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.

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.

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.

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

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.