Trends and trajectories in India’s social policy research
A computational review
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 14624462 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Manendra Kumar Singh (0000-0001-9495-8962, Mizoram University Department of Library and Information Science, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue | 9-10 |
| Pages | 786-805 |
| Publication date | 2025-10-28 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0144-333X • E-ISSN: 1758-6720 |
| Publisher | Emerald (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1108/ijssp-04-2025-0217 |
| OpenAlex | W4411669989 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 58 |
Purpose Social policy research (SPR) in India has witnessed substantial growth, driven by evolving societal needs. This study aims to examine thematic shift, research trends and collaborative networks, to explore critical insights into the evolution and emerging directions of social policy research in India. Design/methodology/approach A systematic four step approach has been used for study, from database selection, keyword identification, using bibliometric and topic modelling tools and finding major themes and future research direction in SPR. Tools like Biblioshiny, word cloud, VOSviewer and BERTopic, applied for bibliometrics, topic modelling and conceptual structure analysis. Findings The analysis reveals a steady growth in SPR, peaking during COVID-19 (2020–2022). Zone 1 journals account for 33.3% of publications, with author productivity following Lotka’s Law. However, low institutional collaboration suggests limited partnerships. Four keyword clusters and major research themes and future research direction were identified. Practical implications The study underscores the role of SPR in tackling contemporary societal challenges, such as economic inequalities, public health and governance in India. Findings from this research can support evidence-based policymaking and enhance social outcomes. Originality/value This study offers a comprehensive analysis of Social Policy Research (SPR) in India through bibliometric and topic modeling approaches. It represents a pioneering effort to identify major research themes and forecast emerging trends in the Indian SPR landscape
Development economics · Economic geography · Economics · Political economy · Political science · Regional science · Social policy · Sociology · Global Health Care Issues · Income, Poverty, and Inequality · Law · Microfinance and Financial Inclusion
The Political Economy of Democratic Decentralization
Little Science, Big Science
Visualizing knowledge domains
What do citation counts measure? A review of studies on citing behavior
CiteSpace II
The structure of scientific collaboration networks
How to conduct a bibliometric analysis
Probabilistic topic models
Exploring the impact of quality of life on happiness among female healthcare professionals
The New Education Policy 2020, Digitalization and Quality of Life in India
Education for social justice
A critical analysis of unsustainable higher education internationalisation policies in developing economies
Does the pandemic disrupt the livelihoods of marine fishermen? Evidence from Kerala during the pre- and post-lockdown periods of Covid-19
Mental health law, policy & program in India – A fragmented narrative of change, contradictions and possibilities
Reimagining Urban Infrastructure for G20
Why Micro-Credit May Leave Women Worse Off
India and the pandemic
Demographic, social and economic factors affecting the adoption of green toilets among rural households in India
Mental health at the intersections of marginalization
Radical homemaking in Mumbai, India and Brighton, United Kingdom
Changing preferences and societal dynamics
Achievements and challenges of energy poverty alleviation policies
Policy reforms and changing intergenerational support of elderly in India
Achieving water security in India through sustainable wastewater reuse
Slums in India
Housing for the poor in India’s Rural Punjab
Student budgets and widening participation
Decoding and Delivering Public Health
Powering ideas through expertise
The Structure of a Social Science Collaboration Network
Gender and social policy in middle-income countries
Affirmative Action in Government Jobs in India
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |