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    Old A.T. Road, Nagaon, Assam, 782001, India.
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    registrar@nagaonuniversity.ac.in


Aims and scope

DELVE – Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, published by Nagaon University, is a peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journal dedicated to advancing high-quality research across the broad domains of the humanities and social sciences. The journal seeks to provide an inclusive academic platform for scholars, researchers, and practitioners to engage in rigorous inquiry that addresses both contemporary and historical issues, with particular sensitivity to regional, national, and global contexts.

Frequency: Annual.

DELVE is committed to fostering original scholarship that transcends disciplinary boundaries, encourages conceptual and theoretical innovation, and promotes methodological diversity. It welcomes contributions that are empirically grounded, analytically robust, and intellectually stimulating, aiming to deepen understanding of complex social, cultural, economic, and political processes. The journal particularly values research that engages with emerging debates, challenges conventional perspectives, and contributes to the evolving landscape of knowledge production.

The journal supports multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary dialogue, encouraging fresh perspectives from fields such as economics, sociology, political science, history, philosophy, cultural studies, and related areas. It also seeks to highlight voices and scholarship from Northeast India and other underrepresented regions, while maintaining a global outlook.

In addition to regular issues, DELVE publishes special and thematic issues curated by eminent scholars and guest editors. These issues focus on pressing and emerging topics, fostering scholarly exchange and positioning the journal as a dynamic forum for shaping future directions in the humanities and social sciences.

Editorial Board

Editor-In-Chief

Dr. Tiken Das, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Nagaon University

Associate Editors

Dr. Arani Saikia, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Nagaon University

Dr. Raihan Ahmed, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Nagaon University

Dr. Mrinal Saikia, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Nagaon University

Editorial Board Members

Dr. Rita Marak, Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce, Nagaon University

Dr. Debashis Nath, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Nagaon University

Dr. Kaushik Thakur Bhuyan, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Nagaon University

Editorial Policies

DELVE – Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences adhere to rigorous editorial policies to ensure integrity, transparency, and excellence in scholarly publishing.

The journal maintains full editorial independence, with all manuscript decisions based solely on academic merit, originality, relevance, and methodological rigor. Editors and reviewers are expected to act with honesty, fairness, and confidentiality throughout the review process.

All submissions undergo a double-blind peer review process to ensure impartial evaluation. The journal upholds strict standards regarding conflicts of interest; editors, reviewers, and authors must disclose any potential competing interests, and alternative editorial oversight is assigned where necessary to ensure objectivity.

DELVE is committed to publication ethics in line with international best practices. This includes clear authorship criteria, proper acknowledgment of contributions, and zero tolerance for plagiarism, data fabrication, or unethical research practices. Authors are responsible for the accuracy and integrity of their work.

The journal follows established procedures for corrections, retractions, and editorial expressions of concern to maintain the reliability of the scholarly record. When errors or ethical issues are identified, appropriate actions are taken transparently and in accordance with recognized ethical guidelines.

The use of artificial intelligence tools must be responsible and transparent; such tools cannot be listed as authors, and their use must comply with ethical standards in research and publication.

All participants in the publication process—authors, reviewers, and editors—are expected to uphold the highest standards of confidentiality, accountability, and academic integrity, ensuring that DELVE remains a trusted platform for scholarly communication.

Ethics & Disclosures

DELVE – Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical responsibility in all aspects of scholarly publishing.

The journal enforces a clear competing interests’ policy. Authors, reviewers, and editors are required to disclose any financial, professional, or personal relationships that could influence, or be perceived to influence, the research and its evaluation. Such disclosures ensure transparency and help maintain trust in the publication process.

All submissions must comply with international, national, and institutional standards of ethical research and reporting. This is particularly essential for studies involving human participants, personal data, or biological materials. Authors must confirm that appropriate ethical approvals have been obtained and that informed consent has been secured where applicable. Research involving vulnerable groups must demonstrate special care and adherence to ethical safeguards.

The journal follows the principles and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). In line with COPE guidelines, DELVE is committed to addressing allegations of misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, and unethical research practices. All such cases are handled with due diligence, fairness, and confidentiality to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

All research articles published in the journal undergo a rigorous double-anonymous peer review process, ensuring impartiality and academic quality. The identities of both authors and reviewers are concealed during the review process to promote unbiased evaluation.

Through these measures, DELVE seeks to uphold ethical scholarship and foster a responsible and credible academic publishing environment.

Contact the journal

To contact the journal, the fastest way to get answers regarding submissions and queries is via email at delvehss@nagaonuniversity.ac.in

 

Submission Guidelines

Authors intending to submit manuscripts to DELVE – Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences are requested to adhere to the following guidelines to ensure a smooth and efficient review and publication process.

1. General Submission Requirements

Manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere. Submission implies that all authors have approved the manuscript and agree with its submission to the journal.

All submissions should be made through the journal’s designated email: delvehss@nagaonuniversity.ac.in.

2. Types of Contributions

The journal accepts the following categories:

  • Original Research Articles
  • Review Articles
  • Short Communications
  • Book Reviews
  • Policy Notes / Commentaries

3. Manuscript Preparation

Authors should prepare manuscripts in Microsoft Word or LaTeX format, following standard academic conventions.

A typical manuscript should include:

  • Title Page (title, author(s), affiliations, corresponding author details)
  • Abstract (150–250 words, without references)
  • Keywords (4–6)
  • Main Text (Introduction, Methods/Approach, Results/Analysis, Discussion, Conclusion)
  • References
  • Acknowledgements (if applicable)
  • Declarations (conflicts of interest, funding, data availability, etc.)

