GLS University

They say women are equal in society, but even after 76 years of India’s independence, the old notions of male supremacy, men being the head of the family and women being subservient to men, prevails. This is perhaps one of the major reasons for men committing crime on women. Amongst the category of crimes, Rape is one of the most henious crimes committed on women as it not only affects her physically but leaves a scar to her soul. The Indian Penal Code, 1860 defines rape in section 375 and section 376 makes it punishable with imprisonment upto life. The problematic area which the researcher will be examining is exception (2) to section 375. The exception does not bring within its ambit the sexual acts committed by husband on his wife, thereby excluding rape happening in marriage and not recognising it as an offence. The Indian Penal Code does not recognise the requirement of ‘consent’ for wife and believes that wife upon marrying loses her right to say yes or no to sexual acts. In the present paper, the researcher would examine the prevailing criminal statutes of the country and suggest changes required in Indian Penal Code, 1860, Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, now repealed with Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 and Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 respectively. In the process, the researcher will make use of doctrinal method.

India's Smart Cities Mission (SCM), encompassing 100 cities since 2015, integrates ICT with sustainable infrastructure to address rapid urbanization (projected 600 million urban dwellers by 2036; MoHUA, 2023). Solar rooftops emerge as a cornerstone of green energy, aligning with India's 500 GW non-fossil capacity target by 2030 (NDC, 2022). Rapid urbanization, rising electricity demand, and ambitious national renewable energy targets have elevated rooftop solar energy as a strategic lever for sustainable urban decarbonization in India. This paper examines the role of solar rooftops within the Smart Cities Mission as an enabling pathway towards a green energy transition. Also evaluates solar rooftop deployment in Indian smart cities, focusing on techno-economic feasibility, policy efficacy, and sustainability impacts Drawing on national policy frameworks, recent deployment data, and illustrative smart-city case studies, the study analyses drivers, technical and institutional enablers, socioeconomic impacts, barriers, and practical recommendations for scaling rooftop solar across urban India. We find that grid-connected rooftop solar (RTS) can substantially contribute to urban decarbonization, energy access, and distributed energy resilience when supported by integrated city-level planning, streamlined regulatory processes, financing innovations, and capacity building. Policy synergies between central schemes (e.g., Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme Phase II, PM Surya Ghar) and city-level Smart Cities initiatives have produced promising pilot outcomes, yet persistent challenges—landlord/tenant split incentives, distribution network constraints, financing gaps, and data/monitoring shortfalls—need targeted interventions. The paper concludes with a city-action framework and policy recommendations to scale RTS in smart cities to meet both climate and urban development objectives.

ABSTRACT In a developing country such as India, gamification in finance remains nascent. This study addresses a critical research gap by investigating how gamification moderates the effects of financial attitude, financial self‐efficacy, and financial planning on financial behavior. It also examines whether gamified features in financial applications enhance users' money management capabilities. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS‐SEM) using SmartPLS 4.0 was employed to test a behavioral model comprising six constructs: financial attitude (FA), financial self‐efficacy (FSE), financial planning (FP), gamification (GF), and financial behavior (FB). Psychometric evaluation confirmed the validity and reliability of the measurement model. Data were collected from 557 users of financial apps in India. Results reveal that gamification significantly moderates the relationships between financial planning and financial behavior, as well as financial self‐efficacy and behavior, but not between financial attitude and behavior. All constructs demonstrated strong discriminant validity. Gamification emerged as a distinct and effective behavioral reinforcement mechanism. Experienced app users preferred features such as real‐time feedback, progress tracking, and social sharing. Banks and fintech firms can integrate gamified elements to boost user engagement, support goal‐setting, and foster better financial habits. This study extends behavioral finance research by integrating gamification with psychological constructs of financial behavior. Policymakers and educators may incorporate gamification into financial literacy programs to enhance user participation, provided ethical safeguards are in place to protect against manipulation. This is among the first empirical studies in the Indian context to demonstrate the moderating role of gamification in personal finance. It offers a validated model for developing behaviorally intelligent financial tools aligned with users' psychological traits and digital habits.

This paper provides a comprehensive legal analysis of water trade agreements in South Asia, focusing on their challenges, opportunities, and future directions, particularly in relation to agriculture. South Asia, home to several transboundary rivers, has long faced complexities in managing shared water resources. The legal frameworks governing water trade between countries like India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh often face disputes due to competing demands, political tensions, and climate variability. These agreements are critical for the region's agricultural sector, which relies heavily on consistent water supply for irrigation and food production. The study highlights the challenges arising from existing agreements, such as inadequate dispute resolution mechanisms, lack of environmental safeguards, and insufficient consideration of the agricultural impact. It also explores opportunities for improved regional cooperation, sustainable water resource management, and better alignment of water trade agreements with climate adaptation strategies. Further, the paper discusses the need for future reforms that address the changing needs of agriculture, as the region faces increased water scarcity due to climate change. The research emphasizes the importance of integrating legal, environmental, and agricultural perspectives to ensure that water trade agreements foster long-term sustainability and food security in South Asia.

