POLICIES

Peer Review Process
The Journal of Advanced Research (SRHU-JAR)  follows a double-blind peer review system, ensuring that the identities of both authors and reviewers remain confidential throughout the evaluation process. This approach is adopted to maintain fairness, objectivity, and impartiality in the assessment of all submissions.

All manuscripts are initially screened by the editorial office and the Editor-in-Chief or a designated Associate Editor for suitability, relevance to the journal’s scope, originality, and adherence to submission guidelines. Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be rejected at this stage without external review.

Submissions that pass the initial screening are assigned to independent reviewers with relevant subject expertise. Each manuscript is typically evaluated by at least two reviewers selected based on academic expertise, publication record, and absence of conflicts of interest.

Reviewers assess manuscripts based on:

  • Originality and contribution to the field
  • Scientific and methodological quality
  • Clarity, organization, and presentation
  • Relevance to the journal’s scope

Based on reviewer feedback, the editorial decision may include:

  • Acceptance
  • Minor Revision
  • Major Revision
  • Rejection

Authors are expected to address reviewer comments comprehensively and submit a revised manuscript within the specified timeframe. Revised manuscripts may be subject to further review where necessary.

The final decision regarding publication is made by the Editor-in-Chief or the handling editor, based on reviewer recommendations and editorial judgment. Editorial decisions are made independently and are not influenced by the authors’ institutional affiliations or funding sources.

The journal aims to complete the peer-review process within 4–8 weeks from the date of submission, subject to reviewer availability and the complexity of the manuscript.

All submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. Reviewers are required to maintain confidentiality and must not use unpublished material for personal advantage.

Authors, reviewers, and editors are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Appropriate measures are taken to ensure a fair and unbiased review process.

The journal also provides a mechanism for appeals. Authors may submit a formal appeal against editorial decisions, which will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and, if necessary, an independent member of the editorial board.

The journal adheres to internationally accepted ethical standards in scholarly publishing as recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics.

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
The Journal of Advanced Research (SRHU-JAR)  is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity, as recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics.

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are required to ensure that their work is original, properly referenced, and conducted in accordance with accepted ethical standards.

  • Originality and Plagiarism: All submissions must be original. Proper acknowledgement of sources must be provided. Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable.
  • Data Integrity: Authors must present accurate data and ensure that results are not fabricated, falsified, or inappropriately manipulated.
  • Multiple Submissions: Manuscripts must not be under consideration by another journal at the time of submission.
  • Ethical Approval: Research involving human participants or animals must have appropriate ethical approval, and informed consent must be obtained where applicable.
  • Authorship: Only individuals who have made significant contributions to the work should be listed as authors.
  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest.

Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Confidentiality: All manuscripts must be treated as confidential documents.
  • Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively and constructively.
  • Acknowledgement of Sources: Reviewers should identify relevant work not cited by the authors.
  • Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must decline to review manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists.

Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

  • Fair Evaluation: Manuscripts are evaluated based on academic merit without discrimination.
  • Confidentiality: Editors must not disclose information about submitted manuscripts.
  • Conflict of Interest: Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where conflicts exist.
  • Editorial Independence: Editorial decisions are made independently of institutional or commercial influence.

Handling of Misconduct

Instances of plagiarism, data manipulation, or other forms of misconduct are addressed in accordance with established ethical practices. The journal may take appropriate actions, including:

  • Rejection of the manuscript
  • Retraction of published articles
  • Notification to authors’ institutions where necessary

Corrections and Retractions

The journal is committed to maintaining the accuracy of the scholarly record.

  • Corrections will be issued for errors that do not affect the validity of the findings.
  • Retractions will be issued in cases of significant errors, ethical violations, or unreliable data.

All corrections and retractions will be clearly identified and linked to the original article.

Appeals and Complaints
Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a formal request with justification. Complaints regarding the editorial process or ethical concerns will be handled fairly and transparently.

Instructions for Reviewers
The Journal of Advanced Research (SRHU-JAR)  relies on the expertise and commitment of reviewers to ensure the quality, integrity, and relevance of published research. Reviewers play a critical role in maintaining the scientific standards of the journal through objective, constructive, and timely evaluation of submitted manuscripts.

