UGC Discontinues CARE List, Adopts Decentralized Journal Evaluation

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced the discontinuation of the UGC-CARE (Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics) list of journals. This decision comes after several criticisms of the centralized system, including concerns about over-centralization, delays in updating the list, and the inclusion of predatory journals.

In place of the UGC-CARE list, the UGC has introduced new guidelines to help faculty members and students select peer-reviewed journals. These guidelines include criteria such as ethical publishing practices, impact factors, citation records, and a specific AI-generated content policy for research publications.

The new approach shifts the responsibility of journal evaluation to higher educational institutions (HEIs). HEIs are now advised to develop their own institutional mechanisms for evaluating the quality of publications and journals. This decentralized approach allows HEIs to tailor their evaluation processes to suit their specific needs, giving researchers greater academic freedom and flexibility in journal selection.

The UGC has also emphasized the importance of combating predatory journals and ensuring that journals meet high ethical and scholarly standards. HEIs are responsible for establishing credible mechanisms to evaluate journals and maintain their institutional reputation.

The proposed parameters for assessing journal quality have been placed in the public domain for feedback, and stakeholders are encouraged to provide their input by February 25, 2025.

This shift aims to create a more transparent, flexible system that supports academic freedom and reduces the pressure of adhering to a centralized list.