Publication Policy

The Poornaprajna International Journal of Basic Sciences (PIJBS) is committed to publishing original, high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarly work in the field of basic sciences and allied interdisciplinary areas. The journal aims to promote academic excellence, ethical research communication, open access to knowledge, and responsible publication practices. This publication policy defines the principles, standards, responsibilities, and procedures followed by the journal from manuscript submission to final publication.

1. Scope of Publication

PIJBS publishes scholarly contributions related to basic sciences and interdisciplinary scientific research. The journal welcomes original and meaningful academic work from researchers, academicians, scientists, professionals, research scholars, and students.

The journal may consider manuscripts from areas such as:

  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics
  • Statistics
  • Biological Sciences
  • Environmental Science
  • Computational Science
  • Interdisciplinary Basic Sciences
  • Applied scientific studies with basic science relevance
  • Conceptual, theoretical, experimental, and review-based research

The journal gives preference to manuscripts that contribute to knowledge, present original analysis, address scientific problems, review existing research critically, or propose new models, methods, interpretations, or applications.

2. Types of Manuscripts Accepted

PIJBS may publish the following categories of manuscripts:

  1. Original Research Articles
  2. Review Articles
  3. Conceptual Research Papers
  4. Theoretical Papers
  5. Experimental Studies
  6. Case Studies related to scientific application
  7. Short Communications
  8. Research Notes
  9. Interdisciplinary Scientific Articles
  10. Invited Articles, where applicable

Each manuscript must clearly indicate its nature, such as original research, review paper, conceptual paper, or short communication.

3. Originality of Manuscripts

All manuscripts submitted to PIJBS must be original and must not have been published previously in any journal, book, conference proceedings, website, institutional repository, or any other publication platform in substantially the same form.

Authors must ensure that the manuscript:

  • is original and written by the listed author(s);
  • has not been submitted simultaneously to another journal;
  • does not contain plagiarized content;
  • does not include fabricated or falsified data;
  • properly cites all borrowed ideas, text, data, tables, figures, and images;
  • has been approved by all listed authors before submission.

Duplicate submission, duplicate publication, salami publication, unethical reuse of content, and self-plagiarism are not acceptable.

4. Manuscript Preparation

Authors must prepare manuscripts according to the journal’s prescribed format. The manuscript should include title, author details, affiliation, ORCID ID where available, corresponding author details, abstract, keywords, main text, tables, figures, conclusion, and references.

The paper submission template uses Times New Roman formatting, with the title in font size 18, author details, abstract, and keywords in font size 12, and the main body in font size 11. The template also follows a structured abstract format including Purpose, Methodology/Approach, Findings/Result, Originality/Value, and Paper Type. References are expected in APA format.

Manuscripts not prepared according to the prescribed format may be returned to authors for correction before editorial processing.

5. Submission Policy

Manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s online submission system. The corresponding author is responsible for completing the submission process and ensuring that all required details and files are correctly uploaded.

During submission, authors may be required to provide:

  • manuscript file in the prescribed format;
  • author details and affiliations;
  • abstract and keywords;
  • declaration of originality;
  • conflict of interest statement;
  • funding details, if any;
  • ethics approval details, if applicable;
  • supplementary files, if any;
  • copyright or license agreement, if required.

Submission of a manuscript implies that all authors have read, approved, and agreed to the submitted version.

6. Editorial Screening

Every submitted manuscript undergoes an initial editorial screening before peer review. The Editor-in-Chief or assigned editor examines the manuscript for:

  • relevance to the scope of PIJBS;
  • originality and academic contribution;
  • compliance with author guidelines;
  • language clarity and presentation;
  • completeness of manuscript structure;
  • proper citation and reference style;
  • plagiarism or similarity concerns;
  • ethical compliance;
  • suitability for peer review.

Manuscripts may be rejected at the initial stage if they are outside the journal scope, poorly prepared, incomplete, plagiarized, previously published, or ethically problematic.

7. Peer Review Policy

Manuscripts that pass the initial editorial screening are normally sent for peer review. PIJBS follows a fair and academically responsible review process to evaluate the quality, originality, relevance, methodology, interpretation, and scholarly contribution of submitted manuscripts.

The journal generally follows a double-blind peer review process, where the identities of authors and reviewers are kept confidential. Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, confidential, and evidence-based comments.

Reviewer recommendations may include:

  • Accept
  • Accept with minor revision
  • Major revision required
  • Resubmit for review
  • Reject

The final decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief or assigned editor.

