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The importance of gender in inclusive economic growth has been a growing area of research. Finance is seen as an efficacious instrument for social inclusion, and sustainable women empowerment (SWE). The lack of credit access often constrains women to scale up. The objective of this study is to examine the attributes influencing the decision of women to access the credit at the bottom of the pyramid (BoP) and the impact of this credit access on social, psychological and economic dimensions of SWE at the BoP in rural India.

The threshold theory of decision-making in the form of logistic regression (LR) is applied here to analyze the influence of four determinants, namely individual household level (IHLA), social attributes (SA), economic attributes (EA) and ownership of documents (OD) on women’s credit access. Likewise, the same method is applied to study the relationship between credit access and three dimensions of SWE.

The results have revealed a statistically significant relationship between credit access and studied four attributes. Subsequently, a positive relationship has been observed between credit access and dimensions of SWE.

The present study broadly addresses the concern of accessing credit by women at BoP level, which helps the government and policymakers to promote enabling an environment for women entrepreneurship and comprehensive financial policies for the BoP.

Women empowerment becomes an important policy discussion in development economics and modernization theory. The empowerment of women can lead to an increase in the quality viz-a-viz the capacity of human resources accessible for economic development. The purpose of this study is to evidence the impact of social and economic dimensions on women empowerment through financial inclusion in rural India.

To reveal the research objective, the study has utilized a primary survey of women respondents from the Gujarat state of India by a simple random sampling method and applied a logistic regression approach to identify the relationship between the need of a bank account (determinant of financial inclusion) as a dependent variable and social and economic dimensions of women empowerment such as earning status, participation in financial decision-making, recipient of social welfare schemes and perception towards the safety of saving as independent variables.

The results of this study show that earning status, participation in financial decision-making at household level and recipient of social welfare schemes by women have a significant impact on women empowerment through financial inclusion; however, safety of their savings is observed as an insignificant variable, yet the odd value is very high (2.437) in the present study.

The present study is the first of its kind to examine the social and economic status of women and its impact on their requirement of a formal bank account for the overall empowerment of women in rural India.

The study aims to analyze the effectiveness of digital rhetoric persuasion on GenZ purchase decision. Digital rhetoric (DR) is an art of persuasion used in social media communication to shape and influence the course of an individual. It has been used in social media advertisements (SMAs) to increase its perceived effectiveness. GenZ consumers are more vibrant than previous generations’ consumers because of high levels of literacy and capacity to adapt to new technology. Therefore, understanding the effects of rhetorical support decisions to act on and mold consumers’ reasoning and judgment is particularly significant in relation to GenZ purchasing decisions and the rhetorical persuasive methods. Concurrently, the moderating effect of generation cohort theory also needs to be examined.

The threshold model for consumers’ purchase decisions in the form of logistic regression has been applied to examine the impact of DR through SMAs on the purchase intention (PI) of GenZ consumers. Simultaneously, the moderating effect of generation cohort theory is being examined by comparative analysis of different generations’ PI moderation by DR effect.

The results of the current study reveal that DR via SMAs has a positive and significant influence on GenZ consumers’ PI, whereas other older generation consumers do not get similarly affected by the same.

In an emerging economy like India, where 30% of the population belongs to the GenZ category and the digital advertising industry is growing by double digits, the present study takes a novel approach to examine the impact of DR via SMAs on GenZ consumers’ PI. Concurrently, it also provides an understanding of the moderation effect of generation cohort theory on perceived effectiveness of DR.

This research focuses on suggesting an optimized model for selecting best employees using advanced multi-criteria decision making method to a supply chain firm, who is planning to start a new cold chain business vertical.

Study has been conducted in a supply chain firm in North India, who wants to expand its business with the help of efficient team members. In total 38 applicants were considered for the study, as selected by the firm after initial screening from pool of talent. AHP-LP and TOPSIS-LP integrated approach were applied separately for evaluation and implementation of personnel selection model. Further, both the approaches were compared to find the best fit and optimized model.

