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Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) every year produces peace setting scores of many countries over the globe. The peace index score (PIS) and its ranking are fabricated by involvement of numerous recognised variables. The internal and external violence factors and their intensity regulate the strength of such scores. The present study deliberates such peace scores and rank of the countries in terms of regional variation and income class specifications. The study uses alteration of rank over three consecutive years and the growth of the PIS to elucidate the disparities over the region and income classification. The study recognised that income classification of countries smoothly elucidates the rank differences in terms of peace scores, but regional variation wise enlightenment remains misnomer. Further, this study contemplates four violence indicators and their growth over three years to describe the non-conformities of peace score between the countries. Studies acknowledged that inter-correlation between the peace growth scores and also between the growth of violence indicators is the significant factor to comprehend the peace score behaviour. Over the years, studies confirm that high-income countries are able to improve their PIS though there has large levels of inconsistency among countries. Among the regional specification, studies perceive that countries around the globe improved their peace score during 2018–2019, rather than 2019–2020.

The purpose of this research paper is to understand the major factors considered before choosing the mode of transportation for the freight movement in India by different stakeholders and look into the future prospects on each of these sectors, i.e. railways, roadways and inland waterways.

This paper collected the primary data from the various stakeholders in the transportation sector and the secondary data through websites and various ministries of each of the sectors. The various factors are then determined by thoroughly analysing the responses by performing factor analysis in SPSS.

Earlier railways were the preferred medium of transportation, but the dynamics shifted during the 90’s to roadways, and now, it is responsible for nearly 60% of the freight traffic with waterways slowing increasing its share of the pie. Also, there are a lot of factors which stakeholders consider, but the major factors that came out are cost, sustainability, timing, government initiatives, visibility and performance.

The result of this study implies that sectors should create a robust network for easy reach of the customers and try working in conjunction to create an efficient, affordable and highly connected network. This study will also help in taking vital decisions regarding the future planning of transportation sector.

The findings help in improving the transportation network and help in better decision-making by various stakeholders while choosing the mode of transportation.

The purpose of this paper is to determine, rank and form composite relational factors that impact the millennial consumer’s mind-set when they opt for an access-based subscription of an over-the-top (OTT) platform service. In the competitive rising Indian market of OTT platforms, there is a need to understand what factors drive the subscription of a service for a company strategizing to build up on their customer base or for a company seeking to retain its customers.

The approach includes determining factors that impact the buying behavior of the consumer and have them ranked by the survey participants in order of their importance as a factor in considering a subscription of an OTT platform service. Questionnaire as a method is used for primary data collection in this research. Using “purposive sampling,” participants of the survey were determined based on their age group and current or historic consumption of at least one OTT platform service. The survey was conducted for the millennial viewership from Tier I and Tier II cities that have good internet connectivity over their mobile phones.

The result of this research is a ranking of factors based on their importance as perceived by the millennial consumers and then form composite factors, which have similarities in responses.

This research enables the consumers of the information to dwell on the factors that prove to be of comparative importance to the consumer and plan/forecast their strategies and further research studies accordingly.

A research along similar lines has been conducted for US-based OTT platforms. However, this research is specific for Indian consumers and platforms and holds significance because of growth in the Indian OTT market.

The purpose of this paper is to compare ten Open Science Portals in India. The comparison is made using the three primary parameters of accessibility, search engine optimization (SEO) and performance. This study aims to investigate whether the ten selected web portals efficiently meet the web accessibility requirements of the large population at an acceptable rate.

This study was performed by using the Siteimprove web tool to collect information about Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. The online accessibility tools provided by Siteimprove make it simple to comply with and follow the global WCAG at all compliance levels. This study selected ten web portals taking into account the open accessibility and the web portals offered by the Indian Government to promote research and innovation.

The findings of this research will be beneficial for the government website designers, managers and administrators to assess their website’s level of compliance with accepted accessibility standards so they can make tactical choices to increase accessibility.

This study highlights the portals’ robust characteristic features and downsides, where improvement may be required. It also focused on how these portals help in promoting citizen science and public understanding of science nationwide.

The review examines the existing literature on blockchain-based small and medium enterprise (SME) finance and highlights its trend, themes, opportunities and challenges. Based on these factors, the authors create a framework for the existing literature on blockchain-based SME financing and lay down future research paths.

The review follows a systematic approach. It includes 53 articles encompassing multiple dimensions of blockchain-based SME finance, including peer-to-peer lending platforms, supply chain finance (SCF), decentralized lending protocols and tokenization of assets. The review critically evaluates these approaches' theoretical underpinnings, empirical evidence and practical implementations.

The review demonstrates that blockchain-based SME finance holds significant promise in addressing the credit gap by leveraging blockchain technology's decentralized and transparent nature. Benefits identified include reduced information asymmetry, improved access to financing, enhanced credit assessment processes and increased financial inclusion. However, the literature acknowledges several challenges and limitations, such as regulatory uncertainties, scalability issues, operational complexities and potential security risks.

The article contributes to the growing knowledge of blockchain-based SME finance by synthesizing and evaluating the existing literature. It also provides a framework for the existing literature in the area and future research paths. The study offers insights for researchers, policymakers and practitioners seeking to understand the potential of blockchain technology in filling the SME credit gap and fostering economic development through improved access to finance for SMEs.

The chapter aims to empirically explore trends and issues concerning Indian wellness services being taken internationally for commercial use by wellness service providers and tourists. The text also highlights how their authenticity gets compromised in place of profitability. The enquiry is approached through a conceptual framework of wellness tourism and subsequent tourism concerns. While scholars have recently turned their attention to tourism challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, the perspective of digitalization within tourism can help to nuance this area of concern. Some recommendations for the Indian wellness tourism sector include digital solutions, screen-induced tourism, measures towards tourists' safety, regulations concerning certifications and targeting new client segments. Furthermore, raising greater awareness about the philosophical backdrop of Indian wellness services amongst international tourists would contribute to practice and theory while resurrecting the wellness tourism industry in India.

The development of new communication technology such as 5G is now a solid choice for Industry 4.0. 5G in the fifth generation replaces the presently used mobile telecommunications networks. In every sector of modern life, this technology is designed to resolve the issue of the enormous rise in daily gadgets. 5G allows rapid data transfer and significantly improves the Internet of Things (IoT), which contains billions of devices. The purpose of this paper is to study the potential applications of 5G for Industry 4.0.

Relevant research publications from Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar were identified to accomplish the objectives of this paper. 5G for Industry 4.0 enables crucial communications such as wireless management of machines and robotics to unleash Industry 4.0’s full potential, including the considerable proliferation of IoT devices in 5G. This technology enhances quality control, increasing inspections that rely on real-time analysis for rapid and early detection.

In Industry 4.0, 5G technology provides high speed and flexibility connectivity which helps to enhance the entire manufacturing system. This paper briefs about 5G and different network technologies used in 5G. Advancements, associated features and specialties, and significant enablers of 5G for Industry 4.0 are discussed. Finally, the paper identifies and discusses eighteen 5G applications for Industry 4.0. 5 G-enabled robots are used in manufacturing to carry out extensive work to enhance connectivity.

5G is the next-generation communication technology, allowing numerous examples of inventive usage, including Industry 4.0. In line with its long-term vision of digitisation, 5G benefit the whole value chain, including consumers and businesses.