Institute for Social and Economic Change

This research article investigates stakeholder-led eco-activism initiatives in Bengaluru, focusing on waste-related issues and lake conservation efforts. Using a mixed-method approach with primary and secondary data sources, the study focuses on the city’s multifaceted landscape of environmental problem-solving. Through interviews, discussions and data analysis, the article explores the roles and contributions of various stakeholders, including citizen groups, NGOs and governmental bodies, in addressing these critical environmental challenges. Using primary and secondary data, the study provides insights into the strategies, challenges and impacts of stakeholder-led initiatives to mitigate environmental issues. Further, this research sheds light on the collaborative efforts of stakeholders and their pivotal role in driving environmental sustainability in Bengaluru.

This research article offers a forward-looking analysis of the present availability and demand for livestock feed and fodder in selected states and across India. A problem prevalent in livestock management is the non-availability of feed and fodder. Previous research on identifying supply and demand gaps in different regions has been limited. This study systematically analyzed feed and fodder availability at both the national and regional levels and major constraints faced by sample households in livestock rearing and fodder cultivation. Direct estimation of feed and fodder is often unavailable, so conversion factors recommended by organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the National Agriculture Technology Project (NATP), and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) were utilized, besides the primary data collected for the study. Considering the feeding patterns, the analysis revealed a significant deficit in green fodder (31,367 million tons), while there was an excess of 2,145 million tons in dry fodder and 966 million tons in concentrates. Looking ahead to 2030, the projections indicated a deficit of 33,563 million tons in green fodder, an excess/surplus of 2,295 million tons in dry fodder and 1,034 million tons in concentrateThe feed and fodder production s. To address this imbalance, the study suggests that farmers should adopt stall-feeding practices for their livestock due to the shrinking forest and grazing lands. This approach would enable optimal feeding and help mitigate the feed and fodder shortage issue.

Abstract. Keerthikumara SM, Saikia B, Hiremath C. 2025. Landholding size, indebtedness, and crop insurance in India: A macro-level quantitative assessment. Asian J Agric 9: 377-390. Indian farmers continue to face structural distress driven by low income, high indebtedness, and inadequate risk protection. This study investigates the interrelationship between landholding size, agricultural credit, indebtedness, and crop insurance uptake using state-level secondary data from 2016 to 2023, drawn from Agricultural Statistics at a Glance, PMFBY/RWBCIS dashboards, and NCRB reports. Using descriptive statistics, linear regression, and paired t-tests, we identify key macro-level trends across 20 major Indian states. Results show that marginal and small farmers (less than 2 hectares) account for over 62.7% of all indebted farm households, but receive only 38.5% of total institutional agricultural credit. A bivariate regression reveals that a ?1,000 increase in monthly farm income is associated with a reduction of 1,314 indebted households (?=-0.445, p=0.016). Despite substantial credit disbursal in high-debt states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, farmer debt remains elevated, underscoring that credit alone does not reduce vulnerability. Crop insurance enrollment increased after the 2020 policy shift from mandatory to optional participation among loanee farmers, yet the change was not statistically significant (p=0.099). Actuarial analysis reveals that in several states, claim settlement ratios remain below 50%, with high premiums and delayed payouts fueling distrust. The study recommends fully subsidized premiums for marginal farmers, region-specific pricing, improved claim transparency, and financial literacy integration with agricultural extension. Effective risk mitigation in agriculture must go beyond insurance and integrate income and credit reforms to ensure equitable protection for India’s most vulnerable farmers.

This paper attempts to examine how startups improve the performance of students and influence their affective elements towards studies. We chose the K-12 sector as it is the largest sector of edtech. We targeted the top three startup capitals of the country but due to insufficient responses, data majorly originates from Mumbai. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were utilised. The tests validate the presence of a statistically significant difference between the median scores of the students’ pre and post- edtech intervention scores. In addition, this paper found that extended use of apps has improved the psychological attributes of students.

The use of technology in public administration in India occurs at the level of interaction between state and citizen as well as the internal functioning of government departments. Since the early 2000s, e-governance has been extended to the government’s third tier in India. This study traces the trajectory of e-governance in the panchayats through both state and federal level initiatives. The study identifies the factors that influenced the adoption of e-governance for various functions of the panchayats, including planning, budgeting, accounting and service delivery. States which had devolved more powers to the panchayats were also ahead in using e-governance for panchayat functions. Other factors influencing the spread of e-governance in the panchayats included infrastructure and digital literacy among the rural population.

Economic burden of diseases on Indian aquaculture sector was estimated to be US$ 2.48 B, 14.95% of annual aquaculture production value. Analysis revealed a higher cost of disease (US$ t−1) in shrimp (1,224.82) followed by marine fish (815.87), IMC+ (364.89), tilapia (260.34), IMC (200.70), and pangasius (pond 198.92; cage 168.36). The major contributors to the disease burden included production loss (23.90%), expenses on prophylactics (50.31%) and therapeutics (17.26%). The economic loss was dominated by diseases of multiple etiology (US$ 468.27 M), bacterial hemorrhagic septicemia (US$ 326.47 M), and epizootic ulcerative syndrome (US$ 88.12 M) in finfish and by Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei infection (US$ 571.24 M) in shrimp. Multinomial logit regression identified farm size, water source and exchange, stocking biomass and feed type as the main determinants of disease. The study findings would assist in prioritizing resource allocation and developing intervention strategies at the national level for effective and targeted disease management.