Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences

An analysis of the Indian water crisis and privatization

Eashan GUPTA — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The paper analyzes the India water crisis. Water scarcity in India has been a problem for a number of years now as many Indian water sources contain biological pollutants and excessive use of groundwater for irrigation depletes water reservoirs. This paper will explore non-revenue water levels and conduct a cost benefit analysis. It will conclude with a recommendation on where the solution to mitigating the Indian water crisis lies – privatization.

Keywords. Water economics; Non-revenue water (NRW); Water governance; Privatization of water services; Infrastructure efficiency in developing countries.

JEL. D73; H54; L95; O18; Q25.

Political branding and voter decision-making in a multi-party democracy: Evidence from a university-based case study in Uttar Pradesh, India

Priya Anjali PILLAI — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the role of political branding and marketing in shaping voter decision-making within a multi-party democratic context, drawing on a qualitative case study conducted among university students in Uttar Pradesh, India. Following the announcement of unexpected state election results, a group of 112 students engaged in extensive discussions reflecting on their own voting behavior and the factors that influenced their electoral choices. The case captures voters’ perceptions regarding party names, ideological alignment, leadership image, development performance, reputation, and media-driven political communication. Anchored in the political marketing and political branding literature, the study conceptualizes political parties as brands and voters as consumers who rely on heuristic cues to simplify complex electoral decisions. The findings highlight that party branding elements—such as nomenclature, symbols, leadership charisma, perceived ideology, and historical reputation—play a decisive role, particularly among first-time and low-information voters. At the same time, performance-based factors, including development initiatives, welfare programs, and governance outcomes, interact with branding cues to influence voter preferences. The case further reveals a tension between loyalty to political parties and skepticism toward individual leaders, especially in contexts marked by party switching, corruption allegations, and criminalization of politics. Students also express growing disillusionment with traditional parties, alongside support for organizational reform, leadership renewal, and the emergence of new political alternatives. Overall, the study contributes to the understanding of political marketing in developing democracies by illustrating how branding strategies operate in a competitive, multi-party system. It offers pedagogical value for courses in political science and marketing management, while also providing insights into voter behavior, political trust, and democratic accountability in the Indian context.

Keywords. Political marketing; Political branding; Voter decision-making; Multi-party democracy; Indian elections.

JEL. D72; D83; M31; P48; Z18.

2025 International Conference on Public Administration, Governance, and Social Policy (ICPAGSP 2025)

EconSciences Library — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The International Conference on Public Administration, Governance, and Social Policy (ICPAGSP 2025), held in Vienna from December 2–5, 2025, gathered researchers, policymakers, and practitioners dedicated to exploring the intersections of governance, public administration, social policy, and societal development. With a fully published Abstract Book and Proceedings Book, ICPAGSP 2025 provided an extensive repository of theoretical, empirical, and policy-oriented research directly relevant to the Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences. This report synthesizes the key contributions and insights from ICPAGSP 2025, emphasizing governance innovations, public sector reforms, policy evaluation, administrative theory, and social policy analysis. The conference highlighted the critical role of evidence-based decision-making, institutional capacity building, and interdisciplinary approaches in addressing contemporary social and administrative challenges.

Keywords. Public administration; Governance innovation; Social policy; Public sector reform; Evidence-based policymaking.

JEL. D73; H11; H83; I38; O20.

Front Matter

EconSciences Library — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Front Matter