Financial Literacy among Banking Product/Service Users of Nepal: A Bibliometric Analysis of Scientific Research Papers

https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/nprcjmr/article/view/90036

Abstract

Background: Financial literacy is a key driver of effective participation in formal banking systems and sustainable financial inclusion. In Nepal, the rapid expansion of banking and digital financial services has heightened the need to understand the associated research landscape, yet a consolidated scholarly assessment remains limited.

Objectives: This study aims to systematically examine the status, growth, and thematic focus of scientific research on financial literacy among banking product and service users in Nepal through a bibliometric analysis.

Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted on 161 peer-reviewed articles indexed in Dimensions.ai (2016–2025). The methodology included descriptive performance analysis and network visualization using VOSviewer to assess publication trends, citation patterns, leading contributors, and keyword co-occurrence.

Findings: Results indicate a steep rise in publications and citations post-2023, with Nepal as the dominant contributor, led by institutions like Tribhuvan University. Thematic analysis reveals a focus on financial literacy, investment behavior, and financial inclusion, aligned with Sustainable Development Goals. Key gaps include a lack of empirical, product-specific, and digital financial literacy studies.

Conclusion: While research output and impact are growing, the field requires a strategic shift towards more empirical and behavior-oriented studies that directly link financial literacy to banking product usage, especially in the context of digital finance, to support sustainable financial inclusion.

Novelty: This study provides the first bibliometric mapping of the intellectual structure of financial literacy research in the Nepalese banking context, identifying evolution, core themes, and critical research gaps.

NPRC Journal of Multidisciplinary Research : A Bhagavad Gita Lens on Building Ethical AI for Business

NPRC Journal of Multidisciplinary Research

A Bhagavad Gita Lens on Building Ethical AI for Business

Abstract

Background: The unprecedented integration of Artificial Intelligence into world business practice has raised unprecedented ethical and strategic dilemmas. Meanwhile, wisdom traditions emanating from ancient times, such as the Bhagavad Gita, have long stood to inform conceptualizations of duty, action, and consciousness. Today, these two worlds-modern technological strategies and ancient philosophical wisdom-remain separated by strict silos, with business often opting for efficiency over ethical reflection.

Objectives: The review article is guided by three objectives: first, to explain the key philosophical concepts of the Bhagavad Gita-namely, dharma, karma, nishkama karma, atman, and gunas-in an easy-to-understand manner; second, to demarcate the current landscape of AI in businesses, focusing on its functional use in practice and the ongoing ethical issues it poses, including bias, accountability, and the future of work; and third, to build a useful, cross-disciplinary bridge by applying the conceptual framework of the Gita to diagnose and find solutions for these contemporary business problems.

Methods: Focusing on the narrative review approach, this article intends to bring together primary sources on Hindu philosophy itself—in the form of translations and commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita—and present the findings in terms of business and technology literature using the comparative approach to these issues.

Analysis: The analysis reflects strong affordances between the principles gleaned from the Gita and those applicable in AI ethics. The construct of Dharma contests the conventional corporate interest in profit maximization, instead pressing the value of purpose-driven design. Nishkama has implications in negating the commonplace approach of ‘move fast break things,’ pressing the importance of process rather than outcome. The construct of Atman serves to underscore the interlocutor in human-AI relationships, avoiding anthropomorphism with machines while making them responsible. The framework through three gunas (sattva, Rajas, Tamas) serves as an innovative system through framing the value of whether an AI is beneficial, exploitative, or even harmful in nature.

Conclusion: This article finally argues that the Bhagavad Gita delivers to the age of AI in business an indispensable ethical tool kit. It also moves away from theoretical ethical concerns to propose the development of "Gita-inspired leadership" as well as very simple ethical checklists in business strategies. The final choice for businesses will not concern embracing or avoiding the development of AI; they will instead have to make choices in wisdom and duty or in shortsightedness and greed.

Novelty: This study represents a pioneering effort as it engages the particular philosophic structure represented within the Bhagavad Gita, a non-Western approach to collective knowledge or wisdom, with the relevant considerations of artificial intelligence in business. Indeed, there are a great many studies calling for ethics in general.