As per the findings, both AHP and TOPSIS can be used to select the best candidate among the alternatives available. TOPSIS was found easier to implement as it involves ranking of applicants with respect to each skills required for respective job profile only once, whereas AHP involves pair-wise comparison among candidates with respect to each skills required for respective job profile and normalization of each comparison, resulting in the formation of number of comparison matrices. However, AHP is more reliable as it considers consistency check for each level of pair-wise comparison. Hence, there is a chance to avoid or revise the human judgment error. Integrated ranking and optimization approach minimizes the cost by suggesting the relevant positions to be filed to make an efficient team.

Group of interviewers are involved in the decision-making process, hence there are chances of biasness in ranking method which can influence the group decision. Research is limited to a particular geography of North India therefore needs to be tested for other regions also in order to generalize. The research will help the third party logistics (3PL) and other related firms in efficient team selection.

The researcher focuses on formalizing a method for potential candidate selection by considering the constraints of the organization. It has been observed that limited researches have been done on the application of AHP-LP or TOPSIS-LP integrated approach for selection process. Hence, this research proposes two integrated ranking-optimization method and suggests the best fit by comparing both the approaches.

The study aimed to examine the robotic process automation (RPA) contextual (center of excellence and scalability) and the multidisciplinary (TOE) determinants of RPA adoption in service industries in the emerging economy.

Ten factors were identified through literature surveys and popular studies grounded in technology, organization and environment. SPSS AMOS SEM is used for scale measurement and hypotheses testing. A sample of 313 respondents was collected from middle to above middle management executives of service industries from India. The authors tested the hidden layers and non-linear relationships using artificial neural network (ANN) analysis.

The low complexity, center of excellence (CoE), and industry/business partner pressure were significant to the RPA adoption in service industries in emerging economies. Counterintuitively, the scalability showed a negative influence on the RPA adoption, and the process capability did not show influence. The results of SEM and ANN were consistent.

This research can unfold the RPA adoption scholarly debate to multiple services industries beyond the telecom sector in emerging economies.

RPA is a disruptive technology on the artificial intelligence (AI) continuum. It has the potential to change the ways of working and enable technology-driven transformation. However, despite having thriving service industries that can benefit from RPA, emerging economies lag in adoption compared to the developed nations.

The RPA and automation can bring transformation to human society. Large economies such as India and China have large-scale demand for services, and the waiting lines are a common issue struggled by society. RPA can address the scalability issues of several services.

This study is among the first to examine technology-organization-environment (TOE) with RPA, including RPA contextual variables such as the CoE and scalability. Literature reports TOE applications on several emerging technologies of Industry 4.0 such as cloud, blockchain, big data and 3 Dimensional Printing (3DP), but no or little reported studies around RPA in services industries in emerging markets.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the commercialisation mechanisms of the innovations that emerge from the informal sector of Indian economy. Also known as grassroots innovations, they are said to better fit with the local market demands and conditions in the developing nations of the world. The paper discusses the grassroots innovation ecosystem in India and the role that is played by the state in providing institutional support.

The paper is based on an exploratory study using both the primary and secondary sources of data. Primary data are taken from the interview of the innovators during the field work, whereas secondary data are acquired from research articles published in various journals indexed in Scopus and web of sciences, government publications and reports. The annual reports of National Innovation Foundation are analysed to gather information and to build the arguments for this paper. The secondary data are also collected and evaluated from the database of the grassroots innovators available on Grassroots Innovation Augmentation Network.

The paper provides insight into how the grassroots innovations are commercialised in India through different pathways such as social entrepreneurship, technology transfer and open source technology. It takes four case studies to discuss the institutional support to the grassroots innovator and the challenges in the diffusion of the grassroots innovations.

Due to the chosen research approach, the results cannot be generalised on all grassroots innovations. Researchers are encouraged to conduct a survey of more grassroots innovations in order to derive generalised outputs.

