The credibility of research publications is one of the most important aspects of academic research. It is a globally-accepted indicator that is used for various academic purposes, including institutional ranking, appointment and promotion of faculty members, awarding research degrees etc.
To combat this issue, University Grants Commission India established the Consortium for Academic Research and Ethics (CARE). This is a reference list of quality journals that will promote and benchmark research integrity and publication ethics in Indian academia.
The Impact of UGC CARE List on Research Publications in India
The credibility of research publications is vital for the academic reputation of researchers. Research articles published in credible journals are used for a range of academic purposes, including institutional rankings, recruitment, promotions, and fellowships. However, the number of articles published in predatory or dubious journals has become a major concern worldwide.
To address this issue, the UGC CARE List of journals was established to provide a list of quality journals that researchers can trust. The list is based on global criteria, and the journals must be indexed in global databases such as Scopus and Web of Science (Arts and Humanities Citation Index, Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Sciences Citation Index).
Additionally, the CARE List is regularly updated to include new and improved journals. The UGC also encourages universities, individual researchers, and publishers to recommend journals for inclusion on the CARE List. This helps ensure that the list contains only high-quality publications and that predatory journals are weeded out of the process.
The Impact of UGC CARE List on Predatory Publishing
In order to combat the emergence of predatory journals in Indian higher education, UGC-CARE has established a white list of quality journals. It has also asked Vice Chancellors, selection committees, research supervisors or guides and other experts involved in academic evaluation and assessment to ensure that their decisions are primarily based on the quality of the research work, rather than the number of publications.
The Consortium for Academic Research and Ethics (CARE) has identified, continuously monitors and maintains a UGC-CARE Reference List of Quality Journals across disciplines. It is also ensuring that scholarly publications are free of plagiarised content and follow ethical publishing practices.
The CARE List is updated quarterly and is now divided into two groups. Group I contains journals that are indexed in global databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. The list is intended to provide visibility, legitimacy and value to Indian regional language journals. The list is also in line with India’s new National Education Policy, which promotes multilingualism and quality education in local languages.
The Impact of UGC CARE List on Academic Integrity
The credibility of research publications is an important determinant of academic image, not just for researchers but also for their institutions. The number of research publications is one of the globally-accepted indicators considered for academic purposes like institutional ranking, appointments and promotions of faculty members, membership of academic committees, award of research degrees etc. The presence of dubious / predatory / sub-standard journals reflects adversely and tarnishes the academic integrity of Indian academia.
To counter this, University Grants Commission (UGC) has set up a dedicated "Consortium for Academic Research and Ethics" which is mandated to identify, continuously monitor, report, and maintain UGC-CARE Reference List of Quality Journals. The list is split into two groups: Group I includes journals that have passed all analysis protocols and are indexed in global databases while the Group II contains recommended journals submitted by UGC-CARE Council Members and Universities that have qualified through the analysis protocols. Each group is further subdivided into individual disciplines, regions and languages.
The Impact of UGC CARE List on Digital Publishing
The UGC CARE list is an important step in combating the problem of predatory journals. It helps researchers identify and avoid publishing in questionable journals. It also sends a message that India does not support the practice of predatory publishing.
Publication in reputable journals is one of the most important aspects of academic reputation. It can impact various things, including job offers and promotions. It can also affect institutional rankings and the quality of research conducted by universities. Unfortunately, predatory publishers are creating Web clones of credible print journals to lure unsuspecting researchers.
The UGC CARE list was created to prevent this by identifying and continuously monitoring academic journals. It is a critical part of the UGC's "Quality Mandate" to stimulate and empower Indian academia. It also promotes quality research, academic integrity, and publication ethics.
