UGC maintained a list of “Approved Journals” that, over time, came to include many low-quality and predatory titles lacking real peer review or editorial transparency — undermining the credibility it was meant to protect.
UGC CARE Approved Journal • Low Cost Publication
About the UGC CARE List of Journals: History, Objectives & What Replaced It
Expanded guide: this article now has a longer, fully updated edition with step-by-step how-to sections, FAQs and checklists — UGC CARE List Explained: History, Objectives, Group I and II, and What Replaced It.
What UGC CARE was built to fix, why it existed, its Group I and Group II structure, what changed when UGC discontinued the listing in October 2024 — and how to verify a journal, including JMVRA, without any list at all.
3Eras covered
5CARE objectives
Oct 2024List discontinued
₹971 INRIndian author APC
Key takeaways
- UGC-CARE (Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics) kept a reference list of journals from 2019; UGC discontinued the listing in October 2024.
- Three eras: the numbered UGC-approved list (2017–2019), the CARE list (2019–2024) and the Suggested Parameters (2025 onwards). Only the third applies today.
- JMVRA is aligned with UGC’s Suggested Parameters for Choosing Peer-Reviewed Journals; it has no UGC journal number because the numbered lists ended before it was founded.
- Low cost publication at JMVRA: ₹971 INR for Indian authors and $41 USD for international authors, due only after acceptance. A Crossref DOI is an optional add-on priced on the DOI page.
UGC CARE stands for the Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics, an initiative by the University Grants Commission, India. Its purpose was to promote academic integrity, quality research and ethical publishing practice by curating a list of trusted, peer-reviewed journals across disciplines.
The UGC CARE List became the reference point authors and institutions used to decide whether a journal was suitable for PhD submissions, research grants, faculty promotions and academic assessments. For several years it was the single most consulted resource in Indian academic publishing.
Looking for a journal you can verify without any list at all — documented review, honest fees, real editors? Read the current call for papers, then submit.
₹971 INR Indian authors · $41 USD international · payable after acceptanceThe most important fact on this page
UGC discontinued the UGC CARE journal listing on 3 October 2024, following its 584th meeting, and replaced it with the Peer-Reviewed Journal Policy — a set of suggestive parameters for identifying a credible journal, rather than a fixed list to search. There is no current UGC CARE list, and no journal can produce a live CARE certificate today.
Everything on this page about the CARE era — Group I, Group II, why it was set up, its key features — is preserved because it explains where today’s standard came from. Read it as history feeding into a current practice, not as a current list.
For the parameter-by-parameter detail of how JMVRA satisfies the Peer-Reviewed Journal Policy — verified ISSN, transparent review, publisher authenticity, open access disclosure, archiving, indexing and CrossRef DOI — see our full compliance page, with the primary UGC notice linked.
Before 2018 → 2026
Three Eras of “Which Journals Count”
The standard changed twice. Knowing why explains what today’s advice actually means.
UGC set up the Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics with academic institutions and indexing experts, replacing the old list with a curated reference list organised into Group I (CARE-assessed) and Group II (indexed in recognised databases).
Following its 584th meeting, UGC discontinued the CARE listing and replaced it with suggestive parameters for identifying a credible journal — ISSN, transparent review, publisher authenticity, open access disclosure, archiving, indexing and DOI — checked by the author rather than looked up on a list.
Why it was built
Objectives of UGC CARE
Five stated aims — every one of which still describes what a good journal should be doing.
Promote quality research
Encourage quality research publications, academic integrity and ethical publishing practice across every academic discipline.
Eliminate predatory journals
Remove fake, dubious and predatory titles from academic use, and protect researchers from wasting work on them.
Ensure transparent peer review
Require editorial policies and review processes that are documented and can be checked, not merely claimed.
Provide verified indexing
Point to journals with real, checkable coverage in recognised databases such as Scopus and Web of Science.
Keep the standard current
Develop a living methodology for identifying good-quality journals, rather than a one-time certificate.
Documented review, honest indexing, an upfront fee — that is what these objectives were asking for. Check our policies, then submit when ready.
