| 1 |
Author(s):
Arvind Rajput.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Social Science
Page No:
1-13 |
Caste System and Social Equality in Modern India
Abstract
The caste system has been one of the most significant social institutions in Indian society for centuries. It has historically determined an individual’s social status, occupation, marriage relations, and access to social and economic opportunities. Although the Indian Constitution guarantees equality and prohibits caste-based discrimination, the influence of caste continues to shape social, political, and economic life in modern India. This paper examines the historical development of the caste system and analyses its impact on social equality in contemporary Indian society. The study explores how caste hierarchy evolved from the traditional Varna system into a rigid social structure that created inequality and exclusion among different social groups. The paper further discusses the role of social reformers such as Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Jyotirao Phule, Mahatma Gandhi, and Periyar in challenging caste discrimination and promoting social justice. Special attention is given to constitutional provisions, reservation policies, and welfare programmes introduced by the Indian government to uplift Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. The study also highlights the persistence of caste-based discrimination in areas such as education, employment, politics, marriage, and access to resources despite rapid urbanisation and modernisation.
| 2 |
Author(s):
सुमन तिवारी.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Sociology
Page No:
14-20 |
फास्ट फूड संस्कृति का भारतीय युवाओं की जीवनशैली पर प्रभाव
Abstract
वर्तमान समय में वैश्वीकरण, शहरीकरण तथा तकनीकी विकास के कारण भारतीय समाज में फास्ट फूड संस्कृति का तेजी से विस्तार हुआ है। विशेष रूप से युवा वर्ग इस संस्कृति से अत्यधिक प्रभावित हो रहा है। फास्ट फूड केवल भोजन की एक शैली नहीं रह गया है, बल्कि यह आधुनिक जीवनशैली, सामाजिक प्रतिष्ठा और उपभोगवादी प्रवृत्ति का प्रतीक बन चुका है। इस शोध पत्र का उद्देश्य भारतीय युवाओं की जीवनशैली पर फास्ट फूड संस्कृति के सामाजिक, सांस्कृतिक, स्वास्थ्य संबंधी तथा आर्थिक प्रभावों का विश्लेषण करना है। अध्ययन से यह स्पष्ट होता है कि फास्ट फूड का अत्यधिक सेवन युवाओं के स्वास्थ्य पर प्रतिकूल प्रभाव डाल रहा है। मोटापा, मधुमेह, उच्च रक्तचाप, हृदय रोग तथा पाचन संबंधी समस्याएँ युवाओं में तेजी से बढ़ रही हैं। इसके अतिरिक्त, फास्ट फूड संस्कृति युवाओं की दैनिक दिनचर्या, नींद, मानसिक स्वास्थ्य तथा शारीरिक सक्रियता को भी प्रभावित कर रही है। सोशल मीडिया, विज्ञापन, ऑनलाइन फूड डिलीवरी सेवाएँ तथा पश्चिमी संस्कृति का आकर्षण युवाओं में फास्ट फूड की लोकप्रियता बढ़ाने में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभा रहे हैं। यह शोध यह भी दर्शाता है कि फास्ट फूड संस्कृति के कारण पारंपरिक भारतीय भोजन प्रणाली और पारिवारिक भोजन की परंपराएँ कमजोर हो रही हैं। युवाओं में घर के भोजन की अपेक्षा बाहर के भोजन की प्रवृत्ति बढ़ी है, जिससे सामाजिक और सांस्कृतिक परिवर्तन भी देखने को मिल रहे हैं। हालांकि, फास्ट फूड उद्योग ने रोजगार के नए अवसर उत्पन्न किए हैं और आधुनिक जीवन की व्यस्तता में सुविधा प्रदान की है, फिर भी इसके नकारात्मक प्रभाव अधिक गंभीर दिखाई देते हैं। अध्ययन के अंत में यह सुझाव दिया गया है कि युवाओं में संतुलित आहार, नियमित व्यायाम तथा स्वास्थ्य के प्रति जागरूकता को बढ़ावा दिया जाना चाहिए। विद्यालयों, महाविद्यालयों, परिवारों तथा सरकार को मिलकर स्वस्थ भोजन संबंधी शिक्षा और जागरूकता कार्यक्रम संचालित करने चाहिए ताकि युवा वर्ग स्वस्थ एवं संतुलित जीवनशैली अपना सके।
| 3 |
Author(s):
Vivek Kumar Singh.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Social Science
Page No:
21-32 |
Changing Family Structure in Urban India: A Social Study
Abstract
Family is one of the most significant social institutions that shapes human behaviour, social values, and cultural continuity. In India, the traditional joint family system has historically played an important role in maintaining social unity, economic cooperation, emotional security, and intergenerational support. However, rapid urbanisation, industrialisation, modern education, migration, and globalisation have brought major changes in the structure and functioning of families, especially in urban areas. The increasing influence of modern lifestyles and individualistic values has gradually transformed the traditional family pattern into smaller and