8. Publication Decision

The editorial decision is based on the manuscript’s originality, quality, relevance, ethical compliance, reviewer comments, author response, and overall contribution to the journal’s scope.

Possible editorial decisions include:

  1. Accepted – The manuscript is suitable for publication.
  2. Minor Revision – The manuscript requires limited corrections.
  3. Major Revision – The manuscript needs substantial improvement.
  4. Resubmission Required – The manuscript may be reconsidered after major restructuring.
  5. Rejected – The manuscript is not suitable for publication in the journal.

Acceptance of a manuscript does not depend on the author’s designation, institution, nationality, gender, seniority, or personal background. Decisions are based only on academic merit and publication standards.

9. Revision Policy

If revision is requested, authors must submit a revised manuscript along with a clear response to reviewer and editor comments. The response should explain how each comment has been addressed. If authors disagree with any suggestion, they must provide a polite and academically justified explanation.

Revised manuscripts may be reviewed by the editor alone or sent back to the original reviewers. Failure to submit revisions within the specified time may result in withdrawal or closure of the submission.

10. Plagiarism Policy

PIJBS strictly prohibits plagiarism in any form. Manuscripts may be checked using plagiarism detection software, manual editorial assessment, or search-based verification.

The following are considered unethical:

  • direct copying without citation;
  • paraphrasing without acknowledgement;
  • self-plagiarism;
  • duplicate publication;
  • use of copied tables, figures, images, or data;
  • fabricated references;
  • AI-generated content presented as original research without verification;
  • unauthorized use of copyrighted material.

Manuscripts with unacceptable similarity may be returned, rejected, or investigated further. If plagiarism is detected after publication, the journal may issue a correction, expression of concern, or retraction depending on the seriousness of the case.

11. Research Ethics

Authors must follow ethical standards in research and publication. Studies involving human participants, animals, clinical information, institutional data, confidential information, or sensitive material must follow applicable ethical guidelines.

Where required, authors should mention:

  • ethics committee approval;
  • informed consent;
  • permission for data use;
  • animal welfare compliance;
  • institutional approval;
  • confidentiality protection.

Authors are responsible for the ethical validity of the research submitted to the journal.

12. Authorship Policy

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant intellectual contributions to the work. All listed authors should have contributed to one or more of the following:

  • conception and design of the study;
  • data collection;
  • analysis and interpretation;
  • drafting of the manuscript;
  • critical revision;
  • approval of the final version.

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all authors have approved the manuscript and agree to its submission. Guest authorship, gift authorship, ghost authorship, and unauthorized authorship changes are not acceptable.

Any change in authorship after submission must be justified and approved by all authors.

13. Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any conflict of interest that may influence the manuscript, review, or publication decision.

Conflicts may include:

  • financial interest;
  • institutional relationship;
  • personal relationship;
  • academic competition;
  • funding influence;
  • consultancy or professional association;
  • ideological or intellectual bias.

Disclosure of a conflict does not automatically prevent publication, but transparency is required.

14. Funding Disclosure

Authors must clearly disclose any financial support, grants, institutional funding, project support, sponsorship, or other assistance received for the study. If no funding was received, authors may state that the research received no external funding.

Funding sources should not influence the research outcome, analysis, interpretation, or publication decision.

15. Data Accuracy and Responsibility

Authors are responsible for the accuracy of all data, results, calculations, interpretations, citations, tables, figures, and conclusions presented in the manuscript. Fabrication, falsification, manipulation, selective reporting, or misleading presentation of data is strictly prohibited.

Editors and reviewers may request clarification, raw data, supplementary files, or supporting evidence if needed.

16. Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools

Authors may use artificial intelligence tools for language improvement, grammar correction, formatting assistance, or technical support. However, AI tools must not replace human research judgment, original analysis, ethical responsibility, or scholarly interpretation.

Authors must not use AI tools to fabricate data, create false references, manipulate images, generate misleading content, or produce unverifiable claims. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the submitted manuscript.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors.

17. Copyright and Licensing

Authors retain responsibility for the content of their work and grant PIJBS the right to publish, distribute, archive, and make the article available online. Published articles are made available under the journal’s open-access policy.

Users may read, download, share, cite, and use published content for academic and research purposes with proper acknowledgement of the author(s), article title, journal name, volume, issue, year, and DOI or URL where applicable.

Authors must obtain permission for any copyrighted material used in their manuscript.

