About UGC-CARE List

The Rise and Fall of the UGC-CARE List: A New Era for Academic Publishing in India

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of India introduced the UGC-CARE (Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics) list in 2018 as a means to identify and recognize high-quality journals for academic publishing. This initiative aimed to improve research standards by ensuring that only reputed journals were considered for faculty selection, promotions, and research funding applications. However, over the years, the policy governing UGC-CARE became mired in controversy, ultimately leading to its discontinuation in 2024.

Origins and Intent of the UGC-CARE List

On November 28, 2018, the UGC announced the formation of the UGC-CARE consortium to regulate the inclusion of journals in an approved list that would serve as a benchmark for academic publishing. The goal was to curb the proliferation of predatory journals that compromised research integrity in India. The responsibility for maintaining the list was entrusted to a team based in Pune, which became the central authority for approving and delisting journals every quarter.

Criticism and Challenges of the UGC-CARE List

Despite its noble intentions, the UGC-CARE list faced widespread criticism due to its opaque selection process and frequent updates that removed and added journals without clear reasoning or proper notifications. Some of the key issues included:

  • Lack of Transparency: Researchers and institutions found it difficult to track changes, as there were no clear records of when journals were added or removed.

  • Over-Centralization: The decision-making power rested with a single governing body, making the process rigid and prone to bias.

  • Frequent Changes: Journals were frequently removed, causing problems for researchers who had already published in them.

  • Exclusion of Indian Language Journals: Many highly respected Indian language journals were left out, sidelining a vast body of indigenous knowledge.

  • Corruption and Red Tape: Allegations of favoritism and lack of transparency led to growing concerns over how journals were selected and maintained on the list.

UGC’s Decision to Discontinue the UGC-CARE List

Acknowledging these criticisms, the UGC convened an expert committee to evaluate the effectiveness of the UGC-CARE policy. The committee’s findings highlighted the inefficiencies and lack of transparency in the system. Consequently, during its 584th meeting on October 3, 2024, the UGC decided to discontinue the UGC-CARE list entirely.

The decision was aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocated for decentralization in academic regulations. NEP 2020 criticized the heavy concentration of decision-making power within centralized bodies and recommended that Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) develop their own institutional mechanisms for journal evaluation.

The New Approach: Institutional Autonomy in Journal Selection

Following the UGC’s decision, academic institutions across India will now be responsible for determining their own lists of credible journals. To maintain academic integrity, the UGC has recommended certain parameters that HEIs should follow when selecting journals, including:

  • Peer Review Standards: Ensuring that selected journals maintain a rigorous peer-review process.

  • Ethical Publishing Practices: Verifying the ethical standards followed by journals, such as transparency in editorial decisions.

  • Discipline-Specific Relevance: Allowing institutions to select journals that align with the unique requirements of different fields of study.

Impact on Researchers and Academic Freedom

The discontinuation of the UGC-CARE list is expected to restore academic freedom by allowing researchers to publish in journals that best align with their discipline without being constrained by an arbitrary, centralized list. However, this shift also places greater responsibility on HEIs to establish robust evaluation mechanisms that prevent the rise of predatory journals.

Experienced faculty members will play a crucial role in guiding young researchers to make informed decisions about where to publish. Awareness programs, mentorship, and institutional policies will be essential in maintaining scholarly rigor and ethical publishing standards in India.

Looking Forward: A Transparent and Inclusive Future

While the abolition of the UGC-CARE list marks the end of an era, it opens the door for a more inclusive and transparent approach to academic publishing. If implemented effectively, this decentralized model will not only eliminate bureaucratic hurdles but also promote high-quality research across diverse disciplines. It remains to be seen how well institutions will adapt to this change, but one thing is certain: the future of academic publishing in India is now in the hands of HEIs and their commitment to maintaining rigorous research standards.

With this shift, it is imperative that HEIs adopt an open and transparent approach, potentially integrating Right to Information (RTI) principles to ensure that their journal selection processes remain fair and credible. Researchers, institutions, and policymakers must collaborate to create a sustainable framework that fosters ethical and impactful research in India.