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Title: An Analytical Study of Impact of Merger and Acquisition on the Financial Performance of Selected Indian Banks

Abstract: This research paper compares pre-merger financial performance of selected public sector banks with that of post-merger financial performance. The financial performance is measured by nine different variables that are business per employee (BPE), profit per employee (PPE), net interest margin (NIM), return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), CASA ratio, capital adequacy ratio (CAD), gross non-performing asset(GNPA) and earning per share (EPS). The research is purely based on data collected from annual reports of selected banks. This data is analyzed by using paired t-test and the two tailed significance value is taken for hypothesis testing. The study found a negative impact of merger on financial performance of State Bank of India. While the financial performance of Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, Union Bank of India and Indian Bank more or less improved post-merger. All the banks except SBI showed a better utilization of human resource as the business per employee is increased significantly. Only Union Bank of India showed improvement in profit per employee variable and return one quity. Net interest margin of four banks namely Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank and Union Bank of India improved post-merger. It is observed that overall funding cost benefits that are measured by CASA ratio is seen in State bank of India and Indian Bank. The capital adequacy ratio increased in case of Indian Bank, Punjab National Bank and Union Bank of India. No major benefit of merger is seen on gross NPA except in case of Canara Bank. Earnings per share of all six banks did not show any significant impact of merger.

By Deepak Verma, Manoj Kumar Agarwal
In Volume: 14,Issue: 1
Title: Electric Mobility Integration in Indian Urban Planning: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Implications

Abstract: India’s urban transport system is facing unprecedented challenges due to rapid population growth, vehicular congestion, and escalating pollution levels. Against this backdrop, the transition toward electric mobility (e-mobility) offers a promising pathway for sustainable urban development. This study investigates the extent to which electric mobility is being integrated into urban planning in Indian cities. It explores critical challenges such as inadequate charging infrastructure, limited policy coordination, and citizen hesitancy. Drawing upon both primary data collected through surveys in five urban centres—and secondary sources from government and institutional reports, the research applies statistical methods, including factor analysis and regression modelling, to examine the drivers of electric vehicle (EV) adoption. The findings reveal that infrastructure readiness and public policy awareness are strong predictors of urban EV acceptance. The study concludes by offering practical policy recommendations, such as zoning reforms and enhanced fiscal incentives, aimed at creating EV-supportive urban environments aligned with national climate goals.

By Shantam Babbar, Rajesh Kumar Raju, Monika Kumari
In Volume: 14,Issue: 1
Title: Islamic Banking in Bangladesh: A Case Study of FSIBL and Implications for Indian Islamic Banking Prospects and Societal Banking

Abstract: Islamic banking is reshaping Bangladesh’s financial landscape by offering a Sharia-compliant alternative to conventional banking, particularly through innovative community-driven micro-savings and micro-investment models. This qualitative study analyzes First Security Islami Bank Limited (FSIBL), Bangladesh’s first full-fledged Islamic bank (est. 1999), to draw insights for India’s emerging Islamic banking sector. FSIBL’s success in applying profit-loss sharing (PLS) models—such as Mudarabah-based micro-savings pools converted into agricultural investments and Bai-mode financing for SMEs—alongside mobile banking-enabled societal banking initiatives, demonstrates how Islamic finance can bridge financial inclusion gaps in developing economies. The bank’s CSR-linked community investment programs, which transform small deposits into Waqf-funded local projects, offer a replicable template for India. However, recent governance lapses and liquidity crunches highlight systemic risks in scaling these models without robust safeguards. The study addresses two questions: (1) How does FSIBL’s integration of microfinance with Islamic principles validate its viability in emerging markets? (2) What lessons can India adopt to leverage societal banking wings for grassroots capital formation while avoiding governance pitfalls? Findings reveal that participatory micro-investment frameworks require three pillars: strong Sharia governance (e.g., community oversight committees), depositor protection mechanisms (e.g., taka ful-backed micro-savings), and adaptive asset-liability management (e.g., blockchain-tracked PLS ventures). By examining FSIBL’s journey, the paper proposes actionable strategies for India to harness Islamic banking’s dual social-commercial mandate, advocating for regulatory sandboxes to pilot community savings-to-investment chains and tax-neutrality for micro-investment products. The study concludes that India’s vast SHG networks and digital infrastructure position it to outperform Bangladesh’s model—if integrated with ethical resilience and operational transparency.

