Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are central to Chhattisgarh’s economic development, contributing significantly to employment and regional output. However, they face persistent challenges such as restricted access to finance, inefficient processes, and low integration of digital tools. Fin Tech services offer a transformative pathway by delivering innovative solutions like digital lending, UPI-based payments, crowd funding, and cloud-based accounting systems. These technologies not only enhance financial accessibility but also improve operational transparency and business sustainability. In the context of Chhattisgarh, where digital infrastructure is steadily improving, FinTech can play a key role in driving inclusive growth and resilience among MSMEs. This study explores how FinTech adoption can address existing gaps and contribute to the long-term sustainability of MSMEs in the region.

Euthanasia, or mercy killing, is a subject of intense legal, ethical, and social debate worldwide. In India, the issue is particularly complex due to the interplay of constitutional rights, cultural values, religious beliefs, and medical ethics. This paper examines euthanasia in India from a multidisciplinary legal perspective, tracing its historical evolution, current legal status, and surrounding moral discourse. It reviews key judicial developments, particularly the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Common Cause v. Union of India (2018), which legalized passive euthanasia and upheld advance medical directives. The classification of euthanasia active, passive, voluntary, non-voluntary, and involuntary is discussed, along with the ethical dilemmas each presents. While active euthanasia involves a deliberate act to cause death, passive euthanasia refers to withdrawal of life support, raising debates on the moral difference between acts and omissions. The paper further examines Article 21 of the Constitution, where the “right to life” has evolved to include the “right to die with dignity.” Ethical concerns, including medical obligations, autonomy, and religious viewpoints, are addressed to provide a holistic understanding. A comparative study of laws in the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Australia, and the United States highlights global perspectives relevant to India. Euthanasia raises constitutional and ethical challenges, with critics warning of potential misuse against vulnerable groups, while supporters stress autonomy and relief from suffering. The Law Commission’s reports and principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice remain central to the debate. Ultimately, robust legal safeguards and ethical oversight are essential to balance compassion with caution in regulating euthanasia in India.

The enactment of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, replacing the colonial-era Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), marks a watershed moment in India’s criminal justice landscape. Among its most significant reforms are the changes in the process of investigation, aimed at ensuring efficiency, transparency, and timeliness in the delivery of justice. The investigation stage has historically been a major contributor to judicial delays and case backlogs, particularly in states like Odisha where infrastructural and administrative constraints exacerbate pendency. The BNSS introduces provisions for the use of electronic communication, forensic investigation, mandatory timelines for certain stages of inquiry, and accountability of investigating officers. This paper critically examines these new investigative mechanisms and their potential to reduce judicial arrears and accelerate the pace of criminal trials. By comparing the colonial framework under the CrPC with the contemporary reforms under the BNSS, the paper explores whether these measures are adequate to address the systemic problems of delay, poor conviction rates, and lack of victim-centric justice. Further, through a contextual analysis of Western Odisha, it highlights the challenges of implementation in rural and semi-urban districts where resource constraints persist. The paper concludes by arguing that while the BNSS presents a transformative vision for reimagined investigation, its effectiveness will depend on capacity-building of police institutions, judicial oversight, and sustained infrastructural reforms.

Topical hydrogel-based delivery systems have emerged as a versatile and effective platform for the treatment of various skin diseases due to their high water content, biocompatibility, and ability to provide controlled drug release. These semi-solid systems offer a moist environment that promotes wound healing and enhances drug permeation through the skin. This review outlines the classification, physicochemical properties, and mechanisms of drug release, preparation methods, and recent advancements in hydrogel-based delivery systems. It also highlights their application in managing inflammatory, infectious, and chronic dermatological conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne, fungal infections, and skin cancers. The integration of stimuli-responsive polymers and nanotechnology into hydrogels is also discussed, emphasizing their potential in personalized medicine and advanced dermatotherapy.

Barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea) starch has emerged as a promising natural excipient for pharmaceutical applications due to its favorable physicochemical and functional properties. Characterized by moderate amylose content, good swelling capacity, and desirable gelatinization behavior, the starch exhibits suitable binding, disintegration, and film-forming capabilities in solid and semi-solid dosage forms. Its granular morphology, thermal stability, and modifiability through chemical or physical means—such as cross-linking and phosphorylation—further enhance its applicability in modern drug delivery systems. Modified forms of barnyard millet starch show improved flowability, compressibility, and mechanical strength, making them ideal for use in tablets, capsules, and topical formulations. While challenges remain in terms of standardization, scalability, and regulatory acceptance, current evidence supports barnyard millet starch as a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to conventional starches in the pharmaceutical industry. Continued research and development could facilitate its integration into pharmacopeial standards and broaden its commercial utility.

In this study, aceclofenac, a poorly soluble drug, was chosen as a model. The aim was to prepare a SMEDDS of aceclofenac and compare its performance with a normal drug suspension and a marketed product. Different oils, surfactants, and co-surfactants were tested for drug solubility. Capryol® 90, Cremophor® RH40, PEG, and Transcutol® P showed the highest solubility. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were used to find suitable microemulsion regions, and the best ratio of surfactant to co-surfactant (Smix) was 3:1.The optimized formulation, containing Tween 80 and Oleic acid, was prepared by simple mixing. It showed fast self-emulsification on dilution, producing clear microemulsions with small droplet size (257 nm), uniform distribution (PDI 0.233), and good stability (zeta potential +42.7 mV).In vitro studies showed that the SMEDDS released more than 85% of the drug in 30 minutes in biorelevant media, which was higher than the marketed product (78.14%). Ex-vivo studies confirmed that drug permeability was about 2.3 times better than conventional formulations. The formulation was also stable for 3 months under accelerated conditions (40 °C/75% RH) with no major changes in quality.Overall, the developed SMEDDS of aceclofenac significantly improved drug solubility, dissolution, and absorption compared to conventional dosage forms. This study proves that lipid-based SMEDDS are a promising technique for enhancing the oral bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs.

Increasing the solubility of aceclofenac, a BCS class-II drug that is poorly soluble in water, was the aim of the study. Aceclofenac appears to be particularly well tolerated among NSAIDs, with a lower incidence of gastrointestinal adverse effects. For oral medications that are poorly soluble, the rate of dissolution often controls the rate of absorption. To improve the drug's solubility, solid dispersions were created using a range of methods, such as physical mixing, kneading, and solvent evaporation, using various carriers, PEG 4000, in ratios ranging from 1:1 to 1:5. The physicochemical characteristics of the prepared formulations were evaluated using in-vitro dissolution studies, X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and saturation solubility. The solvent evaporation method was used to optimize PEG 4000 in a 1:5 ratio based on the evaluation parameters. The direct compression method was then used to formulate the tablets. These tablets showed a higher in-vitro dissolution drug release of 99.62% in 30 minutes compared to 26.62% in 60 minutes for the pure drug, and 99.64±0.10% in 40 minutes for the marketed tablet (Xerodol). Consequently, it was found that the solubility, absorption rate, and bioavailability of aceclofenac are enhanced when PEG 4000 is used in solid dispersion using the solvent evaporation method.

Avipattikar churna, a classical Ayurvedic formulation, is widely prescribed for the management of hyperacidity, indigestion, gastritis, and related gastrointestinal disorders. However, its traditional powder dosage form is often associated with poor palatability, reduced patient compliance, and variable dose accuracy. To overcome these drawbacks, effervescent granule formulations of Avipattikar churna were developed and evaluated. The formulation was prepared by non-aqueous wet granulation using citric acid, tartaric acid, and sodium bicarbonate as effervescent agents, along with suitable sweeteners and flavoring agents to improve taste masking and patient acceptability. Granules were evaluated for organoleptic properties, bulk and tapped density, angle of repose, Carr’s index, moisture content, effervescence time, pH of solution, and drug content uniformity. The prepared granules showed good flow properties, low moisture content (<2%), rapid effervescence (<3 minutes), acceptable pH (5.5–6.5), and improved palatability compared to the crude powder. Stability studies indicated that the formulation remained stable under controlled storage when protected from moisture. Overall, effervescent granule formulation of Avipattikar churna proved to be a patient-friendly and convenient alternative dosage form with enhanced acceptability and potential for wider therapeutic use.