The Kautilya Society invites original, analytical, and accessible contributions to its flagship blog Kautilya’s Take. Our goal is to provide a platform for meaningful discussions on law, governance, and public policy by engaging students, researchers, practitioners, and thought leaders.
To ensure your submission is considered for publication, please read and follow the guidelines carefully.
1. Eligibility
- Submissions are open to:
- Undergraduate and postgraduate students of law or related disciplines.
- Research scholars and academicians.
- Practicing lawyers, judges, policymakers, and professionals working in governance and policy.
- Contributors from non-legal backgrounds are welcome, provided their article meaningfully engages with a legal, policy, or governance issue and reflects strong research and analytical rigor.
2. Themes and Topics
We encourage submissions that address contemporary and emerging issues with relevance to law and governance. Some suggested areas include (but are not limited to):
- Analysis of recent judicial decisions and their broader implications.
- Discussion of new legislation, bills, or ordinances.
- Commentary on governance challenges, institutional reforms, or public accountability mechanisms.
- Comparative legal or policy perspectives drawing from international practices.
- Interdisciplinary approaches (law + economics, sociology, technology, philosophy, etc.) that enhance legal and policy discourse.
- Critical reflections on ongoing policy debates such as data protection, environmental regulation, constitutional governance, or access to justice.
Note: While rigorous analysis is expected, writing should avoid unnecessary technical jargon and be accessible to an informed but non-specialist audience.
3. Word Count
- Research-based articles: 1,200 – 2,500 words.
- Opinion/short commentary pieces: 800 – 1,200 words, if they provide a unique, compelling perspective.
- Book reviews or case comments: 1,000 – 1,500 words.
- Submissions exceeding the word limit will only be considered in exceptional cases where the length is justified by the scope of the topic.
4. Originality & Plagiarism
- Submissions must be original, unpublished, and not under simultaneous consideration elsewhere.
- Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Articles found plagiarized (including self-plagiarism) will be rejected outright.
- Proper attribution is required for all direct quotations, paraphrased ideas, or data.
- Authors are responsible for the accuracy of facts, citations, and sources used.
5. Formatting & Style
To maintain uniformity, authors are expected to follow these formatting requirements:
- Font & Spacing: Times New Roman, 12-point, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins on all sides.
- File Format: Word document (.doc or .docx) only. PDFs will not be accepted.
- Structure:
- Title (concise and descriptive).
- Abstract (100–150 words summarizing the key argument and relevance).
- Keywords (3–5 terms that reflect the subject matter).
- Main text (divided into clear sections and subheadings).
- References (at the end of the article).
- Citation Style: The Bluebook (21st ed.) OR APA (7th ed.) must be used consistently.
- Bio: At the end of the article, include a short author bio (50–75 words) mentioning your current academic/professional position, institution/affiliation, and key interests.
6. Submission Process
- Articles must be submitted via email to: kautilyasociety@nusrlranchi.ac.in
- Email subject line should read: “Submission for Kautilya’s Take”.
- Attachments required:
- Manuscript document (with title, abstract, keywords, main text, references, and bio).
- Author details document (separate file including full name, designation, institution, contact information, and bio).
- Additionally, authors must attach one high-quality, relevant photograph related to the content to be used as the cover photo for the blog post.
- Submissions not adhering to these requirements may be returned for correction before review.
7. Review Process
- Every submission undergoes a two-stage review:
- Preliminary Screening: By the editorial board to check relevance, originality, and compliance with formatting requirements.
- Peer Review: By subject experts and editors for depth of analysis, clarity of argument, and contribution to discourse.
- The review process usually takes 2–3 weeks. Authors will be notified of acceptance, rejection, or the need for revision.
- Feedback (where applicable) will be provided to help authors strengthen their work.
8. Rights & Publication
- By submitting, authors grant the Kautilya Society the right to publish the article on its official blog and affiliated platforms (social media, newsletters, etc.).
- Authors retain copyright of their work. However, they must acknowledge Kautilya’s Take as the original publisher if republished elsewhere.
- Republishing requires prior written consent from the editorial team.
9. Contact for Queries
For any clarification or assistance regarding submissions, please reach out:
Email: kautilyasociety@nusrlranchi.ac.in
Phone: +91 91420 70677 (Gaurav Kumar Mandal, Student Convenor)