Critical thinking and Problem Solving - MCQs

 Critical thinking and Problem Solving

MCQs

Set 1

1. Which of the following is/are characteristics of a critical thinker?
   A) Open-mindedness
   B) Logical reasoning
   ✅ C) Willingness to reconsider beliefs
   ❌ D) Emotional decision-making
2. What is the purpose of a SWOT analysis?
   ✅ A) To evaluate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
   ❌ B) To predict future events
   ❌ C) To eliminate all risks
   ❌ D) To complicate complex problems
3. Which of the following weaken an argument?
   ✅ A) Circular reasoning
   ❌ B) Relevant examples
   ❌ C) Clear definitions
   ❌ D) Peer-reviewed data
4. A strong argument requires:
   ✅ A) Logical structure
   ✅ B) Credible evidence
   ❌ C) Loud delivery
   ❌ D) Emotional appeals
5. What is the first step in critical thinking?
   ✅ A) Identifying the problem
   ❌ B) Making assumptions
   ❌ C) Drawing conclusions
   ❌ D) Gathering opinions
6. The "halo effect" occurs when:
   ✅ A) One positive trait influences overall perception
   ❌ B) A group unanimously agrees
   ❌ C) People ignore all evidence
   ❌ D) Decisions are based solely on statistics
7. Which of the following are types of reasoning?
   ✅ A) Deductive
   ✅ B) Inductive
   ✅ C) Abductive
   ❌ D) Aggressive

✅ Set 2

1. The “5 Whys” technique is used to:
   ✅ A) Identify the root cause of a problem
   ❌ B) Avoid problem-solving
   ❌ C) Assign blame
   ❌ D) Make problems worse
2. "All birds fly. Penguins are birds. Therefore, penguins fly."
   ✅ A) Valid but unsound
   ❌ B) Valid and sound
   ❌ C) Invalid but sound
   ❌ D) Neither valid nor sound
3. What helps you avoid ambiguity in critical discussions?
   ✅ A) Defining key terms clearly
   ❌ B) Speaking vaguely
   ❌ C) Using jargon
   ❌ D) Avoiding examples
4. Which are key components of the DECIDE problem-solving model?
   ✅ A) Define the problem
   ✅ B) Explore alternatives
   ❌ C) Delay decisions
   ❌ D) Delegate always
5. What is reverse brainstorming?
   ✅ A) Identifying how to cause the problem
   ❌ B) Voting for best idea
   ❌ C) Using jargon
   ❌ D) Praising only good ideas
6. An assumption in critical thinking is:
   ✅ A) An unexamined belief
   ❌ B) A scientific law
   ❌ C) A proven fact
   ❌ D) A hypothesis
7. Which of these best demonstrates intellectual humility?
   ✅ A) Recognizing limits of your knowledge
   ❌ B) Always debating
   ❌ C) Pretending to know everything
   ❌ D) Agreeing with everyone

 

 

✅ Set 3

1. The “Eisenhower Matrix” is used to:
   ✅ A) Prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance
   ❌ B) Evaluate emotions
   ❌ C) Eliminate alternatives
   ❌ D) Choose leaders
2. Bandwagon fallacy assumes that:
   ✅ A) If everyone believes something, it must be true
   ❌ B) Only experts are right
   ❌ C) Popularity equals truth
   ❌ D) Authority must be followed
3. What question should you ask when evaluating a claim like “90% of dentists recommend X”?
   ✅ A) Who funded the study?
   ✅ B) How many dentists were surveyed?
   ✅ C) What does “recommend” mean?
   ✅ D) All of the above
4. What defines confirmation bias?
   ✅ A) Favoring information that supports existing views
   ❌ B) Actively avoiding data
   ❌ C) Seeking contradiction
   ❌ D) Random acceptance
5. The "Six Thinking Hats" method's white hat symbolizes:
   ✅ A) Facts and neutral information
   ❌ B) Emotions
   ❌ C) Risk analysis
   ❌ D) Creativity
6. “Post hoc” fallacy assumes:
   ✅ A) Because one thing follows another, it caused it
   ❌ B) There’s no explanation needed
   ❌ C) All events are unrelated
   ❌ D) Logic isn’t required
7. What is “SCAMPER” used for?
   ✅ A) Idea generation and innovation
   ❌ B) Conflict resolution
   ❌ C) Hiring decisions
   ❌ D) Ethical analysis

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✅ Set 4

1. Which bias is shown when people stick with a decision because they've already invested too much?
   ✅ A) Sunk cost fallacy
   ❌ B) Optimism bias
   ❌ C) Affinity bias
   ❌ D) Halo effect
2. "We should ban cars because vehicles are dangerous" is an example of:
   ✅ A) Equivocation
   ❌ B) Straw man
   ❌ C) Hasty generalization
   ❌ D) Appeal to pity
3. What is the main function of a pros-and-cons list?
   ✅ A) Compare advantages and disadvantages visually
   ❌ B) Delay decisions
   ❌ C) Complicate thinking
   ❌ D) Simplify problems unfairly
4. What are signs of fair-mindedness?
   ✅ A) Impartially considering opposing views
   ❌ B) Ignoring opposition
   ❌ C) Arguing emotionally
   ❌ D) Only listening to experts
5. Which best defines “critical thinking”?
   ✅ A) Analyzing and evaluating info to form reasoned conclusions
   ❌ B) Memorizing facts
   ❌ C) Arguing with emotion
   ❌ D) Relying on quick judgments
6. "Penguins are birds. All birds fly. So penguins fly" is:
   ✅ A) Valid but unsound
   ❌ B) Sound
   ❌ C) Invalid
   ❌ D) True by definition
7. Which statements reflect intellectual standards in critical thinking?
   ✅ A) Relevance
   ✅ B) Clarity
   ✅ C) Logical consistency
   ❌ D) Length of argument

