Peer Review Policy

The Indian Journal of Climate & Environmental Studies (IJCEMS) follows a double-blind peer review process to ensure fairness, integrity, and quality in all published works. Every manuscript undergoes a rigorous evaluation by qualified experts before acceptance.

1. Initial Screening

After submission, every manuscript is screened by the Editorial Office to ensure it meets the journal’s formatting, originality, and subject-relevance requirements.

• Authors will receive a Manuscript Tracking Code / Paper ID within 3 working days of submission.
  
  

• This code must be included in the subject line of all subsequent email communications with the editorial team.
  
  

• Manuscripts that fail to meet submission standards or contain excessive similarity will be desk-rejected without external review.
  
  

2. Plagiarism and AI-Generated Content Check

IJCEMS strictly prohibits plagiarism, data fabrication, or the use of AI-generated content (text, figures, or analysis) without full disclosure and proper citation.

• All submissions are scanned using advanced plagiarism detection tools.
  
  

• A similarity index above 10–15% (excluding references) will lead to immediate rejection or revision request.
  
  

• AI tools may be used only for minor linguistic support, not for generating ideas, results, or content. Authors must declare any such use clearly.
  
  

3. Peer Review Process

IJCEMS employs a double-blind review model:

• The identities of authors and reviewers remain confidential.
  
  

• Each submission is evaluated by at least two independent reviewers with relevant expertise.
  
  

• Reviewers assess manuscripts based on originality, clarity, methodology, ethical standards, and contribution to environmental and climate science.
  
  

The review period typically takes 3–4 weeks, though it may extend depending on reviewer availability and revision rounds.

4. Editorial Decision

After peer review, the handling editor makes one of the following decisions:

• Accept without revision
  
  

• Accept with minor or major revisions
  
  

• Reject (with constructive feedback provided)
  
  

Authors are informed of the decision via email. Revised manuscripts must be resubmitted within the timeline specified in the decision letter.

5. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to:

• Provide objective, constructive, and confidential assessments.
  
  

• Identify any potential ethical issues or conflicts of interest.
  
  

• Refrain from using unpublished information from reviewed manuscripts for personal advantage.
  
  

6. Editorial Integrity and Appeals

All editorial decisions are made independently and are not influenced by the author’s institution, funding source, or affiliations.
Authors may appeal editorial decisions by providing a written justification to the Editor-in-Chief via email (📧 ijces.india@gmail.com). Appeals will be reviewed by the Editorial Advisory Board, whose decision shall be final.

7. Transparency and Timelines

• Tracking Code issued: within 3 working days of submission
  
  

• First editorial screening: within 1 week
  
  

• Review process: 3–4 weeks (on average)
  
  

• Final decision and publication: within 6–8 weeks, depending on revisions
  
  

8. Ethical Oversight

IJCEMS follows the COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (COPE, DOAJ, WAME, OASPA).
Any breach of ethical conduct by authors, reviewers, or editors will result in appropriate corrective actions, including retraction or blacklisting.

📧 All communication related to submissions and peer review should be directed to:
ijces.india@gmail.com
and must include the Manuscript Tracking Code in the subject line.