The Utkarsh Journal of Health Sciences and Environment (UJHSE) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and integrity. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process — authors, peer reviewers, editors, and the publisher.

UJHSE's publication ethics policies are aligned with and informed by the following international standards and guidelines:

• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) — Core Practices and Guidelines
• International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) — Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals
• Declaration of Helsinki — Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects
• World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) — Recommendations on Publication Ethics Policies for Medical Journals

All participants in the publication process are expected to familiarize themselves with and adhere to the ethical standards described below.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that their submitted work is entirely original. Any use of the work or words of others must be appropriately cited and referenced. Plagiarism in all its forms — including verbatim copying, substantial copying, paraphrasing without attribution, and self-plagiarism — constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable. All submissions are screened for plagiarism using industry-standard detection software prior to peer review.

Authorship (ICMJE Criteria)

Authorship must be based on the criteria established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). All individuals listed as authors must have made substantial contributions to:

• Conception or design of the work, or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data;
• Drafting the manuscript or revising it critically for important intellectual content;
• Final approval of the version to be published; and
• Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

All four criteria must be met. Guest authorship (listing individuals who do not meet authorship criteria) and ghost authorship (omitting individuals who meet authorship criteria) are considered violations of publication ethics. Changes to authorship after submission require written agreement from all authors and a detailed explanation to the editor.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Submission

Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously. Publishing the same research in more than one journal (redundant or duplicate publication) is unethical unless explicitly justified (e.g., secondary publication with full disclosure). Authors must disclose any related manuscripts under consideration or in press at the time of submission.

Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose all financial and non-financial conflicts of interest that could be perceived as influencing the research, analysis, interpretation, or presentation of their work. This includes funding sources, employment relationships, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications, and any other relationships that could constitute a potential conflict. If there are no conflicts to declare, authors must explicitly state this.

Ethical Approval and Informed Consent

Research involving human subjects must have been approved by an appropriate institutional ethics committee or institutional review board (IRB) and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The manuscript must include a statement confirming ethical approval, including the name of the approving committee and the approval reference number. Written informed consent must be obtained from all participants (or their legal guardians) prior to enrollment in the study. For case reports, written informed consent for publication must be obtained from the patient or their legal guardian.

Clinical Trial Registration

All clinical trials must be registered in a public clinical trial registry (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov, CTRI, WHO ICTRP) before the enrollment of the first participant. The trial registration number must be provided at the time of submission and included in the abstract.

Data Integrity and Accuracy

Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of all data presented in their manuscripts. Fabrication (inventing data or results), falsification (manipulating research materials, equipment, processes, or data), and inappropriate data manipulation constitute serious misconduct. Authors should retain raw data and be prepared to provide it upon editorial request.

Disclosure of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use

Authors must disclose the use of any artificial intelligence tools (including large language models, AI-assisted writing tools, image generation tools, and data analysis tools) in the preparation of their manuscript. The specific tools used, the extent of their use, and the sections of the manuscript in which they were employed must be clearly described in the methods section or an appropriate acknowledgment. AI tools cannot be listed as authors, as they do not meet ICMJE authorship criteria.

Corrections and Retractions

If authors discover significant errors or inaccuracies in their published work, they are obligated to promptly notify the journal editor and cooperate in publishing a correction (erratum) or, if necessary, a retraction. Authors should also notify the editor if they become aware of any ethical concerns related to their published work.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Confidentiality

Peer review is a confidential process. Reviewers must treat all manuscripts received for review as confidential documents. They must not share, discuss, or disclose any information about a manuscript or its contents with anyone outside the review process without the explicit permission of the editor. This obligation extends to the content of the manuscript, the identity of the authors (where known), and the reviewer's own review.

Objectivity and Constructiveness

Reviews must be conducted objectively and professionally. Reviewers should provide clear, constructive, and well-reasoned feedback that helps authors improve their work. Personal criticism of the authors is inappropriate. Reviewers should support their assessments with evidence and specific references where possible.

Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could bias their review, including competitive, collaborative, financial, or personal relationships with any of the authors, institutions, or companies connected to the manuscript. Reviewers who have a conflict of interest should decline the invitation to review and notify the editor.

Timeliness

Reviewers should complete their reviews within the agreed-upon timeframe. If a reviewer is unable to complete the review within the specified period, they should promptly notify the editor so that alternative reviewers can be invited. Timely reviews are essential to maintaining the efficiency and integrity of the peer review process.

Use of Unpublished Material

Reviewers must not use unpublished information, ideas, data, or arguments contained in a manuscript under review for their own benefit or to disadvantage or discredit others. This obligation remains in effect regardless of whether the manuscript is ultimately published.

Alerting the Editor

Reviewers should alert the editor to any suspected ethical violations, including plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, duplicate publication, or undisclosed conflicts of interest. Reviewers should also notify the editor if they identify substantial similarity between the manuscript under review and any published work or manuscript known to them.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Fair and Impartial Decisions

Editors are responsible for making fair, unbiased, and timely editorial decisions based solely on the scholarly merit, originality, significance, and relevance of the submitted work. Editorial decisions must not be influenced by the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, political affiliation, or institutional affiliation. Editors should ensure that the peer review process is thorough, fair, and transparent.

Confidentiality

Editors must treat all submitted manuscripts and related correspondence as confidential. Information about a submitted manuscript must not be disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, editorial advisers, and the publisher, as appropriate. Editors must not use unpublished information from submitted manuscripts for their own research without the explicit written consent of the authors.

Conflicts of Interest

Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest — whether personal, financial, intellectual, professional, political, or religious. In such cases, the manuscript should be assigned to another editor or an independent editorial board member for handling and decision-making.

Handling Misconduct

Editors are obligated to take appropriate action when ethical concerns are raised about a submitted or published manuscript. This includes investigating allegations of misconduct (plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate submission, etc.) in accordance with COPE guidelines. Editors should act promptly, gather all relevant information, and follow established procedures. Reasonable evidence of misconduct should not be ignored, regardless of when it is raised.

Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions must be based on intellectual merit and are independent of commercial or political considerations. The publisher must not interfere with editorial decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts. Editors have full authority and responsibility for determining which manuscripts are published.

4. Ethical Responsibilities of the Publisher

Utkarsh Research Network, as the publisher of UJHSE, is committed to the following ethical responsibilities:

• Editorial independence: The publisher guarantees full editorial independence and does not interfere with editorial decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts.
• Supporting ethical practices: The publisher supports the editorial team in handling allegations of misconduct and provides the necessary resources and infrastructure for ethical publishing.
• Transparency: The publisher ensures transparency in all publishing operations, including article processing charges, licensing terms, and journal policies.
• Preservation and access: The publisher ensures the long-term digital preservation and permanent accessibility of all published content, in accordance with open access principles.
• Corrections and retractions: The publisher supports and facilitates the timely publication of corrections, clarifications, and retractions as required by the editorial team.
• Best practices: The publisher adheres to industry best practices as recommended by COPE, ICMJE, WAME, and DOAJ, and regularly reviews and updates its policies to maintain compliance with evolving standards.

5. Research Ethics: Specific Policies

Human Subjects Research

All research involving human subjects must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and applicable national and institutional regulations. Studies must receive prior approval from an institutional ethics committee or institutional review board (IRB). The manuscript must include a clear statement of ethical approval, the name of the approving body, and the reference number. Written informed consent must be obtained from all participants. Where consent cannot be obtained (e.g., retrospective studies), a waiver of consent must be explicitly granted by the ethics committee and documented in the manuscript.

Vulnerable Populations

Research involving vulnerable populations — including children, pregnant women, prisoners, persons with cognitive impairments, economically or educationally disadvantaged individuals, and other groups with diminished autonomy — requires additional safeguards. Authors must demonstrate that the research is justified, that appropriate protections are in place, and that informed consent (or assent, where applicable) has been obtained through processes appropriate to the population.

