Plagiarism Policy
The Indian Journal of Astrology and Occult (IJAO) is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. We take plagiarism very seriously and are committed to ensuring that all published works are original and properly attributed.
1. Definition of Plagiarism: Plagiarism involves the use of another person's ideas, words, data, or work without proper acknowledgment. This includes, but is not limited to:
• Direct Plagiarism: Copying text word-for-word from another source without attribution.
• Self-Plagiarism: Reusing significant portions of one's previously published work without citing the original publication.
• Mosaic Plagiarism: Interspersing one's own work with segments copied from other sources without proper citation.
• Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Rephrasing someone else's ideas without proper acknowledgment.
2. Submission and Detection
• Author Responsibility: Authors must ensure that their work is original and properly cited. Any form of plagiarism is unacceptable and will be dealt with seriously.
• Plagiarism Detection Tools: The Indian Journal of Astrology and Occult uses advanced plagiarism detection software to screen all submitted manuscripts. This helps identify instances of overlapping and similar text in submitted manuscripts.
3. Consequences of Plagiarism
• Minor Overlap: If the plagiarism is deemed minor (e.g., missing citations), authors will be asked to revise their manuscript to include proper citations.
• Moderate Plagiarism: Manuscripts with moderate plagiarism (e.g., substantial copied content) will be rejected outright. Authors may be given a chance to resubmit with significant revisions and proper citations.
• Severe Plagiarism: In cases of severe plagiarism (e.g., large-scale copying from multiple sources), the manuscript will be rejected without the possibility of resubmission. The authors' institutions may also be notified of the ethical breach.
4. Review Process
• Initial Screening: All manuscripts undergo an initial screening for plagiarism before being sent for peer review. Manuscripts failing this screening are returned to the authors with a detailed report.
• Peer Review: Reviewers are also encouraged to report any suspected plagiarism. If plagiarism is identified during the review process, the manuscript will be immediately withdrawn.
5. Post-Publication
• Retraction: If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the article will be retracted from the journal. A retraction notice will be published online and in the next available issue of the journal.
• Correction: In cases where minor plagiarism is identified post-publication, a correction notice will be issued, and the online version of the article will be updated to include proper citations.
6. Ethical Guidelines
• Author Guidelines: Authors are provided with detailed guidelines on ethical writing and proper citation practices. They are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these guidelines before submitting their work.
• Training and Awareness: The Indian Journal of Astrology and Occult promotes awareness of plagiarism through workshops, seminars, and resources available on our website.
7. Appeals and Complaints: Authors who believe their work has been wrongly accused of plagiarism may appeal the decision by contacting the editorial board. Complaints will be reviewed thoroughly and fairly, and the final decision will be communicated to the authors.
The Indian Journal of Astrology and Occult is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing, and we appreciate your cooperation in achieving this goal.
