NPRC Journal of Multidisciplinary Research
Reports of Articles — Vol. 3, Issue 8
1. Mapping the Research Landscape on Oral Hygiene Practices among School Students in Nepal: A Bibliometric Analysis — Amit Kumar Shakha, Praveen BM, and Anjay Kumar Mishra (pp. 1–16).
This article presents a bibliometric analysis of research on oral hygiene practices among school students in Nepal. It maps the development, publication patterns, major research themes, influential authors, and intellectual trends within the field. By examining the existing body of literature systematically, the study identifies areas that have received substantial scholarly attention as well as potential research gaps. The article is particularly relevant to public health and education because oral hygiene among school-age children is closely associated with health awareness, preventive practices, and long-term well-being. The bibliometric approach provides a useful overview for researchers, educators, health professionals, and policymakers seeking to understand the current research landscape and identify future directions for oral-health interventions in Nepal.
2. The E-FIR Frameworks and Access to Justice: A Comparative Analysis of India and Nepal — Akshay Chudasama and Jim Cherry (pp. 17–47).
This comparative study examines electronic First Information Report (E-FIR) frameworks and their implications for access to justice in India and Nepal. The article explores how digital mechanisms can modernize the process of reporting crimes, improve accessibility, reduce procedural barriers, and potentially enhance transparency in law-enforcement systems. Through comparison of the two national contexts, the study highlights similarities and differences in legal and institutional approaches to electronic reporting. It also draws attention to challenges associated with technological access, implementation, public awareness, and institutional capacity. The article contributes to discussions on digital governance and criminal justice reform by emphasizing how technology can be integrated into legal systems while ensuring that accessibility and procedural fairness remain central to the delivery of justice.
3. Mapping the Intellectual Structure of Artificial Intelligence for Tax Compliance Enhancement: A Bibliometric Review — Dinesh Bidari and Nasiruddin Molla (pp. 48–82).
This article provides a bibliometric review of scholarly research concerning the application of artificial intelligence to tax compliance. It maps the intellectual structure of the field by identifying major themes, research trends, influential publications, and emerging areas of investigation. The study demonstrates the growing importance of AI in tax administration, particularly in areas such as fraud detection, risk assessment, taxpayer monitoring, automation, and data-driven decision-making. By synthesizing the existing literature, the article helps clarify how artificial intelligence is transforming conventional approaches to taxation and compliance. Its findings are valuable for researchers, tax administrators, policymakers, and technology professionals interested in understanding the evolution of AI-based tax systems and identifying opportunities for future interdisciplinary research.
4. Foreign Aid and Economic Growth in Least Developed Countries: A Panel Data Analysis — Ashutosh Khatri Chhetri (pp. 83–92).
This study investigates the relationship between foreign aid and economic growth in least developed countries using panel data analysis. The research addresses an important development-economics question concerning whether external financial assistance contributes effectively to sustained economic growth. By using data across countries and over time, the study seeks to provide a broader empirical understanding of the relationship than would be possible through a single-country analysis. The article is significant because foreign aid remains an important component of development financing in many low-income economies, while its effectiveness continues to be debated. The findings provide useful implications for development policymakers and international agencies concerned with designing aid policies that can contribute more effectively to economic development.
5. Are Psychosocial Counselors Walking the Talk? A Narrative Inquiry — Sudip Ghimire and Shree Krishna Wagle (pp. 93–114).
This qualitative study explores the professional experiences and practices of psychosocial counselors through narrative inquiry. Rather than relying primarily on numerical measures, the research gives attention to counselors' lived experiences, professional responsibilities, challenges, and perceptions of their own practice. The central question of whether counselors are effectively translating professional principles into practice raises important issues concerning ethical conduct, professional competence, institutional support, and the realities of counseling work. The study contributes to the growing literature on psychosocial services by bringing practitioners' experiences into focus. Its findings can be useful for counselor educators, professional organizations, service providers, and policymakers seeking to strengthen psychosocial counseling practices and improve the quality of support provided to individuals and communities.
6. Ecology, Displacement, and Human-Nonhuman Relations in Amitav Ghosh’s The Hungry Tide — Madhab Prasad Bhattarai and Nabin Bahadur Khatri (pp. 115–136).
