Plagiarism Policy
VIDYAWAN (Volume of International Discoveries and Youth Academic Works, Achievements, and Novelties) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and ethical scholarly publishing. The journal publishes only original scholarly work and does not tolerate plagiarism or any other form of academic misconduct. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all submitted manuscripts are original, properly acknowledge the work of others, and comply with accepted standards of research and publication ethics.
Policy Statement
Originality is a fundamental requirement for publication in VIDYAWAN. All manuscripts submitted to the journal are screened using plagiarism-detection software as part of the editorial assessment process. Editorial decisions are based not only on similarity reports but also on qualitative editorial evaluation, including the context, extent, and nature of any textual overlap.
Plagiarism Detection Tool & Threshold
VIDYAWAN screens all submitted manuscripts for textual similarity using Duplichecker, in accordance with the standards outlined under the UGC (Promotion of Academic Integrity and Prevention of Plagiarism in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2018. Manuscripts are evaluated as follows:
| Similarity Index | Editorial Action |
|---|---|
| Up to 10% | Acceptable — considered original |
| 10% – 40% | Minor revision required; author must revise and re-submit |
| 40% – 60% | Major revision required; manuscript sent back for substantial rework |
| Above 60% | Manuscript rejected outright |
The similarity report is used as a preliminary screening tool. Final editorial decisions also account for context, proper citation practices, and the nature of any overlapping content, consistent with the qualitative evaluation described above.
Definition of Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presentation of another person's words, ideas, data, images, research findings, or other intellectual contributions as one's own without appropriate acknowledgment or permission. Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Direct Plagiarism | Copying text from another source without proper citation or quotation. |
| Improper Paraphrasing | Rewriting another author's work without appropriate acknowledgment. |
| Idea Plagiarism | Using another person's ideas, concepts, or interpretations without citation. |
| Image or Figure Plagiarism | Using figures, tables, photographs, graphs, or illustrations without appropriate permission or attribution. |
| Translation Plagiarism | Translating published work from another language without proper acknowledgment. |
| Data Misappropriation | Using another person's research data or findings without authorization or citation. |
Self-Plagiarism and Redundant Publication
Authors should avoid excessive reuse of their previously published work without appropriate disclosure and citation. The following practices are considered unethical:
| Practice | Description |
|---|---|
| Self-Plagiarism | Reusing substantial portions of previously published work without proper citation or disclosure. |
| Duplicate Submission | Submitting the same manuscript simultaneously to multiple journals or publication venues. |
| Duplicate Publication | Publishing substantially similar work more than once without appropriate justification or disclosure. |
| Salami Publication | Fragmenting a single research study into multiple publications without sufficient scientific justification. |
Originality Assessment
During the editorial process, submitted manuscripts undergo originality assessment to identify potential ethical concerns. The assessment considers:
- Originality of the manuscript
- Similarity with published literature
- Appropriate citation and attribution
- Reuse of previously published material
- Potential copyright concerns
- Overall compliance with publication ethics
A similarity score alone does not determine editorial decisions. The Editorial Office evaluates the nature, source, and context of any overlapping content before making a decision.
Use of Previously Published Material
Limited use of previously published material may be acceptable where:
- appropriate citation is provided;
- necessary copyright permissions have been obtained where required;
- reused material is clearly identified;
- the reuse serves a legitimate scholarly purpose; and
- the manuscript remains substantially original.
Authors remain responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable copyright and licensing requirements.
Responsibilities of Authors
Authors submitting manuscripts to VIDYAWAN are expected to:
- Submit original and authentic scholarly work.
- Accurately acknowledge all sources through appropriate citations.
- Obtain permission for copyrighted material where required.
- Disclose any overlap with previously published or submitted work.
- Respond promptly to editorial requests concerning originality or citation issues.
- Correct identified attribution or referencing errors when requested.
Authors bear full responsibility for the originality and authenticity of their submitted manuscripts.
Editorial Actions
Where concerns regarding plagiarism or publication ethics are identified, the Editorial Office may take one or more of the following actions:
| Editorial Action | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Request Clarification | Seek an explanation from the corresponding author. |
| Request Revision | Require correction of citation, attribution, or referencing issues. |
| Reject Submission | Decline publication where significant ethical concerns exist. |
| Suspend Editorial Review | Pause the review process while ethical concerns are investigated. |
| Withdraw Acceptance | Cancel acceptance prior to publication where misconduct is confirmed. |
| Retract Published Article | Remove an article from the scholarly record where serious misconduct is established. |
| Notify Relevant Institutions | Inform affiliated institutions or funding bodies where appropriate in cases of confirmed serious misconduct. |
Editorial actions are determined based on the nature, severity, and extent of the ethical concern.
Post-Publication Investigation
Allegations of plagiarism or research misconduct may be investigated after publication if credible evidence is received. Following investigation, the journal may take appropriate corrective action, including:
- Publication of a correction
- Publication of a clarification
- Publication of an Expression of Concern
- Retraction of the published article
These actions are intended to preserve the integrity and accuracy of the scholarly record.
Responsibilities of Reviewers and Editors
Editors and reviewers play an important role in identifying potential ethical concerns. They are expected to:
- Treat all manuscripts confidentially.
- Report suspected plagiarism or publication misconduct.
- Evaluate manuscripts objectively and impartially.
- Avoid conflicts of interest.
- Maintain fairness and consistency throughout the editorial process.
Research Integrity
VIDYAWAN promotes responsible scholarship based on the principles of:
- Academic Integrity
- Originality
- Honesty
- Transparency
- Accountability
- Respect for Intellectual Property
- Responsible Research Conduct
The journal encourages authors, reviewers, editors, and readers to contribute to a scholarly publishing environment founded on ethical research practices and mutual respect.
Policy Review
The Editorial Board may revise this Plagiarism Policy periodically to reflect developments in publication ethics, editorial best practices, and international scholarly publishing standards. The latest version of this policy will be made available on the journal's official website.