Guidelines to Authors

JME: Author Guidelines

Your submission should contain the following files:
Title Page: The Title Page is a separate file, and should include the Author(s) names, affiliations, and contact details, apart from includes the full title, with any sub-titles. Details of the Author(s) will not be sent to the Reviewers. 

The Manuscript Review File: The review file must remain anonymous and should not mention the Author(s) or their affiliations. Any papers submitted with Author details in the main manuscript file will be rejected immediately. The Manuscript should adhere to all the style/ guidelines in this document. 

1. Manuscript Basics:
1.1 Language and Style
     All manuscripts should be in English (British/ Indian English), with clear, concise, and grammatically correct usage. 
     The usage of "z" instead of "s" is acceptable, where appropriate (e.g., organization instead of organisation)
     Using Grammarly software, the manuscript should clear a 75% threshold. 
1.2 Formatting    
     Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word format.
     Use a true font, preferably Times New Roman, size 12, with 1.5 spacing. 
     Margins must be set to 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.
1.3 Length
     Manuscripts should be between 3500 and 7000 words, excluding the abstract, references, tables, and figures. Longer manuscripts will be considered depending on the complexity and depth of the research.
1.4 Plagiarism Check:
     Using Turnitin, the Manuscript should show less than 15% similarity for a 15-word setting.

2. Manuscript Structure
2.1 Headings and Subheadings
Consistency in Formatting: Maintain uniformity in the manuscript’s style and formatting of headings and subheadings. 
Hierarchy: Differentiate between levels of headings and subheadings to indicate the organizational structure of the manuscript.
Bold or Italics: Use bold or italics (but not both) to distinguish headings and subheadings from the main text. For example:
     Main Headings: Bold, Font Size 12
     Subheadings: Italics, Font Size 12
Numbering or Alphabetization:
     Use numbering (1, 2, 3) for primary headings and alphabetization (a, b, c) for subheadings under each main heading.
     Avoid using punctuation marks or additional numbering systems (e.g., 1.1.1) unless necessary for clarity.
2.2 Abstract
The abstract should summarize the aims and objectives, methodology, key findings, and implications in 250 words or less.
 Keywords: Three to 6 keywords or phrases should follow the Abstract using the JEL or equivalent classification system. 

The article should be structured as follows:
     Introduction
     Literature Review
     Methodology
     Results
     Discussion
     Conclusion
     Limitations & Scope for Future Research

3.1 Tables, Figures & Images
Formatting:
o    Tables and figures should be clear, concise, and easy to interpret.
o    Ensure consistent formatting of table headings across all tables.
o    Use a clear and legible font for table and figure labels and captions.
Table Headings:
o    Table headings should be positioned above the table and formatted consistently.
Figure Captions:
o    Figure captions should be positioned below the figure, and a brief but descriptive title should be provided for the figure.
o    Use a consistent formatting style for figure captions.
Numbering:
o    Tables and figures should be numbered consecutively in the order they appear mentioned in the text.
o    Refer to tables and figures within the text using their assigned numbers (e.g., "Table 1", "Figure 2").
Technical Requirements:
o    Figures and images should be high quality and suitable for online viewing and print reproduction.
o    To ensure compatibility, submit figures and images in standard formats such as JPEG (.jpg) or PNG (.png).
o    Aim for a resolution of at least 300 pixels per inch (PPI) to ensure clarity and sharpness.
Clarity and Legibility:
o    Ensure that figures and images are clear, legible, and well-labelled, with all text and symbols easily readable, even when resized.
o    Use consistent font styles and sizes within figures and images to maintain readability.
Sizing:
o    Figures and images should be sized appropriately to fit within the printable area of a standard page.
o    Avoid very large or small images that may compromise readability or require excessive scaling.

4. Referencing
4.1 Citations
•    Follow the APA (American Psychological Association) style for in-text citations.
•    Ensure all sources cited in the text are included in the reference list.
4.2 References
•    Provide complete publication details, including DOI (Digital Object Identifier), where possible.
•    Follow APA style guidelines for formatting references.

5. Submission Process
5.1 Online Submission
•    Manuscripts should be submitted through the journal's online submission system.
•   Before submitting, please ensure all required documents (Title page, Manuscript file including figures, tables, etc.) have been uploaded.
5.2 Copyright
 Authors must ensure they have the right to submit the manuscript for publication and grant the journal the right to publish the work.
5.3 Ethical Guideline
Authors should adhere to ethical guidelines for research and publication, including avoiding plagiarism, disclosing conflicts of interest, and payments/ sponsorships for the research.

Revised Manuscripts:

At the end of the blind review process, the editor will inform the author about the acceptance or rejection of the manuscript. If the reviewer suggests any revisions, authors are to revise and re-submit the paper within two weeks, failing which it will be considered as a new submission.

Copy Editing:

All the submissions must be copy edited by the authors. In cases where guidelines are not followed by authors religiously, such Articles may get rejected.  Any grammatical or spelling errors may lead to rejection of the article.

Publication Charges

JME does not charge any Publication fee from the authors. Authors are cautioned against several unauthorized agents asking for money for publications. Any such approaches by unauthorized agents must be brought to the notice of the editors.

Subscription

JME expects patronage from authors in the form of subscribing to the Journal. At present subscription charges are Rs 1000/- for 3 years. The Subscription form is placed on the last page of this journal and on our website. Authors are requested to subscribe to the Journal and encourage the Journal.

Copy right issues

JME holds the copyright of all articles published by it. Authors must note that by pressing the submit button, it is inferred that they have transferred the copyright of the article if the same is accepted for publication.

Review process:

All submissions to JME will be subjected to double-blind peer review. The process takes nearly 4-5 months. No queries will be entertained within 120 days of submission. Authors can check the status of their submission online using their log-in credentials. During the period of Review, Authors are prohibited from submitting the same paper to any other journals unless they apply in writing for the withdrawal and the same is approved by the editor. Any queries may be addressed to jme@xime.org. No telephone calls will be entertained on the subject.