Publication Policy and Peer Review

Published biannually, in June and December every year, Population Geography brings out original, timely and innovative articles that advance knowledge in all aspects of population geography. Twice in 1981 (Vol.3) and 1983 (Vol.5), it published the conference proceedings of the International Geographical Union (IGU). John I. Clarke and Mania Luisa Gentileshchi, population geographers of international repute, were the guest editors. No other Geography journal of the kind published from India can claim such a distinction. It publishes research articles, book reviews, and abstracts of recently awarded doctoral theses in Population Geography and short notes. Introduced in 1994, Map Series, wherein important and emerging issues in the field of Population Geography are presented in maps. A brief commentary is a prevalent and distinctive feature of this Journal. 

Introduced in 2020, Geo-Reflections Series, wherein important and emerging issues in the field of Geography with a focus on population studies from a spatial perspective, are critically examined in terms of their conceptual and methodological foundations and paradigm shift taking place in space and time. 

The Journal has a peer review process, which is fair, unbiased, and timely. The research articles are reviewed by an external, independent, and impartial reviewer, and wherever necessary, the editor seeks an additional opinion. 

The Journal applies the double-blind peer review process, wherein both the reviewers and authors remain anonymous throughout the entire review process. Initially, all the proposals submitted for publication in Population Geography are read by the editor/sectional editor to check its conformity with the editorial policy of the Journal and the quality and standards it maintains. In a way, the editor evaluates the manuscripts for their intellectual content, irrespective of the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy. Following this, the paper is sent to a reviewer, unaware of the author/authors’ identity, since all the identifying information is stripped off the document before sending it to the reviewer. Referees are asked to express their views clearly with supporting arguments. 

The editor maintains the total confidentiality of the reviewer’s comments on the article. The reviewer’s comments are placed before the editorial board to decide on the manuscript. After that, the decision is communicated to the author/s along with the referee/s’ report. Suppose the reviewer recommends revising and submitting a paper; the acceptance would be subject to a satisfactory revision and its timely resubmission. The Population Geography follows the COPE guidelines for Retraction of articles, available at the following link: http://publicationethics.org/files/retraction%20guidelines.pdf