Dr. Sonal Mobar Roy is an Assistant Professor at the Center for Wage Employment and Livelihoods at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Hyderabad, India. Dr. Roy earned her master’s in Social Anthropology from Lucknow University and her doctorate in Sociology from the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. Her research interests include Sociology of Health and Education, Culture and Tribal Studies, Rural Development, and Ethnography. She is a member of international editorial boards and has been involved in teaching, training, and research at her institute. She has authored national and international publications and strives to bridge the gap between theory and practice through her writings and research. She has presented papers at universities of repute, such as Oxford University, Imperial College London, and the University of California, Berkeley. She can be reached at smobar2@
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Sociology from IIT Kanpur
M.A. in Social Anthropology from Lucknow University
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Social Sciences, Anthropology, Multidisciplinary, Research and Theory
14
Scopus Publications
43
Scholar Citations
3
Scholar h-index
1
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
UGC and Its Transformative Role in Higher Education in India: A Glimpse into NEP 2020 and Digital Initiatives Sonal Mobar Roy Emerald Handbook on International Higher Education Navigating Workforce and Leadership Changes in A Digital Age, 2025 This chapter delves into the University Grants Commission's (UGC) evolving role in Indian higher education, particularly within the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Beginning with an overview of UGC's historical role, it examines how this apex body has influenced the sector by upholding standards in education, research, and innovation across the country. The chapter then explores NEP 2020's core principles, focusing on its aim to revamp the education system through flexibility, multi-disciplinary approaches, and the integration of vocational training. UGC's efforts in promoting collaborations between universities, industries, and training centers aim to link the gap between academic knowledge and practical skills, making graduates more employable. A significant portion is dedicated to UGC's digital initiatives, including platforms like SWAYAM, NAD, and CARE, which democratize education, ensure secure academic credentials, and enhance research quality, respectively. The chapter concludes by addressing challenges associated with these digital efforts, such as the digital divide and unequal access, and proposes ways UGC can collaborate with stakeholders to overcome these barriers. This comprehensive exploration offers valuable insights for scholars and practitioners, shedding light on UGC's strategic alignment with NEP 2020 and the future of higher education in India in a technologically advancing world.
Spatial Analysis of the Mid Manair Dam: Assessing Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts Using GIS Technology Sonal Mobar Roy, N. S. R. Prasad Journal of Rural Development, 2025 This paper explores the application of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to analyse the impacts of the Mid Manair Dam in Telangana, India. By leveraging GIS, this study provides a spatial analysis of land use changes, environmental impacts, and the socio-economic consequences of dam-induced displacement. The paper examines pre and post-construction land cover data to assess changes in agricultural patterns, water resource management, and ecosystem dynamics. It investigates the spatial distribution of displaced communities and the effectiveness of resettlement efforts. Through this GIS-based approach, the study offers a comprehensive understanding of the Mid Manair Dam’s impact, contributing to more informed decision-making for future development projects. The authors conducted an ethnographic study and collected narratives from the people affected. Geospatial mapping tools (GIS, RS, and GPS) were used to draw the different thematic maps. It can be seen from the maps that the lives and livelihoods of people in about ten villages were affected. The paper concludes by assessing environmental and socio-economic impacts using GIS technology and policy advocacy.
Preface Data Driven Insights and Analytics for Measurable Sustainable Development Goals, 2025
Introduction Tilottama Goswami, Sonal Mobar Roy, Sabrina Senatore Data Driven Insights and Analytics for Measurable Sustainable Development Goals, 2025
EXPLORING THE TRANSITIONS IN FAMILY STRUCTURE OF VADDERA COMMUNITY THROUGH A DECONSTRUCTIVE LENS Sonal Mobar Roy, G. V. Snigdha Raj Contemporary Perspectives in Family Research, 2024 Vadderas are an indigenous community, from the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, India, and are basically soil-diggers and stonecutters by occupation. As per folklores, they were king’s men once upon a time who lost their glory eventually. Their women enjoyed an affluent lifestyle and were reportedly physically active and went for small game very often. Men were a warrior class, and the folklores prove that they fought with valor but moved to forests after they lost wars and were at the mercy of their enemy. To save face, they became forest dwellers and gradually became construction-site laborers which brought transitions in their family structures. In earlier times, they had good progeny, but with lapse of time and over generations, they are conscious of family planning. In this chapter, the authors discuss the transitions in family structure as observed from the field among the Vadderas. A narrative style of discussion is adopted wherein first the family and its importance and reasons for its disintegration are discussed followed by approaches of study of prominent anthropologists/sociologists. Focus is drawn on Vadderas, and the granularities are discussed in a deconstructive manner, that is, going in detail and linking of current practices to the ones in the past and as mentioned in the folklores so as to understand the transitions evident in family structures of Vadderas. Ethnographic account has been knitted with this deconstructive approach as the authors observed the Vadderas from close corners. This chapter ends with summing of current trends as evident in the field.
