Accepted Article Types

The Indian Journal of Finance considers the following article types. All submissions are subject to double-blind peer review.

The Indian Journal of Finance welcomes original research from academics and practitioners across all areas of finance. Manuscripts must be prepared in accordance with the following guidelines before submission through the Editorial Scholar portal.

Manuscript Format

• File format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)
• Font: Times New Roman, 12pt, black
• Line spacing: Double-spaced
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides
• Language: American English throughout

Title

The manuscript title must not exceed 12 words. It must be precise and reflective of the core contribution. Avoid descriptive padding or unnecessary phrasing.

Author Anonymity

The manuscript file must not contain any author names, affiliations, email addresses, or other identifying information. All author details are submitted separately through the Editorial Scholar portal during the submission process.

The manuscript file should begin directly with the title of the paper, followed by the abstract and keywords.

Abstract & Keywords

A structured abstract of 150–250 words is required for all article types. The abstract must be written in the past tense and must cover the following five components:

• Purpose
• Design / Methodology / Approach
• Findings
• Practical Implications
• Originality / Value

Abbreviations and references must not appear in the abstract. Follow the abstract with 5–7 keywords.

Word Limits

All word limits include references, tables, and figures.

Article Type	Word Limit
Perspectives	3,000 – 4,000 words
Research Papers	7,000 words
Case-Based Research	7,000 words
Literature Review	7,000 words
Short Communications	3,500 – 4,500 words
Commentaries	2,000 words

Manuscript Structure

The manuscript body must follow this structure:

1. 1

   Title

   Without any author details.

2. 2

   Abstract & Keywords

3. 3

   Introduction

   Clearly establish the research gap, theoretical and practical relevance, study contribution, and research objectives. Avoid unsupported claims.

4. 4

   Literature Review

   Include recent scholarship (preferably 2015 onwards); retain older studies only if seminal. Provide analytical synthesis rather than descriptive reporting. Identify theoretical gaps clearly. Use past tense when referring to prior studies. Avoid redundancy and repetition.

5. 5

   Hypotheses Development (if applicable)

   Ensure theoretical grounding. Label null hypotheses as H01, H02, and alternate hypotheses as Ha1, Ha2, and so on. Report acceptance or rejection of each hypothesis explicitly in the Results section.

6. 6

   Research Methodology

   Specify type of research and design; describe data collection procedures; detail instrument development and sources; report reliability and validity measures; justify sampling framework and size; state time period and geographical scope; mention ethical considerations and data cleaning procedures; specify statistical techniques and software used.

7. 7

   Results & Discussion

   Avoid repetition of statistical outputs; focus on interpretation and theoretical implications; compare findings with prior literature; ensure all tables and figures are referenced by number in the text.

8. 8

   Conclusion & Implications

   Clearly state theoretical contributions; provide actionable managerial implications; include policy implications where relevant.

9. 9

   Limitations & Future Research

   Outline methodological and contextual limitations; identify boundaries of generalizability; suggest future research directions.

10. 10

    Ethical Disclosures

    Mandatory statements — see below.

11. 11

    Author Biography

    Maximum 40 words per author.

12. 12

    References

Headings & Formatting

• Main headings: uppercase and bold — e.g. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
• Sub-headings: title case, bold, and italicised — e.g. Sampling Methodology
• Footnotes, italics, and quotation marks should be kept to a minimum.

Tables & Figures

• Number tables and figures consecutively as Table 1, Table 2; Figure 1, Figure 2. Do not use formats such as Table 1.1 or Figure 1.2.
• Table titles are placed above the table and italicised. Example: Table 1. Consumer Behaviour Dimensions
• Figure titles are placed above the figure and italicised. Example: Figure 1. Proposed Conceptual Model
• All tables and figures must be referred to by number in the text. Do not use phrases such as "the table below" or "the above figure."
• All tables must be submitted in editable Microsoft Word format with rows, columns, and cells — not as images.
• Raw variable codes must not appear in tables. All labels must be written out in full as per the manuscript.
• All figures must be high-resolution, black and white, or greyscale only.
• Numerical data in charts and graphs should be indicated in millions and billions where applicable.
• Source must be indicated below all reproduced or adapted tables and figures. Reproduced or adapted material requires written permission from the copyright holder.

Equations & Formulae

Display equations and mathematical formulae must be numbered serially as (1), (2), and so on. Equations must be typewritten.

Plagiarism & AI Usage

• Similarity index must not exceed 10%.
• AI-generated content must not exceed 30% of the manuscript.

Manuscripts exceeding these thresholds will be returned without review.

Ethical Disclosures

In accordance with COPE's Best Practices for Authors, the following statements are mandatory and must appear at the end of the manuscript, above the references:

• Authors' Contribution: Using the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) framework, specify each author's individual contribution to the manuscript.
• Conflict of Interest: Declare any financial or non-financial interests that could influence the work; if none, state so explicitly.
• Funding Acknowledgement: State any funding received; if none, state so explicitly.
• AI Disclosure Statement: Declare any use of AI or AI-assisted tools in the preparation of the manuscript. AI tools may not be listed as authors.

Referencing

The Indian Journal of Finance follows the APA Style Guide, 7th Edition.

• All references must be cited in the manuscript body.
• Include only cited references, not a bibliography.
• Arrange references in alphabetical order by author surname.
• All narrative citations must be typed manually. Automated citation tools are not permitted.
• DOIs must be included for all references in the format: https://doi.org/xxxxx
• Ensure complete consistency between all in-text citations and the reference list.

Reference examples: apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples