Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S. Lakshmi Devi Author-X-Name-First: S. Lakshmi Author-X-Name-Last: Devi Author-Name: Simanchala Das Author-X-Name-First: Simanchala Author-X-Name-Last: Das Author-Name: Biswajit Acharjya Author-X-Name-First: Biswajit Author-X-Name-Last: Acharjya Title: Exploring the career intention of unemployed youths to participate in skill development training Abstract: Unemployment amongst rural youths in India remains a critical and significant concern. This urgently requires stakeholders to address this pertinent issue by designing and implementing various skill development training programs to improve the employability of the educated unemployed youths in India. However, there is a problem with the active participation of the potential beneficiaries in the training due to their differing intentions. The previous models used to assess training participation suffer from self-reporting biases, making it difficult to determine the participant's actual intention. To address these difficulties, we examined TPB's predictive power in predicting unemployed teenagers' career intentions toward DDUGKY, a government-sponsored plan. PIA-selected convenience sampling was used to present a structured questionnaire to 518 jobless youngsters from three Andhra Pradesh districts. The Smart PLS 3 platform used PLS-SEM for data analysis. Attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control predicted career intention by 71.4 and training engagement by 88.2%. Our study, which employed TPB as a basic theory, had stronger predictive validity than previous training participation models. Policymakers, government agencies, and stakeholders creating and executing skill development programs to reduce rural unemployment can learn from the study. Journal: Int. J. of Electronic Finance Pages: 26-41 Issue: 1 Volume: 15 Year: 2026 Keywords: theory of planned behaviour; TPB; Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gramin Kushalya Yojna; DDUGKY; career intention; skill development; program implementation agency; PIA. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=150285 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijelfi:v:15:y:2026:i:1:p:26-41 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mariya Fatma Author-X-Name-First: Mariya Author-X-Name-Last: Fatma Author-Name: P.R.L. Rajavenkatesan Author-X-Name-First: P.R.L. Author-X-Name-Last: Rajavenkatesan Title: Compulsory licence of cancer drugs: patent vs. price Abstract: Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases, progressively affecting global populations and contributing to rising morbidity rates. A significant obstacle in oncology is enhancing patient access to expensive, life-saving cancer drugs unaffordable to their income. One of the reasons for the high price of cancer drugs is that these drugs are patented, allowing the pharmaceutical industry to rule the market for a limited period. Though patent law gives a monopoly to the patent holder, at the same time, it also provides the mechanism of compulsory licensing, which the states can deploy to make the drugs accessible in terms of availability as well as affordability. However, compulsory licensing has been used limitedly and for certain diseases only, it is necessary to utilise the mechanism for providing wider access to cancer drugs. The article aims to analyse the provisions of compulsory licensing under the TRIPS Agreement and the DOHA declaration and their importance in providing access to pharmaceutical drugs. It also aims to analyse the future role of compulsory licensing in providing access to cancer drugs in developing countries, especially India. Journal: Int. J. of Electronic Finance Pages: 42-60 Issue: 1 Volume: 15 Year: 2026 Keywords: cancer drugs; compulsory licence; DOHA declaration; patent law; and TRIPS agreement; human immunodeficiency virus; HIV. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=150286 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijelfi:v:15:y:2026:i:1:p:42-60 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Abdullah E. Alajmi Author-X-Name-First: Abdullah E. Author-X-Name-Last: Alajmi Title: Firms performance and cryptocurrencies: a comparative study before and after COVID-19 Abstract: The primary objective of this study is to investigate the correlation between firm performance and cryptocurrencies while highlighting the significance of blockchain technology in promoting transparency in financial statements. Our findings demonstrate that the impact of cryptocurrencies on firm performance during a COVID-19 outbreak is varied, with mixed results. Specifically, profitability is partially positively influenced by profit but negatively influenced by stakeholders. Moreover, there is a decrease in cash flow from operating activities. It is important to note that our data is limited to a single country, and the lack of legislation surrounding cryptocurrencies in the accounting field is concerning. Additionally, we observed that the level of knowledge about cryptocurrencies differs between our country and others, potentially influenced by cultural factors. The timeframe of our dataset may also influence the understanding of cryptocurrencies and their relationship with firm performance within Kuwaiti firms. Lastly, to the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to examine the impact of COVID-19 on provincial business performance and the utilisation of cryptocurrencies in Kuwait and the broader Middle East region. Journal: Int. J. of Electronic Finance Pages: 92-106 Issue: 1 Volume: 15 Year: 2026 Keywords: cryptocurrency; firm performance; COVID-19; Bitcoins; cultural factors. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=150287 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijelfi:v:15:y:2026:i:1:p:92-106 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Shubhangi Gautam Author-X-Name-First: Shubhangi Author-X-Name-Last: Gautam Author-Name: Pardeep Kumar Author-X-Name-First: Pardeep Author-X-Name-Last: Kumar Title: Blockchain technology in the investment domain: a bibliometric analysis Abstract: Blockchain technology has significant implications for investments and has opened up new opportunities for investors by providing a more secure and decentralised system for financial transactions. Therefore, the study employs bibliometric analysis to assess how blockchain technology growing in the investment domain. A bibliometric analysis of the biographies of articles published in the category of blockchain and investment trends is carried out using the VOSviewer tool and Scopus analysis. A total of 165 publications were taken from the Scopus database to analyse the patterns in this field. We studied the total number of citations, the most-cited papers, authors and journals, notable organisations and country contributions. This study offers insight into the top five renowned journals of investing and blockchain trends in addition to listing the top ten most substantial articles with their years of publication and total citations. In addition, during the past few years, publications and citations in the disciplines of investing and blockchain trends have been most frequently received by Germany, the Netherlands and the USA. This analysis also identifies and critically examines the top five journals in the specialised field with the greatest SNIP, SJR and citation scores. Journal: Int. J. of Electronic Finance Pages: 79-91 Issue: 1 Volume: 15 Year: 2026 Keywords: bibliometric; blockchain; cryptocurrency; investment. