Prospective contributors are to consult the curated list of books before preparing a proposal.
The guidelines should be read alongside the NDRB Editorial Style Guide and any written terms agreed with the Editor-in-Chief for a particular commission.
All proposals and submissions should be sent to submissions@newdelhireviewofbooks.in
Proposal Process
NDRB does not accept unsolicited complete drafts. Every commission must be preceded by a formal proposal for a title from NDRB’s listed selection.
The proposal should include the title of the selected book, a 300-word synopsis of the proposed critical angle, a brief biographical note outlining familiarity with the wider scholarship, submission timeline, and an academic curriculum vitae.
The synopsis must advance an argument concerning the book’s significance, limitations, or contextual relevance, and place its relevance for India as well. We will not consider proposals for book reviews that only summarise the book’s contents or read generically. Commissioned review essays will be a minimum of 2,000 words, with the final length agreed with the Editor-in-Chief.
If no response is received within two working days of submission, we request that you consider the proposal rejected.
Honorarium
Honoraria range from INR 10,000 to INR 12,000 for a standard book. The amount will be determined only by the prospective contributor’s qualifications and the depth of the proposed work.
Honoraria are payable only for submissions accepted for publication.
Commissioning Terms
Editorial correspondence between NDRB and a commissioned author is governed by this policy and by any written correspondence confirming the timeline, structure, honorarium, and other specific terms agreed with the Editor-in-Chief.
It is understood that all correspondence remains confidential and professional.
Written confirmation: After a proposal is accepted, the timeline, structure, and honorarium will be confirmed in writing with the Editor-in-Chief. The contributor should not begin the full draft before receiving this confirmation.
Exclusivity: Once commissioned, the author may not submit the piece, or any substantially similar version of it, to another publication for consideration.
Cancellation: NDRB may cancel the commission if the submitted draft does not reflect the accepted proposal or editorial correspondence over email, or if the draft does not meet NDRB’s publication standards.
Publication rights: Once a submitted review is accepted, NDRB reserves all publication rights to the piece.
Retraction: In case plagiarism or fabrication of any information in the review is found after its publication, the editorial board reserves the right to revise or retract the piece.
Deadlines and Late Submissions
The completed review must be submitted by the deadline agreed with the Editor-in-Chief at the time of commissioning. NDRB recognises that unforeseen circumstances may arise, but timely delivery is essential to the editorial process.
The table below outlines the late submission policy for both the first draft and further revisions as part of the editorial process.
Requirements for the Complete Review
NDRB publishes at the intersection of academia, politics, and policy. Contributors should read the NDRB Style Guide before drafting, and consult the Claremont Review of Books and NDRB’s previously published review essays to understand NDRB’s editorial line, vision, and approach.
A Pangram report must be attached to the first draft. In case any contributor faces difficulty accessing the software, they are encouraged to reach out to the editorial board for assistance with it.
File format: .docx only
Font: EB Garamond, 12-point
Line spacing: 1.5.
Alignment: Justified.
References: Provide all references and citations as hyperlinks to the primary source. Footnotes are not permitted. Endnotes may be approved at editorial discretion.
Generative AI
Generative AI is not accepted. Any proposal or submitted work showing significant generative-AI use, as detected by Pangram, will be rejected. If the work has already been commissioned, the commission will be cancelled.
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