Overview

The Himachal Pradesh University Journal (HPUJ) welcomes original research articles, review papers, case studies, and scholarly communications in the fields of humanities and social sciences. All submissions undergo rigorous peer review to ensure the highest standards of academic excellence.

Important Notice

All manuscripts must be original work that has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration for publication in any other journal. Authors must ensure compliance with ethical standards and obtain necessary permissions for any copyrighted material.

Scope and Focus Areas

  • Political Science and International Relations
  • Economics and Development Studies
  • Sociology and Anthropology
  • History and Cultural Studies
  • Literature and Linguistics
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies
  • Education and Psychology
  • Environmental and Regional Studies

Manuscript Preparation

General Requirements

Manuscripts should be prepared in English and follow the guidelines outlined below:

  • Length: Research articles should be 6,000-8,000 words, including references
  • Format: Microsoft Word (.docx) or LaTeX format
  • Font: Times New Roman, 12-point font
  • Spacing: Double-spaced throughout
  • Margins: 1-inch margins on all sides
  • Page Numbers: Consecutive page numbering

Manuscript Structure

  1. Title Page: Include title, author names, affiliations, and contact information
  2. Abstract: 150-250 words summarizing the main findings
  3. Keywords: 4-6 keywords for indexing purposes
  4. Introduction: Background, literature review, and research objectives
  5. Methodology: Research design, data collection, and analysis methods
  6. Results/Findings: Present findings clearly with appropriate tables/figures
  7. Discussion: Interpretation of results and implications
  8. Conclusion: Summary of key findings and future research directions
  9. References: Complete bibliography in APA format

Submission Process

Online Submission System

All manuscripts must be submitted through our online submission system. Authors need to create an account and follow the step-by-step submission process.

Required Documents

  • Complete manuscript file
  • Cover letter explaining the significance of the work
  • Author declaration form
  • Copyright transfer agreement
  • Conflict of interest statement

Submission Checklist

  • Manuscript follows formatting guidelines
  • Abstract and keywords are included
  • References are complete and properly formatted
  • Figures and tables are of high quality
  • Ethical approvals are obtained (if applicable)
  • All co-authors have approved the submission
Submit Manuscript

Peer Review Process

HPUJ follows a double-blind peer review process to ensure impartial evaluation of all submissions.

Review Timeline

Stage Timeline Description
Initial Review 2-3 weeks Editorial assessment for scope and quality
Peer Review 6-8 weeks External expert review and evaluation
Author Revision 4-6 weeks Author response to reviewer comments
Final Decision 2-3 weeks Editorial decision on revised manuscript

Review Criteria

  • Originality and significance of the research
  • Methodological rigor and appropriateness
  • Clarity of presentation and writing quality
  • Relevance to the journal's scope
  • Ethical considerations and compliance

Publication Ethics

HPUJ is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in scholarly publishing. All authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to adhere to established ethical guidelines.

Author Responsibilities

  • Ensure originality and avoid plagiarism
  • Provide accurate and complete information
  • Acknowledge all sources and contributions
  • Disclose any conflicts of interest
  • Obtain necessary permissions and approvals

Research Integrity

Authors must ensure that their research complies with ethical standards and institutional guidelines. Studies involving human subjects must have appropriate ethical approval from relevant institutional review boards.

Plagiarism Policy

All submissions are screened for plagiarism using advanced detection software. Manuscripts with significant similarity to published work will be rejected. Authors must ensure proper citation of all sources.

Formatting Guidelines

Tables and Figures

  • Number tables and figures consecutively
  • Provide clear, descriptive captions
  • Ensure high resolution for figures (minimum 300 DPI)
  • Place tables and figures after references
  • Refer to all tables and figures in the text

Headings and Subheadings

  • Use consistent heading hierarchy
  • Level 1: Bold, centered
  • Level 2: Bold, left-aligned
  • Level 3: Italic, left-aligned

Quotations

  • Short quotes (less than 40 words): Use quotation marks
  • Long quotes (40+ words): Block format, indented
  • Always provide page numbers for direct quotes

References

HPUJ follows the APA (American Psychological Association) citation style. All references must be complete and accurate.

Reference Examples

Journal Articles

Smith, J. A., & Johnson, B. C. (2023). Climate change impacts on Himalayan ecosystems. Environmental Research Journal, 45(3), 123-145. https://doi.org/10.1234/erj.2023.45.3.123

Books

Brown, M. K. (2022). Social movements in contemporary India. Academic Press.

Book Chapters

Davis, L. R. (2021). Cultural identity in globalized societies. In P. Wilson & R. Taylor (Eds.), Modern anthropological perspectives (pp. 78-95). University Press.

Online Sources

World Bank. (2023). India development indicators. Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.worldbank.org/india-indicators