APC Amount: The journal charges an APC to cover the costs associated with manuscript processing, peer review, journal production, online hosting and archiving, and administrative costs. The specific amount of the APC is 5000/- INR per article publication.

Waivers and Discounts: The journal offers waivers and discounts to authors from low-income countries or those who can demonstrate financial hardship. A full or partial waiver can be requested during the submission process, and decisions are made based on the author's financial situation, the merit of the work, and available funding for waivers.

Payment Timing: Payment of the APC is due after manuscript acceptance but prior to publication. Payment must be completed for the article to be published.

Payment Methods: Acceptable methods of payment include credit card, bank transfer, or invoice to the author’s institution or funder. Details and instructions for payment are provided upon acceptance.

APC Transparency: The journal is committed to transparency in its pricing structure. The APC covers all aspects of the publication process and is not used to influence editorial decisions, which are made independently based on the journal’s scientific standards.

Cancellations and Refunds: If an author decides to withdraw their article after acceptance but before publication, the APC may be refunded partially or in full depending on the stage of publication. 

Sponsorships and Partnerships: The journal may enter into sponsorship or partnership agreements with institutions, libraries, or other entities that can cover the APC for affiliated authors, reducing the financial burden on individuals.

Notification and Communication: Authors are informed about the APC at the time of manuscript submission through both the journal’s website and the submission system to ensure they understand the financial requirements associated with publishing in the journal.

Regular Review of APC Policy: The APC rates are reviewed periodically by the journal’s management team to ensure they remain fair and reflect the actual costs of the publication process.

By implementing these detailed APC guidelines, your journal ensures that the financial aspects of publishing are handled fairly and transparently, supporting the sustainability of the open access model.