National Institution for Transforming India Aayog

Abstract Introduction: Tobacco litter is one of the most common forms of litter, comprising between 26 and 33% of all visible litter, leading to severe environmental damage. The current study attempts to assess the compliance with the Tobacco-Free Kumbh Mela (TFKM) mandate by analyzing the spatial distribution of tobacco product wastes (TPWs) in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, during mid-March and April 2021. Methods: We collected information about TPWs (smoking and smokeless tobacco) in the Kumbh Mela area during the busiest week. The litter count (mean ± S.D.) was calculated for total TPWs along with litter density (per sqm) in various public places. We also used Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) software to develop a graduated map of the density of TPWs across the Kumbh Mela area. Results: Bathing areas at the TFKM, which had the largest population density, had the least litter count (4.33 ± 1.26) and density (0.9 per sqm). While in the remotest location, parking areas were found to have maximum litter count (30.0 ± 18.0) and density (6.5 per sqm). Overall, the surveyed sites were non-compliant with the Tobacco-free Kumbh Mela as notified by the state government. Conclusion: Mass awareness campaigns should be undertaken at large scale to educate tobacco users regarding the harmful effects of tobacco use and the TPWs while inculcating a pro-envirnoment attitude to ensure compliance with directives like TFKM.

Purpose Atta-satta is a system in which two families exchange brides: the first family's bride marries a groom from the second family, and the second family's bride marries a groom from the first family. Though this practice is socioculturally rooted and has a significant impact on women's lives, evidence on the experiences of women in Atta-satta marriages is limited. This qualitative study aims to explore the tradition of Atta-satta marriage in rural Rajasthan, India, by examining the experiences of women who live in such marriages. Attempts are made to uncover the nuances of Atta-satta, a traditional practice of marriage, and its repercussions on women. Design/methodology/approach A descriptive qualitative research approach guided this study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 17 married women from five villages in rural Rajasthan, India. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings The findings reveal that the lowered demand for the dowry price, marital stability and the promotion of community coherence are the primary reasons for the prevalence of such marriages. Lack of autonomy, coerced and early marriages, and violence mark women's experiences in Atta-satta. Originality/value This study contributes to strengthening the understanding of women's lives in Atta-satta marriage and documents how these experiences are influenced by sociocultural practices prevalent in the region. The study's results underscore the need for concrete efforts to address these challenges, which may involve promoting women's education, raising awareness about the importance of empowering women to make their own life choices and challenging harmful gender norms and practices that limit women's potential and autonomy.

The chapter analyzes how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing can help fortify the early warning system (EWS) and prompt response decision support to international disaster readiness. It gives a review on the technological fundamentals, e.g., remote sensing platforms, GIS-based hazard modeling, and/or AI-enhanced geospatial analytics. Its use in applications involving floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, and cyclones indicates how real-time information can be used to reduce risks proactively, direct evacuation, and design resilient infrastructure. Successes, challenges, and limitations in multi-hazard EWS are clear evidence of case studies at a global and regional level. The concluding chapter provides recommendations and future directions that are inclusive, reliable, and adaptive of systems and focuses on technology, policy, and community outlook on building resilient societies.

Obesity is one of the major global public health concerns, driven by factors such as sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy dietary patterns, and metabolic imbalances. Ayurveda considers this manifestation under a broad umbrella of Medoroga or Sthaulya (~obesity), and provides a comprehensive personalized approach to its management. In today’s world, where every individual experience develops this disease for diverse reasons, the Ayurveda principle of personalized and preventive healthcare offers significant relevance. Integrating Ayurveda principles into modern public health frameworks presents a valuable opportunity to enhance individualized care and strengthen preventive health strategies. This article presents a narrative review with a policy-oriented perspective that examines the growing burden of obesity in India through the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) and the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS). It examines India’s national initiatives and international strategies aimed towards obesity reduction to explore areas for integration of Ayurveda. With this context, the review proposes Ayurveda principles referenced in classical texts, supported by available scientific evidence, and explores their alignment with public health strategies to strengthen programs for combating obesity. This integration offers promising avenues for strengthening community-based obesity prevention in India, fostering sustainable, culturally resonant interventions in the era of personalized healthcare.

Recognizing the significant impact that NAMs can have in biomedical research and drug development, many key funding bodies in India have also taken concrete steps to propel such technologies.In 2019, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) developed a white paper on alternatives to animal use (Swaminathan et al., 2025).Very recently, two key research groups in India working on such non-animal human-relevant technologies have been recognized as ICMR -Collaborating Centres of Excellence 6 .Biotechnology Industrial Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Department of Biotechnology (DBT) released a call for proposals for developing in vitro and in vivo preclinical models for drug discovery in 2023 7 .In this workshop it was discussed how we can fast-track these efforts via dedicated investments and strategic partnerships to develop precise, affordable, and indigenous human-relevant technologies.The Biomedical Research for the 21 st Century (BioMed21) Collaboration Workshop was jointly organized by Humane World for Animals India and BIRAC, DBT, Government of India (GoI), along with the Division of Strategic Alliances, Office of Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA), GoI as the outreach partner to bring together national and international stakeholders from academia, industry, and key funding bodies. Workshop inaugurationAlokparna Sengupta (Managing Director, Humane World for Animals India) welcomed the participants and stated how the organization is promoting a shift towards advanced human biologybased technologies in preclinical safety and biomedical research via a combination of science, policy, education, and training.The workshop was inaugurated by Dr Jitendra Kumar (Managing Director, BIRAC, DBT), who emphasized the relevance of the workshop and recognized the area of human-based technologies as one of the emerging areas in biomedical research and drug development.He commented that the low success rate of the current drug development pipeline called for better model systems, but more efforts towards awareness are needed.1 https://cdsco.gov.in/opencms/resources/UploadCDSCOWeb/2022/new_DC_rules/NDCTR_G.S.R.%20175(E)%20dt_09.03.2023_Use%20of%20induced%20Pluripo-tent%20Stem%20Cells%20additional%20testing%20methods.pdf 2 https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-announces-plan-phase-out-animal-testing-requirement-monoclonal-antibodies-and-other-drugs 3 www.nih.gov/news-events

