Peer Review & Editorial Policy

• Double-Blind Review: Our default model is double-blind peer review, meaning reviewer and author identities are hidden from each other. Authors must fully anonymize their main manuscript files prior to submission.
• Exceptions: Any deviation from this model (e.g., open review for specific article types) will be clearly stated on the journal’s submission page.

• Initial Check: The editorial office screens submissions for scope, formatting, ethical compliance, and plagiarism. Manuscripts failing these checks are returned prior to review.
• Review Process: Manuscripts are assigned to an Editor who selects at least two independent expert reviewers. Reviewers evaluate the manuscript's novelty, methodology, ethics, and clarity.
• Editorial Decision: The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision (Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject) based on reviewer recommendations. Editorial decisions are completely independent of commercial influence, APC waiver status, or publisher interference.

Neewaj strictly adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines.

• Conflicts of Interest: Editors and reviewers must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a real or perceived conflict of interest exists.
• Misconduct Investigations: Allegations of data fabrication, image manipulation, plagiarism, or authorship disputes are investigated confidentially by the editorial office. We may notify the authors' institutions or funders depending on the findings.
• Corrections & Retractions: Honest errors will be addressed with a published Correction (Erratum/Corrigendum). Severe ethical breaches or unreliable findings will result in a formal Retraction, which will remain linked to the original article in the scholarly record.

• Appeals: Authors may formally appeal a rejection by emailing the Editor-in-Chief with supporting evidence. Appeals are reviewed by senior editors not involved in the original decision.
• Complaints: Concerns regarding editorial conduct, reviewer behaviour, or policy compliance should be directed to editorial@neewaj.com. Investigations will be conducted impartially and confidentially.