By Abu Sayed, Nabila Aktia Chowdhury
In Volume: 14,Issue: 1
Title: Ethical AI Integration and the Future of Employee Rights at Work

Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become increasingly central to both economic progress and modern business practices. While much public discussion has centered on the societal and ethical dimensions of AI—particularly in relation to data privacy and human rights—there has been comparatively less attention on how AI is transforming traditional workplace dynamics, especially in the area of occupational health and safety. Although concerns about human rights and gig economy conditions are well-documented, the potential implications of AI for day-to-day worker safety remain underexplored. This paper seeks to fill that gap by introducing a conceptual framework for an AI Work Health and Safety (WHS) Scorecard. This tool is designed to help identify and manage workplace risks linked to AI deployment. Drawing from a qualitative, practice-oriented research project involving organizations actively implementing AI, the study outlines a set of health and safety risks derived from aligning Australia’s AI Ethics Principles and Principles of Good Work Design with the AI Canvas—a tool traditionally used to evaluate AI’s commercial value. The study’s key innovation lies in a newly developed matrix that maps known and anticipated WHS and ethical risks across each stage of AI adoption, offering a structured approach to evaluating AI’s workplace impact.

By Kanika Maheshwari
In Volume: 14,Issue: 1
Title: A Study on the Trend Analysis of India’s Trade Relations with SAFTA Nations: A Review

Abstract: Countries participating in a regional trading arrangement (RTA) are typically heterogeneous, as evidenced by their variations in geographic size, population, gross national product (GNP), economic systems—reflected in the various types of commodities and services manufactured when traded — and the policy instruments employed through monetary, financial, and trade-related measures that affect national production and trade activities. The diverse attributes of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) members significantly impact their benefits from a Regional Trade Agreement (RTA). The South Asian nations within the SAFTA distinctly illustrate their intrinsic disparities while also highlighting an unsettling situation about the inequitable distribution of prospective benefits from through regional collaboration initiative. Although the members of SAFTA members have low-income and the nations are developing, among these —Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives, —are classified as least developed countries (LDCs) due to many significant challenges that impede their business expansion and development. Thus, the extent to which these issues may impact the SAFTA agreement and the measures India must implement is a crucial inquiry, which serves as the primary purpose of this article. This research also considers the influence among the SAARC members. Analysis of data from several pertinent sources covering the period from 2016-17 to 2022-23 reveals that commerce among SAFTA members has not expanded as considerably as anticipated. The statistical analysis conducted validates the suspicions of numerous scholars, indicating that the SAFTA countries are not genuine trading partners; instead, they frequently compete by exporting identical product categories. Given that this context renders significant growth in mutual trade improbable, the paper finishes with views on enhancing India's regional commerce.

By Manish Upretya, Pankaj Kumar Shah
In Volume: 14,Issue: 1
Title: The Shock of Corruption on GDP Per Capita: A Panel Data Postmortem on the South Asian Region

Abstract: Corruption is characterized as the exploitation of entrusted authority for personal advantage, often taking the form of illegal acts, deceit, or bribery, and is broadly regarded as harmful to economic progress. Although some research indicates that corruption might enhance certain economic activities, it is primarily perceived as a major obstacle to sustainable development on a global scale. The research question of this study is: What is the effect of corruption on GDP per capita in South Asian nations between 1995 and 2016? This investigation examines the link between corruption, as assessed by the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), and GDP per capita in South Asia. By employing a Generalized Least Squares (GLS) model, the study seeks to analyze the impact of corruption on GDP per capita. The results reveal a significant negative association between corruption and GDP per capita, indicating that corruption hinders economic growth in the region. Therefore, it is crucial for the governments of these nations to adopt effective strategies to address corruption and foster sustainable economic development.

By Md. Mahmudul Hassan, Tareq Imam Zahid
In Volume: 14,Issue: 1

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