Two questions come up together constantly: "how do I start my own research journal?" and "how do I get an ISSN for it?" They are related but not the same thing — an ISSN is one step in a much longer process, not the whole of it. This guide covers both honestly: what an ISSN is and is not, the real (free) government process to get one in India, why applications get rejected, the tools an open-access journal actually needs to run on, and — because it matters for anyone weighing this decision — what the faster alternative looks like if your actual goal is simply to get a finished paper published.
Already have a finished manuscript? You don't need to start a journal to publish it.
₹971 INR Indian authors · $41 USD internationalKey takeaways
- An ISSN identifies a serial title; in India it is issued free by the national centre once the publication shows a live platform, an imprint and an editorial board.
- A separate ISSN is needed for each medium (print and online) and for a changed title; an ISBN is for books, not journals.
- Getting an ISSN does not make a journal UGC-recognised: the current UGC framework judges a journal on its documented practice; 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.
- If you need a published paper rather than a journal of your own, JMVRA already has ISSN 2984-8911, documented review and a fee of ₹971 INR for Indian authors and $41 USD for international authors, due only after acceptance.
Why start a research journal, and is it really free?
Researchers, departments and academic societies start their own journals for real reasons — filling a gap in a specific subject area, giving a research group or institution its own publishing outlet, or building something long-term rather than depending on outside journals. It is a legitimate undertaking. It is also a genuinely different commitment from publishing a single paper, and it is worth being honest about the cost before starting.
What is an ISSN, and why does a new journal need one?
ISSN stands for International Standard Serial Number — an eight-digit identifier, formatted
as two groups of four digits (e.g. 1234-5678), used to uniquely identify a
serial publication: a journal, magazine, newspaper or any other periodical. It exists so
libraries, databases and publishers can catalogue and reference a specific title without
confusion, especially when two publications have similar names or a title changes over
time.
In India, the ISSN is assigned by the ISSN National Centre, India, operated by the National Science Library under CSIR-NIScPR (the National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research — formerly known as INSDOC and later NISCAIR). The Centre has run this role since 1986 and has assigned ISSNs to more than 24,500 serials published in India to date, and received the ISSN International Centre's own ISSN Award in 2015 for its work. It operates under the standards set by the ISSN International Centre, based in Paris, which maintains the global ISSN Register.
Sources: ISSN National Centre, India — CSIR-NIScPR · ISSN International Centre
For reference, JMVRA's own ISSN is 2984-8911 — that's what a finished registration looks like.
₹971 INR Indian authors · $41 USD internationalTypes of ISSN
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Print ISSN (P-ISSN) | Assigned to the physical, printed version of a journal, magazine or serial. |
| Electronic ISSN (E-ISSN) | Issued for the online or digital version of a serial publication. |
| Linking ISSN (ISSN-L) | A single identifier that groups all media versions — print and electronic — of the same serial together. |
| Other physical media ISSN | Assigned to serials distributed on CD-ROM, DVD or similar physical digital media, where still applicable. |
If a journal publishes in more than one format, an ISSN-L is generally assigned automatically to tie the versions together — you do not need to separately apply for it in most cases.
Eligibility criteria for an ISSN in India
Requirements vary slightly by format, but the underlying test is the same: is this a genuine, ongoing serial, not a one-off document calling itself a journal?
For online publications
Active platform
The online version must be genuinely accessible and active, not a placeholder page.
Imprint page
Publisher's name, address and contact details clearly displayed.
Editorial board
Information about the editorial board or responsible individuals must be present.
Clear scope
The publication's aim, scope and intended audience must be well-defined.
For all scholarly journals
- A unique title that is not deceptively similar to an existing serial.
- A clear, stated publishing frequency — monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual.
- A defined scope and objectives, and details of the editorial team.
- For scholarly journals, a stated peer-review process where applicable.
- Publications in an Indian language need an English abstract and translated title page — an easy step to miss, but part of the guidelines.
- It must genuinely be a serial. A one-off document with one or two articles calling itself a "journal" will not be assigned an ISSN.
