The International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR) is firmly committed to maintaining academic integrity and publishing only original research. We follow a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism in any form.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the unethical act of copying someone else’s work, ideas, or words without proper acknowledgment. It includes, but is not limited to:

• Direct copying of text from other sources without quotation or citation.
• Improper paraphrasing of someone else’s work.
• Using figures, tables, or data without permission or attribution.
• Self-plagiarism, where an author republishes their own previously published work without disclosure.

2. Plagiarism Detection Tool

All submitted manuscripts are thoroughly screened for plagiarism using Turnitin, a leading plagiarism detection software widely recognized in academic publishing.

3. Acceptable Similarity Index

The acceptable similarity index is up to 15%, excluding properly cited material, references, and commonly used phrases. Manuscripts with a higher similarity percentage will be subject to review by the editorial board.

4. Actions Taken on Plagiarism

• If plagiarism is detected before publication:
  • Minor plagiarism: Authors will be informed and asked to revise the manuscript.
  • Major plagiarism: The manuscript will be rejected outright, and the author(s) may be blacklisted from future submissions.
• If plagiarism is found after publication:
  • The published article will be retracted immediately.
  • A formal retraction notice will be issued and displayed on the journal website.
  • The author’s institution may be notified depending on the severity.

5. Author Responsibilities

By submitting a manuscript to IJSSR, authors confirm that:

• The work is original and has not been published elsewhere.
• Proper citation has been given wherever required.
• The manuscript has not been submitted to another journal simultaneously.

6. Reporting Plagiarism

Any allegations or concerns about plagiarism in IJSSR publications can be reported to the editorial team at ijssr.in@gmail.com. All reports will be investigated confidentially and thoroughly.