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=150288 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijelfi:v:15:y:2026:i:1:p:79-91 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M.K. Muhammed Shafi Author-X-Name-First: M.K. Muhammed Author-X-Name-Last: Shafi Author-Name: Shaik Saleem Author-X-Name-First: Shaik Author-X-Name-Last: Saleem Author-Name: Praveen Kakada Author-X-Name-First: Praveen Author-X-Name-Last: Kakada Title: Contagion effect of priority sector lending of banks on non-performing assets: a special reference to loan disbursement to self-help groups Abstract: For the last few years, bad loans and NPAs have been a significant cause of concern within India's banking sector, with priority lending sectors generally regarded as one of the main factors behind them. This study aimed to analyse the impact of the priority sector lending (PSL) norm of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on the banking sector, especially on non-performing assets (NPAs). Since the self-help groups (SHGs) are one of the major lending categories under this norm, the study analysed the overall progress of SHGs and sector-wise banking contribution to the eight PSL categories of the primary economic sectors. For the study, aggregated data on credit deployment to priority sector and NPAs was collected from the RBI database for public, private, and foreign banks. Statistical tools like correlation, structural equation modelling, and ordinary least squares have been incorporated to meet the study's objectives. The results indicate a negative relationship between the gross NPA of banks and loan disbursement to the SHGs over the years, and all the bank groups continue to attain the 40% prescribed target of PSL, especially private sector banks. Journal: Int. J. of Electronic Finance Pages: 61-78 Issue: 1 Volume: 15 Year: 2026 Keywords: priority sector lending; PSL; self-help groups; SHGs; credit deployment; micro credit; non-performing asset; NPA; bank linkage programs; micro finance institutions; financial performance of banks; structural equation modelling; SEM. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=150289 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijelfi:v:15:y:2026:i:1:p:61-78 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Parth Shah Author-X-Name-First: Parth Author-X-Name-Last: Shah Author-Name: Amola Bhatt Author-X-Name-First: Amola Author-X-Name-Last: Bhatt Title: Are investors moving towards robo-advisory services? Abstract: The present research aims to understand the usage intention of investors toward robo-advisory services in the Indian context. The UTAUT model, along with two new variables, risk tolerance and financial literacy, were reviewed to study their effect on the usage intention of investors. Performance expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions have a significant positive effect on the usage intention of investors towards robo-advisory services. The study also finds that the level of risk tolerance and financial literacy of the investors negatively affect the usage intention of investors towards robo-advisors. Gender and the education level of the investor significantly moderate the effects of financial literacy and social influence on usage intention, respectively. This study will help the financial service providers to understand how to raise the awareness and adoption rates of robo-advisory services. Journal: Int. J. of Electronic Finance Pages: 1-25 Issue: 1 Volume: 15 Year: 2026 Keywords: fintech; robo-advisory; digital investment management system; UTAUT; financial literacy; FL; risk tolerance; RT; usage intention; UI; financial services; electronic finance; performance expectancy; PE; social influence; SI; facilitating conditions; FC; gender; education. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=150290 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijelfi:v:15:y:2026:i:1:p:1-25 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Kamakshi Mehta Author-X-Name-First: Kamakshi Author-X-Name-Last: Mehta Author-Name: Srinivas Kolachina Author-X-Name-First: Srinivas Author-X-Name-Last: Kolachina Author-Name: Sudha Mavuri Author-X-Name-First: Sudha Author-X-Name-Last: Mavuri Author-Name: Ajith Kumar Vadakki Veetil Author-X-Name-First: Ajith Kumar Vadakki Author-X-Name-Last: Veetil Author-Name: Jayashree Patil Author-X-Name-First: Jayashree Author-X-Name-Last: Patil Author-Name: Jithesh Mon Mullool Author-X-Name-First: Jithesh Mon Author-X-Name-Last: Mullool Title: Exploring the impact of human resource analytics on employee engagement using neural networks in the public sector in India Abstract: In human resource management, the untapped potential of human resource analytics has remained a challenge, resulting in a notable loss of operational efficiency within the public sector. This project uses artificial intelligence to illuminate human resource statistics topics for stakeholders. Human resource analytics, specifically neural networks, can transform public sector human resource departments. Our study covers manufacturing and public-sector employee engagement. Engagement is key to productivity and organisational success, making it a priority for improvement. We show how human resource analytics, especially when combined with neural networks, can transform the game. Human resource analytics is multidimensional and can be used efficiently in the public sector. Our research shows that public enterprises must use human resource analytics to achieve their goals. When used properly, these analytics factors help achieve public sector goals, boosting staff morale and productivity. In conclusion, this study seeks to connect human resource analytics to public sector employee engagement, a crucial topic. We hope to improve human resource operations and create a more engaged and productive public-sector workforce by using neural networks. Journal: Int. J. of Electronic Finance Pages: 107-130 Issue: 1 Volume: 15 Year: 2026 Keywords: human resource management; HRM; human resource operations analytics; artificial intelligence; employee engagement; public sector; digital economy; employing neural networks; India. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=150291 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijelfi:v:15:y:2026:i:1:p:107-130