ABSTRACT The growing influence of entrepreneurship on the advancement and economic progress of the people and regions surrounding the entrepreneurs has led to increased attention on developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE). However, such an ecosystem demands an in‐depth understanding of the factors that can support and further grow entrepreneurship in the region surrounding it. This paper (i) consolidates literature and findings on different success factors of the EE and (ii) identifies key success factors, including environment, social, and governance (ESG) factors that are responsible for the EE's success and sustainability. A bibliometric‐systematic literature review (B‐SLR) of 109 papers has been conducted, guided by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analysis (PRISMA). In the analysis of 109 studies, a total of 14 critical factors of entrepreneurial ecosystem development have been identified based on primary and secondary level factors. This is the first study in which a B‐SLR has been conducted to understand the critical success factors of entrepreneurial ecosystem development based on the Quadruple and Quintuple Helix Model—academia, industry, civil society, government, and natural environment. The study invites scholars and researchers to explore the dynamic interplay between institutional logics, resource configurations, and sustainability imperatives—thus enriching EE literature with a more holistic, interdisciplinary perspective. It also offers a comprehensive framework for managers and policymakers to foster resilient, innovative, and sustainable EEs. By leveraging the critical success factors and integrating ESG principles, stakeholders can create ecosystems that not only enable entrepreneurial growth but also address pressing global challenges and contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable future.

The rapid economic growth and escalating energy requirements in recent decades have resulted in environmental degradation, giving rise to global warming issues that are now escalating to the point of global boiling. To guide aligned policies for BRICS countries, the current research assesses the effects of economic growth, renewable energy utilization, financial globalization, green innovation and digitalization on consumption-based carbon emissions (CCO2) from 1990 to 2019. The study applies Common Correlated Effects Mean Group Estimator (CCEMG) and Augmented Mean Group Estimator (AMG) estimation techniques. Results demonstrate that a 1% increase in economic growth is associated with a 0.73% rise in CCO₂ emissions for BRICS as a whole, while a 1% increase in renewable energy consumption leads to a 0.75% reduction in CCO₂. Green innovation and digitalization also show negative associations, with a 1% rise in green innovation reducing emissions by 0.041% and digitalization by 0.00036%. Conversely, financial globalization is positively associated with CCO₂, with a 1% increase linked to a 0.12% rise in emissions. BRICS countries possess substantial potential in renewable energy sources, and transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables can uphold environmental sustainability. Additionally, leveraging financial globalisation to augment investments in green technology, renewable energy and sustainable digital infrastructure with a focus on green growth prioritization can augment green employment and sustainable development. The study is the first of its kind that uses novel second-generation panel cointegration and econometric techniques that capture the cross-sectional dependency and slope heterogeneity.

This study identifies the most effective meditation technique as a non-clinical intervention for enhancing cognitive functioning and stress resilience, through a philosophical comparative analysis of foundational doctrines across diverse meditative practices, complemented by empirical evaluation using psychological and neuroscientific measures to quantitatively assess and compare their overall efficacy.

In today's rapidly evolving world, technology is at the forefront of significant global changes. Innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, renewable energy, and biotechnology are not only shaping industries but are also becoming critical tools in addressing pressing global challenges. These technologies hold immense potential to solve issues related to poverty, inequality, healthcare, and climate change. Yet, as these technologies advance, they bring complex ethical challenges and raise questions about the adequacy of existing policies to manage their development and deployment. This chapter will explore how emerging technologies can serve as a catalyst for global development while addressing the ethical concerns and policy challenges they bring. By examining real-world examples and interdisciplinary insights, the chapter will provide a balanced perspective on how innovation can be harnessed for progress while considering the ethical frameworks and policies needed to guide their responsible use.

In India, given the rising trend of population growth, climate change and the need to increase agricultural production with efficient utilization of water, It is crucial to execute precise water management strategies in the farmland. In this study, efforts were made towards development of an automated system for irrigation scheduling on real-time basis considering the soil moisture conditions and crop parameters, and evaluation of performance under different irrigation methods in tomato crop. The soil moisture sensor was integrated with decision support system (DSS) and microcontroller using internet and global system for mobile communication (GSM) module for automated irrigation. The developed sensor was compared with Frequency Domain Reflectometer (FDR), tensiometer, and watermark sensor and was calibrated using the gravimetric method. The crop and irrigation water productivity of tomato crop ranged from 5.2–12.6 kg m-3 for control and automated systems, and 7.7–18.7 kg m-3 for the latter under different methods of irrigation. By using an automated drip irrigation system instead of a manually operated check basin irrigation system, cultivators of tomatoes were able to save 39.61% of the water. In terms of economics analysis, highest benefit cost ratio were obtained under manually operated drip irrigation (2.61) followed by automated drip irrigation system (2.50) in tomato crop.