DSpace Collection:

THE MODERATING ROLE OF HUMAN CAPITAL ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GLOBALIZATION AND GREEN TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION IN EMERGING ECONOMIES

2026-07-24T05:35:27Z

Title: THE MODERATING ROLE OF HUMAN CAPITAL ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GLOBALIZATION AND GREEN TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION IN EMERGING ECONOMIES Authors: NAYYAR, GULEENA; Kumar, Virender (SUPERVISOR) Abstract: Shifting to clean or green energy technologies is important for emerging economies that aim to separate economic growth from environmental harm. Existing research has already proved that globalization channels—such as economic, social, trade, and financial globalization—have promoted the adoption of green technology. However, a significant gap remains in understanding how a country’s internal human capital influences this international spillover. We used 22 years of yearly data from 25 emerging economies from 2000 to 2021. This paper explores whether local human capital influences the way dimensions of globalization impact the adoption of green technology across emerging economies using a two-step System GMM methodology . The empirical evidence suggests that in the case of economic, social, and trade globalization, they cannot solely impact the adoption of green technology across emerging economies. Conversely, their interaction with local human capital has a robust and significant impact on technology adoption. Among all the dimensions, only financial globalization independently facilitates the adoption of clean energy. Simultaneously, leveraging human capital significantly enhances the link between globalization and green technology, nearly doubling the adoption rate. These findings imply that, without skilled technicians and engineers, imported technologies may be underused or remain unused in warehouses. This highlights that the advantages of green technology transfer heavily rely on having a skilled workforce to implement the transition. To this finding, we propose some policy recommendations for governments in emerging economies: They should step away from the idea of trade liberalization and invest more in bringing in advanced technology, dedicated STEM education, compulsory green training contracts for their corporate employees , and upskilling of labor to overcome the mismatch in skill sets.

INDUSTRIAL AND FISCAL SPILLOVER EFFECTS OF DEFENCE MANUFACTURING UNDER MAKE IN INDIA: AN INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

2026-07-22T04:54:23Z

Title: INDUSTRIAL AND FISCAL SPILLOVER EFFECTS OF DEFENCE MANUFACTURING UNDER MAKE IN INDIA: AN INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT Authors: YADAV, KOMAL; Banerjee, Saikat (SUPERVISOR) Abstract: This dissertation presents an integrated assessment of the industrial and fiscal spillover effects of defence manufacturing under India's Make in India initiative, covering the period 2004–25. The study is organised around two core objectives that together examine how India's ongoing transition from import-dependence to indigenous defence production has affected both its broader industrial ecosystem and its fiscal position. Objective 1 tracks India's defence indigenisation journey through trend analysis and econometric modelling. Part A documents the dramatic growth in domestic defence production (from ₹17,435 crore in 2004–05 to ₹1,50,590 crore in 2024–25), the partial but incomplete substitution of imports (SIPRI TIV data shows continued dependence for high-technology platforms), and the emergence of a defence export capability (growing to ₹23,622 crore in 2024–25). Part B presents an OLS regression model — ln(MFG GVA) = 1.094 + 0.354·ln(Defence Production) + 0.629·ln(GFCF) + ε — that demonstrates a statistically significant positive spillover from indigenous defence production to manufacturing GVA (R² = 0.991, p < 0.05). A qualitative spillover matrix identifies six channels through which defence manufacturing generates civilian economic benefits: DRDO technology transfers (670 LATOTs signed), HAL’s dual-use aviation infrastructure, BEL’s non-defence commercial revenues (₹2,640 crore, 13.3% of revenue), iDEX startups, MSME vendor ecosystem (~16,000 MSMEs), and Defence Corridor industrial clusters (52,658 jobs committed). Objective 2 examines the fiscal sustainability of defence indigenisation through a three-component framework. Ratio analysis reveals a structural decline in the overall defence fiscal burden (from 10.4% to 7.6% of government expenditure) but documents the internal restructuring that constrains this progress: pension liabilities have risen from 14.5% to 22.7% of the defence budget; the capital-to-revenue ratio has more than halved; and DRDO’s proportionate budget share has remained flat at 3–6%. Regression analysis (R² = 0.417, F p-value = 0.024) confirms that India Page 5 remains in the transition-cost phase of indigenisation, with pension crowding-out the dominant structural pressure (coefficient = −0.080, p = 0.086) and no single policy variable independently determining fiscal outcomes. The integrated analysis reveals a paradox at the heart of India’s defence transformation: industrial spillovers from defence manufacturing are real and growing, but fiscal constraints — rising pension liabilities, stagnant R&D investment, and declining capital-to-revenue ratios — threaten the sustainability of the indigenisation process itself. The study identifies specific policy interventions required to break this constraint and accelerate India’s transition to a fiscally sustainable, industrially generative defence manufacturing base.