ENVISAGING DEVELOPMENT THROUGH AMRIT SAROVARS: A STUDY OF MANN KI BAAT CASES FOR REVAMPING WATER STORAGE AND CONSERVATION Sonal Mobar Roy, C. Dheeraja, Digambar A. Chimankar, Anuradha Palla, Raj Kumar Pammi, G. Narendra Kumar Journal of Rural Development, 2023 With a view to conserving water for the future, the initiative of Mission Amrit Sarovar was launched on 24 th April 2022. The mission aims at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. In this paper, the authors studied the cases of four Amrit Sarovars that found mention in Prime Minister’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ (MKB) program, dated 28 th August 2022 (92nd episode). The selected Amrit Sarovars are situated at Lalitpur (Uttar Pradesh), Mandla (Madhya Pradesh), Warangal (Telangana) and Bagalkote (Karnataka). These cases have not been well -documented and analysed and hence this paper attempts to highlight their impact in detail. Literature review indicated that ponds like Amrit Sarovars can be effective in climate -proofing and can help in adaptation to climate change. The authors examine the salient success factors for the development of the Amrit Sarovars, cost incurred and the source of funds, physical features, amenities present, availability of water, and impact on usage, post the mention on MKB program. Also, they assess the impact of Mann ki Baat on expansion of Amrit Sarovar initiative and consequently, impact of Amrit Sarovar on water storage and conservation, change in agricultural production and ecology around Amrit Sarovar and socio-cultural cohesion. The paper illustrates the way in which the mission involves community participation in the form of mobilising local residents to actively participate in the development and management of water bodies and formation of user groups. Lastly, the paper highlights a cross-case analysis for the indicators related to income generated and increase in irrigated area along with way forward for better utilisation of the Amrit Sarovars. It was found that the MKB address contributed substantially to expansion of the Amrit Sarovar initiative with some States coming forward to increase the number of Amrit Sarovars beyond the targets. An increase in enthusiasm was also found among the Amrit Sarovar stakeholders not only to better utilise the existing Amrit Sarovars but to expand their coverage in space and time, post the MKB address.
Deconstructing the notion of “digital wellbeing” through a postmodern lens Applied Research in Digital Wellbeing, 2022
Local bodies, global goals: The frontline health workforce as agents of planetary health in India’s tribal regions SM Roy The Lancet Planetary Health 9 , 2025 2025
Data-Driven Insights and Analytics for Measurable Sustainable Development Goals T Goswami, SM Roy, S Senatore Morgan Kaufmann , 2025 2025
Spatial Analysis of the Mid Manair Dam: Assessing Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts Using GIS Technology SM Roy, NSR Prasad Journal of Rural Development 44 (2), 210-229 , 2025 2025
Deconstructing the Impact of Government Interventions Among the Marginalized Populations Using GIS: A Study of Burgula Cluster, Telangana SM Roy, P NSR Contemporary Social Physics: Decoding Social Behaviour with Advanced … , 2025 2025
Populations Using GIS: A Study of Burgula Cluster, Telangana SM Roy, NSR Prasad Contemporary Social Physics: Decoding Social Behaviour with Advanced … , 2025 2025
Direct Benefit Transfer: A Catalyst for Enhanced Efficiency in Mahatma Gandhi NREGS Implementation MK Rajeshwar, SM Roy 2025
Enhancing climate resilience through natural resource management: the role of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in Jharkhand T Mondal, SM Roy Data-Driven Insights and Analytics for Measurable Sustainable Development … , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Direct Benefit Transfer: A Catalyst for Enhanced Efficiency in Mahatma Gandhi NREGS Implementation SM Roy, R Kadari IJSREM 9 (3) , 2025 2025
History, Culture and Identity Crisis: An Ethnographic Study of Vadderas in Telangana State, India GVS Raj, SM Roy Zhongguo Kuangye Daxue Xuebao 29 (4), 432-436 , 2024 2024
Exploring the Transitions in Family Structure of Vaddera Community Through a Deconstructive Lens SM Roy, GV Snigdha Raj 2024
Book Review: Making Development Deliver Better by Moin Qazi, Notion Press, India SM Roy Journal of Rural Development, 431-431 , 2024 2024
Envisaging Development Through Amrit Sarovars: A Study of Mann Ki Baat Cases for Revamping Water Storage and Conservation SM Roy, C Dheeraja, DA Chimankar, A Palla, RK Pammi, GN Kumar Journal of Rural Development, 20-34 , 2023 2023 Citations: 2