Abstracts should provide a clear summary of the research problem, methods, key findings, and implications.

4. Formatting Guidelines

  • Manuscripts should generally range between 5,000–8,000 words (research articles), though flexibility is allowed depending on the contribution.
  • Use clear headings and subheadings for structure.
  • Tables and figures must be numbered sequentially and submitted in high resolution (minimum 300 dpi).
  • References should follow a consistent citation style (APA/Harvard or journal-specific format).

5. Ethical Compliance

Authors must ensure that their submissions comply with the journal’s Ethics & Disclosures policy, including:

  • Proper authorship attribution
  • Disclosure of competing interests
  • Ethical approval (where required)
  • Informed consent for human subjects

6. Peer Review Process

All manuscripts are subject to double-anonymous peer review. Submissions are first screened by the editorial team for scope and quality, and suitable manuscripts are then sent for external review.

7. Supplementary Material

Authors may submit supplementary files (datasets, appendices, multimedia, etc.) to support the manuscript. These should be clearly labeled and referenced in the text.

8. Cover Letter

A cover letter should accompany the submission, including:

  • A brief description of the manuscript’s contribution
  • Confirmation of originality
  • Statement of relevance to the journal

9. Post-Submission Process

The editorial team may request revisions based on reviewer feedback. Final decisions are communicated after peer review.

10. Final Acceptance and Publication

Upon acceptance, authors may be required to submit final formatted files and respond to copyediting queries. The journal reserves the right to make minor editorial changes for clarity and consistency.

How to Publish with Us

Publishing with DELVE – Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences is a straightforward and transparent process designed to support authors at every stage of their research dissemination journey.

1. Prepare Your Manuscript

Authors should prepare their manuscript in accordance with the journal’s Submission Guidelines, ensuring clarity, originality, and adherence to academic standards. The manuscript should be complete, properly formatted, and include all required sections (abstract, keywords, references, and declarations).

2. Submit Your Manuscript

Manuscripts should be submitted through the journal’s official email. Submission implies that the work is original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere, and that all authors have approved the submission.

3. Initial Editorial Screening

Upon submission, the editorial team conducts an initial assessment to evaluate:

  • Relevance to the journal’s scope
  • Academic quality and originality
  • Compliance with submission and ethical guidelines

Manuscripts that meet these criteria are sent for peer review.

4. Peer Review Process

All eligible manuscripts undergo a double-anonymous peer review process. Expert reviewers evaluate the manuscript for its scholarly contribution, methodological soundness, and clarity. Based on reviewer feedback, the editorial decision may be:

  • Accept
  • Minor revisions
  • Major revisions
  • Reject

5. Revision and Resubmission

Authors are expected to revise their manuscripts in line with reviewer comments and submit a detailed response to reviewers. Revised manuscripts may be re-evaluated before a final decision is made.

6. Final Decision and Acceptance

Once the manuscript satisfies all academic and editorial requirements, it is formally accepted for publication. Authors may be asked to submit final files and address copyediting queries at this stage.

7. Open Access Publication

DELVE is a fully open access journal, ensuring that all published articles are freely accessible to readers worldwide without any subscription barriers.

  • No subscription fees are charged to readers.
  • The journal is committed to the wide dissemination of knowledge, enhancing visibility and impact of published research.

8. Publication and Dissemination

Accepted articles are published online and made immediately available to the global academic community. The journal promotes published work through academic networks and platforms to maximize reach and engagement.

9. Author Support

Throughout the process, the editorial team provides guidance to ensure a smooth publication experience—from submission to final publication—helping authors communicate their research effectively to a wider audience.

Fees and Funding

DELVE – Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences is committed to promoting equitable and inclusive access to scholarly publishing.

The journal operates under a fully open access model, ensuring that all published articles are freely available to readers worldwide without any subscription barriers.

  • No Submission Fees: Authors are not required to pay any fee at the time of manuscript submission.
  • No Article Processing Charges (APCs): The journal does not charge any publication or processing fees for accepted articles.

The publication of the journal is supported by Nagaon University, which enables the journal to maintain a no-fee, open access policy for both authors and readers.

Authors are encouraged to acknowledge any research funding sources in their manuscripts, where applicable. However, the absence of funding does not affect editorial decisions, which are based solely on academic merit and quality.

Through this model, DELVE aims to remove financial barriers and foster the free exchange of knowledge across the global academic community.

Submit your Manuscript

Authors are invited to submit their manuscripts to DELVE – Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences via email submission:  delvehss@nagaonuniversity.ac.in.

Manuscripts should be sent as an attachment (in Microsoft Word format) to the journal’s official email address. The submission must include:

  • The full manuscript file (with author details)
  • A separate anonymized version of the manuscript for double-anonymous peer review
  • A brief cover letter stating the title, originality of the work, and its relevance to the journal

The subject line of the email should clearly mention:
“Manuscript Submission – DELVE Journal”

Authors are expected to ensure that the manuscript:

  • Is original and unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere
  • Follows the journal’s Submission Guidelines
  • Includes all necessary sections (abstract, keywords, references, and declarations)

Upon submission, authors will receive an acknowledgment email. The editorial office may conduct an initial screening before sending the manuscript for peer review.

All correspondence regarding the manuscript, including reviewer comments and editorial decisions, will be communicated via email.