Publication Ethics

A. Responsibilities of Editor(s)

· The Editor-in-Chief and Editor(s) of the journal will be accountable for the initial selection of manuscripts for publication followed by initiating a double-blind peer-review process.

· The Editor-in-Chief and Editor(s) will evaluate the manuscripts purely based on academic content irrespective of race, gender, religious conviction, ethnicity, nationality, or political affiliation of authors.

· The Editor-in-Chief and Editor(s) will not reveal any information about the submitted manuscripts to anyone other than the corresponding author and reviewers.

· Ensure that no one uses the unpublished content of submitted manuscripts while handling the manuscript(s) for his/ her research.

B. Responsibilities of Reviewers

· Will help in the peer-review process and make unbiased editorial decisions through editorial communications with the editor

· Will help the author in improving the manuscript, through relevant suggestions, wherever applicable

· If unable to undertake the reviewing job, reviewers shall promptly convey the same to the Editor-in-Chief and Editor(s)

· Will confidentially handle the manuscripts received for the review

· Will review the manuscript rationally and empirically avoiding any favouritism and personal criticism

· Will try to ascertain whether the relevant published work used by the author has been referred/ cited/acknowledged

· Will maintain the confidentially of the information during the peer-review process

C. Responsibilities of Author(s)

Authors of the manuscripts must:

· Present correct information/ original ideas

· Present supporting information represented precisely in the manuscript

· Give details of cited work/acknowledgement.

· Ensure that the content is entirely original, and if the authors have used the work and/or words of others, it must be suitably cited or quoted.

· Avoid submitting research manuscripts simultaneously to more than one journal, which is unethical and unacceptable.

· Must acknowledge the work of others/ funding (if any) received for the research

· The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors are suitable and have approved the publication of the manuscript.

D. Specific Guidelines for the Editorial Board for Selection, Evaluation Criteria, Ensuring Ethical Standards

While scrutinizing/ screening the manuscripts, the editor(s) / editorial members must consider that:

· Manuscript should present original research, innovative findings, or unique perspectives that contribute to the advancement of knowledge.

· Ensure that each submission aligns with the journal's aims and objectives. Manuscripts should contribute meaningfully to the field and provide value to the journal's audience.

· The selection process should be fair, and unbiased and prioritize original research that meets all submission guidelines and upholds the journal's standards.

· Apply selection criteria uniformly to all submissions. Each decision must reflect an unbiased, objective evaluation based on the journal's established quality and relevance standards.

· Confirm that all submissions meet ethical standards, including transparency, integrity, and accountability. Editor/Editorial Board members should be vigilant about potential ethical issues and adhere to the plagiarism policy of the Institute. Any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, will result in rejection of the submission or retraction if discovered post-publication.

· Communicate decisions clearly and constructively to the contributors. Rejections and revision requests must include specific reasons and actionable feedback to help authors improve their work.

· Maintain the confidentiality of all submissions throughout the review process. Manuscript details, author identities, and reviewer comments should not be disclosed outside the editorial process.

· Adhere to the journal’s timeline for review and decision-making. Delays can inconvenience authors and reviewers, so board members should aim for prompt handling and timely publication.

1 Blind Review Process

· The journal follows a double-blind review process. It must be ensured that the author’s and reviewer's identities are not disclosed.

· The review task is assigned to reviewers with relevant expertise ensuring a thorough and knowledgeable evaluation.

· Reviewer’s feedback is considered in the decision-making process and it is ensured that the author incorporates the suggestions made by the reviewers. The final decision on the selection of articles rests with the Editor-in-Chief and Editor. The Editor evaluates each article and makes a fair and balanced decision.

· The final publication decision will be made by the Editor-in-Chief, who will make a decision, after going through the review, ensuring that all ethical standards are met, including strict adherence to the Institute's plagiarism policy.

2 No Self-Submission Rule

· To maintain impartiality, editor/ editorial board members are not permitted to submit their own research paper for consideration in the journal they are serving. This rule ensures a transparent, unbiased selection process.

· If an editorial board member has a close relationship with the author submitting the manuscript (such as a collaborator or co-author), they must recuse themselves from any decision-making role for that submission