Peer Review Policy

Every book published by Aloka Publications is assessed by the editorial team and reviewed by independent subject experts before it is accepted. This page explains how that works, so that authors know what to expect and readers know what our imprint stands for.

Stage 1: Proposal screening

Each proposal received through the Book Proposal Form is read by an editor, who checks:

  • that the subject is within our scope (pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sciences, medicine and allied health, science and engineering);
  • the need for the book, its intended readers and, for textbooks, its fit with the relevant syllabus (for example PCI, NMC, UGC or AICTE);
  • the qualifications and experience of the authors or editors;
  • how the book compares with existing titles.

We send a decision on every proposal within two weeks: invited to continue to review, asked to revise the proposal, or declined with reasons.

Stage 2: Expert review

Proposals that pass screening, and later the full manuscript, are sent to independent reviewers with expertise in the subject.

  • Authored books (textbooks, monographs, handbooks): at least two reviewers.
  • Edited volumes: the volume editors review every chapter, and each chapter is also reviewed by at least one reviewer who is not a contributor to the volume.
  • Review is single-anonymised: reviewers know who the authors are, but authors are not told who the reviewers are.
  • Reviewers may not be from the same department as an author, recent co-authors, or anyone with a financial or personal interest in the book. Reviewers must declare any conflict of interest and step aside if one exists.
  • Reviewers assess scientific accuracy, currency, coverage, organisation, clarity, suitability for the intended readers and the correct use and citation of sources.

Reviewers are normally asked to report within four to six weeks.

Stage 3: Decision

The editor considers the reviewers' reports and decides to accept, request revisions (minor or major), or decline. Reviewers' comments are shared with the authors, without the reviewers' names. Revised manuscripts are checked against the reviewers' comments, and may be sent back to the reviewers.

Accepted books then receive a publishing agreement (see For Authors).

Originality checks

Manuscripts are checked with similarity-detection software before review and again before publication. Unattributed copying of text, figures or tables from other sources, including the authors' own earlier work, is handled under our Publication Ethics policy.

Books by members of our team

When an author or editor of a book is a member of the Aloka Publications editorial team, that person takes no part in decisions about the book. The book is handled by another editor and reviewed by external reviewers only, under the same standards as every other title.

Conference proceedings

For conference proceedings, full papers are peer reviewed by the conference's scientific committee under our guidelines, and we check the process before publication. Abstract books and souvenirs are edited but are not peer reviewed, and say so in their front matter.

Confidentiality

Proposals and manuscripts are confidential. Editors and reviewers may not share, cite or use them for any other purpose, or upload them to AI tools.

Appeals

Authors who believe a decision was based on a factual error or a misunderstanding may appeal once, in writing, to info@alokapublications.com within 30 days of the decision, explaining the reasons. The appeal is considered by an editor who was not involved in the original decision.