Assessing the Financial Fallout: Covid-19’s Impact on Indian Economy

This research paper focuses on the impact of the outbreak of pandemic Covid-19 on the Indian Economy. The country’s growth story, once hailed as a beacon of hope, faced unprecedented challenges as the pandemic ravaged businesses, disrupted supply chains and impacted livelihoods. This paper depicts the impact of Covid-19 on different sectors of the Indian Economy. This paper also furnishes the policy framework of the government in this regard. This paper also gives a light on those sectors which see a boost due to outbreak of covid-19

Production and Productivity Trends of Major Food-Grain Crops in Uttar Pradesh

The present paper sheds light on major food-grain crop production and productivity trends in Uttar Pradesh. The study was conducted using data from 2010 to 2020. As one of India’s largest agricultural economies and the foremost producer of food grains, Uttar Pradesh has demonstrated positive growth in total food production from 2010-11 to 2019-20. The area dedicated to food grain cultivation has experienced only minor fluctuations and a slight increase, indicating that the rise in production is primarily due to enhanced crop productivity. Among the various categories, coarse cereals have exhibited the highest productivity growth, followed by wheat and rice, while pulses have shown the lowest yields. The increase in production aligns with improvements in yield, with coarse cereals leading in production rates, followed closely by wheat and rice

Government Initiatives for Employment Generation

India's unique growth trajectory, where the service sector has bypassed manufacturing, poses significant employment challenges. This paper examines unemployment in India, using National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) definitions and data. Unemployment is defined as a situation where a person capable of working does not find employment at the existing wage rate. NSSO's three measures of estimating unemployment - usual status, weekly status, and current/daily status - provide a comprehensive picture. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2017-18 reports a four-decade high unemployment rate of 6.1%, with urban areas at 7.8% and rural areas at 5.3%. The labor force participation rate has also declined. We analyze the government's initiatives to reduce unemployment over the last five years and explore new emerging areas of employment. Our study highlights the need for policy interventions to address India's unemployment challenges and promote inclusive economic growth

Women in Combat: The Rise of Women in Defense Forces

The role of women in the Indian Armed Forces has evolved significantly over the past decades, shifting from supportive roles to leadership and, more recently, combat positions. This article outlines the historical milestones that have shaped women’s inclusion in India’s defense services, starting from their entry during World War II and leading up to the landmark Supreme Court ruling of 2020 that granted women permanent commission status. Despite these advances, women in the Indian military still encounter challenges, including limited access to certain combat roles, gender bias, and societal perceptions of traditional gender norms. In this article, we explore the historical milestones that have shaped women’s participation in the Indian Armed Forces, the challenges they continue to face, and the path ahead toward full integration and equality. By examining the role of women in shaping modern defense strategies and leadership, the article offers a comprehensive overview of their contributions and the path forward for an inclusive Indian Armed Forces

Sustainable Sugarcane Production: Role of Policy and Legislation in the Context of India

This research paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the impact of policy and legislation on the promotion of sugarcane production in India. It thoroughly examines various Acts, Orders, and policies from 1932 to 2020, including the Essential Commodities Act, Sugar Control Order, and Biofuel policy etc. The study evaluates the effectiveness of these policies in ensuring the efficient use of resources in sugarcane cultivation and addresses the sustainability of the sugarcane sector, as well as the socio-economic improvements brought about by regulatory implementation in the sugar industry. It also discusses the challenges in balancing environmental, economic, and social factors within the sugarcane industry and provides policy recommendations aimed at enhancing it, such as integrating policy frameworks, supporting farmers, and offering incentives for sugar mills. This paper concludes that the legislation framed for the welfare of the sugar industry has helped this sector to grow tremendously in terms of production, productivity, and trade. It has also contributed to generating significant employment in the economy. The paper sheds light on previous literature and supports the view that such regulations have affected the free play of the sugar market and, in turn, its overallperformance

Combining ability studies for yield and contributing traits in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

The present investigation was carried out to identify desirable parents and F1 hybrids in okra by involving eight diverse parents in a diallel mating design excluding reciprocals. Genotypes i.e., P-20 and VRO-4 for earliness; 9801 for first fruit producing node (-0.085), internodal length (-0.659) and fruit length (0.201); HU for average fruit weight (0.603); Tulsi-I for nodes per plant (0.429), fruit length (0.271) and plant height (12.068) were found good general combiners appeared to be worthy of exploitation in future breeding. It is suggested that involving these lines, new genotypes may be developed through multiple crossing for isolating high yielding varieties. The cross combinations VRO-4 × HU, Tulsi-I × SKBS-11, P-20 × Tulsi-I and P-8 × Tulsi-I showed high SCA effects as well as per se performance for yield per plant. The crosses showing high SCA effects and per se performance for yield per plant suggested that these hybrids may be exploited in further breeding programme

