Calls for Papers and Special Issues

This page sets out the position of the Journal of Computers, Mechanical and Management on special issues, calls for papers, and conference tie-ups. The journal does not currently operate special issues or guest-edited calls for papers, and does not enter into conference proceedings tie-ups. This page exists to make that position transparent to authors, conference organisers, and indexing bodies, and to set out the journal's reasoning.

Current position

The Journal of Computers, Mechanical and Management publishes through its regular issues only. The journal does not operate any of the following:

  • Guest-edited special issues. The journal does not commission special issues led by Guest Editors drawn from outside the journal's editorial team.
  • Open calls for papers on focused topics. The journal does not issue thematic calls for papers with separate deadlines, separate review tracks, or separate handling.
  • Conference proceedings tie-ups. The journal does not enter into arrangements to publish proceedings of conferences, workshops, symposia, or comparable events as part of the journal.
  • Conference-affiliated issues. The journal does not publish issues affiliated with, or under the imprint of, any conference series.

All submissions are received through the journal's standard submission system at jcmm.co.in, are reviewed under the journal's standard Peer Review Policy, and are published in the journal's regular bimonthly issues.

Why this position

Special issues, calls for papers, and conference tie-ups are legitimate scholarly publishing arrangements when operated with rigour. They are also, in current indexing-body assessments, the publishing arrangements most associated with elevated risk of conflicts of interest, weakened peer review, and inflated publication volume. The Scopus Content Selection and Advisory Board, the Web of Science editorial selection process, and the Directory of Open Access Journals all apply heightened scrutiny to journals that operate these arrangements, particularly to patterns of Guest Editor self-publication and to short-cycle, high-volume special-issue publishing.

The journal has chosen, as a deliberate editorial discipline, not to operate these arrangements. The decision reflects the editorial team's view that the journal's editorial integrity and the long-term value to authors of indexed publication are best served by a single, consistent peer-review track applied uniformly to every submission. The decision is not a judgement on journals that operate special issues responsibly; it is a positioning choice for this journal at this stage of its development.

Conference papers and extended versions

The position above does not preclude individual authors from submitting manuscripts that develop, extend, or build substantially on a previously presented conference paper. Such submissions are welcome on the journal's standard submission track, subject to the conditions set out on the Publication Ethics page:

  • The earlier conference paper must be cited in the manuscript;
  • The cover letter must describe the substantial new content the journal version contributes;
  • The manuscript must meet the journal's standards of originality and rigour;
  • Conference papers without substantial new material are not eligible.

This applies to individual authors submitting individual manuscripts. It does not establish any tie-up between the journal and any conference, and it does not entitle conference organisers to a thematic issue, a coordinated review track, or any other special arrangement.

Future review of this position

The journal reviews this position periodically. Any change would be announced in advance on the journal's News and Announcements page, with the operational safeguards (Editorial Submissions Policy application, double-blind review of editorially conflicted submissions, transparency declarations, and protected proportion of editorial submissions) clearly set out in advance of any first call.

Inquiries

Inquiries about this position, including from conference organisers and prospective Guest Editors, may be sent to the Editor-in-Chief at editor@jcmm.co.in. The editorial team aims to respond to such inquiries within four weeks. The editorial team is unable to enter into discussions about specific proposals while the no-special-issues position is in force.

Effective date and revision

This position is effective from 25 April 2026. The journal reviews this position periodically. Any change is announced in advance on the journal's News and Announcements page.