By Dr. Debasis PradhanManagement and Labour Studies (MLS), the quarterly journal of XLRI – Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur and published by Sage, marks its golden jubilee; it celebrates the creation of knowledge and impact. It commemorates fifty years of intellectual breakthroughs, ethical inquiry, and scholarship rooted in evolving social and economic realities of the global South. Since its inception in 1975, MLS has traversed a rigorous and reflective journey, one that mirrors the transformation of management thought itself, from functional efficiency to purpose-driven leadership. Two words: “excellence” and “groundbreaking” are what we seek to achieve. Great (knowledge) leaders, as exemplified by Abraham Lincoln and Marcus Aurelius, generate trust through their transparent and trustworthy conduct. In doing so, they generate an environment in which people desire to be involved in decision-making and value-creating actions. They interact in an open manner to solicit a range of perspectives to ensure knowledge is transferred between them, constructively challenging current thinking to generate ideas that create a better tomorrow. MLS has done precisely the same by being at the forefront of management education and research. It has actively created a forum for groundbreaking research in the disciplines of management and business studies. It strives to create a space where knowledge is not limited to theory but is applicable. As a knowledge leader, MLS anchors academic credibility while propelling rigorous, future-oriented scholarship that advances both theory and practice.From the outset, MLS was envisioned as a journal that would publish research that is responsible, relevant, rigorous and timely. Its aim has never been confined to academic abstraction. Instead, it brings together scholars, practitioners and policymakers into a shared conversation on management, labor, governance, and society to create an impact. At its core, MLS was created with a clear purpose: to ensure that management scholarship remains ethically grounded, socially responsive and deeply human.Why Was MLS Born?The launch of Management and Labour Studies in 1975 must be understood within the context of post-independence India, a nation grappling with industrial growth, labor relations, institutional development, and questions of corporate responsibility. There was a clear gap in scholarly platforms that addressed management not merely as a technical discipline but as a social practice rooted in moral, cultural, and institutional frameworks. To address these arguably unavoidable issues, MLS was conceptualised and established. The visionaries behind MLS—early editors, XLRI faculty, and thought leaders of the time—recognized the need for a journal that would advance management knowledge and investigate organisational concerns from the lens of labor, ethics, and societal impact. The journal sought to reinterpret corporate purpose for an emerging mixed economy and to foreground human behavior, organizational design, and socio-cultural context as essential to managerial effectiveness.The journey of MLS: From Print to a global platformThe evolution of MLS over five decades reflects adaptability, vision, and progression from a contextual view to a global perspective. The journal migrated to a digital platform in 1999, while still resting its print publication. Over the years, MLS achieved several key milestones:1999: Digitisation and indexing in Google Scholar2019: Inclusion in ABDC2020: Indexing in Scopus2021: Inclusion in CABSPublished quarterly in collaboration with SAGE Publications, MLS today stands as a globally recognized, peer-reviewed journal. Let us understand the impact of MLS through numbers:• CiteScore 2024: 3.1• CiteScore Tracker 2025: 3.4• SJR 2024 (Q3): 0.352• SNIP 2024: 0.817• Google Scholar H5 index: 23• Google Scholar H5 Median: 30• H index: 19• Acceptance rate: 9%Ideas that travel across bordersMLS has hosted some of the most influential voices in management and social sciences, both from India and abroad. Contributions from eminent scholars such as Oswald A. J. Mascarenhas, Nikhilesh Dholakia, Arup Varma, Pawan Budhwar, Atul Paravatiyar, and other global thought leaders have enriched the journal’s intellectual legacy. The editorial board of the journal currently comprises faculty from renowned business schools worldwide, with Dr. Debasis Pradhan as its Editor-in-Chief.Today, 36% of MLS articles feature international co-authorship, underscoring its growing global relevance. Submissions have risen dramatically from 60 manuscripts in 2018 to nearly 690 by 2025, reflecting credibility and impact. Shaping impactful conversations One of MLS’s defining strengths has been its carefully curated special issues. These issues have addressed emerging and critical themes, ranging from business ethics and sustainability to labor reforms, inclusion, and responsible leadership. Each special issue has served as a catalyst for deeper academic inquiry, often setting the agenda for future research and practice.Half a century of purpose-driven thought leadershipDr. Debasis Pradhan, Professor of Marketing, XLRI | Editor-in-Chief, Management and Labour Studies. True to XLRI’s motto, “For the Greater Good,” MLS has consistently placed people, ethics, and society at the heart of management discourse. With its multinational composition of editors and its deep understanding of the nature of the discipline, MLS has conscientiously paved the way for the most important question, “What is the possibility?” MLS stands tall as a thought leader because MLS is not nuanced by repetition of “what is” or influenced by what was; its lenses are neither nostalgic nor rose-colored, and it is critically engaged with the realities of the time. It leads by example and gives a ground for multilateral perspectives. MLS broadens the idea of the discipline in itself and relies on both quantitative and qualitative analysis. As MLS envisions the future, its mission remains clear: to advance knowledge that matters, challenge orthodox, broaden contextual parameters, and inspire management scholarship that serves society (globally with references to various cultures). Fifty years on, and the journey has just begun. Click to know more: https://xlri.ac.in/mlsThe author Dr. Debasis Pradhan is the Professor of Marketing, XLRI | Editor-in-Chief, Management and Labour Studies. DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETEDUCATION does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETEDUCATION will not be responsible for any damage caused to any person or organisation directly or indirectly.
Published On Feb 2, 2026 at 07:11 AM IST
Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals.
Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox.
All about ETEducation industry right on your smartphone!
