Eligibility Criteria

• The work must have been published between January 1, 2023, and October 30, 2025.

• Books must be published by a recognized academic or professional publisher (no self-published titles).

• Both print and e-book formats are eligibleArticles must be published in a peer-reviewed English language or Hindi-language journals (print or online).

• Nominations may be made by the author, publisher, or a third party (academic peer, editorial board member, institution)

A. Books – Eligibility Criteria

General Eligibility (applies to all book categories):

• The book must have been published between January 1, 2023 and June 30, 2025.

• The author/editor must be of Indian origin, affiliated with an Indian institution, or based in a country classified as part of the Global South or the Developing World.

• The book must be published by a recognized academic, professional, or trade publisher (self-published titles are not eligible).

• Co-authored and co-edited works are eligible.

• The book must carry an ISBN and be publicly available (print or digital).

• Multiple entries by the same author are allowed but each must be submitted as separate entries with full documentation.

Category-Specific Notes:

• Monographs: Single-author or collaborative (multi-author) academic works presenting original research or argument.

• Edited Volumes: Must include a minimum of 3 chapters by different contributors.

• Reference Works: Includes encyclopedias, handbooks, dictionaries, or multi-volume works.

• Textbooks: Must be clearly structured for educational use at the undergraduate/postgraduate level.

• Regional Language Publications: Must be authored in or translated into an Indian language (with English summary preferred).

• Business/Professional Titles: Focused on fields like law, management, finance, communication, policy, or education.

• Popular Academic Titles: Scholarly in foundation but written for a broad, non-specialist audience.

• Open Access/Digital-first Books: Must be published primarily online, with open licensing (preferably CC).

B. Journal Articles – Eligibility Criteria

General Eligibility (applies to all article categories):

• Articles must be published in a peer-reviewed journal between January 1, 2023 and October 30, 2025.

• The first author or corresponding author must be Indian origin, affiliated with an Indian institution, or based in a country classified as part of the Global South or the Developing World.

• Articles must be accessible via a stable URL/DOI or submitted as a clean PDF copy.

• Articles behind paywalls must include the abstract and metadata for public verification.

• Both individual and collaborative (multi-author) submissions are allowed.

Category-Specific Notes:

• Original Research Papers: Must present new data, findings, or theories and be peer-reviewed.

• Review Articles: Should synthesize a body of literature and be structured with academic rigor.

• Proceedings Papers: Must be published in official conference proceedings and include review/editorial oversight.

• Case Studies: Must present real-world analysis, with documented relevance and context.

• Policy Impact/Practice-based Papers: Should include a clear section describing implications, impact, or real-world application.

🌟 C. Special Jury Recognition Awards – Eligibility Criteria

1. Emerging Scholar Award

• First-time or early-career authors (within 7 years of PhD or first major publication).

• Must be the sole or lead author/editor of the submitted work.

• Applicable to both books and articles across disciplines.

2. Excellence in Inclusive Publishing

• Work must explicitly address themes of diversity, equity, inclusion, or accessibility. Can also be awarded to books/articles that amplify marginalized voices or underrepresented topics/languages.

3. Innovation in Scholarly Publishing

• Applies to experimental formats, new dissemination models, or interactive/digital formats. The innovation must be demonstrable in the structure, method, or accessibility of the work.

4. Outstanding Contribution to Indian-language Scholarship

• Book or article must be written in or translated into an Indian regional language.

• Must include a summary in English and evidence of academic/research value.

5. Public Impact Award

• Work must demonstrate measurable influence outside academia (media citations, policy uptake, social change).

• Submissions must include a brief note or evidence on its societal or policy relevance.

6. Multilingual Knowledge Access Award

• Given for works that promote bilingual/multilingual publishing, translations, or accessibility across languages.

• Can include co-publishing efforts or annotated translations.

7. Open Knowledge Champion Award

• For authors or editors of open access books or articles published under Creative Commons or similar licensing.

• Preference for works available through institutional repositories, public platforms, or OA publishers.

Declaration by Nominee

By submitting a nomination, you affirm that:

 - The work is original and does not violate any third-party rights.
- Necessary permissions (from co-authors, publishers, etc.) have been obtained.
- Publishing Matters is granted the right to use submitted materials (text/image excerpts) for award-related communications and promotional purposes.