Samvakti Journals is committed to maintaining objectivity, fairness, and transparency in all stages of the publication process. To uphold these standards, all authors, reviewers, and editors involved in the publication of scholarly work must disclose any potential conflicts of interest. This policy applies to all journals published by Samvakti Pvt. Ltd.

1. Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest occurs when a person’s professional judgment regarding the research or its evaluation may be influenced—directly or indirectly—by personal, financial, or institutional relationships.

Conflicts of Interest may include:

1.1 Financial Interests

• Funding or grants from organizations with a potential interest in the research
• Employment, consultancy, or advisory roles
• Ownership of stocks, shares, or patents
• Paid expert testimony

1.2 Personal and Professional Relationships

• Relationships with individuals who may benefit from the research
• Collaboration, mentorship, or competition with other authors or reviewers
• Family, close friends, or adversarial relationships

1.3 Academic or Institutional Conflicts

• Institutional affiliations that could affect interpretation or review
• Institutional pressure or expectations

1.4 Other Conflicts

• Political, ideological, or philosophical interests that may bias judgment

Conflicts do not always imply wrongdoing but must always be disclosed.

Authors must disclose all potential conflicts in their manuscript under a section titled “Conflict of Interest Statement.”

Examples of required disclosures include:

• Financial support for the study
• Employment or consultancy affiliations
• Patents or commercial interests related to the research
• Personal relationships that may influence the work

If no conflicts exist, authors must include the statement:

“The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.”

Failure to disclose a conflict may result in:

• Rejection of the manuscript
• Retraction after publication
• Notification to the author’s institution

Reviewers play a critical role in ensuring fair evaluation. Reviewers must:

• Decline review assignments if a conflict exists
• Inform the editor immediately if a potential conflict is identified
• Avoid evaluating work of colleagues, collaborators, competitors, or close associates
• Maintain confidentiality at all stages

Examples of reviewer conflicts:

• Recent collaboration with the authors
• Personal relationships
• Financial or institutional connections

If a reviewer is unsure, they should consult the Editor-in-Chief.

Editors must:

• Ensure transparent handling of COI declarations
• Reassign manuscripts if they have a conflict
• Not make decisions on manuscripts from:
  • Their own students
  • Close collaborators
  • Members of their institution

Editors must also:

• Ensure that disclosed conflicts do not influence publication decisions
• Take corrective actions if undisclosed conflicts are discovered

Depending on the nature and severity of the conflict, Samvakti Journals may:

• Reassign the manuscript to a conflict-free reviewer or editor
• Request additional disclosures from authors
• Reject or retract the manuscript if the conflict compromised integrity
• Publish a note of correction or disclosure with the article

All actions are taken based on COPE recommendations.

If a conflict is discovered after publication:

• The editorial office will open an investigation
• A correction or disclosure may be added to the published article
• In severe cases, the article may be retracted

Authors and reviewers found to have intentionally concealed conflicts may be restricted from future submissions or review assignments.

For questions or COI disclosures, authors and reviewers may contact:

Samvakti Journals Editorial Office
Email: editorial.office@samvaktijournals.com

Website: https://www.samvaktijournals.com