Asian Research Journal of Arts & Social Sciences

Public Debt Framework for Kerala, India: Fiscal Sustainability, Institutional Reform and Intergenerational Equity

Anna Abraham Pachayil, Manu J. Vettickan, Pradeep Kumar B. — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Persistent deficit financing and the increasing burden of interest payments suggest that a considerable proportion of public borrowing is being utilised to support current expenditure rather than productive capital investment. Furthermore, interest obligations consistently account for nearly one-fifth of total revenue receipts, thereby constraining the fiscal capacity available for developmental and growth-oriented expenditure.

Aims: This review attempts to examine the theoretical foundations of public debt management and analyses the evolving debt profile of Kerala within the broader framework of fiscal sustainability.

Methodology: Data on fiscal and debt indicators, structure, composition and growth of public debt in Kerala over the years since 2001 has been used for the discussion. The databases of RBI, Kerala state budget documents and Economic Review of various years are the major data sources used here for the purpose.

Results: A comprehensive and forward-looking public debt management framework that balances welfare commitments with fiscal sustainability is very important for Kerala. Institutional reforms such as a dedicated Public Debt Management Office, regular public disclosures, independent audits, and fiscal council reviews would strengthen fiscal credibility and investor confidence. Kerala must link borrowing with long-term economic transformation. Kerala’s debt policy must move beyond narrow deficit management towards a broader institutional framework rooted in transparency, accountability, growth orientation, and intergenerational equity.

Conclusion: A well principled fiscal architecture will help Kerala to preserve its welfare achievements while ensuring long-term fiscal resilience and sustainable economic transformation.

Study Significance: Studying public debt and fiscal sustainability have a great economic importance, especially given the increasing debt of countries in general and developing countries in particular, which jeopardizes the economy and growth if it exceeds reasonable limits, thus predicting crises and further debt accumulation.

Artificial Intelligence and the Empowerment of Human Resource Management Practices: A Meta-Synthesis and Systematic Review of Multidimensional Considerations

Najiba Sultani, Subhashini Srivatsa — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background & Aim: Artificial Intelligence is transforming Human Resource Management by enabling more efficient, data-driven, and strategic workforce decision-making processes. The study aims to discover the role of AI in improving HRM practices and its potential to transform human resource management practices in the future.

Methodology: A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA and CIMO framework guidelines, analyzing studies published between 2020 and 2026. Relevant literature was collected from major academic databases, including Scopus and Web of Science, along with other scholarly sources.

Result: The findings indicate that AI is widely applied in HR functions such as recruitment, performance management, employee engagement, and development, enhancing efficiency and enabling data-driven decision-making. The results further suggest that AI is expected to reshape HRM through increased automation, human–AI collaboration, and personalized workforce strategies. However, challenges such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and resistance to change remain significant barriers.

Conclusion: AI has improved HRM practices significantly and has a strong potential to boost AI-human collaboration in the future. However, its successful implementation requires addressing ethical and organizational challenges.

A Correlational Study on Mobile Gaming Addiction and Phubbing Behaviour among Higher Secondary School Students

Tarzan Damarathi Mahanta, K. Santosh Kumar Rao, Priyanka Priyadarshini Das — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: The widespread use of smartphones has introduced new behavioural challenges among adolescents, notably Mobile Gaming Addiction (MGA) and phubbing While these phenomena independently impact developmental and social competencies, their interrelationship remains underexplored in the Indian educational context.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of MGA and phubbing behaviour, examine gender-based differences, and determine the correlational relationship between these two variables among higher secondary school students.

Methodology: A quantitative correlational research design was employed. A stratified random sample of 280 students (140 male, 140 female) was drawn from higher secondary schools in the Keonjhar district of Odisha. Data were collected using a self-developed Mobile Gaming Addiction Scale (MGAS) and an adopted Phubbing Behaviour Scale (PBS).

Results: Descriptive analysis revealed that a majority of students exhibited moderate levels of both MGA (70%) and phubbing behaviour (60%). An independent samples t-test indicated a statistically significant gender difference in MGA, with male students scoring significantly higher than females (t = 2.981, p = 0.003). However, no significant gender difference was observed regarding phubbing behaviour (t = 0.981, p = 0.328). Pearson’s correlation coefficient demonstrated a significant positive relationship between MGA and phubbing behaviour (r = 0.240, p = 0.003). These findings carry practical relevance for educators and school counsellors, suggesting that interventions targeting mobile gaming habits may simultaneously help curb phubbing tendencies among adolescents. Integrating digital wellness modules and structured screen-time awareness into the school curriculum could serve as a preventive strategy for fostering healthier interpersonal engagement.

