- Open Access Policy
- Peer-Review Policy
- Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement
- Plagiarism Policy
- Preprints Policy
- Guidelines to Peer Reviewers
- Waiver and Discount Policy
- Licensing, Copyright, and Author Self-Archiving Policy
- Digital Preservation Policy
- Conflicts of Interest (COI) Policy
- Complaints and Appeals Policy
- Misconduct and Sanctions Policy
- Ethical Approvals, Patient Rights, and Informed Consent Policy
Plagiarism Policy
The International Journal of Pharmacy and Life Sciences (IJPLS) (ISSN: 0976-7126) maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism in any form. Upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing, IJPLS ensures that all submitted manuscripts represent original research and properly acknowledge the intellectual contributions of others.
Definition and Scope
Plagiarism is defined as the presentation of another person’s ideas, words, data, or creative expressions as one’s own without proper attribution. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Copying text, figures, tables, or data from previously published works without citation.
- Paraphrasing substantial portions of another author’s work without acknowledgment.
- Self-plagiarism, such as reusing one’s previously published content without appropriate reference or permission.
- Submitting manuscripts that duplicate or overlap significantly with previously published studies (redundant publication).
Screening and Detection
All manuscripts submitted to IJPLS are subjected to a plagiarism screening process before peer review using reliable plagiarism detection tools such as Turnitin, iThenticate, or equivalent software. The editorial team assesses the similarity index to determine the extent of overlap with existing literature.
As a general guideline:
- A similarity index below 15% is considered acceptable.
- A similarity index between 15% and 25% may be subject to editorial review and author clarification.
- A similarity index above 25% may result in immediate rejection or a request for extensive revision.
Editorial Actions
If plagiarism is detected—either during initial screening, peer review, or post-publication—the following actions may be taken:
- The authors are notified and asked to provide an explanation or revised manuscript.
- In cases of confirmed plagiarism, the manuscript is rejected immediately.
- If plagiarism is identified after publication, the article may be retracted, and a retraction notice will be published on the journal’s website.
- The corresponding author’s institution may be informed of the misconduct, and the authors may be temporarily blacklisted from future submissions.
Author Responsibility
Authors are fully responsible for ensuring the originality of their submissions. Proper citation and acknowledgment of all sources—including figures, tables, and previously published materials—are mandatory. Authors must also confirm that their manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by any other journal.
Commitment to Ethical Publishing
The International Journal of Pharmacy and Life Sciences (IJPLS) adheres to the ethical guidelines set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). By enforcing this Plagiarism Policy, IJPLS safeguards the integrity of the scientific record, promotes academic honesty, and upholds the trust of the global research community.
