UGC Discontinues CARE Journal List | 11 February 2025
UGC Discontinues CARE Journal Listing: New Parameters for Quality Research Publications
Major Change in Academic Publishing: UGC CARE List Discontinued
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has officially announced the discontinuation of the UGC-Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics (UGC-CARE) journal listing. Instead of maintaining a centralised list of approved journals, the UGC has introduced suggestive parameters to help faculty members and students identify high-quality peer-reviewed journals for their research and publications.
This decision, made during the 584th UGC meeting on October 3, 2024, follows recommendations from an expert committee and is open for public feedback until February 25, 2025. Stakeholders, including Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), faculty members, researchers, and students, are encouraged to review and provide their input via journal@ugc.gov.in.
Why Did UGC Discontinue the CARE Journal Listing?
The UGC-CARE list, introduced in 2018, aimed to combat predatory publishing practices and ensure quality research publications in India. However, over time, it faced several criticisms, including:
🔹 Over-Centralisation – The process of including or excluding journals lacked institutional flexibility.
🔹 Lack of Transparency – The selection and removal process for journals was unclear.
🔹 Delays in Updates – Journals often faced long waiting periods for inclusion or removal.
🔹 Exclusion of Regional Journals – Many well-respected Indian language journals were excluded, while some less credible ones remained.
🔹 Uncertainty for Researchers – Scholars faced difficulties when journals were abruptly removed from the list.
To address these concerns, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 called for a review of academic publishing regulations, leading to the formation of an expert committee in December 2023. Based on its recommendations, the UGC decided to decentralise journal evaluation, allowing HEIs to establish their own quality mechanisms.
What’s Next? UGC’s New Suggestive Parameters for Journal Selection
Instead of a fixed list, UGC has introduced suggestive parameters to guide HEIs and researchers in selecting credible peer-reviewed journals. These parameters, developed by academic experts, are now publicly available for feedback.
Key Features of the New System:
✅ Flexibility for HEIs – Institutions can develop their own criteria for evaluating journals.
✅ Transparency & Quality – Parameters ensure that only reputed, peer-reviewed journals are considered.
✅ Avoiding Predatory Journals – Researchers will receive better guidance to avoid low-quality publications.
✅ Encouraging Academic Freedom – Scholars can publish in journals that best align with their discipline and audience.
How Can HEIs and Researchers Ensure Journal Quality?
With the UGC-CARE list discontinued, HEIs must establish their own review mechanisms. Institutions are encouraged to:
✔️ Form internal committees to assess journal quality.
✔️ Consider journal impact factors, peer-review processes, and editorial board credibility.
✔️ Ensure alignment with global publishing standards.
✔️ Provide faculty and students with clear guidelines for selecting journals.
✔️ Regularly review and update journal evaluation criteria.
Additionally, experienced faculty members are urged to mentor young researchers, helping them navigate the evolving publishing landscape and avoid predatory journals.
UGC’s Official Communication & Next Steps
📢 Public Feedback Deadline: February 25, 2025
📧 Email Feedback To: journal@ugc.gov.in
🔗 For Official Notice & More Details: www.ugc.ac.in
UGC urges all stakeholders to review the suggestive parameters and provide their feedback before the deadline. This move is aimed at enhancing academic autonomy, research integrity, and publishing transparency in India.
Conclusion: A New Era of Research Publishing in India
The discontinuation of the UGC-CARE journal list marks a major shift in Indian academia. By empowering institutions to create their own journal evaluation models, UGC aims to restore academic freedom and improve research quality.
While this change removes centralised control, it also places greater responsibility on HEIs and researchers to ensure ethical and high-quality publishing standards.
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