Policy Guidelines

Publication Ethics

The custody of civilisation demands rigorous standards. Below is our code of conduct for Authors, Editors, Reviewers, and the Publisher.

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Author's Responsibilities

Duties of authors submitting manuscripts for review & publication

✦Ensure original, fullyreferenced work is submitted, ensuring all co-authors are represented accurately. The submission must be exclusive and not under consideration elsewhere.
✦Provide accurate contactdetails for a designated corresponding author, who is fully responsible for authorship and all communication regarding ethical status and originality.
✦Openly disclose thesource of all data and third-party material, including previously unpublished work by the authors. Avoid anything that compromises originality.
✦Identify third-party materialand obtain written permission for re-use from the copyright holders prior to submission or final acceptance.
✦Openly disclose anyconflict of interest (e.g. if publication benefits a company or services in which you have a vested interest).
✦Sign a copyrightassignment form upon acceptance, empowering the publisher to coordinate distribution.
✦Expect the editorto scan submissions using advanced plagiarism detection software to check originality before peer review.
✦Fully cooperate withrequests for source data, proof of authorship, or originality checks in a timely manner.
✦Comply with investigationsif the editor and publisher are dissatisfied with explanations or evidence provided.
✦Expect transparency, efficiency,and respect from the publisher and editorial office throughout the process.
✦Remain in active,responsive communication with the publisher and editor.
✦Submit corrigenda ina timely and responsible fashion when errors are discovered.
✦Cooperate fully withthe publication of errata or retractions if work is found to be misleading or unethical.
✦Maintain professional communicationwith all co-authors and editorial staff.

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Editor's Responsibilities

Code of conduct for journal editors and editorial board

✦Read and understandCOPE guidelines and Bharatiya Manyaprad's ethics policies, adhering to them during all editorial processes.
✦Protect the journal'sreputation by only publishing content of the highest academic quality and relevance.
✦Carry out thorough,objective, and confidential peer review in compliance with ethical policies.
✦Detail and justifyany article types that do not undergo peer review (e.g. editorials, opinion briefs).
✦Provide a transparentreview and publication process, showing full respect and care to all authors.
✦Provide constructive advice,clear decisions, and regular updates to authors during submissions.
✦Allow authors theright to appeal editorial decisions under a structured process.
✦Only accept papersbased on merit, originality, quality, and scientific relevance.
✦Support authors inqueries concerning originality, requesting publisher support when necessary.
✦Advise the publisherof any third-party material used where sufficient clearance has not been proven.
✦Be prepared topublish corrections, corrigenda, errata, or retract articles deemed unethical, misleading, or damaging.
✦Maintain active, helpfulcommunication with both authors and publisher.

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Reviewer's Responsibilities

Guidelines for experts conducting confidential peer reviews

✦Adhere to thepolicy of confidential peer review, keeping identities hidden and protecting unpublished text from distribution.
✦Only accept invitationsto review manuscripts that align with your specific expertise and specialty.
✦Review submitted workin a responsible, impartial, objective, and timely manner.
✦Report any suspectedethical misconduct or plagiarism detected during evaluation.
✦Avoid the useof unnecessarily inflammatory, hostile, or offensive language in appraisals.
✦Accept the commitmentto review revised versions of the work and provide follow-up advice if requested.
✦Seek immediate advicefrom the editor if anything remains unclear at the time of invitation.
✦Maintain professional communicationwith the editorial desk throughout the process.

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Bharatiya Manyaprad Responsibilities

Ethical commitments and standards upheld by the publisher

✦Protect the journal'sreputation by only publishing content of the highest quality in a timely, responsible manner.
✦Provide detailed informationregarding publication ethics and emphasize prevention over detection of misconduct.
✦Uphold ethics policiesby keeping offices, editorial staff, and partners fully updated on evolving industry standards.
✦Request proof ofdata originality and accuracy from corresponding authors whenever necessary.
✦Use professional plagiarismdetection software at any stage of the submission and review process.
✦Provide a transparentsubmission process, offering detailed, dedicated author instructions and style guides.
✦Investigate thoroughly anydetected or reported ethical misconduct (including redundant publication, data fabrication, or authorship disputes).
✦Correct substantive errorsin Advance Online Publications (AOP) quickly, publishing dated correction statements.
✦Retract articles immediatelyif they are found to be unethical, misleading, or academically damaging.
✦Publish errata, corrigenda,and retractions in an open-access online format and in print in a timely manner.
✦Maintain strong, ethicalcommunication with editors, authors, reviewers, and indexing partners.

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What happens if ethical misconduct is detected

Protocols and investigations for suspected integrity violations

If ethical misconduct is suspected in work submitted to any of our journals, Palgrave Macmillan works closely with the editor(s) to ensure that a fair and transparent investigation of the matter is carried out.

We take all instances of misconduct very seriously and will investigate each with care and attention, providing full support to the editor. Consequences for misconduct are as varied as the misconduct itself, and are determined on a case-by-case basis. In all cases, the author will be given the opportunity to provide an explanation for the misconduct. An editorial decision will only be made once the investigation is completed.

In most cases, we accept that the incorrect use of third party material is frequently a result of human error, or a misunderstanding of publication ethics. This is why we actively encourage authors to read our ethics policy and guidance on using third party material before submitting, to avoid these mistakes. In those cases where more serious misconduct is detected, consequences are proportionately more serious. Bharatiya Manyaprad reserves the right to request any and all information from the author concerning the creation of the work, to verify its originality. If no such evidence is provided or no satisfactory explanation given, then we may ban the author(s) from resubmitting to the journal for a determined period. In extreme cases, we may take the matter to the author's institution for their attention.

If ethical misconduct is discovered in content that has already been published, we may publish a statement of concern whilst the work is investigated. If we deem it necessary, the paper may be retracted with a statement of explanation. Other consequences may include a submissions ban for any or all authors, and contacting the relevant institution(s).

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