The Indian Journal of Anaesthesia (IJA) on a global academic arena

Greetings from the Indian Journal of Anaesthesia! It is with deep gratitude and a profound sense of fulfilment that we reflect on the transformative three-year journey of the Indian Journal of Anaesthesia (IJA), the official scientific publication of the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists (ISA). IJA marched a remarkable progress, strategic reforms, and innovative initiatives, specifically the digital transformation, that have collectively enhanced the journal’s scientific impact, global reach, digital dissemination, and academic popularity. In this continuation, I write this editorial not only to introduce the IJA thematic issue but also to share the feeling of my journey as Editor-in-Chief of the prestigious official publication of ISA – the IJA. Regional anaesthesia and fascial plane blocks, in particular, have undergone a conceptual shift in their perioperative utility in recent years. Fascial plane blocks (FPBs) are increasingly recognised as a vital component of multimodal analgesic strategies for patients undergoing abdominal, thoracic, breast, orthopaedic, and other surgeries. This thematic issue of the IJA publishes evidence-based paradigms of FPBs, including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, original articles, and technique descriptions. For IJA readers, these manuscripts shall enhance the understanding of the utility of FPBs for various surgical procedures and diverse patient populations. In addition, the issue contains additional systematic reviews and meta-analyses, which shall be useful to the IJA readers. IJA LEGACY Growth is an ongoing process, and IJA benefits from a strong legacy of Editors and Editors-in-Chief within a dedicated editorial board.1 Their ongoing contributions over the last seven decades have significantly contributed to the journal’s current stature. As a lasting legacy, over the past 3 years, the IJA has maintained a focus on structured and purposeful growth. To enhance research quality, increase reader engagement, accelerate knowledge dissemination, and align with the global publishing standards, the IJA has undergone remarkable progress. This sustained effort of the ‘IJA TEAM’ has enhanced the journal’s robustness, transparency, and progress, further establishing IJA on the global stage. STRENGTHENING EDITORIAL PROCESS The robust and efficient editorial process is key to the journal’s growth. A versatile editorial structure enabled effective manuscript triage, quicker decisions, and improved quality control. The editorial board’s experience in academia, research, and publishing, combined with excellent publication metrics, not only facilitated timely decisions but also provided valuable feedback, resulting in higher quality papers in IJA. REVIEWER DATABASE AND CAPACITY BUILDING Capacity building is a vital component for the growth of any journal. This process not only benefits editorial work but also supports authors. IJA has taken the initiative to assist authors by organising regular webinars, research methodology, and publication (REAP) workshops. IJA has expanded the reviewer database by inviting interested and suitable reviewers. Furthermore, the IJA reviewer database expanded worldwide, engaging reviewers from over 60 countries. This growing network ensures quality peer review, diverse expertise, and faster decisions. Recognising reviewer contributions is an additional way to appreciate their role in publishing high-quality manuscripts with constructive feedback, aiding editors in making suitable decisions.2 The top reviewers receive awards at the ISA national conference, and their names are published in the IJA. The introduction of fellowships for editors and reviewers has further broadened opportunities to train more future editors and reviewers. Recently, the IJA has also implemented the Web of Science Reviewer Recognition Service, which seeks to acknowledge reviewers appropriately for their contributions to peer review. PUBLICATION FRAMEWORK REFORM IJA continuously adhered to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT), Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE), and other reporting standards. Also, IJA mandates trial registration, Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID) use, and various disclosures, data-sharing statements, and AI-assistance declarations.3,4 A high-quality paper, characterised primarily by originality and scientific rigour, is essential for journal acceptance. IJA requires authors to report both basic and advanced statistics, highlighting confidence intervals, odds ratios, and the number needed to treat for clarity. An ORCID iD is required, along with a data sharing declaration to enhance transparency. Data repositories may be introduced soon. The journal now requires disclosure of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted tool use, providing details on author contributions in accordance with ICMJE and COPE standards. Validation and permissions for copyrighted tools must also be reported. Overall, IJA has undertaken several initiatives aimed at indexing in Medline, including implementing mandatory Clinical Trials Registry - India (CTRI) or similar protocol portal registration, integrating ORCID, and adding disclosures such as data availability and the use of AI.3-5 These measures were communicated to authors through an editorial and commentaries to foster a more precise understanding.3-5 ENHANCING QUALITY, VISIBILITY, AND IMPACT OF PUBLISHED SCIENCE IJA presents its regular thematic issue for the benefit of its readership, with particular emphasis on fellows and trainees. The latest three thematic issues covered recent advances in Anaesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine. The thematic issues focused on were: 2024: “Simulation, Artificial Intelligence and Technology”; 2025: “Systematic Review and Meta-analysis”; and 2026: “Regional anaesthesia – Fascial Plane Blocks”. The author contributed to these special issues, which feature high-quality manuscripts that remain a compendium for a single point of access related to the theme. DIGITAL AND MULTIMEDIA INNOVATION, MULTIMEDIA INTEGRATION, AND GLOBAL DISSEMINATION IJA has achieved numerous firsts in its digital transformation and the dissemination of published manuscripts to its readership Figure 1. Articles published by IJA now benefit from increased visibility, enhancing dissemination to its readers and potentially impacting patient care through the research. IJA has established a comprehensive academic dissemination ecosystem. It has undertaken numerous initiatives to enhance and distribute educational material in various formats to ISA members and IJA readers. Various IJA initiatives include infographics, videographics, mini flip books, podcasts (featuring authors, editors, and global experts), vodcasts, snapshots, snippets, vlogs (video blogs), blogs, GIFs, reels, dynamic cover pages, quizzes, REAP webinars, and publications for private practitioners’ forums in IJA. These multimedia formats ensure that research reaches beyond the traditional readership to trainees, practitioners, and the international scientific community. One of the most impactful innovations has been the introduction of single-page graphical summaries for various articles. This has led to rapid knowledge uptake, global sharing across digital platforms, increased engagement from trainees and practitioners, and greater visibility for authors and their research. IJA launched its regular podcast series featuring authors, experts, and editors. These podcasts have reached thousands of listeners across India and internationally, expanding IJA’s presence into modern academic communication formats. The consistent rise in altmetrics, submissions, and visibility affirms the journal’s digital influence and international reputation.Figure 1: IJA initiativesINNOVATIONS IN AUTHOR AND REVIEWER ENGAGEMENT IJA took initiatives to engage authors and reviewers further within the academic community. IJA Editorial Fellowship: Training programme for young anaesthesiologists in medical writing, peer review, methodology, and ethics. It shall boost significantly to capacity building and the long-term sustainability of high-quality editorial practices. IJA Reviewer Fellowship and Awards: Designed to recognise and train reviewers in structured evaluation. IJA Ambassador: A distinctive initiative to engage motivated anaesthesiologists in the global dissemination of IJA content. This has led to a substantial increase in article reach and engagement. These additions broadened the appeal of IJA across experience levels and practice settings. Additionally, the DEI was followed, and on self-appraisal, the IJA seemed to represent the publications irrespective of geography or demography.6 GLOBAL VISIBILITY, COLLABORATIVE GROWTH, AND PUBLISHING EFFICIENCY The growth of the IJA is evident not only through quality publications but also through a nearly 160% increase in manuscript submissions over the past 3 years Figure 2. A rising trend indicates increasing trust from authors and greater global visibility. Acceptance rates of around 20% have ensured that the most methodologically robust and clinically relevant articles are published. The IJA has received and published a significant number of randomised controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. With excellent support from Editors and Reviewers, the IJA has improved all aspects of timeliness, and the manuscript review cycle has become much faster Figures 2 and 3. These metrics highlight notable improvements and a highly efficient editorial and production process with quicker decision-making, benefiting authors and facilitating faster dissemination of research. Furthermore, the IJA has now consolidated and maintained this timeliness throughout this year, ensuring the ongoing achievement of its goals.Figure 2: IJA manuscript submissions. Report of the activity of the journal between January 2025 and November 2025Figure 3: IJA manuscript publication timeliness matrices. Report of the activity of the journal between January 2025 and November 2025Between 2023 and 2025, the IJA experienced an increase in manuscript submissions, growth in the number of reviewers, broader international participation among authors and reviewers, digital transformation, improved Altmetric scores, financial stability, and enhanced operational efficiency. Its academic impact has established it as a leading global anaesthesiology journal, setting high standards in editorial quality, scientific communication, and digital innovation. CLOSING REFLECTIONS The remarkable progress achieved by the IJA over the past 3 years is a shared success. We sincerely thank the Editorial Board, Associate Editors, Reviewers, IJA Ambassadors, ISA Leadership, and the global community of authors and readers. Their dedication, teamwork, and passion have elevated the IJA to new heights in both academic and international spheres. Additionally, we would like to express our thanks and gratitude to the Production Editor from Medknow and the entire Wolters Kluwer | Medknow team. As I transfer responsibilities to the next leadership, I remain confident that the journal is well positioned for the future—with robust editorial systems, improved scientific standards, and a vibrant digital identity that aligns with the changing landscape of global medical publishing.