Ethics Policy

Ethics Policy for M.C.E. Society Publications

Effective Date: 01.01.2025
Last Updated: 01.12.2024

M.C.E. Society Publications is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in all stages of journal publication. This policy ensures that all participants, including authors, reviewers, editors, and the publication team, adhere to ethical practices that maintain the integrity of scholarly communication. Our ethics policy is inspired by global standards, including the principles outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Scope of the Ethics Policy

This policy applies to all journals published under M.C.E. Society Publications and the parent institute, Abeda Inamdar Senior College of Arts, Science, and Commerce. It outlines the ethical responsibilities of:

  • Authors
  • Editors
  • Reviewers
  • Publishers
  • Readers and the general public

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their submissions reflect original, accurate, and ethically conducted research.

a. Originality and Plagiarism

  • Authors must ensure their work is original and properly cite the work of others.
  • Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate rejection or retraction.

b. Authorship

  • All listed authors must have significantly contributed to the research and writing of the manuscript.
  • Adding or removing authors after submission must be approved by all co-authors and the editorial team.

c. Data Integrity

  • Authors must present accurate data and methodologies.
  • Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data is unethical and unacceptable.

d. Conflict of Interest

  • Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that may influence the results or interpretation of their work.

e. Multiple Submissions

  • Simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to multiple journals is prohibited.

f. Corrections and Retractions

  • Authors have an obligation to notify the editor immediately if they discover a significant error in their work. Corrections or retractions will be issued as appropriate.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are accountable for maintaining the quality and integrity of the journal’s content.

a. Fair Decision-Making

  • Editors must evaluate submissions solely on their academic merit, without regard to race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or political beliefs.

b. Confidentiality

  • Editors must keep all information related to submitted manuscripts confidential, sharing it only with relevant parties such as reviewers or publishers.

c. Conflict of Interest

  • Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where they have conflicts of interest.

d. Corrections and Retractions

  • Editors must act promptly to correct or retract articles when necessary, ensuring transparency in the process.

e. Adherence to Ethical Standards

  • Editors must follow COPE guidelines and address any ethical breaches promptly.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play a critical role in ensuring the quality and integrity of published research.

a. Confidentiality

  • Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents and must not disclose any part of the content or discuss it with others.

b. Objectivity

  • Reviews should be conducted objectively, with constructive feedback provided to authors.

c. Conflict of Interest

  • Reviewers must decline the review if they have conflicts of interest with the authors, institutions, or the research.

d. Timeliness

  • Reviewers should complete reviews within the specified timeframe and notify the editor if delays are expected.

e. Plagiarism Detection

  • Reviewers should report any suspected ethical breaches, including plagiarism or data manipulation, to the editor.

5. Ethical Responsibilities of Publishers

The publisher ensures that journals comply with ethical practices and supports the editors in addressing ethical issues.

a. Transparency

  • The publisher must ensure transparency in journal policies, including open-access policies, peer-review processes, and publication fees (if any).

b. Ethical Oversight

  • The publisher must collaborate with editors to address ethical issues, including plagiarism, conflicts of interest, and data breaches.

c. Archiving

  • The publisher must maintain a robust archiving system to ensure the availability and preservation of published content.

6. Ethical Responsibilities of Readers

Readers must respect intellectual property and use published content ethically.

a. Citing Sources

  • Readers must cite any material they use from the journal in their own research or work.

b. Ethical Use of Content

  • Readers must use published content solely for academic and non-commercial purposes unless stated otherwise.

7. Handling Ethical Breaches

M.C.E. Society Publications takes ethical violations seriously. All allegations will be investigated promptly and transparently, following COPE guidelines. Actions may include:

  • Issuing corrections or retractions.
  • Banning authors from future submissions.
  • Informing the author’s institution or funding agency.

8. Compliance with Global Standards

This policy complies with the following ethical standards:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE): For ethical publishing practices.
  • Open Access Principles: Ensuring transparency and accessibility of published research.
  • ORCID Guidelines: To uniquely identify authors and contributors.

9. Policy Updates

This Ethics Policy is subject to regular updates to reflect changes in ethical publishing standards. Any changes will be communicated via our website.

10. Contact Us

For questions, concerns, or reports of ethical misconduct, please contact us:

M.C.E. Society Publications
Abeda Inamdar Senior College of Arts, Science, and Commerce
Azam Campus, Camp, Pune, Maharashtra, India – 411001
Email: journals@mcesocietypublication.com
Phone: +91 00000 00000

This Ethics Policy reflects our unwavering commitment to maintaining integrity and transparency in academic publishing. Thank you for supporting ethical research practices at M.C.E. Society Publications.