₹971 INR Indian authors · $41 USD international · payable after acceptanceHistorical reference
Group I and Group II, Briefly
The two-group structure the CARE list used. Kept short here — the full year-by-year status, the subject counts and the earlier four-group arrangement are covered in depth in our companion guide.
| Group | Basis for inclusion |
|---|---|
| Group I | Journals found qualified through UGC CARE’s own assessment protocols, analysed by the UGC Cell. |
| Group II | Journals already indexed in globally recognised databases — Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE and similar. |
The widely cited snapshot reported 1,456 Group I journals across five subjects. For the full breakdown, the earlier four-group arrangement (Groups A–D) and the complete year-by-year status through 2026, read the UGC CARE Approved Journal List guide.
The standard, not the label
What a Credible Journal Does — and Does Not Do
The same underlying checklist the CARE era used, and the one worth applying today.
A credible journal does this
- Peer-reviewed or refereed, with the process documented
- Transparent, published editorial policies
- A regular, predictable publishing frequency
- A clear, disclosed access policy
- A verifiable ISSN matching the registered title
- Named editors with checkable affiliations
A credible journal never does this
- Charge hidden or undisclosed fees
- Add charges after acceptance that were not stated upfront
- Appear on any credible cloned-journal alert
- Guarantee acceptance before review
- Claim indexing that does not resolve in the database’s own source list
- Hide who the publisher and editors actually are
No list required
How to Verify a Journal Now
Five checks that replace the old portal search. The full ten-point version is in our dedicated guide.
1
Check the ISSN
Search the ISSN Portal and confirm the registered title, publisher and country match.
2
Check the editors
Named, with current affiliations you can confirm on an independent institutional page.
3
Read the review policy
Which model, how reviewers are chosen, how revisions and conflicts are handled.
4
Open a few DOIs
Do they resolve, and does the deposited metadata match the article?
5
Read the complete fee
Base charge, add-ons, taxes, payment timing and refund terms — before you submit.
Why any of this matters
Why Publishing in a Properly Verified Journal Counts
Academic recognition
Your research is counted toward the purpose you published it for — thesis, assessment or record.
Visibility & credibility
A documented, indexed, citable publication is easier for peers to find and trust.
PhD, funding & promotion
A properly verified journal is what a written institutional requirement is actually asking for.
Wider reach
Open access, registered metadata and honest indexing put your work in front of readers beyond your own institution.
Preserved from the source material
Cloned Journal Alert
The clone problem outlived the list. So does the habit of checking.
UGC received complaints about several journals not following standard publishing practice. After scrutinising them against CARE protocols, UGC removed those found involved in unethical practices from the group, and stated that publication in them would not count for any academic purpose.
The UGC Cell for Journal Analysis at the Centre for Publication Ethics, SPPU Pune, was notified of cloned journals and of online versions of print-only journals in which the ISSN, title and logo had all been copied.
- Cloned list, Group I: ugccare.unipune.ac.in/Apps1/User/Web/CloneJournals
- Cloned list, Group II: ugccare.unipune.ac.in/Apps1/User/Web/CloneJournalsGroupII
Always check the official UGC CARE portal, the journal’s own website independently, and CrossRef, Scopus or Web of Science directly before you trust an indexing claim. For the full method — starting from the ISSN rather than the name — see our dedicated guide on journal clones.
The question the old list never answered
Low Cost Publication at JMVRA
Affordability is a legitimate requirement. It is not a warning sign — and a large fee is not a guarantee.
Most Indian authors are not funded. A research scholar paying from a stipend, an assistant professor meeting a promotion requirement, a postgraduate publishing from a dissertation — for all of them low cost publication decides whether the paper appears at all. Judge a fee the same way you judge an indexing claim: by what it delivers, disclosed upfront, in writing.
| Item | Indian authors | International authors |
|---|---|---|
| Publication charge — full paper online, up to 5 authors | ₹971 INR | $41 USD |
| CrossRef DOI registration (optional) | ₹300 | $20 |
| Hard copy of certificate (optional) | ₹500 | $100 |
| Bundle: printed journal + certificates + DOI (optional) | ₹1100 | $170 |
| Each additional author beyond five | ₹500 | ₹500 |
What the base charge includes
- Online publication of the complete paper, for up to five authors
- An individual softcopy Certificate of Publication for every author
- A softcopy confirmation letter of publication
- Author and paper details handling, plus basic formatting
- A unique paper identification number and typesetting
- Listing in the JMVRA digital library and major indexing databases
- An automated citation generator for your published paper
- Lifetime availability in our digital repository and website
Charges become due after acceptance, never at submission, and payments are non-refundable once an article has been accepted. Read the live Publication Charges and Payment Terms rather than relying on a copied figure, and pay only through the accounts listed there.