18. Open Access Policy

PIJBS follows an open-access publication model. Published articles are made freely available online to readers without subscription barriers. The journal supports wider dissemination of scholarly knowledge by allowing readers, researchers, students, and institutions to access published content freely.

Open access helps increase visibility, readership, academic use, and citation potential of published articles.

19. Publication Charges

PIJBS may follow its own policy regarding article processing charges, publication fees, or free publication. Any applicable charges should be clearly communicated to authors before publication. The journal does not support hidden charges or misleading fee practices.

If the journal offers free publication or no publication charges, it should clearly state this on the website. If any charges apply in future, they should be transparently displayed.

Suggested wording:

The journal aims to support accessible scholarly communication. Any applicable publication charges, if introduced, will be clearly informed to authors through the official journal website.

20. Digital Archiving and Preservation

PIJBS is committed to preserving published scholarly content for long-term access. Published articles, issue files, metadata, and PDF files are maintained through the journal website and digital publication platform.

The journal may also use institutional repositories, indexing platforms, DOI services, backup systems, and other archiving mechanisms wherever applicable to support long-term preservation and discoverability.

21. Indexing and Discoverability

PIJBS follows indexing-friendly publication practices by maintaining structured metadata, article titles, abstracts, keywords, author details, references, downloadable PDFs, issue archives, and online article pages.

The journal may apply for inclusion in suitable indexing databases, repositories, directories, citation platforms, and academic search engines based on eligibility and publication standards. The journal will not make false or misleading claims regarding indexing status.

22. Proof Correction

After acceptance, authors may receive page proofs for final checking. Authors should carefully verify author names, affiliations, title, tables, figures, references, and formatting.

Only minor corrections are allowed at proof stage. Major changes in content, data, authorship, results, or interpretation are not normally permitted after acceptance.

23. Publication Schedule

PIJBS publishes articles according to its declared publication schedule. The journal makes reasonable efforts to ensure timely editorial processing, review, revision, proofing, and publication.

Publication may depend on:

  • manuscript quality;
  • review completion;
  • author revision time;
  • editorial workload;
  • issue planning;
  • technical processing.

The journal reserves the right to decide the issue, order, and timing of publication of accepted manuscripts.

24. Corrections, Retractions, and Withdrawal

PIJBS is committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

Corrections

Corrections may be issued when minor errors are found in published articles that do not affect the main findings.

Retractions

Retractions may be issued in cases of serious error, plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabricated data, unethical research, authorship misconduct, or misleading findings.

Withdrawal

A submitted manuscript may be withdrawn by the author before final acceptance by submitting a written request. Withdrawal after acceptance or during publication processing may be discouraged unless there is a valid reason.

25. Complaints and Appeals

Authors may submit complaints or appeals related to editorial decisions, review delays, ethical concerns, or publication process issues. Appeals must include a clear explanation and supporting evidence.

The Editor-in-Chief may review the matter, consult editorial board members, or seek an additional independent opinion. The final decision of the editorial authority will be binding.

26. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are expected to:

  • submit original and unpublished work;
  • follow the journal template and author instructions;
  • provide accurate author and affiliation details;
  • cite all sources properly;
  • avoid plagiarism and duplicate submission;
  • disclose conflicts of interest;
  • mention funding sources;
  • follow ethical research standards;
  • respond to reviewer comments professionally;
  • check proofs carefully;
  • take responsibility for the accuracy of published content.

27. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

  • maintain confidentiality;
  • provide fair and constructive comments;
  • declare conflicts of interest;
  • review only within their expertise;
  • avoid personal criticism;
  • identify ethical concerns if observed;
  • complete reviews within the given time;
  • not use unpublished manuscript content for personal benefit.

28. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for:

  • maintaining academic quality;
  • ensuring fair editorial processing;
  • selecting suitable reviewers;
  • protecting confidentiality;
  • avoiding conflicts of interest;
  • making unbiased decisions;
  • handling complaints and appeals;
  • safeguarding publication ethics;
  • maintaining the integrity of the journal.

29. Disclaimer

The views expressed in published articles are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of PIJBS, Poornaprajna Publication, editors, reviewers, or affiliated institutions. Authors are responsible for the accuracy, originality, legality, and ethical validity of their published work.

The journal, publisher, and editorial team are not responsible for any misuse of published content by third parties.

30. Commitment to Scholarly Publishing

PIJBS is committed to promoting ethical, transparent, open-access, and academically meaningful publication practices. The journal seeks to support the dissemination of quality research in basic sciences and related interdisciplinary fields while maintaining trust, originality, integrity, and long-term scholarly value.