Policies

Journal of Indian Languages, Literature, and Multilingualism (JILLM) is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. Retractions are issued when significant errors or ethical violations are identified in published articles that invalidate the findings or conclusions. Retractions may arise from issues such as:

  • Data fabrication or manipulation
  • Plagiarism or duplicate publication
  • Serious methodological flaws
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest
  • Ethical breaches, including violations of human or cultural research guidelines
  • Legal infringements, such as copyright violations or defamation

Retractions follow the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The editorial board reviews each case thoroughly, often in consultation with the authors and their institutions. If a retraction is necessary, a Retraction Notice will be published, clearly stating the reason(s) and linking to the original article. The original article will remain online, clearly marked as retracted.

Retraction notices are freely accessible and indexed to ensure transparency and accountability. Authors are encouraged to proactively inform the journal of any post-publication concerns about their work. JILLM handles all retractions responsibly and promptly to maintain the credibility of the journal and the trust of the academic community.

Authorship Policy
All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to the research, including conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the work. Authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and accept accountability for the accuracy and integrity of the content.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Policy

JILLM is committed to fostering a publishing environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. High-quality scholarship thrives when perspectives from different genders, cultures, linguistic backgrounds, geographic regions, and career stages are represented in authorship, review, and editorial leadership.

  • Submissions from underrepresented communities are actively encouraged.
  • Peer review and editorial processes are designed to mitigate bias and promote fairness.
  • Reviewers and editors are selected based on expertise and diverse perspectives, without regard to nationality, gender identity, race, or institutional affiliation.
  • Masked or double-blind peer review options are supported to focus on scientific merit and methodological rigor rather than author identity.
  • Inclusive language is expected in all published work. Authors are encouraged to avoid stereotypes, assumptions, or language that may marginalize individuals or groups based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or cultural background. Where relevant, demographic context or limitations in representation should be noted.

JILLM periodically conducts data-driven assessments to monitor DEI progress, using anonymized, aggregated information to evaluate the diversity of the editorial board, reviewer pool, and author base.

By embedding DEI principles in its mission, JILLM aims to:

  • Cultivate an inclusive scholarly community
  • Enhance the quality and relevance of published research
  • Promote global perspectives in the study and preservation of Indian languages, literature, and multilingual traditions

Open Access Statement

·         Journal of Indian Languages, Literature, and Multilingualism (JILLM) is an open-access journal committed to the free and global dissemination of scholarly research in the fields of Indian languages, literature, linguistics, and multilingual studies. All articles are made available online immediately upon publication, without subscription fees or access restrictions. This policy ensures that research findings are widely accessible, enhancing visibility, citation potential, and scholarly impact.

·         In alignment with responsible knowledge sharing, JILLM publishes all articles under the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) license. This license allows readers to read, download, copy, distribute, and adapt work for non-commercial purposes, provided appropriate credit is given to the authors. Authors retain copyright while promoting academic and educational reuse of their research.

·         By adopting open access under the CC BY-NC framework, JILLM fosters inclusivity, equity, and transparency in scholarly publishing, encouraging collaboration across linguistic, literary, and cultural studies and contributing to the advancement of multilingual research in India and beyond.

Article Processing Charges (APC)

Journal of Indian Languages, Literature, and Multilingualism (JILLM) is an open-access journal. No Article Processing Charge (APC) is applied.

Conflicts of Interest Statement

·         Conflicts of interest occur when personal, financial, or professional relationships may influence research or editorial decisions. Proper management is essential to maintain fairness and trust in publishing.

·         A disclosure model requires authors, reviewers, and editors to openly declare potential conflicts, allowing readers and editors to assess objectivity.

·         An exclusion model prevents individuals with significant conflicts from participating in the review or editorial process. While effective, it can reduce available expertise.

·         The management model applies safeguards—such as additional reviewers or increased oversight—allowing conflicted individuals to contribute without compromising fairness.

·         Many journals, including JILLM, adopt a hybrid approach, combining disclosure, exclusion, and management as appropriate to ensure integrity while maintaining practical efficiency in publishing.

 

Pre-review Statement

·         All manuscripts submitted to JILLM undergo an initial pre-review screening by the editorial team. This step ensures that submissions meet the journal’s basic quality and scope criteria before full peer review.

·         Editors assess relevance to JILLM’s scope, including Indian languages, literary studies, multilingualism, translation studies, and cultural linguistics. Submissions outside the thematic focus or lacking academic value may be declined without external review.

·         Pre-review also evaluates clarity, organization, adherence to formatting guidelines, and ethical compliance. Manuscripts with major writing issues, poor structure, or ethical concerns may be returned for revision or rejected.

·         This process conserves reviewer time, promotes an efficient peer review system, and ensures timely, constructive feedback for authors. Only manuscripts meeting quality, novelty, and presentation standards proceed to double-blind peer review.

 

Privacy Statement

·         JILLM is committed to protecting the privacy of all participants in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and readers. Personal information is collected solely for purposes related to manuscript submission, peer review, editorial decisions, and communication.

·         Collected data may include names, email addresses, institutional affiliations, phone numbers, and other information voluntarily provided. This information is used exclusively to manage submissions, assign reviewers, contact authors, and ensure editorial integrity.

·         Personal data is not shared or sold for commercial purposes. Disclosure may occur only to fulfill legal or ethical obligations or during investigations of publication misconduct. Appropriate security measures, including restricted access and secure servers, are maintained, in compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR.

·         Authors are responsible for ensuring that personal information included in their research (e.g., photographs, interviews, or case studies) is used ethically and with informed consent. Individuals have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of their personal data, subject to legal and editorial obligations. Privacy concerns can be directed to the editorial office.

Informed Consent Statement

·         Research involving human participants, personal data, or identifiable information must comply with recognized ethical standards and include documented informed consent.

·         Participants must be fully informed about the study’s purpose, methods, risks, and benefits, and must participate voluntarily. Manuscripts should include a statement confirming that informed consent was obtained, typically in the Methods or Ethics section.

·         For vulnerable groups (e.g., minors or individuals with disabilities), consent must be obtained from legal guardians or authorized representatives. Explicit permission is required for including photographs, recordings, or other identifiable information.

·         All research must receive approval from an appropriate institutional ethics committee or review board, with the approving body and reference number stated in the manuscript. Failure to obtain proper consent or ethical approval may lead to rejection or retraction.

 

Data Availability and Transparency Statement

·         JILLM promotes transparency, reproducibility, and open scholarly communication. Authors are expected to ensure that all data supporting their findings is clearly documented and accessible whenever possible.

·         Manuscripts must include a Data Availability Statement, describing where and how data, code, or other materials can be accessed. Public repositories should be cited with links or DOIs. If data cannot be shared due to ethical, legal, or commercial reasons, authors should explain restrictions and provide metadata, anonymized datasets, or summary statistics when possible.

·         JILLM encourages adherence to FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and responsible data sharing that complies with ethical and privacy standards. Proper citations must be provided for reused datasets and software.

·         These practices enhance the integrity, reliability, and impact of research published in JILLM and support ongoing collaboration in the study of Indian languages, literature, and multilingualism.