Transparent charges, review before payment, CrossRef DOI available. Check the open calls and submit when you are ready.
₹971 INR Indian authors · $41 USD international · payable after acceptanceCheck the originals
Sources, Credits & Disclaimer
- UGC public notice concerning discontinuation of the UGC CARE listing
- UGC CARE portal, UGC Cell at SPPU Pune
- University Grants Commission official website
- ISSN Portal
- Crossref Metadata Search
- Scopus Sources
- Clarivate Master Journal List
Credits: historical material about the UGC CARE list is drawn from UGC’s own published pages at ugccare.unipune.ac.in and ugc.gov.in.
Disclaimer: our journal operates a rigorous peer-review process and is a refereed journal. For indexing status and inclusion in databases such as Scopus or Web of Science, refer to the latest lists on those databases’ own websites. Journal status, coverage, fees and institutional rules change; the information here may become outdated and should be independently verified before you submit or pay. This page is not UGC certification and does not guarantee acceptance by any authority.
Keep reading
Related Guides
Three eras of “which journals count”
A journal number belongs to era 1, a CARE group to era 2. A journal founded in June 2023 can only be judged by era 3.
What each era asked for, and what it means now
The same journal can be described in three vocabularies. Only the last one can be verified today.
| Era | What counted | What to do now |
|---|---|---|
| Numbered UGC-approved list (2017–2019) | A journal number against the ISSN | Treat the number as history; it was withdrawn or expired with the list |
| UGC-CARE list (2019–2024) | Group I or Group II membership | Ask which year the claim refers to; no current certificate exists |
| Suggested Parameters (2025–) | Documented review, ethics, board, archive, fees | Check each parameter on the journal’s own pages and at the source |
Related articles and guides
Submit Your Paper to JMVRA
Peer-reviewed, open access, ISSN 2984-8911, Impact Factor 11.25. Transparent low cost publication charges, CrossRef DOI available, and review before payment. Read the call for papers to confirm scope and deadlines, then submit online.
Questions? [email protected]
What authors search for
Popular Search Terms
Grouped by intent, so you can see which section above answers each one.
UGC CARE list
Low cost publication
Quality signals
Author intent
Popular questions and answers
UGC CARE List FAQs
These visible answers also power the FAQ structured data on this page.
What is the UGC CARE List of Journals?
A reference list UGC set up through the Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics to promote academic integrity, quality research and ethical publishing, by identifying trusted, peer-reviewed journals across disciplines. It was used for PhD submissions, research grants, faculty promotions and academic assessments.
Is the UGC CARE List still active today?
No. UGC discontinued the CARE journal listing on 3 October 2024, after its 584th meeting, and replaced it with the Peer-Reviewed Journal Policy — a set of suggestive parameters for identifying a credible journal, rather than a fixed list to search.
Why was the old UGC Approved Journals list replaced by CARE in the first place?
Before CARE, UGC maintained a list of “Approved Journals” that, over time, came to include many low-quality and predatory titles lacking real peer review or editorial transparency. UGC discontinued that list and, working with academic institutions and indexing experts, built the CARE list to restore authenticity and align with global standards.
What were the objectives of UGC CARE?
To promote quality research, academic integrity and ethical publishing across disciplines; to eliminate fake and predatory journals from academic use; to ensure transparent, documented peer review and editorial policy; to point authors toward journals with verified indexing; and to keep the standard for identifying good journals current rather than fixed.
What was the difference between Group I and Group II?
Group I held journals found qualified through UGC CARE’s own assessment protocols. Group II held journals already indexed in globally accepted databases such as Scopus, Web of Science and MEDLINE. Both describe the list era and are not a current classification.
What were the key features of a UGC CARE listed journal?