✅ Set 5

1. Abductive reasoning involves:
   ✅ A) Inferring the best explanation from observations
   ❌ B) Proving all things mathematically
   ❌ C) Using personal beliefs only
   ❌ D) Rejecting opposing claims
2. "We've always done it this way" reflects:
   ✅ A) Status quo bias
   ❌ B) Confirmation bias
   ❌ C) Critical thinking
   ❌ D) Strategic change
3. A logical fallacy is:
   ✅ A) An error in reasoning
   ❌ B) A scientific theory
   ❌ C) Always persuasive
   ❌ D) A good debate tactic
4. What is “opportunity cost”?
   ✅ A) Value of the next best alternative forgone
   ❌ B) The total financial loss
   ❌ C) Emotional damage
   ❌ D) Any monetary cost
5. “Flowcharting” is helpful for:
   ✅ A) Visualizing processes and inefficiencies
   ❌ B) Gathering emotional support
   ❌ C) Predicting trends
   ❌ D) Marketing
6. Which is a counterexample to "All prime numbers are odd"?
   ✅ A) 2
   ❌ B) 1
   ❌ C) 3
   ❌ D) 9
7. What’s the main risk of “Paralysis by Analysis”?
   ✅ A) Inaction due to overthinking
   ❌ B) Rushed decisions
   ❌ C) Gut instinct domination
   ❌ D) Ignoring detail

✅ Set 6

1. The Socratic Method encourages:
   ✅ A) Asking probing questions
   ❌ B) Memorizing facts
   ❌ C) Giving orders
   ❌ D) Avoiding contradictions
2. How do you check assumptions in an argument?
   ✅ A) Ask “What is taken for granted?”
   ❌ B) Ask “What’s the conclusion?”
   ❌ C) Ignore facts
   ❌ D) Assume accuracy
3. How does “Blind Spot Bias” affect us?
   ✅ A) Makes us believe we are less biased than others
   ❌ B) Makes us unbiased
   ❌ C) Strengthens arguments
   ❌ D) Promotes logic
4. A good decision is based on:
   ✅ A) Logical reasoning
   ✅ B) Evidence
   ❌ C) Hunches
   ❌ D) Peer pressure
5. Ethical reasoning includes:
   ✅ A) Considering consequences (Utilitarianism)
   ✅ B) Following duties (Deontology)
   ❌ C) Ignoring conflict
   ❌ D) Avoiding analysis
6. Evaluating whether a conclusion follows from evidence checks for:
   ✅ A) Logical consistency
   ❌ B) Clarity
   ❌ C) Relevance only
   ❌ D) Popular opinion
7. An argument is valid if:
   ✅ A) The conclusion follows from the premises
   ❌ B) The premises are false
   ❌ C) The reasoning is unclear
   ❌ D) It agrees with beliefs

✅ Set 7

1. Affinity bias occurs when:
   ✅ A) Favoring people like ourselves (e.g., same school)
   ❌ B) Judging fairly
   ❌ C) Avoiding similarities
   ❌ D) Favoring performance only
2. The “stepladder technique” is used to:
   ✅ A) Improve group decision-making
   ❌ B) Promote status
   ❌ C) Silence dissent
   ❌ D) Use majority rule
3. Evaluating evidence relevance checks:
   ✅ A) Intellectual standard of Relevance
   ❌ B) Popularity
   ❌ C) Emotions
   ❌ D) Confidence
4. Choosing evidence based only on emotion is a:
   ✅ A) Fallacy
   ❌ B) Sound method
   ❌ C) Bias-free process
   ❌ D) Reliable strategy
5. What makes a source credible?
   ✅ A) Peer-reviewed journal
   ❌ B) Anonymous blog
   ❌ C) Social media poll
   ❌ D) Celebrity endorsement
6. Which promotes clarity and precision?
   ✅ A) Using specific data and definitions
   ❌ B) Vague generalizations
   ❌ C) Buzzwords
   ❌ D) Overstating claims
7. Inductive reasoning is weaker than deductive because:
   ✅ A) It relies on probability, not certainty
   ❌ B) It uses formal logic
   ❌ C) It ignores detail
   ❌ D) It’s always false