1. Purpose and Scope

This policy applies to all manuscripts, revisions, supplementary files, maps, figures,
tables, data descriptions, reviews, editorials and other content submitted to or
published by IJGESR. It applies to every author, co-author, reviewer and editor involved
in the publication process.

The UGC Regulations formally govern students, researchers, faculty and staff of higher
educational institutions (HEIs). IJGESR uses their similarity levels and integrity
principles as an editorial benchmark. Institutional penalties concerning degrees,
increments, supervision or employment can be imposed only by the competent HEI after
due process; IJGESR does not exercise those institutional powers.

2. What Constitutes Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person’s work, words, ideas, methods, data,
results, maps, images or intellectual contribution as one’s own without appropriate
acknowledgement, permission or citation. It includes intentional and unintentional
unattributed use.

Direct copying

Copying text or other material without quotation, citation or permission where required.

Improper paraphrasing

Changing a few words or the sentence order while retaining another source’s expression or idea.

Idea and data plagiarism

Using another person’s hypothesis, method, data, results or interpretation without clear credit.

Image and map plagiarism

Reusing figures, photographs, satellite images, maps or diagrams without attribution or permission.

Duplicate publication

Submitting or publishing substantially the same work in more than one place without disclosure.

Contract or ghost authorship

Claiming authorship of work written or produced by another person without a legitimate contribution.

3. Self-Plagiarism and Text Recycling

In accordance with the UGC Public Notice dated 20 April 2020, reproducing one’s own
previously published work, in whole or in part, without adequate citation and
acknowledgement, while presenting it as new and original, is unacceptable text
recycling or self-plagiarism. This includes:

• republishing the same paper without full disclosure and citation;
• publishing excerpts from an earlier, longer work as a new publication without citation;
• reusing previously published or submitted data without full disclosure and citation;
• splitting one study into multiple papers without transparent cross-referencing; and
• paraphrasing one’s previous publication without citing the original work.

Legitimate reuse of a clearly described method or standard wording may be considered
only when it is necessary, limited, transparently cited and consistent with copyright
requirements. Authors must disclose related manuscripts, preprints, conference papers,
theses and earlier publications at submission.

4. Similarity Screening and Editorial Review

1. Initial check: Every manuscript may be screened using appropriate
   plagiarism-detection software before peer review and again after revision.
2. Qualitative assessment: A similarity percentage is an indicator, not
   automatic proof of plagiarism. Editors examine the matched sources, attribution,
   location, extent and nature of the overlap.
3. Author clarification: The journal may request an explanation,
   corrected citations, permissions, source files, raw data or a revised manuscript.
4. Decision: The editor may clear the paper, return it for revision,
   reject it, withdraw it from review, correct the record or begin retraction procedures.

Important: A low overall similarity score does not excuse plagiarism in
the abstract, hypothesis, observations, results, conclusions, recommendations or any
other original contribution. Conversely, a high raw score may contain properly quoted
or otherwise excludable material and therefore requires editorial examination.

5. UGC Exclusions from Similarity Checking

For UGC-aligned assessment, the similarity check should exclude:

• quoted material reproduced with all necessary permission and/or attribution;
• references, bibliography, table of contents, preface and acknowledgements; and
• generic terms, laws, standard symbols and standard equations.

The UGC note also excludes common-knowledge or coincidental terms of up to fourteen
consecutive words. These exclusions do not permit disguised copying, extensive
patchwriting, unattributed ideas or misuse of copyrighted material. Software exclusions
will be applied only where technically and academically appropriate.

6. UGC Similarity Levels

7. IJGESR Editorial Action

IJGESR may take stronger action at any percentage when plagiarism affects the central
ideas, data, findings or conclusions; involves fabricated or falsified material; breaches
copyright; or shows deliberate concealment. Repeated misconduct may result in temporary
restrictions on new submissions after a fair editorial inquiry.

