affect carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. It finds a direct correlation to CO2 emissions and economic growth and hence associate increase GDP per capita to increase in environmental degradation. Yet, enhanced governance is shown to significantly lower CO2 emissions in countries like Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, and contributes to increasing CO2 emissions in others. In addition, economic growth and governance quality interaction led to the finding that good governance can moderate the negative environmental effects of economic growth. The uncovering of these findings underscores the importance of governance in meeting environmental sustainability and economic growth objectives in South Asia. The findings provide important policy guidance on improving governance structures to deal more efficiently with the environmental problems facing the region.

21st Century Geopolitical Doctrine for Bangladesh to Become a Smart Power: A Bangladeshi Perspective

After a grueling nine-month conflict with Pakistan, Bangladesh gained independence as a sovereign nation on December 16, 1971. The economically successful South Asian nation that was previously known as the "bottomless basket" has become known as a "development miracle." The country has regained geopolitical significance both within and outside the area due to its proximity to other countries and strategic location, which has been supported by astounding economic development. Bangladesh is faced with several geopolitical issues amid a changing regional and global geopolitical scene, the mitigation of which calls for prudent actions. But Bangladesh, as a contemporary geopolitical actor, lacks a wise geopolitical philosophy that could serve as a guide for dealing with those problems. This study proposes the creation of a coherent and pertinent geopolitical ideology that can help a nation achieve geopolitical graduation as a Smart Power and address current geopolitical issues shortly. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 11, Issue-4: 106-114.

Energy Poverty and Environmental Quality Nexus: Empirical Evidence from Selected South Asian Countries

South Asian countries are included in the economies of developing Asia. The region of South Asia is predominantly affected by energy poverty issues due to a heavy reliance on conventional energy and unpredictable access to energy services. It has about a quarter of the world's population and is home to three of the world's ten most populated countries: India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This study investigates environmental sustainability dynamics in South Asian countries from 2000 to 2021, utilizing the Cross-sectional Autoregressive Distributed Lag (CS-ARDL) and Dumitrescu-Hurlin (D-H) causality methods. The research offers insights into the long-term trends and causal relationships that shape environmental outcomes in South Asian nations. Based on empirical findings, in the long-term, it is revealed that increases in energy poverty, economic growth, income inequality, and capital formation raise greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while renewable energy and labor reduce GHG emissions. On the other hand, the error correction term shows the speed of adjustment toward equilibrium at 0.75%. Furthermore, the D-H panel causality reveals a directional link between variables. These findings highlight the urgent need for South Asian countries to implement policies to address energy poverty, promote renewable energy adoption, and reduce income inequality to mitigate GHG emissions and achieve long-term environmental sustainability effectively.

Exploring Sustainable Initiatives for Rural Women: Analysis of Economic Transformation of Women and Community Empowerment

Bangladesh, a developing nation in South Asia, has been struggling with various challenges such as poverty, corruption, overpopulation, climate change, and violence against women ever since its independence. Half of Bangladesh's entire population consists of women, with a significant majority residing in rural areas and not participating in any economic activities. Excluding this portion of the population from participating in economic activity results in a fifty percent reduction in the development of the country. Several initiatives have been undertaken to enhance the economic well-being of women in these rural communities. This study investigates the actual circumstances of women, finds obstacles to their economic participation, and suggests measures that foster their involvement in income-generating activities. The study employed a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, directing the rural women of Lalmonirhat district through structured interviews and focus group discussions. Result shows that the rural women residing in this community possess inadequate levels of education and are subject to numerous prejudices. Consequently, they do not participate in any economic activities, and their fate remains unchanged by any sustainable development efforts. To improve their situation, the women in this area should increase their involvement in vocational education and gain access to information, communication, and technology. This will enable them to engage in income-generating activities and bring about sustainable improvements in their lives.

