Abstract: Rural credit plays a crucial role in promoting agricultural growth and improving the livelihoods of rural households in developing economies, particularly in India. This research paper evaluates the impact of various rural credit mechanisms, including institutional finance, cooperative credit, microfinance, and government-sponsored schemes, on agricultural productivity and livelihood enhancement. Using secondary data from national surveys, published research, and policy documents, the study highlights how access to affordable and timely credit facilitates technological adoption, crop diversification, employment generation, income growth, and poverty reduction. The findings indicate that institutional credit significantly contributes to agricultural productivity and livelihood security. However, challenges such as regional imbalances, procedural complexities, and rising indebtedness remain. The study concludes with policy recommendations to strengthen rural credit delivery systems and ensure sustainable and inclusive rural development.
Abstract: Digital evolution of payment services has been a crucial and evolving trend that has been witnessed in the Indian financial market. Technological advancement, government support, and a rise in smartphone devices have encouraged people to opt for more digital means of transferring money and changing the structure of financial and money markets. This paper attempts to provide an empirical analysis of how consumer behavior is shaped by the evolving nature of digital payment services, especially in Meerut districts of Meerut, a Tier-2 city that constitutes a mix of both urban and semi-urban class consumer crowd. This paper attempts to provide an empirical analysis of how consumer behavior is shaped through a structured questionnaire covering a sample size of 100 people and employed statistical methods for hypothesis testing and analysis. Findings show that demographic characteristics are not a significant factor in changes in consumer expenditure behavior and shape and are shaped by aspects such as trust, ease of convenience, and perceived usefulness of services. Additionally, it was found that ease of services of digital payment further contributes to an improvement in consumer satisfaction levels.
Abstract: This paper intends to argue that incorporating entrepreneurial education into school and college curricula is essential for developing a creative and resilient mindset in young people, transforming job seekers into producers and improving initiatives like Startup India. It divides its analysis into four main sections: an introduction that presents entrepreneurship as an essential component of education that aligns with SDG 4's objectives for skill development; a comparison of NEP's visionary reforms towards experiential, multidisciplinary learning with pre-NEP 2020 issues like rote learning, vocational silos, and skills mismatches; an analysis of new teaching methods, emphasising flexible structures like credit banks and interdisciplinary enterprise skills; and A list of crucial actions for implementing NEP 2020, including teacher training and innovation councils, have also been analysed. This paper is a descriptive study, which relies on government reports and documents to study the performance of NEP in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
Abstract: Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) play a crucial role in the Indian financial system by complementing banks in providing credit, promoting financial inclusion, and offering specialised financial services. The present study aims to evaluate the performance of selected NBFCs in India using key financial indicators. This research analyses profitability, liquidity, solvency, and efficiency ratios to assess the overall financial health of these organisations. Secondary data has been collected from annual reports and published financial statements of the selected NBFCs for a specific period. The findings reveal performance variations among NBFCs, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. This study conducts a comparative performance appraisal of two major Non-Banking Financial Companies operating in the National Capital Region (NCR) of India: Bajaj Finance Ltd. (Gurgaon) and Tata Capital Financial Services Ltd. (Noida). Using key financial metrics such as Assets Under Management (AUM), profitability ratios (Return on Assets - ROA, Return on Equity - ROE), net interest margin (NIM), asset quality (non-performing assets - NPAs), and capital adequacy, this paper evaluates the financial health, operational efficiency, and performance dynamics of both NBFCs. The findings highlight significant differences arising from their business strategies, asset quality, and scale of operations, providing actionable insights for investors, regulators, and stakeholders.
Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between national income and tourism expenditure, framed within the context of the Engel curve, for six South Asian nations with significant potential for Halal tourism: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Utilizing a Generalized Least Squares (GLS) model on panel data from 2000 to 2024, we analyze the impact of GDP per capita on outbound tourism expenditure. Our findings indicate a positive and elastic income elasticity of tourism demand (0.989), signifying that tourism is a luxury good and that financial outlay on travel increases more than proportionally with income. The results underscore the critical opportunity for these countries to develop their Halal tourism sectors to capture a share of this elastic expenditure, thereby fostering economic diversification and employment generation. The study concludes with targeted policy recommendations aimed at leveraging this income-elastic demand for sustainable economic development.