This literary study examines ecological concerns, displacement, and human–nonhuman relationships in Amitav Ghosh's The Hungry Tide. The article considers how the novel represents the complex relationship between human communities and the natural environment, particularly in a context marked by ecological vulnerability and social displacement. It demonstrates how environmental crises cannot be separated from questions of livelihood, identity, power, and human survival. Through an ecocritical perspective, the study highlights the tensions between human development and ecological preservation and draws attention to the voices and experiences of communities living in environmentally fragile regions. The article contributes to contemporary literary scholarship by demonstrating how fiction can provide critical insight into environmental justice and human–nonhuman interconnectedness.
7. Imagining a Decolonial STEAM Education Framework through the Lens of Pagal: An Epistemological Integration in the Context of Nepal — Simon Dahal (pp. 137–152).
This article explores the possibility of developing a decolonial STEAM education framework in the Nepali context through an epistemological reading of Pagal. It challenges conventional educational models that may privilege dominant or externally developed forms of knowledge and considers how local, indigenous, and culturally situated knowledge can contribute to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics education. The study connects literary and educational perspectives to propose a more context-sensitive understanding of STEAM learning. Its significance lies in encouraging educational approaches that recognize multiple knowledge systems and promote culturally responsive pedagogy. The article offers an interdisciplinary contribution linking literature, epistemology, education, and decolonial thought in the context of Nepal.
8. Lessons and Learnings for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Study of Teachings and Metaphysics of the Bodhisatta Buddha — Mahendra Sapkota (pp. 153–171).
This study examines the teachings and metaphysical ideas associated with the Bodhisatta Buddha and considers their relevance to the Sustainable Development Goals. It explores how Buddhist principles concerning compassion, ethical conduct, social responsibility, non-violence, and human well-being can offer perspectives relevant to contemporary sustainable development. By establishing connections between Buddhist thought and the SDGs, the article demonstrates the potential contribution of philosophical and spiritual traditions to modern development discourse. The study is interdisciplinary in nature, bringing together Buddhist philosophy and sustainable-development studies. It suggests that ethical and value-based approaches may complement economic and technological strategies in addressing contemporary social, environmental, and human-development challenges.
9. Emerging Forces of Internal Colonialism in Chhuden Kabimo’s Urmaal — Subas Chandra Tenyoung (pp. 172–186).
This literary study investigates representations of internal colonialism in Chhuden Kabimo's Urmaal. The article examines how forms of domination, marginalization, cultural displacement, and unequal power relations can operate within a nation rather than only between external colonial powers and colonized societies. By focusing on the literary text, the study explores the experiences of communities affected by internal structures of inequality and domination. The concept of internal colonialism provides a framework for understanding how political, cultural, social, and economic power may be unevenly distributed among different groups. The article therefore contributes to Nepali literary and postcolonial studies by demonstrating how literature can expose continuing forms of internal marginalization and contest dominant narratives of national identity.
10. Chiya Guff (Tea Talk): Reimagining an Indigenous Conversational Framework through Community-Based Qualitative Research in Nepal — Prakash Roka (pp. 187–208).
This article explores Chiya Guff, or tea talk, as an indigenous conversational framework through community-based qualitative research in Nepal. It examines informal conversation as a culturally meaningful form of communication, interaction, knowledge sharing, and community engagement. The study moves beyond conventional assumptions that valuable knowledge must emerge only through formal interviews or institutional settings and considers how everyday social practices can generate rich qualitative insights. The article has methodological as well as cultural significance because it demonstrates the potential of locally grounded approaches in social research. By connecting indigenous conversational practices with qualitative inquiry, the study proposes a culturally responsive way of understanding community experiences and producing knowledge within the Nepali context.
11. Gender Differences in General Health Checkup Utilization: A Three-Year Retrospective Study in a Multispecialty Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal — Iru Poudel, Raji Shrestha, and Sujit Banskota (pp. 209–222).
This retrospective study investigates gender differences in the utilization of general health checkup services over a three-year period in a multispecialty hospital in Kathmandu. The research focuses on patterns of healthcare utilization among male and female patients and considers gender as an important factor in preventive health-service use. The study is significant because regular health checkups can facilitate early detection and prevention of diseases, yet utilization may vary across demographic and social groups. By examining hospital-based data over several years, the article provides empirical evidence that can help healthcare institutions understand differences in service utilization. Its findings may support the development of gender-sensitive health-promotion strategies and policies aimed at increasing preventive healthcare participation.
