MANUSCRIPT EVALUATION/PEER REVIEW PROCESS

Submission, Screening, and Triage

  • Each manuscript submitted to JIIMC is checked by the editorial office for mandatory documents, including author’s copyright and undertaking agreement, ethical approval letter and article evidence. Manuscripts with incomplete or deficient mandatory documents or not prepared according to the JIIMC instructions for authors are returned to authors for correction prior to further processing.
  • After initial scrutiny the manuscript is assessed by an editor for its originality, significance and suitability as per scope and format of the journal.
  • At this stage the editor may reject the manuscript if deemed unsuitable for the journal, the quality of the manuscript is poor, the subject matter is outside the scope of the journal or criteria for the submission of manuscripts are not met.
  • The article is checked for similarity Index with plagiarism detecting Software, “TURNITIN”.  Articles exceeding the limit of similarity as per HEC policy are returned for clarification and/or correction.
  • Revised manuscripts are assessed on the appropriateness of response to recommendations during initial review. Once the editor is satisfied with the suitability of manuscript, it is forwarded to subject experts for external peer review.

Peer Review

  • Manuscript suitable for publication is forwarded to two external peer reviewers to evaluate the suitability of the article for publication based on its quality, novelty, and relevance.
  • A time frame of minimum 4 weeks is given  to the  reviewer  to send their suggestions  to  the  editor. In case of delay by the reviewer, a reminder is sent to the external reviewer.
  • If a reviewer is unable to meet the time frame agreed upon or he declines to review the manuscript, the manuscript will be sent to another reviewer.

Final Decision

  • The editor may ask reviewers to make recommendations regarding acceptance or rejection of manuscripts, and may give weightage to the recommendations given by them but the editor must be the one who makes the decisions.
  • Suggested revision by the reviewer are sent back to authors for corrections/revision and resubmission within 04 week. Authors are required to send a covering letter mentioning the detail of corrections/amendments and revisions.
  • If reviewers and editors are satisfied with the changes, the manuscript is accepted and assigned to the future issue for publication.
  • The editor/copy editor reserves the right to edit the accepted article as per format of the journal.
  • The  editor  may  reject  manuscripts  without outside review, for example if the subject matter is outside the purview of the journal, a manuscript on  the  same  topic  is  just  about  to be  published,  the  quality  of  the manuscript  is  poor,  or  criteria  for  the  submission  of  manuscripts  are  not met.

Manuscript Processing and Peer Review Timeline

  • Submission to Desk Review: approx. 1-2 Weeks
  • Forwarding manuscript for Peer Review: approx. 1-4 Weeks
  • Peer review: Approx. 1-2 Months
  • Major review by Editorial office: approx. 1-2 Months
  • Manuscript forwarded to the author for Correction/Revision: 01 Week
  • Time duration to re-submit the manuscript after corrections/revision by the author: approx. 4 Weeks *(Author should ensure his/her response within the timeline, for smooth processing; noncompliance will result in non-acceptance of article) *
  • Type setting: approx. 1-2 weeks
  • Publication of manuscript after issuing acceptance letter: Depends upon first come first basis