Journal Press India^®

A study entitled “Gender Concerns and Time use Analysis in India” by Archana Mishra, evaluates gender indicators in India using NSSO and time-use survey data to identify critical areas of concern for policymakers. It explores the socioeconomic factors underlying gender disparities in employment and labour participation rates and emphasizes the importance of recognizing unpaid work.

“Retail FDI in India: A Confirmatory Factor Approach”, authored by Preeti Saluja, has developed a model taking into the consideration different aspects of the FDI and their implications. Factors extracted through exploratory factor analysis are perceived benefits, foreign retailer’s attitude, perceived risk, retail FDI and GDP growth and foreign retail policy. Through confirmatory factor analysis the ‘perceived benefits’ and ‘GDP growth’ emerge as the two main factors.

Javaid Andrabi has contributed a paper on “Spatial Analysis of Multidimensional Poverty in India: An Examination of Regional Disparities”. This research investigates the spatial distribution and intensity of multidimensional poverty in India for the year 2021, using secondary data from the NITI Aayog report 2021, which is based on the NFHS-4 dataset. The 2021 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is calculated using the Alkire and Foster methodology, that includes three dimensions - health, education, and standard of living represented by twelve indicators. The study identifies heightened levels of deprivation in economically challenged states such as Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand.

A review paper on “The Digital Payment Revolution: A Decade of Transformation in India” authored by Shashi Kant Acharya and Tejkaran Daiya, provides a comprehensive overview of the India’s decade-long ascent towards a dominant digital payment revolution. It captures the year-on-year growth trends, major modes of transaction, and the overarching adoption of digital innovations.

A significant paper by Satarupa Roychowdhury on “The Effect of Behavioural Biases in Investment Decision Making: A Study of Investors in Kolkata”, focuses on the role of behavioural biases in shaping investment decisions by conducting a structured survey among investors in Kolkata. Data from 158 investors in Kolkata were analysed by factor analysis to examine the impact of behavioural biases—such as overconfidence, loss aversion, herd behaviour, and anchoring—and their relationship with demographic factors. The findings reveal that investor psychology significantly impacts portfolio choices and highlights the importance of tailoring investment strategies to individual behavioural profiles.

Gayatri Nayak has written a good piece on the “Evolution in Options Trading: The Impact of Generation Z on the Transformation of Investment Preferences”. The changing investment preferences of Generation Z are altering the landscape of options trading it says. Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, is characterized by their tech savvy and entrepreneurial spirit. This research paper aims to examine how options trading influences their investment preferences and changes their attitudes towards the derivatives market.

“Influence of Digital Payments on Financial Inclusion in India: Evidence from Scheduled Commercial Banks”, a paper contributed by Bhuvaneshwari Dheyvendhren and Radhika K. P. investigates the determinants of financial inclusion in India, focusing on the accessibility, availability, and affordability parameters associated with digital payment methods (NEFT, IMPS, Credit Cards, and Debit Cards) adopted by Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) in India. Using secondary data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the period 2011 to 2021. The study employs Sarma’s (2008) Index of Financial Inclusion (IFI) to measure financial access. The results reveal that NEFT transactions have a significant positive impact on the IFI, indicating that wider NEFT adoption enhances financial inclusion. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and banks, suggesting a focus on promoting NEFT usage to advance financial inclusion.

This study  entitled “The Evolution of Unemployment Insurance across the States of India: An Explorative Study”, by Gayatri Satapathy and Alok Ranjan Behera, discuss the status and growth of unemployment insurance in India. The study is based on secondary data collected from the annual reports of Employees State Insurance Corporations (ESIC), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI), Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) of the year 2018 to 2022. The main finding is that the states which have a more structured and larger labour market, active trade unions, more awareness among the workers as well as the employees and active ESIC officials those regions have a greater and more active role in the ABVKY(Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana) insurance benefits.

The world is witnessing a very turbulent period in terms of policies globally. But the spirit of research is aimed at a deeper and a more long term view of things. So, readers and researchers are advised not to get carried away by volatile conditions but to stick to the basics. Continue research as usual. Give some time for the dust to settle. A sudden shift to popular volatile topics may not be necessary. 

Prof. K. V. Bhanu Murthy
Editor-in-Chief