12. The Implementation Gap in Federal Nepal: A Study of Decentralization and Local Governance in Rautahat District — Lalbabu Yadav (pp. 223–241).
This study examines the gap between the formal principles of federalism and their implementation at the local level in Nepal, with particular attention to decentralization and local governance in Rautahat District. The article considers the practical challenges faced by local governments in exercising authority, delivering services, coordinating with higher levels of government, and translating constitutional provisions into effective governance. The study highlights the importance of institutional capacity, resources, accountability, and intergovernmental relationships in determining the effectiveness of federal governance. By focusing on a specific district, the research provides a grounded perspective on the realities of Nepal's federal system. It contributes to debates on decentralization and offers insights for improving local governance and federal implementation.
13. Corruption Perceptions Index 2025: Global Trends, Regional Disparities, Drivers and the Case of Nepal — Ashok Baral and Elina Maharjan (pp. 242–255).
This article analyzes the Corruption Perceptions Index 2025, examining global trends, regional differences, possible drivers of corruption perceptions, and Nepal's position within the broader international context. The study provides a comparative perspective that helps situate Nepal's corruption-related challenges alongside developments in other countries and regions. It highlights the importance of institutional quality, governance, accountability, transparency, and public-sector integrity in understanding corruption. By bringing global evidence into discussion of Nepal, the article provides a useful foundation for policymakers and researchers concerned with governance reform. The study also demonstrates the value of internationally comparable indicators for assessing governance conditions and identifying areas where institutional improvements may be necessary.
14. Financing the Social Mission: The Impact of Financial Constraints on Sustainability Practices of Social Enterprises — Min Tamang (pp. 256–276).
This research examines how financial constraints affect sustainability practices among social enterprises. Social enterprises are expected to balance financial viability with social and environmental objectives, yet limited access to finance can make it difficult to maintain these commitments. The article investigates the relationship between financial limitations and the ability of social enterprises to implement sustainable practices. It contributes to management and social-enterprise literature by emphasizing the importance of financial resources in supporting long-term organizational sustainability. The study is relevant to entrepreneurs, investors, development organizations, and policymakers because strengthening financial access may help social enterprises achieve both their commercial and social missions more effectively.
15. Exploring the Shift from Traditional E-commerce to Social Commerce: Trends, Drivers and Implications — Anjali Makane (pp. 277–291).
This article explores the transformation from conventional e-commerce toward social commerce and examines the major trends, drivers, and implications of this transition. Social commerce integrates commercial activities with social-media interaction, user-generated content, online communities, recommendations, and digital engagement. The study highlights how changing consumer behavior and the increasing influence of social platforms are reshaping online purchasing and marketing practices. It also considers implications for businesses, consumers, and digital marketers. The article contributes to contemporary e-commerce research by emphasizing that online commerce is increasingly becoming socially embedded rather than being limited to conventional online storefronts. Its discussion is particularly relevant to businesses adapting their digital strategies to changing consumer expectations.
16. Multi-Objective Explainable Transformer Framework for Fraud Risk Forecasting in Digital Payment Ecosystems — Dipeendra Kumar Air (pp. 292–316).
This article proposes a multi-objective, explainable Transformer-based framework for forecasting fraud risks in digital payment ecosystems. The study addresses the growing challenge of detecting and preventing fraudulent activities as digital payments become increasingly widespread. By incorporating explainability into an advanced artificial-intelligence architecture, the research emphasizes not only predictive performance but also the ability to understand why a particular transaction may be classified as risky. This is important for financial institutions because fraud-detection systems must support reliable decisions while maintaining transparency and trust. The article contributes to the intersection of artificial intelligence, financial technology, cybersecurity, and risk management and demonstrates the potential of explainable machine-learning approaches for strengthening digital payment security.
17. Habermas’s Legitimation Crisis and Democratic Trust: Analyzing Political Accountability in Contemporary Nepal — Drona Budhathoki, Uttam Aryal, Rameshor Baral, and Yam Bahadur Silwal (pp. 317–335).