IMPACT OF FINTECH ON POVERTY REDUCTION: A STUDY OF SELECTED SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO UPI IN INDIA

2026-07-07T05:12:42Z

Title: IMPACT OF FINTECH ON POVERTY REDUCTION: A STUDY OF SELECTED SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO UPI IN INDIA Authors: CHAUDHARY, MONA; Mookerjee, Amit (SUPERVISOR) Abstract: Digital financial systems are becoming essential tools to improve financial inclusion and alleviate poverty in developing economies. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is also India's flagship digital public good that has revolutionised the payment ecosystem through instant, low cost, bank linked payments which are now accessible for all income and generational groups. In FY 2024–25, UPI has emerged as one of the world's largest real-time payment systems with nearly 185.8 billion transactions valued at ₹260.6 lakh crore. However, the evidence from the micro level that there is any relationship between poverty reduction and intensity of UPI use, and how this relationship occurs is still limited. The thesis examines the link between the use of FinTech or UPI, financial inclusion and the multidimensional poverty outcomes of 400 households in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. The data were gathered using a structured household survey questionnaire with socioeconomic profile, UPI usage intensity (5 items), financial inclusion (8 items) and multidimensional poverty and living standards (5 items) through stratified random sampling by generational and income cohort. The analysis used was Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The following four hypotheses were tested: (H1) UPI usage intensity positively affects financial inclusion; (H2) financial inclusion has a positive effect on multidimensional household poverty; (H3) financial inclusion positively affects household welfare; and (H4) financial inclusion mediates the relationship of UPI and poverty. The measurement model was reliable, with Cronbach's α values of 0.931 for UPI Usage Intensity, and valid with all Average Variance Extracted (AVE) values > 0.50. Support for all four structural hypotheses was found. The usage intensity of UPI had a strong positive effect on financial inclusion (β = 0.744, p<0.001), and financial inclusion significantly reduced multidimensional poverty (β = 0.476, p<0.001). A direct positive effect of the usage v of UPI on welfare was found (β = 0.268, p<0.001), and the indirect path through financial inclusion was also significant (β = 0.354, p<0.001), which confirmed the partial mediation. The results support a usage intensity approach to financial inclusion, showing that the intensity of UPI use yields welfare gains, rather than just access. The thesis ends by proposing policy options such as broadening QR code acceptance in the informal markets, integrating UPI transaction with the formal credit assessment and extending the integration of UPI with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes. Technology: UPI, Financial Inclusion, Digital Payments, SEM, Financial Inclusion, Financial Technologies, Village Level Welfare.

FORECAST AND EVOLUTION OF THE GROSS ENROLMENT RATIO IN PRIMARY EDUCATION IN INDIA

2026-06-04T06:32:30Z

Title: FORECAST AND EVOLUTION OF THE GROSS ENROLMENT RATIO IN PRIMARY EDUCATION IN INDIA Authors: KUMAR, ABHISHEK Abstract: The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is a comprehensive and Integrated flagship programme of the Government of India aimed at Universalization of elementary education which came to effect in November 2000.The concept of Universalization implies education to all children up to the age of 14, that is completion of the upper primary level of education. The dissertation wishes to study the evolution of the GER component in primary education, the improvement of which is an objective of the scheme. An analysis and forecast of the gross enrolment of girls and total gross enrolment in primary education has been taken about through the course of this study. It looks at the developments and studies factors that have influenced the Gross Enrolment Ratio. Increasing the gross enrolment was one of the aims of the policy along with other factors. The study forecasts that the gross enrolment ratio will increase. The predictions realized on the basis of the model obtained show a continuous increase of GER values in the next years. The results obtained can be a good starting point for any study which has as a theme the establishment of personnel policies in the educational system. While increasing pupil teacher ratios have helped in improvements, percentage of aggregate expenditure on education remained around the same mark for all states. Apart from gross enrolment ratio, other factors relating to the quality of education should be studied. Further studies should take into account the very recent policy change of strengthening the SSA by using teacher related factors for quality improvements. The identification and improvements in factors relating to the quality of education in different regions of India can help in meeting the objectives of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the deadline to which has already passed. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is an innovative and integrated flagship programme launched by the Government of India during November 2000 to universalize elementary education. Universalization here means education for all children until age 14, which includes the upper primary level. This dissertation attempts to examine the evolution of Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) component in primary education since improving GER is one of the major objectives of the SSA programme. The present study analyses and predicts the girl’s gross enrolment and overall gross enrolment in primary education. During the span of this study, the trends and determinants of Gross Enrolment Ratio have been studied. It has been predicted that the gross enrolment ratio will also rise in the future. The future projections made through the realized model indicate that the value of GER will keep on increasing in the years to come. v The findings of this study may provide a firm base for any further study which concentrates on the formulation of personnel policies within the education system. Pupil-teacher ratios, although increasing, have played a positive part in improvement but the percentage of aggregate expenditure on education till date has shown more or less the same trend in all states. But, at the same time it should be kept in mind that besides the gross enrolment ratio, other considerations related to quality should also be examined. The future studies should consider the recent policy shift of strengthening the SSA by using teacher related factors to bring about improvement in quality. The identification of quality related factors and their improvement across different regions of India would help in achieving the goals of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, even though the time schedule for its implementation has long been over. The present study reveals that although there has been progress in raising the gross enrolment ratios, especially of girls, yet further improvement is possible on the counts of resource mobilization and quality education. Moreover, the present study brings to the fore the relevance of regional differentials and the necessity of area specific interventions to tackle the problems unique to different regions of India. The identification of factors affecting the quality of education in specific regions would help in achieving the goals of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan even though the time schedule for its implementation has long been over. On the whole, the present dissertation accentuates the need for continuous assessment and reformulation of the policies in tune with the emerging needs of the country. The findings and recommendations of this study may serve as a handy guide for the policy makers, educators and other stakeholders in their sincere efforts to provide equitable and quality education to all the children of India.