more independent family units. This study examines the changing family structure in urban India and analyses the major social, economic, and cultural factors responsible for this transformation. The paper highlights the shift from joint families to nuclear families, changing gender roles, increasing participation of women in employment, delayed marriages, declining birth rates, and changing parent-child relationships. It also discusses emerging family forms such as single-parent families and dual-income households, which are becoming more visible in metropolitan cities. The study further explores the impact of these structural changes on social relationships, elderly care, child socialisation, emotional bonding, and mental well-being. While modern urban family structures provide greater freedom, privacy, and economic independence, they also create challenges such as social isolation, stress, weakening kinship ties, and reduced emotional support systems. The changing nature of family life reflects the broader process of social change occurring in contemporary Indian society.
| 4 |
Author(s):
Aditya Srivastava.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Law
Page No:
33-43 |
Judicial Review and Constitutional Supremacy in India: Emerging Trends and Challenges
Abstract
Judicial review is an integral part of the constitutional system of India and is an important feature for ensuring supremacy of the Constitution, Rule of Law and protection of fundamental rights. This paper focuses on the evolution of judicial review in India, its current trends and some of the key issues. It emphasizes the commitment of judiciary from being a vigilant watchdog in the early post-Independence era to its active involvement in path-breaking decisions like Kesavananda Bharati, Minerva Mills, S.R. Bommai, and K.S. Puttaswamy. The study reveals that the judicial review has been expanded with the advent of Article 21, Public Interest Litigation, environmental protection, constitutional morality and digital privacy. But, problems like judicial overreach, delay and pendency of cases, misuse of PILs, separation of powers problems and ineffective execution of the verdicts still hamper its efficiency. The paper establishes that judicial review should be independent, balanced and responsible to serve the values of the constitution and to respect democratic institutions.
| 5 |
Author(s):
Pooja Mishra.
Country:
India
Research Area:
Psychology
Page No:
44-53 |
Anxiety, Depression and Sleep Quality Among Young Adults in Urban Areas
Abstract
Mental health issues are emerging as a growing public health issue for young adults, especially in urban areas where academic stress, career insecurity, computer/device usage, social isolation, and environmental factors impact mental health. The interrelationship of anxiety, depression and sleep quality in youth in urban environments is explored. The paper is based on a review of the latest scholarly literature and secondary data that have been verified with sources from the global and Government level such as the World Health Organization, estimates on Global Burden of Disease, National Mental Health Survey of India, NCRB, CDC/NCHS and NHS England. All reviewed evidence supports a strong association between anxiety and depression and poor sleep quality, and sleep disturbance can be a symptom as well as a risk factor for psychological distress. Competitive lifestyles, late night use of digital media, commuting stress, noise and pollution, and high living costs, and less social support are particularly harmful to urban young adults. The evidence regarding mental morbidity shows higher prevalence in urban-metro areas and sleep quality is under studied in the national mental health research evidence in India. The paper emphasizes the importance of sleep not just as an outcome of anxiety and depression, but as a key behavioural and socio-demographic marker of young people's mental health. It calls for comprehensive screening, early counselling, education on sleep hygiene, responsible digital media use and youth mental health-friendly interventions in urban institutions and in the workplace. Incorporating anxiety, depression and sleep quality into a single analytical framework for the context of urban young adults, the paper adds to the existing literature.
