Vaidyaratnam Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine

Editorial and Peer-Review Process

Initial submission and editorial triage

• All manuscripts undergo an initial technical and scope check by the Editorial Office to ensure compliance with the Instructions for Authors (format, word limits, required forms, blinding). Manuscripts that do not meet basic submission requirements will be returned for technical correction before peer review.

Plagiarism and ethical checks

• Submissions are screened using plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts exceeding the journal’s similarity threshold (as decided by the Editorial Office) will be returned or rejected.

Peer review model

• VJAM uses a double-blind peer review system: both reviewers and authors are anonymized. The Editor may use single-blind or open review in exceptional circumstances only with disclosure.
• Manuscripts judged by the Editor-in-Chief to be within scope and technically compliant are sent to at least two independent expert reviewers. Reviewers provide: scientific evaluation, methodological critique, ethical concerns, and clear recommendations (accept/minor revision/major revision/reject).

Editorial decision

• Reviewer reports are collated by the handling editor and sent to the corresponding author with an editorial decision and required revisions. Authors must include a point-by-point response to reviewers and highlight changes in the revised manuscript.
• Final acceptance is made by the Editor-in-Chief or designated Editorial Board member after satisfactory revisions.
• The journal reserves the right to copy-edit and format manuscripts and to make editorial changes for clarity and style while preserving scientific content.

Timelines (indicative)

• Authors are expected to submit revisions within the timeline specified in the revision letter (1 week)
  (These are targets - actual times may vary.)

 

Submission Procedure - Files Required (Step-by-Step)

All manuscripts must be submitted online through the VJAM submission portal (website link to be provided on the journal webpage). Authors should prepare these separate files:

1. Title Page (non-blinded) - type of manuscript, full author details, correspondence info.
2. Blinded Manuscript File -  main text (Abstract to References) with no author identifiers; figures may be included as placeholders or uploaded separately.
3. Figures/Images -  high-resolution image files uploaded separately (JPEG/TIFF).
4. Tables -  multipart tables uploaded or included within the main file.
5. Supplementary material -  appendices, raw data, checklists.
6. Signed copyright transfer / authorship declaration (template available on website). Electronic signatures acceptable at submission; hard copy with original signatures may be requested after acceptance.
7. Reporting checklists - completed CONSORT/PRISMA/CARE/STROBE checklists as applicable.

Cover letter should: briefly state novelty, confirm originality/not under consideration elsewhere, provide funding sources, and confirm that all authors approve submission.

 

Peer Review Revisions, Appeals and Editorial Decisions (Procedures)

• Minor revision: Authors address reviewer points in a point-by-point response and upload revised manuscript with tracked changes or highlighted modifications (a clean version and marked version).
• Major revision: Authors are given substantial time (usually 1week) to revise; revised manuscripts may be sent back to reviewers for reassessment.
• Final decision: Based on reviewer recommendations and editor judgment. Acceptance, rejection, or request for further revision will be communicated by the Editor-in-Chief.

 

Post-Acceptance Processes, Production and Open Access

• After acceptance, manuscripts will be copyedited for grammar, style and formatting. Authors will receive proofs (usually as PDF) for final corrections; proofs must be returned within the timeframe specified.
• VJAM supports online publication and encourages open access options.
• Authors will be required to sign a Copyright Transfer Agreement (or choose an open license where applicable).

 

Corrections, Retractions and Ethical Complaints (COPE-Aligned)

• VJAM follows COPE guidelines for handling allegations of misconduct, authorship disputes, redundant publication, plagiarism, and conflicts of interest. (publicationethics.org)
• Corrections (errata) will be published for honest errors that affect the article record. Retractions will be published for fraudulent data, major ethical breaches, or duplicate publication.
• Investigations may involve contacting authors’ institutions. The editorial office may publish expressions of concern if an investigation is underway.

 

Data Sharing and Transparency

• Authors are encouraged to deposit datasets, protocols, and analytic code in public repositories (e.g., Dryad, Zenodo) where possible, and include a Data Availability Statement indicating where data can be accessed.
• Clinical trials must submit data sharing statements in line with journal/publisher policy.