Volume 14 | Issue 4 |

 Abstract

The growing intensity of academic competition within contemporary educational systems has significantly increased psychological pressure among students, particularly those preparing for high-stakes entrance examinations. In the Indian educational context, the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) is widely recognized as one of the most challenging and competitive examinations, serving as a gateway to prestigious engineering institutions. The preparation process for the JEE examination is typically characterized by rigorous academic schedules, extensive study hours, frequent assessments, and heightened expectations from parents, teachers, and society. Such sustained academic demands may contribute to elevated levels of academic stress, which, when persistent, can adversely influence students' emotional well-being, cognitive functioning, and academic performance. Academic stress is conceptualized within Lazarus and Folkman's transactional model of stress as a psychological response resulting from individuals' cognitive appraisal of environmental demands and their perceived coping resources. According to this framework, stress arises when individuals perceive situational demands as exceeding their ability to cope effectively. In highly competitive academic environments, students may appraise academic tasks, examinations, and performance expectations as threatening or overwhelming, thereby eliciting stress responses. Prolonged academic stress has been associated with a range of maladaptive outcomes, including emotional distress, reduced motivation, impaired concentration, and anxiety-related conditions. Among these outcomes, test anxiety is particularly salient in educational settings. Test anxiety refers to a set of cognitive, emotional, and physiological reactions experienced in evaluative situations, especially examinations. Test anxiety theory posits that excessive worry, intrusive thoughts, and heightened physiological arousal can interfere with attention, working memory, and information processing efficiency, ultimately impairing academic performance. Students experiencing high test anxiety often report difficulties in recall, concentration, and problem-solving during examinations, which may further exacerbate stress and diminish academic confidence. Given the high-stakes nature of the JEE examination, understanding the relationship between academic stress and test anxiety is essential for identifying psychological risk factors and promoting student well-being. The present study aimed to assess the levels of academic stress and test anxiety among students preparing for the JEE examination and to examine the relationship between these variables. A descriptive correlational research design was adopted to explore the association between academic stress and test anxiety without manipulating the study variables. The sample comprised 120 JEE aspirants aged between 16 and 19 years, selected using convenience sampling from selected schools and coaching centres. Data were collected using the Educational Stress Scale for Adolescents (ESSA), which measures multiple dimensions of academic stress, and the Test Anxiety Scale (TAS), which assesses cognitive and emotional components of examination anxiety. Statistical analyses included mean, standard deviation, Pearson's Product Moment Correlation, and independent samples t-test. The findings revealed that students preparing for the JEE examination experienced moderate to high levels of academic stress and test anxiety. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between academic stress and test anxiety, indicating that higher levels of academic stress were associated with increased test anxiety. These results are consistent with theoretical perspectives suggesting that excessive academic demands may heighten anxiety responses in evaluative contexts. The study underscores the psychological impact of competitive academic environments and highlights the need for educational institutions to integrate stress management strategies, psychological support services, and mental health awareness programs. The findings have important implications for educators, parents, and mental health professionals in fostering supportive learning environments that promote both academic success and psychological well-being.

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 Keywords

Academic Stress, Test Anxiety, Joint Entrance Examination, JEE Aspirants

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The study aims to assess the effectiveness of planned teaching on knowledge regarding breastfeeding techniques and burping among primi mothers. Problem Statement: A study to assess the effectiveness of planned teaching on knowledge regarding breastfeeding techniques and burping among primi mothers in selected hospital. Objectives: Primary objectives were to assess knowledge before and after planned teaching and evaluate its effectiveness. Secondary objectives included association of knowledge with demographic variables and identifying sources of prior knowledge. Methodology: A quantitative evaluative research approach with a pre-experimental one group pre-test post-test design was used. The study was conducted among 60 primi mothers using a structured questionnaire. Results: Pre-test findings showed majority (66%) had poor knowledge. Post-test results showed significant improvement in knowledge scores after planned teaching. Statistical analysis indicated effectiveness of intervention. Conclusion: Planned teaching was effective in improving knowledge of breastfeeding and burping techniques among primi mothers

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Breastfeeding, Burping, Primi Mothers, Planned Teaching, Knowledge

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Abstract--As agriculture plays an important role in the economy of the world, the timely identification of plant disease will certainly improve the productivity of crops. The conventional methods employed in detecting the disease in plants tend to be inefficient and may even call for expert knowledge. This research proposes an efficient method of identifying plant disease by applying transfer learning techniques on images captured by the MobileNetV2 architecture. A CNN-based architecture will classify the diseases of 38 different types of plant leaves using the red, green, and blue images. Additionally, an efficient system for identifying the disease will be designed using Streamlit to provide a web-based solution for detecting plant diseases using a graphical user interface (GUI). Another key aspect of this study is the use of Grad-CAM technology, which will assist in explaining how the model works in making decisions. Through experimentation, it became evident that this solution is efficient and computationally effective.

