UGC Discontinues CARE Journal List: A Shift Toward Academic Autonomy

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]