For print publications
A declared publishing frequency, plus a cover page (title, volume, issue number, date), a title page matching the cover, and an imprint page with publisher name, address, contact details, editor's name and place of publication. A significant portion of the content for at least one issue should already be ready or published.
Meeting all of this from scratch takes months. JMVRA already has, and reviews most submissions within 1–3 working days.
₹971 INR Indian authors · $41 USD internationalDocuments you need before you apply
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Cover page | Verifies the title, publisher, frequency and layout. |
| Editorial board details | Shows the publication's credibility and academic oversight. |
| First issue / sample copy | Required if at least one issue is already published. |
| Publisher's declaration | Confirms authenticity, ownership and stated frequency. |
| Title page with ISSN request noted | A dedicated page requesting the ISSN, typically signed by the editor or publisher. |
| Publisher address & contact | For official correspondence and verification. |
| Soft copy (PDF) | Required for online/electronic publications. |
| Website link | For e-journals, to verify a genuine, active online presence. |
| English translation/abstract | Required if the publication is in a regional language. |
Step-by-step: the official ISSN application process
The process is run entirely by the ISSN National Centre, India, and costs nothing. The steps below describe the general shape of that process — always follow the exact current instructions on the Centre's own site, since portal details can change.
Prepare your publication and documents
Confirm you meet the eligibility criteria above, then gather the cover page, title page, imprint page and — for an online journal — a live link or screenshots of the active site.
Go to the official ISSN portal
The Indian ISSN National Centre's application system sits under CSIR-NIScPR's own site. This is the only legitimate route to get an ISSN directly from the government — see the official ISSN National Centre, India page.
Register and sign in
New applicants create an account with basic contact details; returning applicants sign in with their existing credentials.
Fill out the application form
Enter the exact title, publisher name and address, proposed frequency, language and format. Double-check every field — this is where small typos cause the most delay.
Upload supporting documents
Attach everything gathered in step 1, in the format the portal specifies. Missing or unclear documents are one of the most common reasons an application stalls.
Respond to scrutiny promptly
The Centre checks accuracy, eligibility and that the title is not a duplicate. If anything is unclear, respond to their query quickly — a slow reply is a slow application.
ISSN assignment and certificate
Once approved, a unique ISSN is issued — P-ISSN for print, E-ISSN for online, or both with an ISSN-L linking them. For a first print issue, you are typically required to send a hard copy carrying the assigned ISSN to complete the registration.
Skip the multi-step application entirely — JMVRA already has ISSN 2984-8911 and an open call for papers.
₹971 INR Indian authors · $41 USD internationalWhy ISSN applications get rejected
The process is free, but rejections are common. Most trace back to one of these:
- Incomplete forms or missing documents — the single most frequent reason. Every mandatory field and every required document matters.
- Misleading information — inaccurate claims about frequency, scope, publisher details or content.
- Plagiarised or copied content — a serious problem in its own right, well beyond just costing you the ISSN.
- Title duplication — a title identical or deceptively similar to an existing ISSN-registered publication. Search the international register (see below) before you apply.
- Post-approval title changes — significant changes after assignment typically need a fresh ISSN; you cannot simply relabel the old one.
- Inactive online journal — a site that is not genuinely, regularly active.
- Inconsistent metadata — details that conflict with earlier submissions or official records.
ISSN vs. ISBN — what's the difference
| Feature | ISSN | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| Identifies | Serial publications | Individual books |
| Format | 8 digits (e.g. 1234-5678) | 13 digits (e.g. 978-3-16-148410-0) |
| Used for | Journals, magazines, newspapers, periodicals | Books, eBooks, monographs |
| Publication type | An ongoing series | A one-time publication |
| Issued by | National ISSN Centres, under the ISSN International Centre | National ISBN agencies |
| Helps with | Cataloguing and tracking serials in libraries | Book trade and library cataloguing |
How to verify an ISSN is genuine
Before trusting — or citing — a journal's ISSN, check it directly rather than taking the website's word for it.
Search the ISSN Portal
Look the number or title up at the official ISSN Portal — the international register maintained by the ISSN International Centre, covering titles from more than 100 countries.
