Plagiarism Policy
At the International Journal of Foreign Trade and International Business Upgradation (IJFTIBU), we are committed to promoting the highest standards of academic integrity and originality. Plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited and is considered a serious breach of ethical conduct. This policy outlines the journal’s approach to preventing, detecting, and responding to plagiarism throughout the submission, review, and publication process.

Definition of Plagiarism
Plagiarism occurs when an author presents another person's work, ideas, data, or words as their own without appropriate acknowledgment. This includes—but is not limited to—the following:

1. Copying text, graphs, tables, or charts from another source without proper citation.
2. Using or paraphrasing substantial portions of published or unpublished material without referencing the original work.
3. Submitting the same content to multiple journals (duplicate publication).
4. Self-plagiarism, where authors reuse large sections of their own previously published content without citing it appropriately.

Plagiarism Detection
All manuscripts submitted to IJFTIBU are subject to a comprehensive plagiarism screening process before peer review. We utilize advanced plagiarism detection software to identify overlapping content and ensure that the manuscript represents original research or analysis in the field of international trade and business.

Manuscripts are evaluated not just for overall similarity percentages but also for the quality and context of overlap, especially in literature reviews, theoretical frameworks, or policy discussions.

Handling Detected Plagiarism

Based on the similarity index and severity, the following actions are taken:

1. Less than 5% overlap

   Minor overlaps may be accepted. The manuscript will proceed to peer review after notifying the author for small corrections (if necessary).

2. 5% to 15% overlap

   The manuscript will be returned to the author for significant revision before it is considered for peer review. The manuscript will not be assigned an official ID until revised.

3. More than 15% overlap

   The manuscript will be rejected without review, and authors will be advised to revise the manuscript thoroughly. A fresh submission will be required after making necessary corrections.

4. More than 30% overlap (High-Level Plagiarism)

   The manuscript will be immediately rejected, and the case will be recorded in the journal’s internal ethical database. Authors found guilty of significant plagiarism may be barred from future submissions for a defined period.

Post-Publication Plagiarism
If plagiarism is detected after publication, IJFTIBU will take the following corrective steps:

1. Conduct a full investigation by the editorial board.
2. Inform the corresponding author, affiliated institution(s), and any relevant funding agency.
3. Add a watermark or notice to the online version of the article.
4. Issue a retraction or correction notice, depending on the severity.
5. Update indexing databases with the retraction if applicable.

Author Responsibility
By submitting to IJFTIBU, authors confirm that:

1. The manuscript is entirely original.
2. All sources, including their own previously published work, are appropriately cited.
3. The manuscript has not been submitted elsewhere or previously published.

Authors are expected to understand the differences between quoting, paraphrasing, and original synthesis. Whether intentional or unintentional, plagiarism will be handled with equal seriousness.

Self-Plagiarism
Self-plagiarism is a common but unethical practice where authors reuse content (e.g., literature reviews, data interpretations, or conclusions) from their own previously published works without citing the original source. All such reuse must be transparent and properly referenced.

IJFTIBU discourages excessive self-referencing unless critically justified for continuity in academic research or theoretical development.

Ethical Commitment to Original Research
IJFTIBU encourages academic integrity by maintaining strict checks on manuscript originality. Authors are required to submit only novel, well-referenced work that adds value to the fields of international trade and global business.

In cases of uncertainty or ethical ambiguity, the editorial board reserves the right to request additional clarification or supporting documentation related to originality and authorship.

By complying with this policy, authors contribute to fostering a responsible, trustworthy, and globally respected academic environment in the domain of international business and trade research.