The paper includes implications for understanding the diffusion process of grassroots innovations that can be useful for all the emerging and developing nations.

The paper fulfils an identified need to study the diffusion modes of informal sector innovations and management of grassroots innovations.

Grassroots innovations, developed by local people using locally available resources, have shown the potential to provide low-cost technological solutions to the problems faced by underserved consumers in the global south. This paper aims to link the concept of grassroots innovations to energy use in the context of India.

The paper takes three case studies from the list of technologies scouted and nurtured by the National Innovation Foundation to critically discuss the potential of grassroots innovations for the dissemination and diffusion of urban sustainable energy uses. The data for this study has been collected from various secondary sources. It discusses the opportunities and challenges in promoting grassroots innovations for sustainable energy uses in urban settings.

The paper discusses the opportunities and challenges in promoting grassroots innovations for sustainable energy uses in urban settings.

Although the concept and understanding of grassroots innovations have well developed, its linkages with sustainable energy use in urban settings have received scarce or no attention in the literature.

The study identifies the challenges of developing the “electric vehicle (EV)” charging infrastructure in India, having an ambitious target of 30% EV adoption by 2030.

First, a systematic literature review determined EV adoption and challenges in the EV charging infrastructure development globally and specifically in India. Secondly, a focussed group study in which 10 domain experts were consulted to identify additional challenges in India's EV adoption involving EV charging infrastructure.

Accordingly, 11 significant challenges of EV charging infrastructure development in India have been identified–seven through the comparative analysis of the literature review and four from the focussed group study. Secondary data provides insight into the situation around developed countries and in developing countries, specifically in India. Finally, the Government of India's measures and priorities to facilitate such a development are emphasised.

The study can help policymakers/researchers understand the gaps and align measures to address the challenges. A focussed group study may have its limitations due to the perception of the experts.

The systematic literature review of 43 articles using comparative analysis and subsequently a focussed group study of experts to verify and add challenges has made the study unique.

The helical spring lock washer (HSLW) is a part of nut bolt joint assembly used in different industries like automobile, aerospace, mechanical, chemical, electrical, electronics, etc. It works as a part of temporary joint and plays important role in loosening behavior of assembly under dynamic (vibrations) conditions. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the performance of HSLW under different controlled operating conditions in order to satisfy its functional requirement.

In the present investigation, a novel test rig is designed and developed to determine the load-deflection characteristics of HSLWs. The test rig facilitates the controlled linear displacement of the HSLW with predetermined angular rotation of the handle gives the corresponding reaction load on the display. Additionally, the repeatability and reproducibility of the test rig was carried out.

The newly designed and developed test rig is capable enough to differentiate the load-deflection characteristics during compressive loading and unloading of HSLWs. Additionally, the loss of strain energy can be determined from the load-deflection characteristics of HSLW.

The present test rig is designed and developed to investigate the load-deflection characteristics under compressive loading and unloading of HSLW. The test rig has least count of 0.4905 N for load measurement and 0.01389 mm for linear displacement.

The purpose of the paper is to review the existing landscape of consumption and production in wildlife tourism and, more precisely, discuss how tiger tourism is packaged and produced as a product or commodity for the consumption of wildlife tourists. In doing so, the study explores the issues and challenges for responsible consumption and production (SCP) of wildlife tourism in the context of progress toward sustainable development goal (SDG12) responsible consumption and production.

The paper combines an analysis of existing literature and insights from the tiger reserve stakeholders. Qualitative analysis using semi-structured interviews and participant observation methods are used to derive insights.

This paper explores the status of SCP of wildlife tourism, particularly tiger tourism in Indian national parks. The paper then discusses the implications of SCP for various stakeholders in wildlife tourism.

This paper explores the perspective of SCP in wildlife tourism, and it provides innovative approaches that stakeholders should adopt.