Nerium oleander Cultivation in Tamil Nadu, India: An Exploratory Study

In Indian traditional medicine, Nerium oleander is a significant medicinal herb. This plant has the potential to be fatal in many situations; poisoning cases have been documented in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and suicide cases are common in South Asian nations, particularly in India and Sri Lanka. The plant is hazardous in all sections and contains a range of cardiac glycosides, such as gentiobiosyl, neriin, oleandrin, cardenolides, and odoroside. Additionally, this plant species produces secondary metabolites with medicinal uses, including steroids, flavonoids, and alkaloids. Antibacterial, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, immunopotential, anti-pyretic, antioxidant, antifungal, anticancer, and anti-HIV activity are among the significant pharmacological activities. Nerium indicum is also highly well-liked for its traditional medical applications, which include treating inflammation, wound healing, cancer, asthma, corns, heart disease, and epilepsy. Its bloom is the source of a green dye that is used to cure skin conditions, promote wound healing, and have anti-inflammatory properties. Both ultrasonic transesterification and the magnetic stirrer method have been utilized to produce biodiesel from nerium oleander oil. When administered topically, Nerium oleander's special qualities also have a notable age-defying effect. Nerium oleander to acquire several C and N compounds as well as heavy metals that are frequently produced by cars, including as Pb, Cd, Ni, and Zn. Based on the significance of nerium, the study was conducted in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, where there is a greater area dedicated to nerium plant cultivation. The study's focus was on the factors that influence nerium cultivation, the factors that contribute to the volatility of nerium prices, and the challenges that farmers face in terms of production and marketing.

The Fragility of Democracy: Political Conflict in South Asia

The complex interplay between political conflict and democratic fragility in South Asia is the focus of this research paper. The study examines South Asia to understand how conflict catalyzes and hinders democratic progress. The research delves deep into the root causes of conflict, including socio-economic disparities, ethnic and religious tensions, and institutional weaknesses. It analyzes how conflict can trigger democratic reforms through popular mobilization and erode governance and institutions. The study highlights the fragility of democratic systems in the face of deep-rooted conflicts and the challenges of balancing competing interests. It underscores the need for South Asian nations to address underlying grievances to strengthen democratic institutions and foster inclusive dialogue to navigate conflict constructively and secure a stable democratic future. The research employs a qualitative approach, relying on a comprehensive literature review and case study analysis to draw insights into the multifaceted relationship between political conflict and democratic development in the selected region.

Synergistic impacts of technological advancement and environmental hazards on social change and human well-being in South Asia

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the challenges in attaining these goals are always an eye-catching research theme for academics, politicians, and stakeholders around the world. Subjective well-being (SWB) is one of the central SDGs but is under-researched so far. Addressing this concern is crucial to maintaining societal welfare and promoting the realization of a sustainable future. Hence, this study explores the determinants of SWB with a particular focus on technological advancement and environmental damage. The paper examines SWB determinants in six South Asian nations from 2005 to 2022 using the cross-sectional augmented auto-regressive distributed lag model. The conclusions demonstrated that technology advancement improved SWB in the long term. Meanwhile, environmental deterioration has no appreciable short-term effects and harms SWB in the long term. This study adds to the field by examining how technological advancement and environmental deterioration explain SWB in South Asian economies. The study recommends policies that aim at improving innovations and reducing CO2 emissions.

Bilateral investment treaties and investors’ social accountability: the law and praxis in South Asia

Purpose International investment law governs matters related to transnational investments. The extensive reach of transnational corporations (TNCs) has granted them substantial economic, political and social influence, often intertwining them with public interest issues and implications in human rights violations. This paper aims to explore the profound influence exerted by TNCs in today’s globalized world and its implications for human rights and social responsibility within the framework of international investment law. Particularly, it acknowledges the vulnerability of economically weak South Asian states and cites past instances such as the Bhopal gas tragedy in India and the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh as egregious violations of human rights. Focusing on South Asian bilateral investment treaties (BITs), this paper aims to examine the scope of investors’ social accountability. Design/methodology/approach This research engages with doctrinal and analytical methods in traversing through primary and secondary sources. It would parse the arbitral tribunals’ jurisprudence for their discussion on the inclusion of social accountability obligations within international investment agreements (IIAs). Further, it engages in a quantitative analysis related to the nature of the social accountability-related obligation of the corporation within South Asian BITs. Findings The findings reveal a glaring absence of the law on investors’ social accountability and the need for enhanced regulatory mechanisms to address the escalating influence of TNCs on human and social rights. The absence of a robust legal framework, coupled with the asymmetric nature of international investment law, granting investors greater rights and leverage compared to states, exacerbates this challenge. The phenomenon of “regulatory chill” inhibits states from effectively enforcing regulatory measures aimed at protecting human rights and the environment. Furthermore, the broad interpretation of clauses such as “fair and equitable treatment” by investment tribunals often undermines states’ ability to implement measures in the public interest. While international organizations such as the UNCTAD and the UNCITRAL Working Group III are actively discussing reforms to IIAs, the existing guidelines addressing investors’ social accountability are woefully lacking in the content as well as the method of their integration with international human rights law. The findings underscore the imperative for South Asian nations, the subject of this research’s empirical analysis, to adopt a comprehensive approach involving both domestic law reforms to promote corporate social accountability and active pursuit of negotiations for the inclusion of binding social obligations for investors within IIAs. Practical Implications This research, drawing upon international law developments, offers suggestions for incorporation of social accountability provisions via relevant domestic law reform. The research could be viewed as a prelude for mapping the legal developments in the area of investors’ social accountability within investment agreements, as well as investment contracts, drawing guidance from international law instruments. Originality/Value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no other study analysed the scope of investors’ social accountability in South Asian BITs.

