Journal of Public Administration
and Social Change

It is with immense pleasure and a deep sense of responsibility that I welcome readers to the inaugural issue (January–June 2026) of the Journal of Public Administration and Social Change (ISSN: 3139-4000), a bi-annual refereed and peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing scholarly inquiry at the intersection of public administration, governance, public policy, and social transformation. I am delighted to share that the first issue is now available in print, marking the beginning of what we hope will become a vibrant platform for rigorous academic dialogue and interdisciplinary research.

Public administration today extends far beyond the conventional boundaries of government machinery. It is increasingly recognized as a dynamic field that shapes institutions, public policies, democratic governance, and societal transformation. Contemporary challenges such as urban governance, gender equality, environmental sustainability, digital governance, disaster resilience, public health, and the inclusion of marginalized communities demand innovative scholarship and evidence-based policy discourse. The Journal of Public Administration and Social Change has been established with this vision—to provide a credible academic forum where researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and scholars can exchange ideas that contribute to responsive governance and sustainable social change.

This inaugural issue presents an engaging collection of research articles addressing diverse dimensions of governance and public policy, the importance of citizen confidence in urban governance, rethinking of public administration as the institutional architecture of social transformation, emphasizing its evolving role in contemporary governance. This issue also explores the role of women-led Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in promoting inclusive economic growth in India and investigates the educational challenges faced by border communities along the Line of Control in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, drawing attention to issues of access and equity.

The issue further includes analysis of the implementation gap in women empowerment policies within the broader vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The collection of studies explores diverse dimensions of governance, public policy, and social development in India. It examines environmental governance through a case study of Ranchi district, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of sustainable resource management. Another study emphasizes the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in promoting transparency, accountability, and administrative reforms in governance. The volume also discusses India's expanding role in global health diplomacy, focusing on international cooperation and health governance. Constitutional governance and development administration in the tribal regions of North East India are critically analyzed to understand the relationship between public policy and social change. The evolution of transgender welfare policies is explored with particular attention to inclusion, equality, and social justice. Finally, the importance of community participation in disaster management is examined, demonstrating how active citizen engagement strengthens resilience, improves disaster preparedness, and supports effective governance for sustainable and inclusive development across diverse social and administrative contexts.

Collectively, these contributions demonstrate the breadth of contemporary public administration and illustrate how governance institutions influence social, economic, environmental, and political transformation. The diversity of themes represented in this issue reflects our commitment to publishing high-quality research that is theoretically grounded, methodologically rigorous, and relevant to policy and practice.

The publication of this inaugural issue has been possible because of the dedication and collective efforts of many individuals. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the distinguished members of the Editorial Board for their academic guidance, insightful suggestions, and unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest scholarly standards. My sincere appreciation also goes to the Executive Team, whose meticulous planning, editorial coordination, technical support, and administrative efforts ensured the successful publication of this issue.

I express my deepest thanks to all the authors who entrusted us with their valuable research and contributed outstanding manuscripts to this inaugural volume. Their scholarship forms the intellectual foundation of this journal. I am equally grateful to our anonymous peer reviewers, whose constructive evaluations and thoughtful recommendations have significantly enhanced the quality and academic integrity of every published article.

As the Founding Editor-in-Chief, I envision the Journal of Public Administration and Social Change as a respected national and international platform for innovative scholarship that bridges theory, policy, and practice. We welcome original research articles, policy analyses, review papers, case studies, and interdisciplinary contributions that advance understanding of governance and its role in addressing contemporary societal challenges.

I invite scholars, researchers, practitioners, and policy professionals from across the globe to contribute to future issues and join us in building a vibrant community of knowledge dedicated to strengthening public institutions and promoting inclusive, democratic, and sustainable social change.

I sincerely hope that this inaugural issue will stimulate meaningful academic discussions, inspire future research, and contribute to the advancement of public administration scholarship and policy discourse.

Dr. Ahmed Raza
Editor-in-Chief