Peer-reviewed or refereed with the process documented; transparent, published editorial policies; a regular publishing frequency; a clearly defined access policy; no hidden or unethical fees; and no appearance on UGC’s cloned-journal alerts.
How do I access or search the UGC CARE list now?
You cannot — the CARE portal login and search described in older guidance (register, sign in, search by title, ISSN, subject, language or publisher) applied to the list era and no longer works. Verify a journal directly instead: ISSN Portal, the database’s own source list, and the journal’s own published policies.
Why is publishing in a properly verified journal important?
It ensures your research is academically recognised for the purpose you published it — thesis submission, project funding, promotion or assessment — increases its visibility and credibility among peers, and puts it in front of readers beyond your own institution through open access and honest indexing.
What is a cloned or fake journal?
A fraudulent publication that copies a genuine journal’s title, ISSN, logo and often its branding onto an unrelated domain, in order to collect submissions and fees. UGC published separate clone alerts for what were then Group I and Group II titles.
How do I check whether a journal is cloned?
Search the exact ISSN on the ISSN Portal and compare the registered title, publisher and domain against the site in front of you. Open several DOIs and see where they resolve. Contact a named editor only through an independently verified institutional page.
Where were the UGC cloned-journal lists published?
On the UGC CARE portal, maintained by the UGC Cell at SPPU Pune: separate pages for the Group I and Group II clone alerts. Both links are given in the sources section of this page.
Does “UGC CARE Approved” still mean anything in 2026?
Read it as shorthand for the standard the list was trying to enforce — genuine peer review, verifiable editors, published ethics, honest indexing, an honest fee — rather than as a certificate any journal can currently produce. Confirm your institution’s current written rule as well.
Is JMVRA UGC CARE Approved?
No journal can hold a current CARE certificate, because the listing was discontinued in October 2024. What JMVRA does is document, parameter by parameter, how it satisfies the Peer-Reviewed Journal Policy that replaced the list — verified ISSN, transparent peer review, publisher authenticity, open access disclosure, archiving, indexing and a working CrossRef DOI. See the full compliance page for the detail.
Is a low publication fee a sign of a bad journal?
Not by itself. A fee mostly reflects the publisher’s operating model, not its review rigour. A lean, transparent open-access journal can fund genuine peer review and a permanent archive at a low cost — and a high fee is no guarantee of quality either.
What does low cost publication at JMVRA include?
JMVRA publishes its charges in full: ₹971 INR for Indian authors and $41 USD for international authors. That covers online publication of the complete paper for up to five authors, individual softcopy certificates, a confirmation letter, formatting, a unique paper ID, digital library listing, a citation generator and lifetime availability. CrossRef DOI, printed certificates and hard copies are optional add-ons, priced separately.
When is the publication fee charged?
After acceptance, never at submission and never as a condition of being reviewed. Payments are non-refundable once an article has been accepted, so read the Payment Terms page in full before paying.
Does Google Scholar indexing count the same as Scopus or Web of Science?
No. Google Scholar is a broad, automated crawler with no selection process. Scopus and Web of Science run their own curated source-selection criteria. Verify any indexing claim in the database’s own source list, not by a logo.
Does a CrossRef DOI prove a journal is UGC CARE approved?
No. A DOI is a persistent identifier and a metadata deposit — it makes an article citable and linkable. It certifies nothing about peer-review quality, past list status or database coverage.
Can this page or JMVRA guarantee my university will accept the publication?
No. Only the authority assessing your work can answer that. Take the journal’s evidence — ISSN, editorial board, peer-review policy, ethics, DOI, archive and fee — to your university, department, research cell, employer or funder and get their current rule in writing.
Where do I read the full detail on how JMVRA meets the current UGC framework?
UGCCAREDiscontinues.php documents every parameter of the Peer-Reviewed Journal Policy against this journal, with the primary UGC notice linked. This page is the background and history; that page is the parameter-by-parameter evidence.
Where do I submit my paper?
Read the current call for papers to confirm scope, article types and deadlines, then submit through the official online submission page. Charges are payable only after acceptance.
Question not answered here? Email [email protected] before you submit — or go straight to the current call for papers.
₹971 INR Indian authors · $41 USD international · payable after acceptance
