Contributor Checklist & Submission Guideline
Contribution Types
Opinion Article
Policy Inquiry
Grassroot Voice
General Guidelines for All Contributions
Our readers value:
Substance over noise
Real-world stakes over abstract ideas
Clear arguments grounded in insights, data or lived experiences
Structure your thinking around: “What?”, “So What?”, “How Do You Know This?”
What? → What are you saying? Defi ne the issue or insight clearly.
So what? → Why does it matter? Who does it affect, and how?
How do you know this? → Ground your claim in data, experience, or analysis.
Positive frame
Even when critiquing, aim to build constructively. We value the insight that reveals possibility or clarifi es direction, not just what’s broken. For example,
Unconstructive: India’s regulatory environment is hostile to innovation. There’s too much red tape.
Constructive: Many skilling schemes in the country struggle to match training with market demand. Emerging models, such as employer-linked programs in Tamil Nadu and Haryana, offer practical pathways for better alignment.
SDG & Policy relevance
For linking insights to broader policy debates, all contributors are encouraged to tag:
At least one Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) (e.g. 4, 8, 10).
At least one ministry/department/regulatory body/other public institution.
Support & Collaboration
We offer light editorial feedback and structural guidance to help contributors refi ne their pieces. Authors are encouraged to revise and resubmit, with the aim of sharpening the core idea and improve clarity in presentation.
Writing Style
Use British English consistently (e.g., labour, analyse).
Maintain a neutral, evidence-led tone. Avoid ideological or overly activist language.
Prefer short paragraphs (3 -5 sentences) and do logical structuring, using clear sub-headings.
Use active voice wherever possible.
Provide sources for all claims, ideally hyperlinked.
Avoid jargon. If technical terms are necessary, briefly explain them at their first mention.
Use numerals for numbers above nine, for percentages (e.g., 25 percent), and for statistics.
Italicise non-English terms or conceptual phrases.
Bullet points (like these) should be used sparingly and only when they aid clarity.
Avoid footnotes and endnotes.
Headings should be in sentence case (not Title Case), unless referencing legal or official terms.
Use quotation marks (“double”) for direct quotes, and single (‘apostrophes’) for internal quotes.
All submissions must include a suggested title (under 15 words).
Guidelines by Contribution Type
Opinion Article/Expert Commentary (1000–1200 words)
For sharp, interpretive views backed by reasoning
What We Seek:
A clear argument, not merely a reaction.
Strong grounding in policy, economics, law, tech or ethics.
A sense of urgency or consequence: What hangs in the balance?
Ask Yourself:
What common belief are you challenging or defending?
How does your perspective add something novel/new?
Do you use evidence, experience, or logic to support your stance?
Writing Tips:
Lead with the most surprising or strong insight—not background.
Use “why this matters now” as your internal test.
Keep language accessible but don’t oversimplify.
Policy Inquiry (600–800 words)
For explaining policy issues through the lens of inquiry
What We Seek:
· Framing questions that bring out complexity.
· Insights into who benefits, who loses, and why.
· Clear explanation of trade-offs, incentives, or ambiguity.
· Highlighting uncertainty or contested views is encouraged. Policy isn’t always clear-cut, and we value good questions over easy answers.
Ask Yourself:
· Can you unpack the issue using “what, why, for whom, and the stakes”?
· Are you making a complex issue graspable, not just simple? For example,
Too Simple: MGNREGA gives rural people jobs.
Graspable: MGNREGA isn’t just about employment, it is a counter-cyclical tool. During economic shocks, its demand-linked design automatically injects money into rural areas, acting as a fiscal stabiliser.”
Writing Tips:
· Break down policy language into real-world terms.
· Use “Imagine if…” or short scenarios to humanize abstract terms.
· Highlight points of divergence - what different actors want.
Grassroots Voice (800–1200 words)
For field-driven accounts of how policy lands on the ground.
What We Seek:
On-the-ground voices: Startups, gig workers, officials, youth, farmers, patients, artists, etc.
Insights that show policy in practice, not just on papers.
Reflections that convey firsthand experience of structures and the gaps therein.
Ask Yourself:
Which experiences reveal something about the policy’s reality?
What surprised or impacted the people involved?
Can you trace a link from policy design to local impact?
Conversely, can you connect the local story to a bigger system - such as state capacity, market design, or a rights framework?
Writing Tips:
Lead with a vivid anecdote that anchors the piece.
Let people speak in their own words - quotes are powerful.
Describe not just what happened, but what it means.
End with a reflection, not a solution.
How to Submit
Submit your draft to editor@policyedge.in
Use the subject line: Submission – [Type] – [Your Name]
Include in your submission:
A short author bio (50 words)
Any relevant disclosures (affiliations, funding, etc.)
A picture clearly showing your face (up to 2 MB)
Relevant media (images, charts, graphs, etc.) in high quality with appropriate credit information