This article applies Jürgen Habermas's concept of legitimation crisis to the question of democratic trust and political accountability in contemporary Nepal. It examines how failures in political responsiveness, institutional accountability, public confidence, and democratic performance can create tensions between citizens and political institutions. Habermasian theory provides a conceptual framework for understanding the relationship between legitimacy, communication, governance, and public trust. By applying the theoretical perspective to Nepal's contemporary political context, the article connects political philosophy with empirical social and governance concerns. It contributes to the literature on democracy and political accountability by emphasizing the importance of institutional legitimacy and meaningful relationships between governing institutions and citizens.
18. Practice of Free Verse in Poetry: A Systematic Review of Form, Rhythm, Lineation, Reader Response, and Contemporary Use — Dasarath Neupane and Alesh Mariam (pp. 336–352).
This systematic review examines the practice of free verse poetry by synthesizing scholarship on form, rhythm, lineation, reader response, and contemporary poetic practice. The study challenges the assumption that free verse is simply poetry without rules and instead presents it as a form that employs alternative principles of organization, including visual structure, rhythm, syntax, spacing, line breaks, and semantic emphasis. Through systematic examination of existing literature, the article identifies major scholarly perspectives on how free verse functions and how readers respond to its formal openness. It also considers the continuing relevance of free verse in contemporary poetry. The study provides a conceptual foundation for further research on free verse, including comparative studies of Nepali and international poetic traditions.
19. Human and Social Capital in Corporate Governance: The Mediating Effects of Organizational Culture on Organizational Performance — Bishnu Prasad Gyawali, Mahananda Chalise, and Dilli Raj Sharma (pp. 353–377).
This study investigates the relationship between human and social capital, corporate governance, organizational culture, and organizational performance. It focuses particularly on the mediating role of organizational culture in explaining how human and social resources can translate into improved organizational outcomes. Human capital represents employees' knowledge, skills, and capabilities, while social capital concerns relationships, networks, trust, and cooperation. The article suggests that these resources do not necessarily produce organizational benefits automatically; organizational culture can influence how effectively they are mobilized. The research contributes to management and corporate-governance literature by integrating multiple organizational concepts and highlighting the importance of culture in converting intangible organizational resources into improved performance.
20. Physical Health Education Trends and Practices in Nepal: A Systematic Review — Prayag Raj Joshi (pp. 378–397).
This systematic review examines trends and practices related to physical health education in Nepal. It synthesizes existing research to identify major developments, approaches, challenges, and areas of emphasis within physical and health education. The article is particularly important in the context of growing concerns about sedentary lifestyles, physical inactivity, health awareness, and student well-being. By consolidating existing scholarship, the study provides a broader understanding of the current state of physical health education and identifies areas requiring further attention. Its findings may be useful for educators, curriculum developers, schools, health professionals, and policymakers seeking to strengthen health-oriented educational practices and promote healthier lifestyles among Nepalese students and communities.
21. Psychology, Health, Literature, and Management: An Integrative Systematic Review of Their Interdisciplinary Connections — Basu Dev Lamichhane and P Radha (pp. 398–421).
This integrative systematic review explores the connections among psychology, health, literature, and management. Rather than treating these disciplines as separate fields, the article examines how their concepts and research traditions intersect in understanding human behavior, well-being, communication, organizational life, and social experience. Psychology contributes insights into cognition and behavior, health research addresses physical and psychological well-being, literature provides representations of human experience, and management applies knowledge of human behavior to organizational contexts. The study demonstrates the value of interdisciplinary scholarship in addressing complex human and organizational problems. It also identifies opportunities for future research that can integrate theoretical and methodological perspectives across these four domains.
22. Literature Review on the Issues of Sustainability, Digitalization, Resilience and Quality of Services in the Field of Tourism and Hospitality Management in South Asia — Hira Lal Shrestha, Muhammed Anas, and Dev Chandra Manandhar (pp. 422–441).
This literature review examines four interconnected issues—sustainability, digitalization, resilience, and service quality—in tourism and hospitality management across South Asia. The article recognizes that the region's tourism sector is undergoing significant transformation because of technological change, environmental concerns, changing customer expectations, and vulnerability to economic and social disruptions. By reviewing existing scholarship, the study identifies major themes and research directions concerning sustainable tourism, digital technologies, organizational resilience, and quality service delivery. The article provides a useful regional perspective for researchers and practitioners and emphasizes the need for tourism and hospitality organizations to integrate technological innovation with sustainable practices and resilience-building strategies while maintaining high standards of customer service.
