In a landmark
decision, the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India has officially
discontinued the UGC-CARE (Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics) journal
list, as per Notification No. F. No. L-1(2018)(CARE/Journal)-Part File dated 11
February 2025. Approved during its 584th meeting on 3 October 2024, this change
replaces the centralized journal list with a set of suggestive parameters to
assess the quality of peer-reviewed journals.
This policy shift marks a
significant change in how journals are selected for academic
publications, especially for PhD submissions and faculty promotions. The new
approach emphasizes institutional autonomy, academic integrity,
and flexibility across diverse disciplines.
Originally introduced in 2018 to
curb predatory journals, the CARE list had limitations, excluding many credible
emerging and interdisciplinary journals due to delays and bureaucratic hurdles.
Recognizing these issues, the UGC now empowers Higher Education Institutions
(HEIs), faculty, and researchers to assess journals using a flexible,
multi-level evaluation framework aligned with the goals of the National
Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Key Suggestive Parameteres (Grouped into 8 Categories)
1. Basic
Details –
Title, ISSN, publication schedule, publisher info, website credibility
2. Editorial
Board –
Qualification, subject expertise, and diversity
3. Editorial
Policy –
Clarity on scope, APC transparency, publication timelines
4. Content
Quality –
Originality, policy relevance, discipline alignment
5. Journal
Standards –
Design, citation style, multilingual content, online access
6. Research
Ethics–
Plagiarism checks, conflict of interest, AI-generated content policies
7. Visibility – Indexing in databases and
presence in citation metrics
8. Impact
Metrics –
Citation rate, self-citation, and overall field impact
Institutions are now expected to
form internal review committees, apply these suggested benchmarks, and promote
ethical, high-quality, impactful research publications.
UGC’s
move to end the CARE list and introduce suggestive evaluation guidelines is a
progressive step toward academic maturity. It encourages critical evaluation,
ethical publishing, and greater academic freedom, ushering in a more inclusive
and globally aligned research ecosystem in India.
📄 Notification & Guidelines [PDF]