Plagiarism Policy

Definition of Plagiarism:

Plagiarism involves using someone else's work, ideas, data, or intellectual property without proper acknowledgment. This includes but is not limited to:

• Direct Plagiarism: Copying text word-for-word without citation.
• Self-Plagiarism: Republishing one’s own previously published work without significant modifications or proper citation.
• Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Rewriting someone else's ideas without proper attribution.
• Data Fabrication or Manipulation: Presenting falsified or manipulated data as original.
• Improper Citation: Failing to credit the source appropriately.

Plagiarism Detection Process:

1. Initial Screening:

   • All submitted manuscripts are screened using reliable plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate).
   • Manuscripts exceeding a similarity index of 15% (excluding references, tables, and commonly used phrases) may be returned to the authors for revision or rejected outright.

2. Editorial Review:

   • The editorial team reviews flagged sections to determine the nature and extent of the overlap.
   • Minor overlaps may be addressed through revisions, while significant plagiarism will result in rejection.

Consequences of Plagiarism:

1. Before Publication:

   • If plagiarism is identified during the review process, the manuscript will be immediately rejected.
   • Authors will be notified and may be barred from submitting to the journal for a defined period.

2. After Publication:

   • If plagiarism is discovered post-publication:
     • The article may be retracted from the journal’s archives.
     • A notice of retraction, including reasons, will be published online.
     • Authors may face reporting to their institution or funding agency.

Author Responsibilities:

• Ensure all work submitted is original and properly cited.
• Obtain permissions for third-party material (e.g., images, figures, tables).
• Acknowledge all contributors and sources appropriately.

Plagiarism Prevention Guidelines:

• Paraphrase and summarize appropriately while giving due credit.
• Use quotation marks for direct quotations and cite the source.
• Verify your manuscript with plagiarism detection tools before submission.

Commitment to Ethical Publishing:

The journal follows the ethical guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Plagiarism in any form undermines the trust in scientific research and will not be tolerated.