Match the details
Confirm the title, publisher, country and format shown on the register actually match the publication you're checking — not just that some ISSN exists.
Warning signs
The number doesn't appear on the official register; publisher details are missing or inconsistent; or a site claims an ISSN with no way to verify it independently.
The checksum digit
The eighth digit of a genuine ISSN is a checksum calculated from the first seven under a published, standard algorithm (ISO 3297). A number that fails that check is not a valid ISSN, regardless of what a site claims.
Skip the verification step altogether — JMVRA's ISSN (2984-8911) is listed on the official ISSN Portal.
₹971 INR Indian authors · $41 USD internationalBest tools for running an open access journal
An ISSN identifies your journal; it does not run it. Once you have one, you need software to actually manage submissions, review and publication.
Open Journal Systems (OJS)
Free, open-source journal management and publishing software from the Public Knowledge Project (PKP). It is the most widely used platform of its kind — reportedly running more than 44,000 journals across 148 countries — and covers the full workflow: submission, double-blind review, editorial decisions and publication. pkp.sfu.ca/software/ojs
Hosting & managed setup
OJS is self-hosted software, not a hosted service — you (or a managed-hosting provider) need a server, a domain and someone to keep it updated and secure. Several managed-OJS hosting providers exist specifically to handle this if you would rather not run the server yourself.
Crossref membership
To assign real, permanent DOIs to your articles you need a Crossref membership, separate from OJS itself — this is a recurring cost, not a one-time setup fee.
Plagiarism screening
A genuine similarity-check tool (iThenticate/Turnitin or an equivalent) for every submission — not optional if you intend to be taken seriously as a peer-reviewed journal.
After the ISSN: what UGC CARE actually expects
UGC discontinued the static UGC-CARE Journal List via a public notice on 3 October 2024 (584th UGC meeting) and replaced it with a 2025 Peer-Reviewed Journal Policy — suggestive parameters for identifying a credible journal, rather than a fixed list to get onto. An ISSN is one of those parameters, not the whole requirement: a genuinely documented peer review process, a real editorial board and sound publishing standards matter at least as much. JMVRA covers this in full in a separate article — see Peer Review Transparency Models Explained and the complete guide to the UGC CARE list discontinuation.
Building all of this from zero takes years. JMVRA already has it in place — submit your paper instead.
₹971 INR Indian authors · $41 USD internationalThe faster alternative: publish, don't build
If the real goal is to get a specific paper published — for a degree requirement, a promotion file, or simply to put the work on the record — starting a journal is the wrong tool for that job. It solves a different problem, on a timeline measured in years, not weeks. Submitting the paper to an already-established, UGC CARE-aligned, ISSN-registered journal solves the actual goal directly.
ISSN already in place
JMVRA's ISSN is 2984-8911 — verifiable on the official ISSN Portal, nothing to apply for.
Documented review process
Double-blind peer review with author-facing transparency — covered in full on the Transparent Peer Review policy page.
Fast turnaround
Most submissions are reviewed within 1–3 working days, not the months a new journal launch realistically takes.
Low, fixed cost
₹971 INR for Indian authors, $41 USD for international authors — a one-time publication charge, not a recurring hosting and DOI-membership bill.
Compare the two paths honestly, then submit if publishing — not building — is the actual goal.
₹971 INR Indian authors · $41 USD internationalFrequently asked questions
Still deciding? JMVRA (ISSN 2984-8911) reviews most submissions within 1–3 working days.
₹971 INR Indian authors · $41 USD internationalRelated reading
The ISSN route, start to finish
Six stages. Most rejections happen at the first two, before the form is even sent.
Before you apply for an ISSN
The six things the application is really checking. Have them ready and the form is the easy part.
- Publisher’s legal name, postal address and a working e-mail on an imprint page
- An editorial board page with real names, roles and affiliations
- A written aims-and-scope statement and the intended audience
- A live website or a complete first issue, not a placeholder
- The publication frequency decided and stated
- The exact title, with no clash against an existing serial on the ISSN Portal
Related articles and guides
Publish with JMVRA
Peer-reviewed, open access, ISSN 2984-8911. The publication charge is ₹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.