Language Blend: A Catalyst to Sustainable Environmental Awareness and Agricultural Innovation in Nigeria

Andrew Ndiwe Amadi, Chijioke O. Ahamefula-Aguguam — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Agricultural innovation in Nigeria is often limited by linguistic diversity and the lack of adequate technical vocabulary in many indigenous languages. Therefore, a strategic combination of local languages and English is necessary to ensure effective communication and wider adoption of modern farming practices. This paper examined the necessity to blend English with indigenous languages in order to sustain environm ental awareness, communicate agricultural innovations to farmers, and enhance food productivity. In this current reality of climate change, environmental degradation and food scarcity, language plays a very crucial but usually overlooked role in changing human attitudes and actions toward the environment. While contemporary extension models treat communication as a simple top-down technical translation exercise, a glaring research gap exists regarding how a strategic "Language blend” can demystify complex scientific data and transform environmental protection into a shared cultural duty for rural communities. The paper hinged on eco-linguistics, and communication for development theory, and applied descriptive qualitative research methodology to evaluate the advantages of blending the English language with indigenous expressions across Nigeria's multilingual landscape. The findings revealed that a deliberate language blend serves as an indispensable tool for unlocking localised ecological responsibility and increasing the grassroots adoption of agro-ecological innovations. Furthermore, the study introduced an operational "Language blend" extension typology to illustrate how code-mixing narrative framing and participatory two-way discourse enhance communication loop accessibility. It concluded that institutionalising language policies and linguistic inclusivity are critical tools for sustainable, environmental and agricultural development toward achieving food safety. Therefore, the Nigerian government and active non-governmental organisations were enjoined to prioritise language inclusion within national environmental and agricultural policies.

The Effect of Fundamental Factors on Stock Prices in the Energy Sector in Indonesia

Mareta Salsa Mariolah, Yuniningsih, Yuniningsih — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Indonesia’s capital market has experienced significant growth, driven by increasing market capitalization and a surge in the number of investors. The energy sector plays a key role in this growth, attracting investors despite its high stock price volatility and risk-return potential. This research aims to examine and analyze the effect of leverage, profitability, and dividend policy on stock prices, with investment decisions as a moderating variable, in energy sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the 2020–2024 period. Using a quantitative approach, the research sample consists of 16 companies selected through a purposive sampling method, resulting in a total of 80 observations. The data analysis technique employed is Moderated Regression Analysis (MRA) using IBM SPSS 26 software. The results indicate that, partially, leverage, profitability, and dividend policy have a positive and significant effect on stock prices. Investment decisions were found to be unable to moderate the effect of leverage and profitability; however, they were proven to negatively moderate the effect of dividend policy on stock prices. Simultaneously, all independent variables and their interactions have a significant effect on stock prices. The energy sector market operates rationally, prioritizing actual financial signals such as realized earnings and cash dividends over physical expansions. Therefore, companies should optimize their capital structure and carefully evaluate aggressive expenditures to sustain investor confidence without triggering market skepticism.

Investigating the Effectiveness of Learning by Research Model in Promoting Students’ Critical Thinking Skills

St Fatimah Azzahra — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined the effectiveness of the Learning by Research (LBR) model in improving junior high school students’ critical thinking skills. The study was conducted at SMP Negeri 66 Jakarta between January and April 2026 using a quantitative quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test measures. Two classes were involved: Class VIII-D served as the experimental group and received instruction through the LBR model, while Class VIII-G served as the control group and received instruction through the Direct Learning model. The LBR intervention engaged students in research-oriented learning activities, including problem orientation, research design, exploration, data analysis, conclusion drawing, and exhibition of research findings. The learning activities were implemented in the context of science and social studies topics related to food consumption, sugar content, lifestyle patterns, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease among adolescents. Students’ critical thinking skills were assessed using a test instrument based on critical thinking dimensions, including interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, and explanation. The instrument was reported to have been validated by experts, with a validity score of 90% and a Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of 0.91. The results showed that both groups improved from pre-test to post-test; however, the experimental group showed a greater increase. The control group’s mean score increased from 55.88 to 67.63, with an average N-gain of 0.27, while the experimental group’s mean score increased from 56.90 to 82.70, with an average N-gain of 0.62. Normality testing indicated that the N-gain data were normally distributed, while the homogeneity test indicated unequal variances between groups. Therefore, Welch’s independent samples t-test was used and showed a significant difference between the groups (p < .001). These findings indicate that the LBR model was more effective than Direct Learning in improving students’ critical thinking skills in this study context.