BRICS is conceivably the most formidable organisation to have emerged in the post-Cold War period in the non-Western world. This book highlights the significance of BRICS in a wider global context and foregrounds the long-pending demand for the reform of global governance institutions. The volume: * Traces how the organisation came into being and looks at the distinct norms and principles espoused by it * Discusses the glaring limitations of the existing institutions of global governance * Explores the economic growth and the rising political influence of BRICS states * Analyses the internal threats to the survival of the organisation and assesses its prospects in the foreseeable future. A significant intervention in situating BRICS as one of the major players in global governance, the book will be of great interest to students and scholars of international political economy, international business and finance, international relations, politics, and Global South Studies.

BRICS is conceivably the most formidable organisation to have emerged in the post-Cold War period in the non-Western world. This book highlights the significance of BRICS in a wider global context and foregrounds the long-pending demand for the reform of global governance institutions. The volume: * Traces how the organisation came into being and looks at the distinct norms and principles espoused by it * Discusses the glaring limitations of the existing institutions of global governance * Explores the economic growth and the rising political influence of BRICS states * Analyses the internal threats to the survival of the organisation and assesses its prospects in the foreseeable future. A significant intervention in situating BRICS as one of the major players in global governance, the book will be of great interest to students and scholars of international political economy, international business and finance, international relations, politics, and Global South Studies.

This book examines the evolution, contexts and politics of the structures and institutions that shape contemporary Russia. It analyses the Soviet dissolution, revealing the combination of structural and agency factors. It traces the re-emergence of Russia from a unique perspective that is neither Western nor Eurasian, but specifically Indian, located in the global South. The book looks at key theoretical concepts and practices like democratic centralism that produced an overly centralised and rigid hierarchy within the Communist Party. This book assesses the continuities and changes with the Soviet past and the way the Russian regimes of the past two decades have reinvented and reshaped them. This book provides a multifaceted interpretation of contemporary Russia for general readers and specialists.

This book examines the evolution, contexts and politics of the structures and institutions that shape contemporary Russia. It analyses the Soviet dissolution, revealing the combination of structural and agency factors. It traces the re-emergence of Russia from a unique perspective that is neither Western nor Eurasian, but specifically Indian, located in the global South. The book looks at key theoretical concepts and practices like democratic centralism that produced an overly centralised and rigid hierarchy within the Communist Party. This book assesses the continuities and changes with the Soviet past and the way the Russian regimes of the past two decades have reinvented and reshaped them. This book provides a multifaceted interpretation of contemporary Russia for general readers and specialists.

This book discuss about principles and techniques of isolation, characterization & identification of phyllospheric micro-organism. Effect of pollutants on micro-organisms was also been discussed in the book. Attempt has been made to identify specific properties of micro-organisms such as N-fixation, Phosphate solubilization & cellulose decomposition and test their efficiency in laboratory & field condition. This book is useful for students, researchers and scientists, who are interested in deeper study in phyllospheric microbial community.

This study measures agency among married and unmarried young women in two disparate states of India namely Tamil Nadu and Bihar. It is also analyses the association of agency and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) young women. The study utilizes data from "Youth in India: Situation and Needs, 2006-2007"survey. Bivariate and Multivariate techniques are used to understand the differentials, and factors associated with agency and Sexual and reproductive health. The Principal Component Analysis is used to compute the agency based on three indices namely decision making, freedom of movement, and self efficacy. The multinomial logistic regression is used to understand the factor associated with sexual and reproductive health knowledge. Higher Educated and economically better off women, more exposed to mass media, living in urban area have higher agency for both married and unmarried women. Findings reveals that women having higher agency are found to have higher odds of better knowledge on Sexual and Reproductive Health.

HIV/AIDS have become major public health problems in most of the resource limited countries. There is growing body of evidence that VCT has been effective for the primary prevention of HIV as well as for treatment, care and support programme. Despite the very high number of estimated people living with HIV/AIDS in resource limited countries, VCT uptake is still a challenge. This book provides an exploration of perceptions of community people, service providers and people living with HIV on VCT in resource limited settings. Although people have knowledge about HIV/AIDS and VCT, but because of their own attitudes, beliefs, misconceptions, stigma and discrimination, confidentiality and required cost, VCT uptake is low. Motivation to service providers and social support to people living with HIV will boost the VCT uptake. Research based IEC activities will increase awareness about HIV/AIDS to reduce the negative attitudes and misconceptions, fear, stigma and discrimination. This book provides an excellent opportunity to students, researchers and professionals seeking information on the perceptions towards VCT in resource limited settings.

Since independence in 1947, numerous programs and schemes in India have been launched and massive amounts spent for the development of rural areas. However, the overall socio-economic conditions of rural people continue to be unsatisfactory. Rural India is still marked by many disadvantages, such as a high incidence of poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, malnutrition and related diseases, poor infrastructure, and more. The failure is chiefly due to the faulty implementation of development and welfare programs. The enactment of the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005 was a landmark in the history of administration in India. The new legislation has brought sensitivity, responsibility, and accountability to the development process in the rural areas. The RTI Act is path-breaking in controlling corruption and delays in the implementation of government sponsored programs and in the functioning of public authorities. This book contains papers by researchers and scholars, who have studied the scope, the different provisions, the strengths, and the shortfalls of the RTI Act. They offer valuable suggestions to make the common man a partner in the development efforts for rural India.