Ethics Policy

1. Publication Ethics and Academic Integrity

NIJHSS expects all participants in the publication process—authors, reviewers, editors, and publisher to uphold ethical standards in research and publication. Academic honesty, transparency, and respect for intellectual property are fundamental principles guiding the journal.

2. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to NIJHSS must ensure:

a) Originality and Plagiarism

• Submitted work must be original and properly cite all sources.
• Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism and duplicate publication, is strictly prohibited.
• All manuscripts are subject to similarity checking.

b) Multiple or Concurrent Submission

• Manuscripts must not be submitted simultaneously to another journal.
• Previously published work will not be considered.

c) Authorship

• Only individuals who have made significant academic contributions should be listed as authors.
• All co-authors must approve the final version prior to submission.

d) Data Integrity

• Authors must present accurate data and research findings.
• Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data is unethical and unacceptable.

e) Ethical Approval

• Research involving human participants must indicate appropriate ethical clearance from relevant institutions where required.
• Informed consent must be obtained when necessary.

f) Conflict of Interest

• Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence their research.

3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the academic quality of the journal. They are expected to:

• Conduct reviews objectively and constructively.
• Maintain confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.
• Avoid using unpublished material for personal advantage.
• Declare any conflict of interest and decline review where necessary.
• Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe.

4. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors of NIJHSS are responsible for:

• Making fair and unbiased decisions based solely on academic merit.
• Ensuring a double-blind peer review process.
• Maintaining confidentiality throughout the review process.
• Avoiding conflicts of interest.
• Taking appropriate action in cases of suspected misconduct.

5. Misconduct and Ethical Violations

The journal does not tolerate:

• Plagiarism.
• Data fabrication or falsification.
• Citation manipulation.
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest.
• Duplicate or redundant publication.

If ethical misconduct is identified, the journal reserves the right to:

• Reject the manuscript.
• Retract a published article.
• Inform the author's affiliated institution if necessary.

6. Corrections and Retractions

If significant errors or ethical concerns are identified after publication, NIJHSS will publish corrections, clarifications, or retractions as appropriate to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

7. Commitment to Ethical Standards

The Nāgānanda International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences is committed to fostering responsible research, ethical scholarship, and academic excellence. The journal continuously reviews its policies to align with internationally recognized best practices in scholarly publishing.