Development and Identity Crises: Exploring the role of Aanganwadi Centres (AWCs) in tribal areas SM Roy 2023 Citations: 3
A Reader on Financial Inclusion by Moin Qazi, 2023, Notion Press, Paperback Edition, Isbn: 979-8890266545, Pages 249, Inr 349. SM Roy Journal of Rural Development, 264-264 , 2023 2023
A Folkloristics and ethnographic approach to study history of and present status of the Vadderas of Vurumodla village in Telangana GV Snigdha, SM Roy Man in India 103 (2-3), 83-90 , 2023 2023
Impact of Midday Meal Scheme in primary schools in India using exploratory data analysis and data visualization SM Roy, T Goswami, CK Nara Statistical Modeling in Machine Learning, 287-306 , 2023 2023 Citations: 3
Achieving Sustainable Village Development Through Geo-Information Application SM Roy, NSR Prasad, B Srinuvas ICT Analysis and Applications, 833-843 , 2022 2022 Citations: 2
An Approach Towards Protecting Tribal Lands Through ICT Interventions K Rajeshwar, SM Roy Intelligent Sustainable Systems: Selected Papers of WorldS4 2021, Volume 2 … , 2021 2021
Escalating social justice through effective implementation of e-governance K Rajeshwar, SM Roy Information and Communication Technology for Competitive Strategies (ICTCS … , 2021 2021 Citations: 1
Life of Tribals during COVID-19 times SM Roy Academia.edu , 2021 2021 Citations: 2
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Strengthening the Mid-Day Meal Scheme through MIS R Kadari, SM Roy 2016 Citations: 11
Impact of RTE Act on Girl Child Education S Mobar International Journal of Social Science and Humanity 5.10 (2015): 903. , 2015 2015 Citations: 6
Stigma and social exclusion among tuberculosis patients: A study of Ladakh, India AK Sharma, SM Roy The International Journal of Health, Wellness and Society 1 (4), 119 , 2012 2012 Citations: 6
Development and Identity Crises: Exploring the role of Aanganwadi Centres (AWCs) in tribal areas SM Roy 2023 Citations: 3
Impact of Midday Meal Scheme in primary schools in India using exploratory data analysis and data visualization SM Roy, T Goswami, CK Nara Statistical Modeling in Machine Learning, 287-306 , 2023 2023 Citations: 3
Social Exclusion and Discrimination of Children with Special Needs (CWSN) SM Roy Alochana Chakra Journal 9, 1601-1609 , 2020 2020 Citations: 3
Enhancing climate resilience through natural resource management: the role of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in Jharkhand T Mondal, SM Roy Data-Driven Insights and Analytics for Measurable Sustainable Development … , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Envisaging Development Through Amrit Sarovars: A Study of Mann Ki Baat Cases for Revamping Water Storage and Conservation SM Roy, C Dheeraja, DA Chimankar, A Palla, RK Pammi, GN Kumar Journal of Rural Development, 20-34 , 2023 2023 Citations: 2
Achieving Sustainable Village Development Through Geo-Information Application SM Roy, NSR Prasad, B Srinuvas ICT Analysis and Applications, 833-843 , 2022 2022 Citations: 2
Life of Tribals during COVID-19 times SM Roy Academia.edu , 2021 2021 Citations: 2
Social exclusion and discrimination of children with special needs SM Roy Alochana Chakra Journal, IX, 1601-1610 , 2020 2020 Citations: 2
Escalating social justice through effective implementation of e-governance K Rajeshwar, SM Roy Information and Communication Technology for Competitive Strategies (ICTCS … , 2021 2021 Citations: 1
Local bodies, global goals: The frontline health workforce as agents of planetary health in India’s tribal regions SM Roy The Lancet Planetary Health 9 , 2025 2025
Data-Driven Insights and Analytics for Measurable Sustainable Development Goals T Goswami, SM Roy, S Senatore Morgan Kaufmann , 2025 2025
Spatial Analysis of the Mid Manair Dam: Assessing Environmental and Socio-Economic Impacts Using GIS Technology SM Roy, NSR Prasad Journal of Rural Development 44 (2), 210-229 , 2025 2025
Deconstructing the Impact of Government Interventions Among the Marginalized Populations Using GIS: A Study of Burgula Cluster, Telangana SM Roy, P NSR Contemporary Social Physics: Decoding Social Behaviour with Advanced … , 2025 2025
Populations Using GIS: A Study of Burgula Cluster, Telangana SM Roy, NSR Prasad Contemporary Social Physics: Decoding Social Behaviour with Advanced … , 2025 2025
Direct Benefit Transfer: A Catalyst for Enhanced Efficiency in Mahatma Gandhi NREGS Implementation MK Rajeshwar, SM Roy 2025
Direct Benefit Transfer: A Catalyst for Enhanced Efficiency in Mahatma Gandhi NREGS Implementation SM Roy, R Kadari IJSREM 9 (3) , 2025 2025
History, Culture and Identity Crisis: An Ethnographic Study of Vadderas in Telangana State, India GVS Raj, SM Roy Zhongguo Kuangye Daxue Xuebao 29 (4), 432-436 , 2024 2024
