Current Issue

Vol. 55,  No. 1,  2025

The Aid-Growth Paradox: An Empirical Investigation of the role of Foreign Assistance in India’s Economic Performance

Sonam Rastogi and Ashir Mehta
The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between foreign aid and economic growth in India using time series data from the past 50 years (1973 to 2022). The study employs various macroeconomic variables, including Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Net Official Development Assistance (ODA) received, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) net inflows, General Government Final Consumption Expenditure, Exports of Goods and Services, Imports of Goods and Services, and Tax Revenue. Time series techniques such as the Johansen cointegration test, the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), the Granger Causality test, regression analysis, and diagnostic tests have been used for empirical analysis. In this study, the data has been partitioned into 3 time periods i.e. 1973-1990, 1991-2000, and 2001-2022. The adjusted R-squared of the VECM model revealed that almost about 89% of the variance in GDP implied a strong relationship. However, the Granger Causality test indicates no significant predictive relationship between GDP and foreign aid in either direction. Regression analysis demonstrates that the model fit is strong and positive.

Key Words: Economic growth, Foreign aid, Foreign direct investment (FDI), Gross domestic product (GDP), Vector error correction model (VECM), India.

Commercial Viability of Discoms of Gujarat and Rajasthan: A Comparative Analysis

Varinder Jain and Khushboo Sharma
Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur, India

Abstract: Despite the introduction of power sector reforms since the late 1990s, aspects of commercial viability have gained scant attention and concern. Most of the power distribution companies across India have experienced the pangs of commercial inefficiency with their annual balance sheets depicting losses. This study aims to draw a comparative analysis of the commercial viability of power distribution companies (DISCOMs) in Gujarat whose DISCOMs have been performing consistently well, and Rajasthan where opposite has been the case. Besides relying on other key secondary sources of information, analytical exercises in the paper are based on statistics provided by the Power Finance Corporation of India (PFCI) for the last ten years. The study also compares major interventions adopted by the selected seven DISCOMs to achieve commercial viability.

Key Words: Electricity distribution, DISCOMs, Indian power sector, Rajasthan, Gujarat.

Facets of Gendered Occupational Segregation in the Urban Labour Market of Uttar Pradesh

Nomita P Kumar, Kavita Baliyan, Achala Srivastava and Samapriya Trivedi
Giri Institute of Development Studies, Lucknow, India

Abstract: Gender inequality is a universal phenomenon. Aspects of gender inequality exist everywhere and manifest themselves differently in each context. It is caused by multiplicity of factors. Despite marked progress in women’s participation in economic activities, important challenges persist for women in obtaining productive jobs and better remuneration and in urban labour market. Occupational segregation is one important dimension of gender disparity and takes place when an occupation or a certain part of it tends to be dominated by individuals of a particular gender or other personal characteristic. It is pertinent to understand magnitude and nature of the existence of such practice for informed policy making because it could arise due to underlying preference of women for certain occupations or due to exclusion of women from certain occupations. Gender discrimination at the workplace could also be reflected in the nature of work distribution and valuation of the skills and the technology used by men and women. ILO notes that “[t]hroughout most regions and many occupations, women are paid less money than men for the same job. In majority of countries, women’s wages represent between 70 and 90 percent of men’s wages, with even lower ratios in some Asian and Latin American countries” (ILO, 2009). Often women are slotted into lower wage rate jobs and men are assigned higher wage rate jobs. In this connection, an attempt would be made in the present study to analyse the survey data for determining the prevailing gender discrimination in urban labour market. We would also examine the inequalities in terms of the occupations and earnings between male and female workers in urban sector.

Key Words: Urban labour market, Occupational segregation, Gini index, Entropy indices.

Socioeconomic Progress through Convergence: Analyzing PMAY-G, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and PMUY Impacts in Tamil Nadu

Balu Anthony ¹ and Dinesh Loganathan ^2
1Dr. Ambedkar Government Arts College, Chennai, India and ²Dwaraka Doss Goverdhan Doss Vaishav College (A), Chennai, India

Abstract: The study explores the role of scheme convergence in advancing socioeconomic progress through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA), and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in rural Tamil Nadu. These welfare schemes, targeting improvements in housing, sanitation, and access to clean cooking, respectively, present distinct opportunities and challenges when implemented together, influencing beneficiary experiences and fostering comprehensive rural development. Primary data was collected from 600 beneficiaries across four major zones in Tamil Nadu, focusing on three key outcomes: PMAY-G Assistance Sufficiency, Perceived Community Sanitation Improvement, and Satisfaction with LPG Cooking. Using binary logistic regression analysis, the study identifies significant predictors—such as age, income, employment status, community type, and access to financial support—that shape perceptions of scheme adequacy and impact. Findings highlight the importance of targeted financial support, community participation, and coordinated inter-departmental efforts to strengthen the convergence model. Policy recommendations emphasize tailored financial mechanisms and robust infrastructure to address the diverse needs of beneficiaries, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of these schemes in rural Tamil Nadu.

Key words:PMAY-G, SBA, PMUY, Rural welfare, Convergence, Health outcomes.

Early Marriage and Intra-Women Disparity in Literacy in India: A Comprehensive Analysis of Trends, Patterns and Inequality

Purnendu Modak and Deboshmita Brahma
University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India

Abstract: The present study delves into a comprehensive analysis of early marriage and intra-women disparity in literacy across major states in India. The use of the Achievement Model by Atkinson and the General Entropy Index enhances the understanding of literacy disparities among women married at an early age compared to those married as adults. This paper uses the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data—one to five rounds. The sample includes currently married women aged 15-49 years in India. The findings reveal that the literacy of women in adult marriage is disproportionately higher than that of women who married early. Poor households, rural areas, scheduled caste category, etc. are also important factors. The mean year of schooling of women in adult marriage is found to be higher than that of women in early marriage, and the gap in schooling has declined from NFHS-1 to NFHS-5. The states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra could retain their positions within rank 1 to rank 5 during NFHS-1 to NFHS-5 with respect to the intra-women disparity in literacy. Contrary to this, states like Rajasthan, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh have retained the bottom three positions over the last three decades. The policy-level intervention to increase literacy for early married women and reduce inequality aligns with broader efforts towards improving educational achievement and addressing gender disparities.

Key words: Early Marriage, Literacy, General Entropy Index, NFHS, India.