The entire editorial workflow is performed via the Open Journal System, the manuscript submission system for our journals. Once a manuscript is submitted for publication, the manuscript is checked by the journal’s editorial office to ensure the files are complete and that the relevant metadata is in order.

1. A manuscript processed for publication with the understanding that it is being submitted to the Journal only now and has not been published/simultaneously submitted/ already accepted elsewhere for publication.
2. All manuscripts received are duly acknowledged with an assigned manuscript number.
3. On submission, the subject editor reviews all the submitted manuscripts initially for suitability for formal review. Manuscripts with plagiarism, serious scientific or technical errors, and lack of a significant message are rejected without proceeding for formal peer review. Manuscripts that are not in the scope of the Journal are also liable to be rejected at this stage.
4. Manuscript clearing first round of the screening will be considered for the review process and it can be sent to two or more reviewers.
5. Selection of these reviewers/referees is at the sole discretion of the editor.
6. The journal strictly follows the double-blind review process, where neither the author nor the reviewers know the identity of each other.
7. Members of the teams from the Editorial board have the right to make a final decision on publication after receiving comments from reviewers/Referees. The decision of acceptance, rejection, or revision of the manuscript will be conveyed to the corresponding author.
8. In case of minor or major modifications, the corresponding author is requested to send an itemized response for each of the comments of reviewers and send a revised version of the manuscript to the editor.
9. The manuscript will not be accepted for publication until the editor and reviewers/referees are satisfied with the manuscript.
10. Articles accepted would be copy-edited for grammar, punctuation, print style, and format. Page proofs will be sent to the corresponding author, with or without corrections must be returned within three days.
11. The corresponding author (or coauthor designee) will serve on behalf of all coauthors as the primary correspondent with the editorial office during the submission and review process.

The manuscript is then sent to a relevant Section Editor who assesses the suitability of the manuscript in terms of scope and quality and, if appropriate, assigns it to an Academic Editor. The Academic Editor performs an additional, more detailed, analysis before inviting several potential reviewers to provide a peer review report - the Academic Editor can reject a manuscript before review if they deem it unsuitable for the journal. Based on reports submitted by the reviewers, the Academic Editor makes one of the following recommendations:

• Reject: If the Academic Editor recommends “Reject”, the authors are sent any review reports that have been received and are notified that their manuscript will no longer be considered for publication in the journal.
• Major Revision: If the Academic Editor recommends “Major Revision”, the authors are notified of the editor's request that they prepare and submit an updated version of their manuscript with the necessary changes suggested by the reviewers and editor. This might require new data to be collected or a substantial revision of the text. The manuscript is then reassessed by one or more of the original reviewers before the Academic Editor makes a new recommendation.
• Minor Revision: If the Academic Editor recommends “Minor Revision”, the authors are notified of the editor's request that they prepare and submit a revised copy of their manuscript with the required minor changes suggested by the reviewers and editor. Once satisfied with the final manuscript, optionally having sought further advice from one or more of the reviewers, the Academic Editor can recommend “Publish”.
• Publish: If the Academic Editor recommends “Publish”, the manuscript will undergo a final check by the editorial office to ensure that the manuscript and its review process adhere to the journal’s guidelines and policies. The authors will then be notified of the manuscript’s acceptance.

Section Editors will be called upon to handle appeals and other editorial issues as and when required.