Exploring the factors behind socioeconomic inequalities in Antenatal Care (ANC) utilization across five South Asian natiaons: A decomposition approach.

Maternal and child mortality rates remain a significant concern in South Asian countries, primarily due to limited access to maternal care services and socioeconomic disparities. While previous studies have examined the factors influencing the utilization of antenatal care (ANC) services in individual countries, there is a lack of comparative analysis across South Asian nations. This study aims to investigate the factors affecting ANC utilization among women aged 15-49 in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Maldives, and Pakistan using the latest Demographic and Health Survey data. The study utilized a total weighted sample size of 262,531 women. Simple bivariate statistics and binary logistic regression were employed to identify potential factors influencing ANC utilization. Decomposition analysis and concentration curve (Lorenz curve) were used to assess inequality in ANC service utilization. The prevalence of ANC utilization varied across the countries, with Maldives having the highest (96.83%) and Bangladesh the lowest (47.01%). Women's and husbands' education, household wealth status, BMI, and urban residence were found to significantly influence maternal healthcare services utilization. Higher education levels, affluent wealth quintiles, and urban living were identified as significant contributors to socioeconomic disparities in accessing ANC services. This study highlights the crucial role of socioeconomic factors in the utilization of maternal healthcare services in South Asian countries. Governments should focus on improving healthcare infrastructure, addressing cultural barriers, and promoting education to address these disparities. Identifying context-specific causes of maternal healthcare utilization is essential to inform targeted interventions and policies aimed at improving access to ANC services and reducing maternal mortality rates.

Major Bridges of Bangladesh: Engineering Marvels and Infrastructural Icons

Bangladesh is a riverine nation in South Asia with a 580 km coastline on the northern littoral of the Bay of Bengal. Our country has 213 rivers, and 20 significant bridges have been built. As populations grow and urban and rural landscapes evolve, the demand for innovative and efficient bridge structures becomes increasingly apparent. With its numerous rivers and water bodies, Bangladesh has faced the challenge of providing efficient and safe transportation infrastructure. Over the years, the construction of significant bridges has become crucial for connecting regions, promoting economic growth, and enhancing accessibility. This paper explores the historical background, geographical challenges, and economic significance of major bridge projects in Bangladesh. This paper looks at how bridges in Bangladesh have changed over time, focusing on essential projects that helped shape the country's infrastructure. The paper studies explicitly main bridges like Padma Bridge, Jamuna Bridge, and Shah Amanat, Lalon Shah, and others in Bangladesh. It looks at their designs, how they were built, and how they contribute to the country's development. Factors including the span length, site conditions, aesthetics, and engineering considerations influence the choice of bridge type.

Mineral resources and equitable economic development: South Asian mineral resources policy perspective with innovation for resources efficiency

In the contemporary era, economies are heavily relying on minerals extraction, where the literature offers ambiguous evidence regarding minerals-growth nexus. To solve the puzzle, this research inspects the empirical association between mineral resources and economic prosperity in the South Asian nations from 1988 to 2022. This study also scrutinizes the importance of financial development, remittances, renewable energy use, and technological innovation. The research utilizes a panel dataset and applies the normality, stationarity, and cointegration tests. The results validates non-normal data distribution, stationarity of variables, and existence of long-run equilibrium association between them. To tackle non-normality and structural break issues, panel quantile regression and structural break ordinary least squares (OLS), are used. The study's results emphasize that mineral rents and remittances harm economic growth, indicating the poor outcomes associated with excessive dependence on external sources income. On the other hand, the factors identified as key drivers of sustainable economic expansion include financial progress, the use of green energy, and technical innovation. The results are tested for robustness via dynamic OLS, fully modified OLS, and canonical cointegration regression. This research recommends the significance of diversified revenue sources, fostering financial expansion, and making investments in renewable energy systems. To create more equitable growth, policymakers must focus on improved R&D and financial inclusion.