8. UGC Penalties for Academic and Research Publications

Under Regulation 12.2, the following institutional penalties apply to researchers,
faculty and staff of an HEI after plagiarism is established through a fair and transparent
process and available appeals are exhausted:

• Level 0: no penalty.
• Level 1: withdrawal of the manuscript.
• Level 2: withdrawal of the manuscript, denial of one annual
  increment, and no new Master’s/M.Phil./Ph.D. supervision for two years.
• Level 3: withdrawal of the manuscript, denial of two successive
  annual increments, and no new Master’s/M.Phil./Ph.D. supervision for three years.

These are HEI sanctions under the UGC Regulations, not penalties imposed by IJGESR.
Repeated offences attract the next higher level of punishment; a repeated Level 3
offence may lead to disciplinary action, including suspension or termination, under the
applicable HEI service rules.

9. Author Responsibilities and Declaration

• Submit original work that is not simultaneously under consideration elsewhere.
• Cite every source accurately and use quotation marks or block quotations where required.
• Obtain written permission for copyrighted maps, images, figures, tables and substantial extracts.
• Disclose all closely related papers, preprints, conference versions, theses and datasets.
• Confirm that all authors made legitimate contributions and approved the submitted version.
• Retain data and source records sufficient to answer an integrity inquiry.
• Correct the scholarly record promptly if an error or unattributed overlap is discovered.

Submission to IJGESR constitutes an author declaration that the work is original,
appropriately cited, ethically prepared and compliant with this policy. Authors remain
collectively responsible for the integrity of the manuscript.

10. Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools

AI tools cannot be listed as authors and do not relieve human authors of responsibility.
Authors must verify all AI-assisted text, citations, data and images; disclose material
use of generative AI in accordance with the journal’s instructions; and ensure that no
confidential, copyrighted or unattributed content is reproduced. Undisclosed AI use may
be investigated where it creates plagiarism, fabrication, false citation or authorship
concerns.

11. Complaints, Inquiry and Appeal

1. A complaint should identify the article or manuscript, the allegedly copied material
   and the original source, with supporting evidence.
2. The editorial office will conduct a preliminary assessment. Similarity reports will
   not be treated as conclusive without review of the underlying matches.
3. The corresponding author will ordinarily be given a reasonable opportunity to respond.
   Editors or reviewers with a conflict of interest will not decide the matter.
4. The journal may dismiss the complaint, require correction, reject or withdraw the
   manuscript, publish a correction, expression of concern or retraction, or refer the
   matter to the relevant institution.
5. An author may submit a reasoned appeal with new evidence within 30 days of the
   decision. The appeal will be reviewed by an editor or panel not responsible for the
   original decision wherever practicable.

Confidentiality will be maintained as far as reasonably possible. The journal may share
relevant records with institutions, publishers, indexing services or legal authorities
when necessary to protect the scholarly record or comply with law.

12. Post-Publication Findings

Allegations received after publication will be investigated under the same principles of
evidence, impartiality and fair response. Depending on the outcome, IJGESR may publish a
correction, link an expression of concern to the article, retract the article or remove
content where exceptional legal or safety grounds require it. Retraction notices will
state the reason clearly while preserving the scholarly record wherever possible.

13. Official Regulatory Sources

University Grants Commission. (2018).
University Grants Commission (Promotion of Academic Integrity and Prevention of
Plagiarism in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2018.
Read the official UGC regulation (PDF).

University Grants Commission. (2020, April 20).
Public Notice: Self-Plagiarism.
Read the official UGC notice (PDF).

Interpretation: If this journal policy conflicts with a binding law,
regulation, court order or competent institutional decision, the binding requirement
prevails. IJGESR may revise this policy when UGC requirements or recognised publication
ethics standards change.

Report an Integrity Concern

Send a clear description and supporting evidence to the IJGESR Editorial Office.
Knowingly false, malicious or unsupported allegations may be declined.

editor@ijgesr.com