Animal Research

Research involving animal subjects must comply with relevant national and institutional guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals. Authors must provide a statement confirming approval by an institutional animal ethics committee (IAEC) and describe the measures taken to minimize animal suffering. Studies should comply with the ARRIVE guidelines for reporting animal research.

Biosafety and Biosecurity

Research involving potentially hazardous biological agents, genetically modified organisms, or dual-use research of concern must comply with applicable biosafety regulations and institutional biosafety committee requirements. Authors must describe the biosafety measures employed and confirm institutional approval where required.

Environmental Research Ethics

Research involving environmental sampling, fieldwork, or activities that may impact ecosystems, biodiversity, or protected areas must comply with applicable environmental regulations and obtain necessary permits. Authors should describe the environmental safeguards employed and any permits obtained.

6. Publication Misconduct Procedures

Investigation Process

When allegations of misconduct are raised — whether by reviewers, readers, editors, or other parties — UJHSE follows a structured investigation process in accordance with COPE guidelines:

1. All allegations are acknowledged and treated seriously, regardless of when they are raised or the status of the manuscript (under review or published).
2. The editor-in-chief or a designated editor conducts a preliminary assessment to determine whether the allegation has merit and warrants further investigation.
3. The author(s) are contacted confidentially and given a reasonable opportunity to respond to the allegations.
4. Additional evidence is gathered as necessary, which may include consulting with external experts, institutional contacts, or relevant databases.
5. The editorial team makes a determination based on the evidence and takes appropriate action.

Possible Outcomes

Depending on the severity and nature of the misconduct, the following actions may be taken, individually or in combination:

• A private warning or letter of education to the author(s).
• A formal letter of reprimand with a warning regarding future conduct.
• Publication of a correction or erratum.
• Publication of an expression of concern.
• Retraction of the published article, with a retraction notice clearly stating the reason for retraction.
• Notification of the author's institution, employer, or funding body.
• A ban on future submissions from the author(s) for a specified period.
• Referral to relevant professional or regulatory bodies.

Protection of Complainants

UJHSE is committed to protecting individuals who raise good-faith concerns about potential misconduct. The identity of complainants will be kept confidential to the extent possible, and no retaliatory action will be taken against any person who raises a genuine concern. Complainants are encouraged to provide as much detail and supporting evidence as possible to facilitate the investigation.

7. Open Access, APC, and Licensing Ethics

UJHSE is committed to ethical practices in open access publishing:

• Open Access commitment: All published articles are immediately and permanently freely accessible upon publication, with no embargo period, ensuring that research is available to all readers worldwide.
• Transparent APC: Article Processing Charges are clearly disclosed on the journal website. The APC is USD 300 for international authors and INR 10,000 for Indian authors (plus applicable taxes). There are no hidden fees, submission fees, or page charges.
• Fee waivers: UJHSE offers fee waivers and discounts to authors from low- and middle-income countries, early-career researchers, and those who demonstrate financial hardship. Waiver requests are assessed independently of editorial decisions and do not influence the peer review or acceptance process.
• No influence on editorial decisions: APC payment status does not influence editorial or peer review decisions. Manuscripts are evaluated solely on their scholarly merit.
• Licensing: All published content is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license. The licensing terms are clearly communicated to authors before publication and are displayed prominently on all published articles.
• Copyright: Copyright is retained by the journal and publisher. Authors grant UJHSE the right to publish, distribute, and archive their work. Authors retain the right to use their own work for non-commercial purposes, including self-archiving and posting in institutional repositories.

8. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

UJHSE is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the publication process:

• Inclusive editorial processes: We strive to build a diverse editorial board and reviewer pool that reflects the global nature of health sciences research. We actively seek representation across genders, geographic regions, career stages, and disciplinary backgrounds.
• Equitable access: Our open access model and fee waiver policies are designed to ensure that financial constraints do not prevent worthy research from being published or accessed.
• Bias-free review: Our double-blind peer review process minimizes the potential for bias based on author identity. Editors and reviewers are expected to evaluate manuscripts solely on scientific merit.
• Inclusive language: Authors are encouraged to use inclusive, non-discriminatory language in their manuscripts. Where research involves specific populations, authors should describe participants respectfully and accurately, using the terminology preferred by those communities.
• Global perspectives: We welcome and encourage submissions from researchers worldwide, including those from under-represented regions and institutions, and value diverse perspectives on health and environmental challenges.