A Study on the Adoption of Digital Payments in Western UP from the Consumer's Perspective

Demonetization led to a significant surge in digital payments in India. Government initiatives like Digital India, combined with the growing use of mobile phones and the internet, have contributed to the rapid expansion of digital payment adoption. This shift towards digital transactions enhances transparency, strengthening the nation's economy. Recent developments in payment systems, such as digital wallets, UPI, and BHIM apps, have further facilitated the transition to digital payments. The objective of this research is to examine the positive impact of payment system digitization. Specifically, it analyzes customer adoptionn levels of these systems

Induced chlorophyll mutations in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum)

An investigation entitled “Induced chlorophyll mutations in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum)” was conducted during kharif (summer-rainy season) 2012 and 2013 at Experimental farm of the Department of Vegetable Science and Floriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, H.P., India. Healthy seeds of California Wonder of bell pepper were exposed to physical mutagen Gamma rays using 60CO as a source of radiation at Mutation Breeding Centre, Department of Biotechnology, BARC Trombay, Mumbai and chemical mutagen EMS (Ethyl Methane Sulphonate) to obtain the spectrum and frequency of chlorophyll mutations in M2 generation. The M1 generation was produced from these mutagen treated seeds. Several unique and interesting chlorophyll and viable mutants were obtained in M2 generation. In M2 generation, gamma rays induced higher proportion of chlorophyll mutants then EMS. A progressive increase in mutation frequency of chlorophyll mutations was observed with increasing doses/concentrations. Four different types of chlorophyll mutants namely xantha, yellow xantha, chlorina and viridis were induced. Out of these mutants, chlorina and viridis were most frequent and were produced even in lower doses/concentrations while yellow xantha was least frequent and produced only in higher doses. The highest frequency of chlorophyll mutations (18.8 %) was reported in the 22 kR of gamma dose, while the lowest (0.80 %) frequency of chlorophyll mutations was found in the treatment of 1.0 % EMS. There was a dose dependent increase in the spectrum and frequency of chlorophyll mutations. These chlorophyll mutants induced by gamma radiation and EMS could be used in mutation breeding programme for inducing viable mutations for improvement of bell pepper varieties

Inheritance of bacterial wilt resistance and performance of horticultural traits in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum var. grossum)

The genetic nature of bacterial wilt resistance was studied in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum Sendt.) plants using the P1, P2, F1, F2 and backcross generations obtained from four crosses between four parental lines, viz, EC 464107, EC 464115, Kandaghat Selection and Sweet Happy I considered as standards for resistance and/or susceptibility. The evaluation trial was conducted in bacterial wilt sick plots along with two susceptible checks, namely Indira (Hybrid) and California Wonder (Open-pollinated variety) that were included after every 15th row to ensure uniform distribution of inoculum in the experimental fields. Simultaneously, in a separate block, the parents and their F1’s were also evaluated for twelve different horticultural traits. The findings revealed that bacterial wilt resistance was governed by a single dominant gene in the cross EC 464107 × Sweet Happy I, whereas two genes with dominant and recessive epistasis dictated resistance in the crosses EC 464107 × Kandaghat Selection and EC 464115 × Kandaghat Selection, respectively. Based upon the mean performance, the hybrid EC 464107 × Kandaghat Selection was the best in terms of total and marketable fruit yield, fruits per plant and fruit length, which underscores its importance to be exploited, especially during wet season. In addition, the resistant parents EC 464107 and EC 464115 can be used to develop bacterial wilt resistant F1 hybrids as they expressed complete or near complete dominance for resistance in combination with the moderately resistant and susceptible varieties Kandaghat Selection and Sweet Happy I. Backcrossing with commercial cultivars and recombinant breeding accompanied by selection would also help to evolve bacterial wilt disease resistant, high yielding and horticulturally desirable pure line varieties

Consumer Rights Awareness and its Effect on Consumerism in Meerut

Consumerism has been defined as a social movement seeking to augment the rights and powers of consumers in relation to sellers (Kotler, 2000). It has spread to developing countries including India but majority of Indian consumers have been observed to be relatively passive in utilizing their rights and the established consumer protection mechanisms. Consumer exploitation has therefore continued unabated in the market place. The present study is aimed at investigating the level of consumer rights awareness and the effect of consumer rights awareness on consumerism in the Meerut region through a survey of household consumers in the area. It covers the aspect of general awareness among consumers in the area under study regarding consumer protection and specific awareness of provision of consumer protection act 1986. A pre-designed self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The research observed that a lot of consumers are being exploited even with the awareness about their rights under legal framework of consumer protection act 1986. Despite so many legal provisions made by Government of India for the well being of consumers, but the complete protection is still awaited. The study recommends for a policy on consumer education and activation in the region. It also recommends that manufacturers should establish a division for consumer affairs to listen to consumer complaints addresses their issues