Guidelines for Editors 
Introduction
About the Company
Rupkatha Journal is managed by Aesthetix Media Services (OPC) Private Limited, which was incorporated in India by the Government of India, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, under the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013) and Rule 18 of the Companies (Incorporation) Rules, 2014. Corporate Identity Number of the Company is U85500WB2023OPC261592. Headquartered in Raghunathganj, Murshidabad, the company has offices in Kolkata, West Bengal and Bhubaneswar, Odissa, India.
The company derives its name from ‘Aesthetics’, that is, we pursue knowledge, the highest principle of beauty, philosophically in our ventures. With ‘X’, we look forward to future works that have not yet been realised but will come into being.
Aesthetix Media offers tailored digital media solutions designed to meet the unique academic needs of educational institutions, businesses, and professionals. One of its main areas of expertise is scholarly digital publishing, which involves producing and managing high-quality digital content for academic purposes. It also offers consultancy and support for digital media projects, such as creating and curating scholarly editions, developing innovative platforms for scientific communication, and enhancing the impact and visibility of research outputs.
It manages and publishes three journals and publishes books under the imprint Rupkatha Books:

About the Journal
The Rupkatha Journal was founded in 2009 by Dr Tirtha Prasad Mukhopadhyay and Dr Tarun Tapas Mukherjee with the vision of promoting interdisciplinary research and criticism in literature, innovation, and art, with a focus on the study of the human condition and culture. ‘Rupkatha’ derives its name from ‘rup’ (form) and ‘katha’ (words), which, when combined, mean ‘myth’ in Bengali. The journal gets its inspiration from the etymology and follows the principle that anything that has a form, visual, aural or mental could be studied from interdisciplinary perspectives.
For 12 years from 2009 to 2020, the journal published articles without charging any APC. An APC was introduced in 2021 to cover increasing costs of publication: web hosting and administration, editorial and review activities, formatting, indexing, marketing and publicity, permanent archiving and preservation of contents, DOI registration, post-publication care etc.
For over 16 years, Rupkatha has been a pioneering platform for the exploration and dissemination of scholarly work that transcends traditional academic boundaries. Rupkatha is committed to fostering a dialogue that enriches our understanding of the human experience through a multifaceted lens, integrating insights from literature, philosophy, history, arts, social sciences.

Open Access
Rupkatha signed on to the Budapest Open Access Initiative. In conformity with this, the content of publications is primarily guided by the open nature of knowledge, and the journal is free to access from any corner of the world. The journal allows readers to freely read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full text of its articles and to use them for any other lawful purpose. The articles, book reviews, and other published items are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The authors keep the copyrights of their articles. They can distribute and reprint their articles on any platform or with a publisher in any medium. The published articles are immediately and permanently made free to access under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 License.


Editorial Process
Submission Process
Manuscript Preparation: Authors prepare their manuscripts in accordance with the submission guidelines of the journal, following proper formatting, citation style, and adhering to other requirements.
Submission System: The prepared manuscript is submitted through the OJS submission system.
Editorial Check and Primary Decision: The Chief Editor/Managing Editor/Guest Editor reviews the submission for compliance with the submission guidelines of the journal and checks the fulfilment of the primary quality criteria. If an article fulfils the primary criteria, it is sent for review. If it does not, it is rejected.
Managing Review: The Managing Editor coordinates the review process and communicates with authors and reviewers.

Double-Blind Review Process
The journal follows a Double-Blind Peer Review system. The editors primarily consider the submitted articles to confirm the standard and scope of the journal. If any submitted article fails to fulfill the primary standard, it will be rejected, and the author will be informed of the decision promptly. If the editors are satisfied, two reviewers are selected for detailed consideration of the articles. The rule also applies to the members of the Editorial board.
Reviewer Selection: The Managing Editor invites qualified reviewers who hold a PhD, have recent publications in the field, and have no recent collaborations with the authors. The confidentiality of both reviewers’ and authors’ identities is strictly maintained and mutual anonymity of the parties is ensured.
Peer Review: Reviewers evaluate the manuscript’s originality, methodology, significance, and clarity. They provide detailed feedback and recommendations for acceptance, revision, or rejection as per the instructions and guidelines.
Review Reports: At least two review reports are collected for each manuscript, and a third report is sought if the first two differ significantly.
Decision Making: Based on the reviewers’ reports, the Editor-in-Chief, Guest Editor, or a suitable Editorial Board member makes a decision. The decision may involve requesting revisions, accepting the manuscript, or rejecting it.
Author Revisions: If revisions are requested, authors submit a revised manuscript addressing the reviewers’ comments. This process may involve one or two rounds of major revisions.
Plagiarism Check: Plagiarism check including Generative AI may be conducted at any stage.
Final Decision: After revisions, the Editor-in-Chief, Guest Editor, or Editorial Board member makes the final acceptance or rejection decision.

Production Process
Once the manuscript is accepted, the in-house editorial team organises its production. The manuscript undergoes copyediting to correct grammar, punctuation, and formatting issues, ensuring clarity and consistency. The manuscript is reviewed for language quality, improving readability and ensuring that it meets the journal’s standards. The final version is proofread to catch any remaining errors and prepare it for publication.
The edited manuscript is published online immediately after acceptance and production, even before the full issue is compiled. The articles are organised into yearly volumes and quarterly issues. The finalised issues are made available on the journal’s website.

Responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief
The Editor-in-Chief holds the central role in the editorial process of a journal to ensure the publication of high-quality, impactful research. The responsibilities include:

  1. Leadership and Vision: The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for advancing the overall vision and strategic direction of the journal, maintaining and enhancing its reputation and impact within the academic community, and leading and motivating the editorial team and board members.
  2. Manuscript Review Process: The Editor-in-Chief oversees the entire manuscript review process to ensure that it is fair and unbiased and upholds high ethical standards. S/he makes final decisions on manuscript acceptance or rejection in consultation with other Editors and Editorial Board members.
  3. Editorial Quality and Content: The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for ensuring the scientific accuracy, clarity, and relevance of published content, maintaining a balanced and diverse range of topics covered by the journal.
  4. Editorial Board Management: The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for selecting and appointing members of the Editorial Board, providing guidance and support to the editorial team and board members, and organising and leading regular editorial board meetings to discuss journal policies, strategies, and performance.
  5. Outreach and Promotion: The Editor-in-Chief actively promotes the journal to attract high-quality submissions and increase readership, engages with the academic community, authors, and reviewers to build strong relationships, and represents the journal at conferences, seminars, and other academic events.
  6. Innovations and Improvements: The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for introducing innovations to enhance the editorial process, submission system, and journal features, continuously assessing and improving the impact factor, citation metrics, and overall performance of the journal, and staying updated with trends and advancements in the field to keep the journal relevant and competitive.
  7. Publication Ethics and Integrity: The Editor-in-Chief upholds the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity, ensures compliance with ethical guidelines such as COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) standards, and addresses and resolves any issues related to plagiarism, Generative AI, data fabrication, and other ethical breaches.
  8. Financial Management: The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for overseeing the financial health of the journal, including budget management and funding, collaborating with the publisher to ensure financial sustainability, and exploring opportunities for revenue generation.

Responsibilities of the Managing Editor
The Managing Editor plays a vital role in overseeing the entire editorial workflow and ensures that manuscripts are processed efficiently and to a high standard to the production level:

  1. Initial Assessment of Manuscripts: The Managing Editor initially assesses manuscript submissions for adherence to journal guidelines and ethical standards.
  2. Coordinate the Peer Review Process: The Managing Editor coordinates the peer review process by assigning manuscripts to appropriate reviewers, managing reviewer communications, and ensuring timely reviews.
  3. Communication: The Managing Editor also liaises with authors to communicate review decisions, request revisions, and provide guidance on manuscript improvements.
  4. Maintaining the Editorial Calendar: The Managing Editor ensures that deadlines are met, and that the publication schedule is followed.
  5. Production Process: The Managing Editor oversees the copyediting and proofreading stages to ensure the final published articles are accurate and professionally presented.
  6. Outreach and Promotion: The Managing Editor may be involved in outreach and promotional activities to attract high-quality submissions and engage with the academic community.

Responsibilities of the Advisory Board Members
Advisory Board Members play a critical role in the strategic direction and overall success of a journal. The initial term for this position is 2 years.

  1. Expert Advice and Guidance: Their primary responsibilities include providing expert advice and guidance on editorial policies and ensuring that the published content aligns with current trends and advancements in the field.
  2. Experience and Knowledge: These members bring a wealth of experience and knowledge and offer insights that help shape the vision and objectives of the journal.
  3. Peer-review: They are sometimes involved in the peer-review
  4. Thematic Inputs: Advisory Board Members also help identify emerging research topics, potential special issues, and collaborations that can increase the impact and reputation of the journal.
  5. Ambassadors: Additionally, they act as ambassadors for the journal, promoting it within their professional networks and encouraging high-quality submissions.

Responsibilities of the Editorial Board Members
Editorial Board Members are essential to the success and quality of a journal. They play a significant role in maintaining the academic standards of a journal and ensuring the publication of high-quality research.
The initial term for this position is 1 year. Their responsibilities include:

  1. Manuscript Review: They participate in the peer-review process, evaluating submitted manuscripts for originality, significance, and methodological rigor. They provide constructive feedback to authors and make recommendations for acceptance, revision, or rejection.
  2. Content Guidance: They help shape the content of the journal by suggesting potential topics, special issues, and emerging research areas.
  3. Policy Development: They contribute to the development and implementation of editorial policies and standards. They work closely with the Editor-in-Chief and the Managing Editor to establish guidelines that uphold the integrity and ethical standards of the journal.
  4. Promotion and Outreach: They actively promote the journal within their professional networks, encouraging high-quality submissions and attracting reputable authors. They represent the journal at conferences, seminars, and other academic events.
  5. Mentorship and Support: They mentor early-career researchers and provide support to authors and reviewers. Their guidance helps to nurture the next generation of scholars and maintain a robust academic community.

Responsibilities of the Guest Editors
Guest Editors play a significant role in the publication process, particularly for special issues or thematic collections within a journal. Their primary responsibilities include:

  1. Special Issue Coordination: Guest Editors are responsible for coordinating special issues or themed sections of the journal. They define the scope and objectives of the special issue, identify relevant topics, and invite contributions from experts in the field.
  2. Manuscript Solicitation: They actively solicit high-quality manuscripts from researchers.
  3. Peer Review Management: Guest Editors oversee the peer review process for manuscripts submitted to the special issue. They select and invite reviewers, manage reviewer communications, and ensure timely and thorough reviews.
  4. Editorial Decisions: Based on the reviewers’ feedback, Guest Editors make recommendations for manuscript acceptance, revision, or rejection. They work closely with the Editor-in-Chief and/or Managing Editor to ensure that all decisions align with the  standards and policies of the journal.
  5. Editorial Contributions: Guest Editors often contribute an editorial or introduction to the special issue, providing context and highlighting the significance of the collected works.
  6. Quality Assurance: They ensure that all manuscripts included in the special issue meet the quality standards and ethical guidelines of the journal.
  7. Promotion and Outreach: Guest Editors help to promote the special issue within their professional networks and increase its visibility and impact. They may also participate in related academic events, conferences, and webinars to further disseminate the findings.