Factors affecting Child Labour in India

Child labour in India is a critical socio-economic problem that needs special attention of policy makers. In order to make effective policies to reduce child labour it is important to understand the specific factors that affect it in different situations. The paper empirically examines these factors across 35 Indian states and union territories at three levels of aggregation: total population, rural/urban, and male/female. The results showed that education, fertility, and workforce participation are the major influencing factors in our models. Interestingly, impact of economic indicators of poverty and income differed among total, rural, urban, male, and female population. The explanatory powers of models showed large variations across different levels of aggregation and were stronger for total, rural and female population.

India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Defence Outreach: Leveraging the Gulf Strategic Partnerships

In May 2020 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the clarion call for Atmanirbhar Bharat or ‘Self Reliant India’; the initiative, atleast until then referred to economic stimulus packages intended for the distressed population during the Pandemic. However, soon after, it became the buzzword for modern India, the one touted as a responsible, reliable regional and global power that visualizes itself as a self-reliant and self-sufficient economy while maintaining its strategic autonomy. This realisation further got affirmation when the country became the first responder and a responsible supplier of basic medicines such as paracetamol and hydroxychloroquine to around 120 countries during the initial stages of COVID-19, thus providing impetus to India’s medical diplomacy

India-Iran Relations and the Afghanistan Factor

Post-America’s chaotic withdrawal and the resurgence of Taliban in Afghanistan, India’s development and assistance prospects in the country demand stability under the interim regime. Likewise, New Delhi’s Chabahar port development – an initiative along with Iran – seems to remain stalled until the situation in Afghanistan steadies down. With India not being invited (under Pakistani and Chinese objections) in any of the extended troika meetings initiated by Russia, it is imperative for India to develop a one-to-one discussion with the interim government as the country has invested over US$3 billion for Afghanistan reconstruction and development in various aspects. Towards the end of August, India initiated its first public meeting with the Taliban in Doha wherein Indian concerns on the continuation of its developmental efforts in Afghanistan, progress on Chabahar development (though the issue was not explicitlymentioned), and insistence on Taliban not supporting any terror outfits that may harm Indian national security were the prime areas of discussions amongst others.  While Afghanistan remains important for India for a host of reasons, the latter’s continued engagement is crucial in maintaining its relations with Iran with which India has had a tumultuous relationship of late owing to the American sanctions on that country.&nbsp

Strategic Human Resource Management: Three-Stage Process and Influencing Organisational Factors

A three-stage model for the process of strategic human resource management is developed in this paper. The three stages cover strategy formulation, implementation and evaluation. The inter-linkages in this dynamic model have been explored. The organisational factors that have enabling or deterring influence on the success of each of these three stages have been discussed. The paper highlights the key role played by HR professionals in these three stages.

India-Israel Defence Relations: From Longstanding to Robust

India and Israel relations, even though just three decades old, have subsequently progressed over the years, especially in the fields ofdefence and agri-tech. After lying dormant since the time India formally recognised the Jewish nation in September 1950; the international, regional and domestic geostrategic environment compelled New Delhi to establish diplomatic relations and to normalise its relations with Tel Aviv in January 1992. The normalisation not only earmarked the beginning of a full-fledged engagement between the two countries but also provided impetus to India’s defence requirements

Characterization of activated sludge immobilized in calcium alginate gel with respect to biodegradation of 2-chlorophenol and benzene

Activated sludges acclimated with phenol and 2-chlorophenol in one case, and a mixture of benzene, toluene, and o, in and p-xylene in another case, were characterized for biodegradation of 2-chlorophenol and benzene, respectively. Activated sludge was obtained from the Parsippany-Troy Hills Water Pollution Control Plant (NJ). For both cases colonies were isolated before acclimation, after acclimation, and at the end of biodegradation studies. Since the unacclimated group was the same in both cases, there were a total of five different groups for which characterization was carried out. For all the five groups together, a total of 54 isolates were obtained and 35 of these could be assigned to a genus. The genera assigned included Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Microbacterium, Plesiomonas, Kurthia, Kiebsiella, Corynebacterium and Pseudomonas. Studies done with individual end run isolates and their mixture, in shaker flasks, established that the primary degrader of 2-chlorophenol was a Bacillus and that of benzene was a Pseudomonas

