The retail industry is changing with an unprecedented pace. Specifically, in developing countries like India, this change is disrupting the landscape of the retail sector with an intensity never seen before. To get an edge over competitors and to perform in a better way, it will be critical for retailers to understand the retail store attributes which attract the consumers and keep them coming back. To obtain a comprehensive understanding of grocery consumers’ perceived retail store image across various demographic groups in context of India was the basic purpose of this paper. For this, a survey of grocery consumers, who visited organized grocery stores to purchase groceries at least once in a month, was conducted. Initially, 500 consumers were approached to fill a standardized questionnaire, and 469 questionnaires complete in all manners were used for the final analysis. The factor analysis resulted in nine major dimensions of store image construct. Furthermore, with the help of ANOVA and t - statistics, it was tested if the demographic factors like age, gender, and marital status significantly affected the perceived store image of grocery consumers. In this study, significant differences emerged in consumers’ perception of store image dimensions based on age and marital status. In case of gender, no significant difference was observed on any store image dimension. The findings of this study would lead to an improved understanding of the linkage between grocery consumers’ demographic attributes and their perceived level of store image in the context of a developing country.

The study aims to measure the relationship between customer satisfaction and their attitude towards the usage of plastic money and also to measure the mediating impact of trust factor on this relationship. The study was based on the perceptions of the plastic money users from capital of India i.e. New Delhi, using structured questionnaire distributed to the customers of fifty branches of public and private sector banks operating in New Delhi. Researcher has used factor analysis to determine the factors which have an influence over the customer satisfaction, regression analysis and partial regression to examine the mediating effect of the trust factor. Study revealed that the attitude of the customers towards the usage of plastic money get significantly influenced by their satisfaction towards the plastic money, and trust factor significantly mediates this relationship. Factors which affect the satisfaction level of the customers were found to be mainly; time factor, cost factor, convenient, reward points or offers, and variety of services. The study was limited to one city only, and the sample unit were the customers of the banks only.

In the last few years, with the emergence of internet technology, rise in customers’ spending power, increase in adoption of Smart phones, E-Retailing has emerged as the unique mode of doing retailing for purchasing variety of products. Different groups of society have started accepting it as the new form of retail, yet there are many barriers which hinder the use of E-Retail over physical retail. This paper is an attempt to study customers’ responses towards some of the parameters which customers consider as the barrier for using E-Retailing over physical retailing while taking purchase decisions. Understanding of such barriers is very important from business point of view, so that the E-Retailers could be able to overcome such hurdles and make their ERetailing business to be accepted by masses.

Economies all over the world are moving towards a focus on services. Tourism has emerged as a major contributor to economies all over the world. This is why specific focus is being placed on tourism, as Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) concentrate their efforts on tourism. India has been one of the countries where the share of tourism in national income has steadily been increasing. As the national capital, the city of Delhi has a major role to play in the tourist inflow to the country, as well as within the country. Successful tourism marketing requires that the concepts of tourist destination and underlying factors are comprehended in detail. An analysis of the available, pertinent literature on the area shows the manner in which numerous factors come together to form the image of a tourist destination. In fact, it needs to be understood that image formation may be done differently for different consumers. This further necessitates a detailed study of the factors influencing tourist destination image.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is the core business strategy that integrates internal process and functions and external networks to identify, cultivate and maintain long-term profitable relationships so as to provide those very customers with services quality exceeding their expectations. Thus, the present paper focuses on the gap between customers’ expectation and customers’ perception regarding selected CRM practices in public and private sector banks. The paper identifies four major dimensions, viz., pre-transaction services, during-transaction services, post-transaction services and behavioral factors, constituting overall CRM practices in banks. The paper also lays emphasis on comparing the customers’ expectation and perception levels in public and private sector banks.