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Plant Disease Detection, Deep Learning, Trans- fer Learning, MobileNetV2, Convolutional Neural Network, Grad-CAM, Streamlit, Explainable AI, Image Classification

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This article examines the Hungry Generation literary movement of 1960s Calcutta, arguing that despite its avowedly revolutionary posture towards bourgeois culture and institutional literature, the movement reproduced the very patriarchal constructions of gender and femininity it claimed to subvert. Drawing on the movement's manifestos, theoretical writings, and primary literary productions, the article demonstrates that the Hungry Writers' deployment of sexuality and obscenity as instruments of aesthetic revolt was deeply complicit with normative bourgeois constructions of womanhood, purity, and the phallocentric literary imagination. The movement's failure to challenge gender hierarchies constitutes a structural paradox at the heart of its radical self-understanding.

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Patriarchy, gender replication, avant-garde, bhadralok culture, literary revolt, phallocentrism, bourgeois aesthetics, Bengali modernism, counter-discourse, Hungry Generation.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a paradigm shift in consumer behavior, particularly in the domain of health, wellness, and preventive care. In this context, Ayurveda, a traditional Indian system of medicine, has gained renewed attention due to its emphasis on immunity enhancement, holistic healing, and natural ingredients. The present study aims to examine the level of awareness among consumers regarding various Ayurveda products and to analyze the key factors influencing their buying preferences in the post-pandemic period. The study is empirical in nature and is based on primary data collected from 256 respondents in Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala using a structured questionnaire. The study employs statistical tools such as percentage analysis, Chi-square test, and ranking methods to analyze the data. The findings indicate that consumers exhibit a high level of awareness towards commonly used Ayurveda products such as immunity boosters and personal care items, while awareness is relatively moderate for specialized therapeutic products. Further, the study reveals that factors such as health consciousness, perceived safety, immunity enhancement, affordability, and availability significantly influence consumer buying behavior. The results also highlight that demographic variables such as age, education, and occupation have a significant association with awareness levels. The study contributes to the existing literature by providing region-specific insights into post-pandemic consumer behavior towards Ayurveda products. It offers valuable implications for marketers, healthcare practitioners, and policymakers in promoting Ayurveda-based solutions in a more effective and targeted manner.

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Ayurveda products, Consumer awareness, Factors, Kerala

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The present study titled "A Study on Psycho-Social Problems Faced by the Bystanders of Autistic Children" aims to examine the psychological and social challenges experienced by individuals who care for autistic children. Autism is a developmental disorder that affects communication, behaviour and social interaction. It not only impacts the child but also places a significant burden on caregivers and family members. This study focuses on understanding the everyday experiences and difficulties faced by these bystanders. A descriptive research design was adopted to study the existing conditions without any manipulation. The universe of the study includes bystanders associated with autism care centers, special school and therapy centers in Kozhikode, Kerala. A total of 50 respondents were selected using purposive sampling. Primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire using Google Forms, while secondary data was collected from books, journals and online sources. The study covers different aspects such as psychological stress, anxiety, emotional burden, social isolation, financial difficulties and coping strategies used by the respondents. A pre-test and pilot study were conducted to improve the clarity of the questionnaire. The collected data were organized and analyzed using basic statistical methods. The findings indicate that bystanders of autistic children experience high levels of stress, anxiety and social challenges. Many respondents also reported limited support systems. However, they adopt various coping strategies to manage their difficulties. Based on the findings, the study suggests the need for increased awareness, better support services and effective interventions to reduce psycho-social problems. Overall, the study highlights the importance of providing adequate support to caregivers and improving their well-being.

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Autism, Psycho social problems, Problems of bystanders, Autistic children

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Effective teachers play a significant role in students' achievement and hence the present investigator made an attempt to find out the level of personality adjustment which is one of the deciding factors for teacher effectiveness. The main objective of the present study was to find out the level of personality adjustment of higher secondary school teachers in Chengalpattu Educational district, Tamilnadu. Higher secondary teachers were randomly selected from the higher secondary schools. Investigator made tool was used to collect data from the sample and it was statistically treated for testing formulated hypotheses. It was found out that moderate level of personality adjustment was found among higher secondary school teachers.

