Navtika Journal

Ethics, Integrity and Compliance Guidelines for Contributors

Navtika is committed to publishing trustworthy, respectful, and practice-relevant scholarship in early childhood care and education. These guidelines apply to all article, research paper, reflection, review, and case-study submissions. Authors are responsible for ensuring that every submission meets these standards.

1. Authentic and Original Work

• All submissions must be the authors’ original work. Authors should personally research, analyse, interpret, and present the ideas, evidence, experiences, and conclusions contained in their manuscripts.

• Submissions must not misrepresent practice, observations, data, participant voices, findings, or outcomes. In case studies, contributors must distinguish clearly between direct observation, documented evidence, professional interpretation, and personal reflection.

• Authors must not submit work that has already been published elsewhere, is under review with another publication, or substantially duplicates a previous publication without prior disclosure to the editorial team.

• If an author is submitting a previously published article, considering its relevance to an upcoming theme, published article, a NOC from the publishing authority for republication may be mandatory, and the same will be clearly mentioned in the published article

2. Documentation and Evidence

All claims, research findings, statistics, quotations, frameworks, and borrowed ideas must be supported by accurate and traceable documentation and duly acknowledged. References should be complete, current, and relevant to the manuscript.

• Use APA Style, 7th edition, for in-text citations and the reference list unless Navtika specifies otherwise.

• Cite the original source wherever possible rather than relying only on secondary summaries.

• Keep research notes, observation records, permissions, and source materials securely, as the editorial team may request clarification during review.

• Do not fabricate, alter, selectively omit, or manipulate data, images, observations, participant feedback, or research results.

• When using photographs, illustrations, classroom materials, or other third-party content, obtain required permission and acknowledge the source.

3. Plagiarism and Attribution

Plagiarism is unacceptable in any form. Direct quotations should be used sparingly, placed within quotation marks, and cited accurately. Paraphrased material must be expressed genuinely in the author’s own words and supported by a citation. Submissions may be screened for similarity and originality before or after publication. Serious breaches may lead to rejection, withdrawal, corrections, notification of relevant institutions, or other action determined by the Editorial Board.

The following will be considered plagiarism

• Copying text without quotation marks and citation.

• Paraphrasing too closely to the original source without proper attribution.

• Reusing one’s own previously published work without disclosure or citation (self-plagiarism).

• Translating or adapting another person’s work without acknowledgement.

• Submitting content produced or substantially written by someone else under one’s own name.

       All submitted articles must be original, unpublished and free from plagiarism. Plagiarism above 10% is not acceptable as per UGC norms.

4. Responsible Use of AI

Artificial intelligence tools may be used only as limited support tools, for example, to improve grammar, clarity, structure, translation, or accessibility. AI must not replace the author’s professional judgement, scholarly responsibility, lived expertise, ethical reflection, or original analysis.

Authors must:

• Review, verify, and revise all AI-assisted content before submission.

• Check factual accuracy, bias, invented references, confidentiality risks, and copyright concerns.

• Never upload confidential child, family, classroom, school, research-participant, or institutional information into a public AI tool without explicit permission and appropriate safeguards.

• Disclose meaningful AI use in the manuscript or cover letter, naming the tool, version where available, purpose, and extent of use. 

5. Ethical Practice in Early Childhood Contexts

Because Navtika focuses on young children, educators, families, and care settings, authors must protect dignity, privacy, safety, and confidentiality at all times.

• Obtain informed consent where required for research, photographs, recordings, quotations, or identifiable case information.

• Use pseudonyms and remove identifying details unless written permission for identification has been obtained.

• Avoid deficit-based, discriminatory, stereotypical, or disrespectful portrayals of children, families, communities, educators, or cultures.

• Clearly state any relevant ethical approvals, permissions, conflicts of interest, funding, or professional relationships that may influence the work.

6. Adherence and Editorial Action

By submitting to Navtika, contributors confirm that they have read and will follow these guidelines. The Editorial Board may request source records, consent documentation, AI-use details, revisions, or clarifications at any stage of review or publication.

Submissions that do not meet these standards may be returned for revision, rejected, or withdrawn. Where ethical concerns arise after publication, Navtika may issue a correction, expression of concern, or retraction, depending on the seriousness of the matter.

Contributor declaration:
Certificate of Authenticity is mandatory during submission. Non-submission of the declaration will result in automatic rejection of the submission.