
POLICIES
Zonal Journal of Researcher’s Inventory (ZJRI)
- Archiving and Preservation Policy
- Peer Review Policy
- Paper Prints Policy
- Withdrawal Policy
- Refund Policy
- Publication Ethics
- Plagiarism Policy
- Copyright and Licensing Policy
- Open Access Policy
- APC & Waiver Policy
- Data Sharing Policy
- AI Policy
- Repository Policy
1. Archiving and Preservation Policy
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The journal is committed to ensuring the long-term preservation and accessibility of all published research content. The journal follows recognized digital preservation practices to protect scholarly articles from data loss and ensure continued access.
The journal supports digital preservation through trusted archiving systems, including:
- LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe)
- CLOCKSS (Controlled Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe)
- PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN)
These preservation systems create secure and distributed copies of published content to maintain permanent availability and protect against technological changes or unexpected data loss.
The journal maintains regular backups of published articles and journal records. Published content remains accessible through the journal website and approved preservation services.
LOCKSS Gateway:
https://zjri.online/index.php/Journal/gateway/lockssCLOCKSS Gateway:
https://zjri.online/index.php/Journal/gateway/clockss
2. Peer Review Policy
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Purpose: The peer review policy is designed to ensure the quality and credibility of the journal by subjecting all submitted articles to rigorous evaluation by qualified experts in the field. This process ensures that the published articles are of high academic quality and contribute new knowledge to the field.
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Process: Upon submission, each manuscript is reviewed by two or more independent reviewers who assess the validity, quality, and originality of the research. The peer review process follows a double-blind approach, where both authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other. This helps to maintain objectivity and prevent bias.
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Selection Criteria: Reviewers evaluate the manuscript based on its originality, the significance of its contribution to the field, the robustness of its research methodology, and its relevance to the journal’s scope. Articles with significant flaws, lack of innovation, or methodological weaknesses are typically rejected.
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Review Timeline: The review process is usually completed within 4-6 weeks, after which authors are promptly notified of the decision. If revisions are needed, the authors are provided with detailed feedback from the reviewers, and they are given the opportunity to resubmit a revised version of their manuscript.
3. Paper Prints Policy
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Purpose: This policy aims to clarify how paper versions of the journal are distributed and managed, particularly in a digital-first environment. The majority of journal subscribers access content digitally, but a limited number of printed copies may be made available for those who prefer hard copies or require them for institutional or personal reasons.
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Print Availability: While the journal is primarily available in a digital format, printed copies of individual articles or full issues may be requested by authors, subscribers, or institutions. These copies are available at an additional cost and subject to availability.
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Subscription: A limited number of print subscriptions may be available on an annual basis for those who wish to receive physical copies of each journal issue. Print subscriptions are subject to the availability of resources and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
4. Withdrawal Policy
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Purpose: The withdrawal policy defines the circumstances under which authors can retract or withdraw their submission before it moves forward in the review or publication process. This policy ensures clarity in the submission process and gives authors the flexibility to withdraw their work for any reason, ensuring fairness and transparency.
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Conditions: Authors are allowed to withdraw their manuscript at any time before it is accepted for publication. Once a manuscript has passed the peer review process and is accepted for publication, it cannot be withdrawn unless there are significant reasons such as ethical concerns or new developments related to the manuscript.
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Procedure: To withdraw a manuscript, the author must submit a formal withdrawal request to the editorial office. The request should include the manuscript title, the reason for withdrawal, and the stage of the review process. Upon approval, the manuscript will be removed from the review queue and the submission system.
5. Refund Policy
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Purpose: This policy outlines the circumstances under which authors may be entitled to a refund, especially regarding submission or publication fees. It clarifies the process for requesting refunds, ensuring that authors understand their rights and obligations.
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Conditions: Refunds are generally provided if an article is withdrawn by the author before the peer review process begins. Once a manuscript has been sent out for peer review or has entered the publication process, no refunds will be issued.
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Processing: Refund requests must be submitted in writing and are typically processed within 2-3 weeks of receipt. The journal will review the request to ensure that it complies with the policy conditions. Refunds will be made to the original payment method unless otherwise agreed upon.
6. Publication Ethics
7. Plagiarism Policy
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Purpose: This policy addresses the issue of plagiarism, defining it as the use of others’ work, ideas, or data without proper acknowledgment. The policy is in place to maintain the academic integrity of the journal and to prevent the publication of plagiarized content.