India-Israel Defence Relations: From Longstanding to Robust

India and Israel relations, even though just three decades old, have subsequently progressed over the years, especially in the fields ofdefence and agri-tech. After lying dormant since the time India formally recognised the Jewish nation in September 1950; the international, regional and domestic geostrategic environment compelled New Delhi to establish diplomatic relations and to normalise its relations with Tel Aviv in January 1992. The normalisation not only earmarked the beginning of a full-fledged engagement between the two countries but also provided impetus to India’s defence requirements

India-Persian Gulf Relations: From Transactional to Strategic Partnerships

India's relations with the Gulf countries have been exceptionally significant since ancient times and are multifaceted. The two have maintained historical ties with each other in terms of trade, energy, security as well as a vast expatriate population. While the Indo-Gulf relations are dominated by energy cooperation, recent years have experienced a shift in their dynamics. Owing to Persian Gulf countries' quest to achieve Vision 2030 through economic diversification, Indo-Gulf relations have seen an expansion in other non-conventional areas such as security cooperation and strategic partnerships. India is not in a military alliance with any of the major powers, however, it shares close strategic and military relations with many major countries in the world. Owing to the growing stature of India and its clout at the global table, India started to build strategic partnerships with major countries such as France, Russia, Germany, and the US, etc., in 1997. It is noteworthy that India has extended its strategic partnerships with as many as four countries in the Gulf, namely, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE since 2003.  This shows that over a period of time the region holds immense significance for India's ascendance as a growing regional and global power

India-Iran Relations and the Afghanistan Factor

Post-America's chaotic withdrawal and the resurgence of Taliban in Afghanistan, India's development and assistance prospects in the country demand stability under the interim regime. Likewise, New Delhi’s Chabahar port development - an initiative along with Iran - seems to remain stalled until the situation in Afghanistan steadies down. With India not being invited (under Pakistani and Chinese objections) in any of the extended troika meetings initiated by Russia, it is imperative for India to develop a one-to-one discussion with the interim government as the country has invested over US$3 billion for Afghanistan reconstruction and development in various aspects. Towards the end of August, India initiated its first public meeting with the Taliban in Doha wherein Indian concerns on the continuation of its developmental efforts in Afghanistan, progress on Chabahar development (though the issue was not explicitly mentioned), and insistence on Taliban not supporting any terror outfits that may harm Indian national security were the prime areas of discussions amongst others. While Afghanistan remains important for India for a host of reasons, the latter's continued engagement is crucial in maintaining its relations with Iran with which India has had a tumultuous relationship of late owing to the American sanctions on that country

India-Iran Relations and the Afghanistan Factor

Post-America’s chaotic withdrawal and the resurgence of Taliban in Afghanistan, India’s development and assistance prospects in the country demand stability under the interim regime. Likewise, New Delhi’s Chabahar port development – an initiative along with Iran – seems to remain stalled until the situation in Afghanistan steadies down. With India not being invited (under Pakistani and Chinese objections) in any of the extended troika meetings initiated by Russia, it is imperative for India to develop a one-to-one discussion with the interim government as the country has invested over US$3 billion for Afghanistan reconstruction and development in various aspects. Towards the end of August, India initiated its first public meeting with the Taliban in Doha wherein Indian concerns on the continuation of its developmental efforts in Afghanistan, progress on Chabahar development (though the issue was not explicitlymentioned), and insistence on Taliban not supporting any terror outfits that may harm Indian national security were the prime areas of discussions amongst others.  While Afghanistan remains important for India for a host of reasons, the latter’s continued engagement is crucial in maintaining its relations with Iran with which India has had a tumultuous relationship of late owing to the American sanctions on that country.&nbsp