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Personality adjustment, teacher effectiveness, school teachers

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The administration of educational institutions in India still leans heavily on fragmented software tools and manual record-keeping, even as the volume of data handled by schools and colleges continues to grow year after year. This paper describes the design and implementation of Academia, a cloud-native education management platform built to replace the patchwork of legacy systems commonly found in diploma engineering colleges across Maharashtra. Academia adopts a decoupled architecture where a React 18 single-page application on the frontend communicates with a Supabase-backed PostgreSQL database through RESTful endpoints and WebSocket channels. The system defines four distinct user roles--Administrator, Teacher, Student, and Parent--each receiving a tailored dashboard that surfaces only the data and actions relevant to their responsibilities. Row-Level Security policies at the database layer guarantee that no user can read or modify records outside their permitted scope, while JWT-based authentication guards every API transaction. Over a sixteen-week development cycle organized into biweekly Agile sprints, the team built twelve integrated modules covering admissions, attendance tracking, fee management, examinations, communication, and analytics. Load-testing with 1,000 simulated concurrent users returned an average response time of 185 ms and an error rate below 2.1%. A post-deployment survey of 120 users rated the system 4.5 out of 5 for overall experience, substantially ahead of the 2.7 average for the legacy tools previously in use at the partner institution. These results suggest that a well-architected, open-source cloud stack can deliver enterprise-grade education management at a fraction of the cost of commercial ERP licences, making it a viable option for small and mid-sized Indian colleges seeking digital transformation.

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 Keywords

Education Management System, Cloud Computing, React, Supabase, PostgreSQL, Role-Based Access Control, Row-Level Security, Single Page Application, Real-Time Analytics, JWT Authentication

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Entrepreneurship plays a central role in the economic development of any country. For entrepreneurship to grow, a supportive and sustainable environment is necessary. This becomes especially important in the context of rising youth unemployment, both in India and globally. Encouraging young people to pursue entrepreneurship is not just an option but a necessity. This paper examines the importance of youth entrepreneurship in India, the challenges faced by young entrepreneurs, and the factors influencing their entrepreneurial journey. It also explores institutional and government support systems while highlighting the gap in awareness among youth. The study adopts a conceptual approach and analyzes both enabling and discouraging factors. It emphasizes the role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in employment generation, innovation, and economic growth. Key challenges such as access to capital, mentorship, and skill development are discussed. The paper concludes by stressing the importance of early entrepreneurship education and awareness-building to develop a strong entrepreneurial mindset among youth.

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Youth, Entrepreneurship, Economic Development, Empowerment, SMEs, Skill Development, Government Support.

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This study examines Emotional Intelligence, Resilience, and Coping Strategies: A Comparative Study between Professionals and Non-professionals. These psychological constructs play an important part in deciding how individuals handle stress, regulate emotions, and adapt to challenging situations in daily life. Emotional intelligence helps individuals understand and manage emotions effectively, resilience enables them to recover from difficulties, and coping strategies determine how they deal with stressful experiences. difference in coping strategies between professionals and non-professionals, with Understanding the differences in these factors between professionals and non-professionals can provide insight into how occupational roles influence psychological functioning. The study was conducted using a comparative research design. Data was collected from a total number of 32 participants, including 16 professionals and 16 non-professionals, selected using purposive sampling. Standardized psychological tools measuring emotional intelligence, resilience, and coping strategies were administered to the participants. The collected data was analyzed using independent sample t-tests through SPSS to see whether significant differences existed between the groups. The results revealed a significant professionals demonstrating higher coping scores. However, no significant differences were found in emotional intelligence and resilience between the two groups. These findings suggest that while professional environments may influence the development of coping mechanisms, emotional intelligence and resilience may develop through broader life experiences rather than occupational status alone. The findings of the study highlight the importance of developing effective coping strategies to manage stress and challenges in daily life. Future research can further explore these psychological factors with larger samples to better understand their role in promoting mental well-being and adaptive functioning across different populations.

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 Keywords

Emotional Intelligence, Resilience, Coping Strategies, Professionals, Non-professionals, Comparative Study

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 and The Open Definition