Reviewer Responsibilities

  • Provide an objective, unbiased, and constructive assessment of the manuscript
  • Evaluate the scientific quality, originality, and relevance of the work
  • Maintain confidentiality of all submitted materials
  • Declare any conflicts of interest before accepting the review assignment
  • Complete the review within the specified timeframe

Confidentiality
All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not share, discuss, or use any part of the manuscript for personal or professional advantage prior to publication.

Conflict of Interest

  • Personal or professional relationships with the authors
  • Collaborative or competitive interests
  • Financial or institutional affiliations that may influence judgment

Review Criteria

  • Originality: Does the study provide new insights or significant contributions?
  • Scientific Rigor: Are the methods appropriate and clearly described?
  • Validity of Results: Are the results reliable and supported by data?
  • Clarity and Organization: Is the manuscript well-structured and clearly written?
  • Relevance: Does the manuscript align with the journal’s scope and readership?
  • Ethical Compliance: Are ethical standards adequately addressed?

Review Process

  • Assess the manuscript thoroughly and provide detailed comments
  • Submit comments for both authors and editors (where applicable)
  • Recommend one of the following decisions:
    • Accept
    • Minor Revision
    • Major Revision
    • Reject

Constructive Feedback

  • Avoid personal criticism of the authors
  • Suggest improvements where necessary
  • Identify missing references or relevant literature

Timeliness
Reviewers are expected to complete their review within 2–4 weeks of accepting the assignment. If additional time is required, reviewers should inform the editorial office promptly.

Ethical Considerations

  • Plagiarism or duplicate publication
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Ethical issues involving human or animal research

Recommendation to Editors
Reviewers should provide a clear recommendation along with justification. The final decision regarding publication rests with the Editor-in-Chief.

Recognition of Reviewers
The journal acknowledges the valuable contribution of reviewers in maintaining publication quality. Reviewer contributions may be recognized periodically by the journal.

Open Access Policy
The Journal of Advanced Research (SRHU-JAR) is an open-access journal, providing immediate and unrestricted access to all published content. The journal is committed to promoting the free exchange of knowledge and ensuring that research is accessible to a global audience without financial, legal, or technical barriers.

All articles published in the journal are freely available online upon publication and can be accessed, read, downloaded, and shared without restriction, provided that proper attribution is given to the original authors and source.

The journal supports the principles of open-access publishing and encourages the dissemination of scientific knowledge for academic, clinical, and societal benefit.

All articles may be used, shared, and distributed with appropriate attribution to the original authors and source.

Ethics Approval
All research involving human participants or animals must have prior approval from a recognized Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC)/Institutional Review Board (IRB). The manuscript must clearly mention:

  • Name of the ethics committee
  • Approval number/reference
  • Confirmation that the study complies with ethical standards

Informed Consent
For studies involving human participants, written informed consent must be obtained. For case reports or identifiable information/images, explicit consent for publication is required. Authors should confirm this within the manuscript

Data Availability Statement
Authors should provide a statement describing the availability of data supporting the findings. Where applicable, datasets should be deposited in recognized repositories with a DOI or persistent identifier.

Copyright and Licensing
Authors retain the copyright of their published work in the Journal of Advanced Research (SRHU-JAR) . By submitting a manuscript, authors grant the journal a license to publish and distribute the work. The journal supports the use of standard open-access licensing frameworks, such as those provided by Creative Commons, to facilitate appropriate use and distribution of published content. Authors are responsible for ensuring that any third-party material included in their manuscript has the necessary permissions for publication. Proper acknowledgement of the original work must be provided in all cases of reuse or distribution.

No Publication Fees
The Journal of Advanced Research (SRHU-JAR) does not charge any fees for manuscript submission, processing, or publication.

  • No Article Processing Charges (APC)
  • No submission fees
  • No publication fees

The journal is fully supported by Swami Rama Himalayan University and is committed to providing a platform for high-quality research, free of financial barriers for authors.