To be a successful professional, one should be equipped with both- hard skills or technical skills and soft skills. Hard skills are the primary skills required to meet technology demands. Its demand will never diminish. But Talent extends beyond technical prowess. The ability to collaborate and navigate complex scenarios is highly valued in the modern workplace. A fine balance of hard and soft skills is pivotal for success in a rapidly evolving professional landscape. Employability today is at par with proving multiple skills in varied situations in this rapidly changing world. Hence, everyone aspiring to get coveted jobs today has to prove one’s strengths in various situations where one requires a set of both hard skills as well as Soft Skills. These skills are limited not only to the professional environment but also required in other spheres of life. The study centres on the role of soft skills like, adaptability, empathy, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving, team work and leadership skills needed for better employability. The present research paper attempts emphasizing the significance of soft skills in the evolving job landscape and to create basic awareness about the significance of soft skills in professional and inter-personal relations

The finance sector is a vital component of the economy, serving as a stimulant for economic growth, resource allocation, and risk management. It contributes to the creation of capital by mobilizing savings and directing them towards investments. In this investment decision, the investors play a crucial role in the economic development. This study’s primary goal is to examine the effects of gender, occupation, income level, and annual savings on the investment decision. The author also aims to find out the impact of investment objectives on the investment decisions of millennials. Millennials represent a large and influential portion of the population. Their decisions make a huge difference in the economy and it is essential to find the factors that affect the millennial’s investment behaviour. The study fills a deliberate gap by identifying the influence of demographics on the financial choices of millennials. In this study, the researcher has studied the investment behaviour of the 102 working millennials in the Kutch region of Gujarat. The study focuses on millennials' objectives while choosing the investment avenues, and factors influencing investment decisions. The analysis and data interpretation was done by SPSS. The research emphasizes that something is lacking in the study and found the absence of a strong correlation between annual savings and monthly income. The gender is significantly associated with gold & silver and Real estate. As the same demographic factor occupation is also significantly associated with the traditional avenues.

The prevalence of social media usage is rapidly escalating. In January 2024, India alone recorded a total of 462 million social media users. The rise in online users has led to a corresponding surge in cybersecurity frauds. Cybersecurity experts can utilize big data analytic tools to identify, prevent, and mitigate cyber assaults, as these technologies are capable of handling the enormous amounts of data collected from diverse sources. This chapter examines cybercrimes that can be identified using Big Data Analytics (BDA). The primary aim of this chapter is to offer readers a comprehensive understanding of how Big Data Analytics (BDA) is applied in the field of cybersecurity. It also aims to enlighten readers about current advancements in the application of BDA in cybersecurity and the challenges that are encountered in this domain.

This paper focuses on the predictability feature of hedging and investigates hedging in the speeches of the Arab presidents to unravel the manner in which leaders work when uncertainty is present. In the quantitative analysis of the written texts, hedging is determined by means of modal verbs, adverbs of probability and expressions of ‘vagueness’. The level of scholar activity indicates that modal verbs are used more often, especially when discussing domestic policy, whereas adverbs of probability are called for within more economical scopes. Hedging policies’ differences across presidents and over time express the ability to respond to political and societal shifts, such as the Arab Spring. This means that audience had requestion for the clear but careful language and were less sympathetic to greater use of vague expressions. It advances knowledge on the use of language in political and persuasive communication, as well as on the use of hedging and its effects on the audience regarding policy issues.

The phrase "green products" is widely used to describe products and services that try to protect or enhance the environment during manufacture, use, or disposal through resource conservation and decreased use of hazardous chemicals, pollution, and waste. The Present study is on the subject of green consumer purchase behavior. This study explores the awareness and knowledge of Green Products. After consumers realized how their purchasing decisions, directly and indirectly, impacted the environment and their health, they began making more green purchases. Most studies that analyze it don't clearly define any particular product categories, such as organic food, green clothing, green electronics, green cleaning trends, ethical personal accessories, reusable containers, eco-friendly home goods, green cosmetics or organic personal care, green furniture, etc. Contrary to general green products, different product categories have different factors that influence consumer choice. Therefore, the paper aims to perform a complete holistic review of the fragmented and divergent studies on specific product categories. The purpose of consumer behavior research on green issues is to identify the rules that govern green consumption and make specific suggestions for promoting green consumption. Each sustainability value should come from home.