The use of antimalarial drugs in India has evolved since the introduction of quinine in the 17 th century. Since the formal establishment of a malaria control programme in 1953, shortly after independence, treatments provided by the public sector ranged from chloroquine, the mainstay drug for many decades, to the newer, recently introduced artemisinin based combination therapy. The complexity of considerations in antimalarial treatment led to the formulation of a National Antimalarial Drug Policy to guide procurement as well as communicate best practices to both public and private healthcare providers. Challenges addressed in the policy include the use of presumptive treatment, the introduction of alternate treatments for drug-resistant malaria, the duration of primaquine therapy to prevent relapses of vivax malaria, the treatment of malaria in pregnancy, and the choice of drugs for chemoprophylaxis. While data on antimalarial drug resistance and both public and private sector treatment practices have been recently reviewed, the policy process of setting national standards has not. In this perspective on antimalarial drug policy, this review highlights its relevant history, analyzes the current policy, and examines future directions.

OBJECTIVE To describe India's National Antimalarial Drug Resistance Monitoring System, measure the efficacy of first-line malaria treatments, and determine risk factors for treatment failure. METHODS In 2009-2010, prospective studies with 28 days of follow-up were conducted at 25 sentinel sites. Patients infected with Plasmodium falciparum were given artesunate plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (AS+SP); those infected with P. vivax were given chloroquine. Polymerase chain reaction was used to distinguish post-treatment reinfection from treatment failure. Isolates of P. falciparum were checked for dhfr and dhps mutations. FINDINGS Overall, 1664 patients were enrolled. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed an efficacy of 98.8% for AS+SP. Most patients with P. falciparum parasitaemia cleared their parasitaemias within 24 hours of treatment initiation, but six, including four with treatment failure, remained parasitaemic after 72 hours. Double mutants in dhfr were found in 68.4% of the genotyped isolates. Triple or quadruple mutants in dhfr and mutations in dhps were rare. A daily dose of artesunate of < 3 mg per kg of body weight, age of less than 5 years, and fever at enrolment were associated with an increased risk of treatment failure. Chloroquine remained 100% efficacious and generally cleared P. vivax parasitaemias within 48 hours. Vomiting (seen in 47 patients) was the most common adverse event. CONCLUSION India's National Antimalarial Drug Resistance Monitoring System provides wide coverage. The first-line antimalarials used in the country remain safe and efficacious. The treatment of malaria in young children and the relative benefits of age- and weight-based dosing need further exploration.

This paper highlights and measures the quality of services provided by commercial banks in India. The perceptions of borrowers regarding service quality dimensions are composed and service quality of banks regarding credit schemes is measured. In this study, total service quality is measured in the selected dimensions with the help of a structured questionnaire filled by borrowers of selected banks. Borrowers’ perceptions of the service quality are analyzed to measure service quality in the Indian Commercial banks. The SERVPERF model is used for the measurement of service quality in banks.

After the launch of the National Malaria Control Programme in 1953, the number of malaria cases reported in India fell to an all-time low of 0·1 million in 1965. However, the initial success could not be maintained and a resurgence of malaria began in the late 1960s. Resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine was first reported in 1973 and increases in antimalarial resistance, along with rapid urbanisation and labour migration, complicated the challenge that India's large geographical area and population size already pose for malaria control. Although several institutions have done drug-resistance monitoring in India, a complete analysis of countrywide data across institutions does not exist. We did a systematic review of P falciparum malaria drug-efficacy studies in India to summarise drug-resistance data and describe changes over the past 30 years to inform future policy. Continued use of chloroquine for treatment of P falciparum malaria in India will likely be ineffective. Resistance to sulfa–pyrimethamine should be closely monitored to protect the effectiveness of treatment with artesunate plus sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine, which is the new first-line treatment for P falciparum malaria. Strategies to reduce the emergence and spread of future drug resistance need to be proactive and supported by intensive monitoring.

Chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium malaria is an emerging problem globally. In India resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to choloroquine, the cheapest and the most used drug was first reported in the year 1973 from Diphu of Karbi-Anglong district in Assam state. Systematic monitoring of drug resistance is being undertaken in the country from 1978 by the Directorate of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) through its 13 Pf monitoring teams. The findings of these drug resistance studies has helped the programme for the revision of the drug policy and update it from time to time thereby facilitating appropriate measures for not only individual cases but also to contain and prevent further spread of resistant foci. This article summarises therapeutic efficacy studies conducted by the Pf monitoring teams in the country between 2001 and 2007 related to efficacy of chloroquine and other antimalarials drugs. As per the results available, the efficacy of chloroquine for treating uncomplicated falciparum at most of the study sites is much lower than the desired cut off levels of 10% (83% studies have shown treatment failure more than 10%). Total of 4273, 168 and 137 P. falciparum cases have been tested against chloroquine, sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine and ACT(AS+SP) combination. During the period under report, 85 new chloroquine resistant PHCs/foci from 64 districts were qualified warranting change of drug policy as per the national guidelines. These studies show that chloroquine resistance in P. falciparum is widespread in the country. To combat the drug resistant in malaria, the use of combination therapy ie, artesunate plus sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine has been recommended for treatment of all confirmed P. falciparum cases in all the qualified areas as per the criteria laid down in National Drug Policy on malaria.

Credit is the lifeblood of banking and the major source of revenue. Bank credit is predominantly for productive purposes and hence, contributes substantially for the economic prosperity and wealth. Slow growth in corporate lending, pressure on corporate spreads due to competition and concerns over asset quality have induced public sector banks to follow the private sector banks in placing emphasis on growth through expansion of retail portfolio. The main aim of this research article is to study the borrowers' decision variables in taking loans from the banks and to study the factors influencing the borrowers to take loan from a particular bank. Percentage method, Ranking Technique and Weighted Mean methods were used to analyze the collected data and to achieve these objectives. The findings shows that PNB has the lowest rate of interest, OBC has better repayment facilities, SBI takes less time period involved in the procedure of giving loan, SBI has excellent behaviour of employees, ICICI bank has the lowest processing fees and easy mortgage policy, HDFC bank has easy accessibility and SBI has simplified procedure.

Physicians are perhaps the most important players in pharmaceutical sales. They write the prescriptions that determine which drugs will be used by the patient. Influencing the physician is key to pharmaceutical sales.This paper explores Indian pharmaceutical marketing system, physicians expectations from pharmaceutical company and the major factors that influence a physician for prescribing a product of a particular company. A Survey of 100 physicians from 10 districts of Haryana was done to meet out the objectives. A close ended questionnaire was prepared and got it filled from the chosen physicians. Good quality, widely available product at reasonable price is foremost expectation of physician from pharmaceutical company. A regular visit by good personality medical representative is best tool of promotion for a pharmaceutical company. Literatures, journals and sponsorship for conferences are preferable promotion tools in comparison to organization of free camps, personal gifts, medicine samples or any other incentive. Physicians can easily recall short brand name related to molecule disease or organization.

1. Certain aspects of the embryology of Amomum dealbatum Roxb. and Hedychium acuminatum Rosc. are described. In Amomum the anther wall consists of seven to eight layers. Cells of the one- to two-layered tapetum break down, giving rise to a periplasmodium. Pollen grains are shed at the two-celled stage. 2. The ovules are anatropous, bitegmic, crassinucellate, and possess a well-marked hypostase and epistase. Tetrads are both linear and T-shaped in Amomum but only linear in Hedychium. Development of the embryo sac conforms to the Polygonum type. Migration of nucellar nuclei into the embryo sac cavity is common. 3. Development of the endosperm in Hedychium is of the Helobial type. The chalazal chamber may remain uninucleate, become binucleate, or become two-celled. The basal apparatus aborts at the globular stage of the proembryo. 4. Development of the embryo conforms to the Asterad type, and a definite suspensor is lacking. Polyembryony was observed in Hedychium. One of the embryos develops from the egg and the other from a synergid. 5. The seed is characterized by the presence of an aril, a collar, and perisperm. The outer integument alone forms the seed coat with the inner integument becoming completely crushed and absorbed.