Lipid Levels of Healthy Adults in Jaffna district, Northern Province of Sri Lanka: An Analysis of Secondary Data

Abnormal lipid profile is considered as an important contributor to cardiovascular diseases among South Asians. Sri Lanka is a multiethnic South Asian nation and differences in ethnicity may influence the pattern of lipid profile. The aim of this paper is to analyse the lipid levels of healthy adults of a predominantly Sri Lankan Tamil population in the Northern Sri Lanka and compare it with the lipid levels of different ethnic groups reported in the literature. It was a cross-sectional analysis of secondary data of 500 healthy adults who were the controls of a larger study on the lipid profile of diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Cut-off values for desirable lipid levels used in this study were determined according to national and international guidelines. Chi-squared test, independent t-test/ Mann–Whitney U-test and one-way analysis of variance were used to determine the statistical significance and a p-value &lt;0.05 was considered significant.The majority (61.4%) were women and the mean age was 54.8±12.6 years. Mean lipid levels were within normal range except HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) in women (46.6± ±10.6 mg/dL). Desirable lipid levels were observed in majority of the participants (58%-80%) except HDL-C among women (32%). Half of the study population had a desirable total cholesterol: HDL-C ratio (50.8%). Significant difference between men and women was observed for HDL-C (p&lt;0.05). The HDL-C levels and total cholesterol: HDL-C ratio of Jaffna population were comparable to those of South Asian populations. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical implication of these observations.

Recycling of Ships Act 2019: challenges and opportunities for ship recycling industry in India

ABSTRACT The Recycling of Ships Act 2019 (RSA 2019) was inspired by the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships 2009, and it aimed at setting standards for ship recycling and laying down a statutory mechanism for enforcing such standards. This paper discusses the relevance and the contextual factors that led to the formulation of the RSA 2019. The RSA has invited sharp criticism, stressing the need to make appropriate amendments to the Act to ensure a safe and sound recycling environment and safeguard the health of recycling workers. An analysis of the recent trends in the ship recycling market has been carried out in light of implementing the RSA. The long-term sustainability of the ship recycling operations requires the formation of a collective association of the recycling nations in South Asia, even though each nation may adopt independent regulations of its own.

Dynamic impact of shadow economy and corruption on environmental sustainability: What role renewable energy consumption play in case of South Asian Economies

The South Asian region has a wide range of problems that significantly influence its path towards environmental sustainability. The region's rapid population expansion, rising urbanization rates, rising industry, and increasing resource demands primarily determine these challenges. The quest for environmental sustainability in this setting is complex and multidimensional, made more difficult by the shadow economy, corruption, and the need to improve renewable energy alternatives. Therefore, the current study examines the multifaceted and interrelated dynamics of the shadow economy, corruption, economic inequality, and environmental sustainability in South Asian nations from 2004 to 2018. We have used sophisticated methodological strategies to tackle cross-section dependence, non-stationarity, and heterogeneity issues by employing a pooled mean group (PMG). However, we use panel FMOLS and DOLS techniques for robustness checks. The findings of the PMG analysis show that the shadow economy, corruption, and industrialization significantly negatively impact environmental sustainability. On the other hand, renewable energy consumption and urbanization are positive and substantial elements that lead to improved environmental sustainability. The robust procedures applied to check the consistency of the estimators also confirmed the long-run relationship among variables. Research findings suggest that reinforcing legal frameworks for environmental rules is crucial for adherence. Incentives such as legal protection and financial rewards can encourage environmental responsibility among businesses, reducing shadow economy operations and risks. Promoting renewable energy resources and urbanization helps to support a sustainable green economy.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in India

Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is increasing in India and other South Asian nations, resulting in increased CVD and T2DM-related mortality and morbidity. About one- third of urban South Asians have evidence of MS. MS has been linked to an elevated risk of chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease in adults (CVD), particularly in Asian Indians. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is increasing, with urbanization and sedentary lifestyles becoming risk factors. The metabolic syndrome is becoming more common in developed countries, including India. Increasing the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, which is contributing to an increase in mortality and sickness in developed nations, is currently a global public health concern. This study aimed to review the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in India.

Uncovering the Origins of Environmental Vulnerabilities: A Study of Three South Asian Nations

Uncovering the Origins of Environmental Vulnerabilities: A Study of Three South Asian Nations