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Detection: All submitted manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using advanced plagiarism detection tools such as Turnitin or iThenticate. Any manuscript that is found to have significant overlap with existing published work will be rejected immediately.
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Consequences: If plagiarism is detected at any stage of the publication process, the manuscript will be rejected, and the author(s) may be banned from submitting future articles. Authors are expected to properly cite all sources, and failure to do so will result in serious consequences for both the author(s) and the integrity of the journal.
8. Copyright and Licensing Policy
9. Open Access Policy
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Purpose: The open access policy ensures that all published articles are freely accessible to readers worldwide. This policy is aimed at enhancing the visibility and impact of the research while supporting the democratization of knowledge.
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Access to Articles: All articles published in the journal are freely available to anyone with an internet connection. There are no subscription fees, and readers can access, download, and share articles without any restrictions. This helps to foster wider dissemination of scholarly research, benefiting the academic community and society as a whole.
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Licensing and Reuse: In line with the open-access model, articles are published under a Creative Commons license, which typically allows others to copy, distribute, and build upon the work as long as proper attribution is given. The choice of license (e.g., CC-BY, CC-BY-NC) will depend on the author's preferences, but all content is made available without a paywall.
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Funding Model: As an open-access journal, we may charge authors Article Processing Charges (APCs) upon acceptance of their manuscripts. These charges help cover the costs of publishing, including peer review, production, and archiving. Details about the APC fees, payment procedures, and possible waivers are provided to authors during the submission process.
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Global Reach: The open-access nature of the journal ensures that all published articles can reach a global audience, facilitating international collaborations and knowledge sharing across geographical and institutional boundaries.
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Archiving: The journal commits to providing permanent access to its content, even as technology evolves. Articles are archived and indexed in digital repositories, ensuring they remain accessible long after publication.
APC & Waiver Policy
Article Processing Charges (APC):
The journal charges an Article Processing Fee of USD 100 for accepted manuscripts. This fee supports the costs associated with editorial management, peer review, online publication, digital preservation, and maintaining open access to published research."Authors will be informed about the APC before submission or during the review process, and payment is only requested after manuscript acceptance."
Waiver Policy:
The journal provides APC waivers or partial discounts for authors who face financial difficulties or lack institutional funding. Authors may request a waiver by submitting a valid justification to the editorial office.APC payment has no influence on the peer review process, editorial decision, or acceptance of manuscripts. All articles are evaluated based on originality, research quality, and academic contribution.
Transparency of Charges:
The journal has no hidden publication charges. The APC of USD 100 is clearly communicated to authors before final acceptance and publication."Waiver requests are evaluated fairly by the editorial office and have no impact on the editorial decision."
Data Sharing Policy
The journal encourages authors to share research data supporting their published articles to improve transparency, reproducibility, and future research. Authors should provide a Data Availability Statement and deposit relevant datasets, materials, and resources in trusted repositories where appropriate.
Authors must ensure that shared data follows ethical standards, privacy requirements, and applicable regulations. Any restrictions on data access, including confidentiality or security limitations, should be clearly explained in the manuscript.
The journal supports responsible data sharing while recognizing that some research data may require controlled access due to ethical, legal, or privacy considerations.
AI Policy
The journal recognizes the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in academic research and publishing. Authors may use AI tools for limited purposes, including language improvement, grammar correction, and manuscript formatting. Any use of AI tools must be disclosed in the manuscript.
AI tools cannot be listed as authors or contributors. Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, ethical compliance, and integrity of their work. The use of undisclosed AI-generated text, images, figures, fabricated data, or manipulated results is not permitted.
Editors and reviewers may use AI tools responsibly to support editorial activities; however, confidentiality of manuscripts and author information must always be maintained. AI tools must not replace human evaluation, critical analysis, or academic judgment.
Repository Policy
The journal supports long-term access, preservation, and availability of published research through responsible repository archiving. Authors are permitted to deposit their published articles or accepted manuscripts in institutional repositories, subject repositories, and other trusted academic platforms.
Authors may share their work for educational and research purposes with proper citation of the original publication and compliance with copyright and licensing terms. The journal supports Green Open Access principles to improve research visibility and accessibility.
All published articles are preserved through reliable digital archiving systems to ensure permanent access and protection of scholarly content.