Peer review is the system used to assess the quality of a manuscript before it is published. Independent researchers in the relevant research area assess the submitted manuscripts for originality, validity, and significance to help editors determine whether a manuscript should be published in their journal. Our journal practices the following steps for publishing a paper in the journal:

1. Submission of Paper
The corresponding or submitting author submits the paper to the journal via email. The paper should be as per the guidelines prescribed by the journal.

2. Primary Editorial Assessment
The journal checks the paper’s composition and arrangement against the journal’s Author Guidelines to make sure it includes the required sections and stylizations. The quality of the paper is not assessed at this point.

3. Appraisal by the Chief Editor (CE)
The CE checks that the paper is appropriate for the journal and is sufficiently original and interesting. If not, the paper may be rejected without being reviewed any further.

4. CE Assigns a Co-Editor/Assistant Editor
This CE assigns the paper to Co-Editor/Assistant Editors who handle the peer review.

5. Invitation to Reviewers
The handling editor sends invitations to individuals he or she believes would be appropriate reviewers. As responses are received, further invitations are issued, if necessary, until the required number of acceptances is obtained – normally this is two.

6. Response to Invitations
Potential reviewers consider the invitation against their own expertise, conflicts of interest and availability. They then accept or decline. If possible, when declining, they might also suggest alternative reviewers.

7. Review is Conducted
The reviewer sets time aside to read the paper several times. The first read is used to form an initial impression of the work. If major problems are found at this stage, the reviewer may reject the paper without further work. Otherwise they will read the paper several more times, taking notes so as to build a detailed point-by-point review. The review is then submitted to the journal, with a recommendation to accept or reject it – or else with a request for revision (usually flagged as either major or minor) before it is reconsidered.

8. Journal Evaluates the Reviews
The handling editor with the help of other assistant editors considers all the returned reviews before making an overall decision. If the reviews differ widely, the editor may invite an additional reviewer so as to get an extra opinion before making a decision.

9. The Decision is Communicated
The editor sends a decision email as to acceptance, or rejection, or revision needed to the author including any relevant reviewer comment. If the article is rejected or sent back for either major or minor revision, the handling editor includes constructive comments from the reviewers to help the author improve the article. Reviewers are also sent an email or letter letting them know the outcome of their review.

10. Post Review

If accepted, the paper is sent to production. If the paper was sent back for revision, the reviewers should expect to receive a new version, if any, unless they have opted out of further participation. However, where only minor changes were requested, this follow-up review might be done by the handling editor(s).

11. Publication

The produced draft is further reviewed by the editorial board for any typographical error or improper styling. Thereafter, it is allowed to be published.