Kautilya Working Papers

Kautilya is pleased to announce the launch of its new Working Paper Series, a platform dedicated to fostering rigorous academic and practical discourse. We invite high-quality working papers on a regular basis, focusing on original research (theoretical, empirical, and applied) in the following critical domains:

• Economy and Policy
• Technology and Society
• Global Affairs
• Environment, Societal & Governance Issues
• Society, Development, and Policy Processes

Our series aims to make a significant contribution to professional discussions, disseminate cutting-edge work-in-progress, and increase the visibility and global reach of impactful research in these vital areas. We encourage submissions that present novel insights, robust methodologies, and findings with clear relevance to policy, practice, or scholarly understanding.

We welcome original and high-quality work-in-progress from:

• Scholars and Academics: Researchers with a proven track record seeking to share preliminary findings or stimulate broader discussion.
• Practitioners and Policy Experts: Professionals whose work offers valuable empirical insights, practical evaluations, or innovative policy solutions.
• Early Career Scholars: We particularly encourage submissions from undergraduate and postgraduate students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and junior faculty members, offering a valuable opportunity for early dissemination and feedback.

Selected working papers will be prominently featured and made accessible on Kautilya's official webpage, maximising their impact and reach within the academic, policy, and practitioner communities.

The Kautilya Working Papers Series is guided by a distinguished Editorial Board, comprising leading scholars and practitioners with expertise across our core thematic areas. The Board oversees the quality and intellectual direction of the series.

We invite original, unpublished working papers under the following category:

• Articles: Papers presenting original research, practice papers, theoretical frameworks, empirical studies, or detailed policy analyses.

• Language: All submissions must be in British English.
• Originality & Quality: Submissions must be original, unpublished, and represent high-quality work-in-progress. Authors should confirm that their paper is not under review elsewhere.
• Author Details: A separate cover page must include:
  • Paper Title
  • Author(s) names, affiliations, highest academic degrees, and institutional email addresses
  • A brief biographical note (approx. 50–75 words) for each author
• Formatting:
  • Font: Times New Roman, 12-point font for the main text, 8-point for footnotes
  • Spacing: Single-spaced throughout
  • Emphasis: Use italics rather than underlining
  • Figures & Tables: All illustrations, figures, and tables should be clearly labelled, cited, numbered, and placed within the text at appropriate points. Ensure high resolution and alternative text descriptions for accessibility.
  • Footnotes: Use footnotes (not endnotes), Times New Roman, 8-point font, single line spacing
• Referencing:
  • In-text citations & references list must follow APA 7th Edition strictly
  • Example: Gautam, A. (2025). Urban governance: The politics of urban planning. Macmillan.
  • Ensure complete consistency in referencing throughout the submission
• Plagiarism Policy: All submissions will undergo Turnitin plagiarism checks. Documents found to be plagiarised will not be published. Kautilya maintains a strict policy against plagiarism and academic dishonesty.

Submission Process

• Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis.
• Please submit your paper to edit@kautilya.org.in
• Should you have any questions regarding the submission process or the suitability of a potential paper, please contact edit@kautilya.org.in in the first instance.

Review Process

Papers will undergo an initial editorial screening for relevance and adherence to guidelines. Suitable submissions will then proceed to a review process conducted by in-house experts. Authors will be notified of the decision regarding their submission. While we strive for timely reviews, the duration may vary based on reviewer availability. It can take up to six weeks before a decision is communicated to the author.

Authors retain copyright of their work. By submitting to the Kautilya Working Papers Series, authors grant Kautilya a non-exclusive license to publish and disseminate the working paper on its website and through other relevant platforms, ensuring wide accessibility and reach. Authors are encouraged to also disseminate their work, with appropriate acknowledgement of its publication in the Kautilya Working Papers Series.

We encourage all authors to ensure that pre-publishing their research as a working paper does not conflict with the submission policies of peer-reviewed journals, as these policies vary across disciplines and publishers. The Public Policy Working Papers Series cannot take responsibility for confirming journal-specific rules. However, authors are free to withdraw their working paper from our platform at any time should they wish to submit it to a journal.

For any further queries regarding the Kautilya Working Papers Series, please contact us at edit@kautilya.org.in