9. Complaints and Feedback

UJHSE welcomes and takes seriously all complaints and feedback related to editorial content, the peer review process, ethical concerns, or any other aspect of journal operations.

• How to submit: Complaints and feedback may be directed to the editor-in-chief at editor@utkarshresearchnetwork.in. Correspondents should provide as much detail as possible, including manuscript identifiers, dates, and supporting documentation.
• Response process: All complaints are acknowledged within 5 working days. The editorial team investigates the matter and provides a substantive response within 30 working days. If a complaint cannot be resolved within this period, the correspondent will be informed of the timeline for resolution.
• Escalation: If a complainant is not satisfied with the response, the matter may be escalated to the publisher or, where appropriate, to COPE for mediation and guidance.
• Confidentiality: Complaints are handled confidentially. The identity of complainants is protected, and no retaliatory action is taken against individuals who raise good-faith concerns.

10. Compliance and Review

This Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement is a living document that is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure compliance with evolving international standards and best practices.

UJHSE's ethics policies are aligned with the following frameworks:

• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) — Core Practices, Code of Conduct, and Flowcharts for handling cases of suspected misconduct.
• International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) — Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals.
• World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) — Recommendations on Publication Ethics Policies for Medical Journals.
• Declaration of Helsinki — Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects (World Medical Association).

The editorial team reviews this statement annually and updates it as necessary to reflect changes in ethical standards, regulatory requirements, and community expectations. All stakeholders — authors, reviewers, editors, and readers — are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these policies and to contact the editorial office with any questions or suggestions for improvement.

Last updated: April 2026

11. Anti-Predatory Publishing Statement

UJHSE is committed to operating as a legitimate, ethical, and transparent scholarly journal. The journal adheres to the following principles to distinguish itself from predatory publishers:

• Editorial decisions are never influenced by APC payment. The peer review process is completed and an editorial decision is communicated before any payment is requested.
• Transparent APC policy. All fees are clearly stated on the journal website. There are no hidden charges. Fee waivers are available and genuinely provided.
• Rigorous peer review. Every manuscript undergoes double-blind peer review by at least two qualified, independent reviewers. The journal does not accept manuscripts without peer review.
• COPE membership. UJHSE follows COPE Core Practices and guidelines. The journal will apply for COPE membership upon meeting eligibility criteria.
• Identifiable editorial board. All editorial board members are real, qualified researchers whose credentials can be verified. No fictional or misrepresented board members.
• No false claims of indexing. The journal accurately reports its indexing status, clearly distinguishing between current indexing, applied, and planned applications.
• Proper ISSN. The journal has applied for an ISSN through the official ISSN national centre.
• Established publisher. Utkarsh Research Network is a legitimate academic publishing entity based in India.

12. Corrections, Retractions & Expressions of Concern

UJHSE follows COPE Retraction Guidelines and maintains the integrity of the scholarly record through the following policies:

Corrections (Errata/Corrigenda)

If errors are identified in a published article that do not affect the overall findings or conclusions, a correction notice will be published and linked to the original article. The original article will be updated with a notice indicating that a correction has been issued.

Retractions

An article may be retracted if:

• There is clear evidence of data fabrication or falsification
• The findings are unreliable due to major errors (calculation, experimental, or methodological)
• The work constitutes plagiarism
• The research was conducted without required ethical approvals
• The article has been published elsewhere without proper disclosure (redundant publication)
• There is evidence of compromised peer review

Retracted articles will be clearly marked as "RETRACTED" and will remain available with the retraction notice for transparency. The retraction notice will explain the reason for retraction.

Expressions of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be issued when there is inconclusive evidence of misconduct or unreliability, an investigation is underway, or the authors' institution has not responded to inquiries. This serves as an alert to readers while a full investigation proceeds.