Prof. Gitanjali Chawla

Artificial Intelligence has become deeply integrated into contemporary social, economic, educational, commercial, and cultural life, transforming the ways individuals work, communicate, consume information, and make decisions. This article examines the expanding influence of AI and the ethical concerns emerging from its increasing integration into everyday life. While AI offers significant benefits through improved efficiency, predictive analysis, personalized services, innovation, and enhanced decision making, its growing ability to anticipate and influence human preferences raises important questions about autonomy and individual choice. Algorithmic systems increasingly shape consumption patterns, media preferences, communication, and social behaviour through data driven recommendations and targeted content. The article further explores concerns relating to algorithmic bias, stereotyping, privacy, surveillance, data mining, copyright, manipulation, and the misuse of personal information. The interaction between AI, social media, and commercial platforms can intensify existing inequalities and influence perceptions, preferences, and beliefs. These developments highlight the need for greater transparency, accountability, fairness, inclusivity, and protection of personal data. The article argues that AI development should remain human centred and prioritize the wellbeing, rights, and autonomy of users rather than purely commercial objectives. Developers, researchers, industries, academic institutions, governments, and civil society all have an important role in establishing ethical safeguards and responsible practices. Strong monitoring mechanisms, ethical oversight, digital literacy, and institutional accountability are essential to ensure that AI remains a tool for human advancement rather than a mechanism for exploitation, manipulation, or exclusion.

Indian Knowledge Systems represent a rich and diverse intellectual tradition encompassing philosophy, science, medicine, agriculture, architecture, linguistics, literature, performing arts, governance, environmental practices, and other dimensions of human life. Rooted in observation, experience, experimentation, reasoning, and an understanding of the interconnectedness between human beings and nature, these systems offer an interdisciplinary and holistic approach to knowledge and social wellbeing. This article examines the contemporary relevance of Indian Knowledge Systems and their proposed integration into the Indian education system through the National Education Policy 2020. It discusses how colonial and postcolonial educational structures contributed to the marginalization of indigenous knowledge, regional languages, traditional practices, and community based learning. NEP 2020 seeks to address this historical gap by incorporating Indian, tribal, indigenous, and traditional knowledge across school and higher education curricula. The policy emphasizes multilingualism, inquiry based learning, experiential education, critical thinking, vocational development, internships, entrepreneurship, and the integration of theory with practical experience. Digital technologies also provide opportunities for preserving, documenting, and disseminating endangered languages and traditional knowledge. However, effective implementation remains dependent on adequate infrastructure, trained teachers, appropriate pedagogical resources, favourable student teacher ratios, and sustained financial support. The article argues that meaningful integration of Indian Knowledge Systems can strengthen cultural identity while enriching contemporary scientific and educational inquiry. A balanced approach that combines traditional wisdom with modern knowledge can contribute to a more inclusive, interdisciplinary, experiential, and culturally responsive education system.

This editorial examines the expanding influence of artificial intelligence on contemporary social, professional, cultural, and environmental life. It considers both the opportunities and risks associated with the rapid development and normalization of AI, with particular attention to human connection, critical thinking, artistic expression, employment, algorithmic bias, discrimination, and environmental sustainability. The discussion highlights concerns surrounding dependence on personalized AI systems, the reproduction of biases through data driven algorithms, the growing resource demands of data centres, and the changing nature of employment in an increasingly technology driven economy. Alongside these contemporary concerns, the issue of the Indian Journal of Social Enquiry presents a diverse collection of scholarly contributions addressing education, history, democracy, gender, environmental movements, public finance, literature, ecology, and community based conservation. The featured studies examine theatre based education, the historical contribution of Zorawar Singh, democratic legitimacy among youth in Nepal and Sri Lanka, ecofeminist interpretations of Indian environmental movements, the fiscal impact of GST in Gujarat, poetry and ecological conflict in Northeast India, and community conserved areas. Collectively, the issue encourages critical social enquiry by connecting contemporary challenges with historical experiences and emerging perspectives on progress, development, citizenship, culture, and sustainability.

Globalization has played a significant role in shaping the modern world by promoting international trade, economic integration, technological exchange, and cross border cooperation. However, the contemporary global economic system is undergoing substantial transformation as geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, protectionist policies, and the COVID 19 pandemic challenge the assumptions underlying unrestricted global integration. This article examines the changing character of globalization and its implications for India. It argues that globalization has not disappeared but is evolving toward a more cautious and regionally oriented framework in which nations increasingly prioritize economic security, domestic capabilities, and diversified international partnerships. The growing use of tariffs, subsidies, and measures aimed at reducing import dependence reflects a shift from cost efficiency toward resilience and self sufficiency. For India, these developments create significant challenges because fluctuations in global energy prices, exchange rates, inflation, and international demand directly affect domestic economic conditions. At the same time, the changing global environment provides opportunities for India to strengthen its manufacturing and service sectors, diversify supply chains, deepen relations with different regions, and maintain strategic independence in foreign economic relations. The article further highlights the continuing expansion of digital globalization, through the movement of data, services, and online employment across national boundaries. It concludes that the future of globalization is likely to be characterized by multiple interconnected regional systems rather than complete global integration, requiring India to balance domestic resilience with international engagement.

Sustainable development has emerged as a central concern in global policy, emphasizing the need to balance economic growth, environmental protection, social justice, and intergenerational equity. This article examines sustainability from the perspective of Indian cultural traditions and knowledge systems, highlighting the principles of Dharma, Karma, Satya, Seva, and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam as ethical foundations for responsible and inclusive living. Traditional Indian practices reflected an awareness of the interconnectedness between human beings, society, and nature through nature worship, resource conservation, recycling, Ayurveda, Yoga, and environmentally responsive practices. However, rapid economic development, resource depletion, pollution, and changing lifestyles have increasingly weakened these traditional approaches to environmental responsibility. The article discusses contemporary governmental initiatives aimed at addressing environmental challenges and emphasizes that policy interventions alone cannot achieve sustainable development without corresponding changes in public attitudes and everyday practices. Education and awareness are identified as important mechanisms for reviving traditional values and integrating sustainability into contemporary life. Particular attention is given to the National Education Policy 2020, which promotes environmental awareness and sustainable development through curriculum, experiential learning, field activities, and value based education. The article argues that integrating traditional ecological wisdom with modern educational approaches can encourage responsible citizenship, environmental sensitivity, social inclusion, and sustainable lifestyles. Embedding these principles from early education through higher education can contribute to developing individuals capable of balancing development with environmental and social wellbeing.