Details of the peer review process

Manuscripts are received mainly through e-mails and in rare cases, where the authors do not have internet access, hard copies of the manuscripts may be received and processed. Only after the peer review the manuscripts are accepted for publication. So there is no assured publication on submission. The major steps followed during the peer review process are provided below.

Step 1. Receipt of manuscript and acknowledgement: Once the manuscript is received, the contents will be reviewed by the editor/associate editors to assess the scope of the article for publishing in JOR. If found within the scope of the journal, a Manuscript (MS) number is assigned and the same will be intimated to the authors. If the MS is not within the scope and mandate of JOR, then the article will be rejected and the same is communicated to the authors.

Step 2. Assigning and sending MS to referees: Suitable referees will be selected from the panel of experts and the MS (soft copy) will be sent to them for their comments – a standard format of evaluation is provided to the referees for evaluation along with the standard format of the journal articles and the referees will be given 4-5 week time to give their comments. If the comments are not received, reminders will be sent to the referees for expediting the reviewing process and in case there is still no response, the MS will be sent to alternate referees.

Step 3. Communication of referee comments to authors for revision: Once the referee comments and MS (with suggestions/ corrections) are received from the referees, depending on the suggestions, the same will be communicated to the authors with a request to attend to the comments. Authors will be given stipulated time to respond and based on their request, additional time will be given for attending to all the changes as suggested by referees. If the referees suggest no changes and recommend the MS for publication, then the same will be communicated to the authors and the MS will be taken up for editing purpose for publishing. In case the referees suggest that the article cannot be accepted for JOR, then the same will be communicated to the authors with proper rationale and logic as opined by the referees as well as by the editors.

Step 4. Sending the revised MS to referees:  Once the authors send the revised version of the articles, depending on the case (like if major revisions were suggested by referees) the corrected MS will be sent to the referees (who had reviewed the article in the first instance) for their comments and further suggestions regarding the acceptability of publication. If only minor revisions had been suggested by referees, then the editors would look into the issues and decide take a call.

Step 5. Sending the MS to authors for further revision: In case referees suggest further modifications, then the same will be communicated to the authors with a request to incorporate the suggested changes. If the referees suggest acceptance of the MS for publication, then the MS will be accepted for publication in the journal and the same will be communicated to the authors. Rarely, at this stage also MS would be rejected if the referees are not satisfied with the modifications and the reasoning provided by the authors.

Step 6. Second time revised articles received from authors and decision taken: In case the second time revised article satisfies all the queries raised by referees, then the MS will be accepted and if not satisfied the article will be rejected. The accepted MS will be taken for editing process where emphasis will be given to the language, content flow and format of the article.

Step 7. Galley-proof version of the articles will be sent to authors for final corrections

Then the journal issue will be slated for printing and also the pdf version of the journal issue will be hosted on journal webpage.

The Chief Editor,
Journal of Oilseeds Research,
Indian Society of Oilseeds Research,
Email: editorisor@gmail.com
Phone No. 040 24598113