PUBLICATION PROCESS

The Nepalese Veterinary Journal (NVJ) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scientific quality, transparency, and ethical publishing. This page outlines the editorial, peer review, decision-making, and publication processes followed by the journal.

1. Editorial Screening (Desk Review)

   Upon submission, all manuscripts are initially evaluated by the Editorial Office to determine:

   • Alignment with the journal’s scope and aims
   • Compliance with author guidelines and formatting requirements
   • Completeness of required submission files
   • Ethical approval and conflict of interest disclosures
   • Similarity index (acceptable threshold ≤ 15%)
   • Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be returned to authors for correction or rejected without external peer review.
2. Double-Blind Peer Review
   • NVJ follows a double-blind peer review system, in which the identities of both authors and reviewers are kept confidential throughout the review process.
   • Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent subject-matter experts
   • A statistical or methodological reviewer may be assigned when necessary
   • Reviewers are selected based on expertise, publication record, and absence of conflicts of interest
3. Review Timelines
   • Reviewers are generally requested to submit their reviews within 14–21 days
   • Extensions may be granted upon request
   • Non-responsive reviewers may be replaced to avoid unnecessary delays
   • The editorial office actively monitors review progress to ensure timely decisions.
4. Editorial Decisions

   Based on reviewer recommendations and editorial assessment, one of the following decisions will be issued:

   • Accept
   • Minor Revision
   • Major Revision
   • Reject

   Rejection decisions are made only when manuscripts contain substantial methodological, ethical, or scientific flaws that cannot be resolved through revision.

5. Revision and Re-review

   Authors invited to revise their manuscripts must:

   • Submit a detailed, point-by-point response to all reviewer and editor comments
   • Clearly indicate all changes made in the revised manuscript
   • Revised manuscripts may be returned to the original reviewers for further evaluation, particularly in cases of major revision.
6. Decision and Publication Timeline

   This section provides an overview of the typical timelines from submission through final publication. The NVJ aims to ensure a transparent and timely editorial and publication process while maintaining rigorous scientific standards.

   • Initial editorial screening: 7–10 days from submission
   • Peer review process: Typically completed within 14–21 days
   • Editorial decision after peer review: 3–7 days after receipt of all reviewer reports

   Following an editorial decision:

   • Minor revision: Authors are usually given 7–14 days
   • Major revision: Authors are usually given 14–21 days

   Revised manuscripts may undergo additional rounds of review, particularly after major revisions.

   Once a manuscript is accepted:

   • Copyediting and formatting: 1–2 weeks
   • Author proof review: 3–5 days
   • Final publication: In the next available issue or online-first, depending on journal policy

   Actual timelines may vary depending on reviewer availability, manuscript complexity, and the extent of revisions required.

7. Author Proofs

   After acceptance and copyediting, page proofs will be sent to the corresponding author for final review.

   • Authors are responsible for carefully checking proofs for typographical errors, formatting issues, and factual accuracy
   • Substantive changes to the content, data, or conclusions are not permitted at the proof stage, except to correct errors introduced during production
   • Proofs must be reviewed and returned within 3–5 days to avoid delays in publication

   Failure to respond within the allocated timeframe may result in publication proceeding without author corrections.

8. Appeals Process

   Authors who disagree with an editorial decision may submit a written appeal to the Managing Editor, clearly outlining the scientific or procedural basis for the appeal.

   • If unresolved, the appeal will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief
   • Final unresolved cases may be referred to the NVA Publications Committee

   All appeal decisions are final.

9. Confidentiality and Ethics

   All manuscripts, reviewer reports, and editorial communications are treated as confidential. NVJ adheres to COPE guidelines and expects reviewers and editors to declare any potential conflicts of interest.