CARE Approved Journals

About CARE

The “Quality Mandate” of the University Grants Commission (UGC) emphasizes importance of promoting high quality research and creation of new knowledge by faculty members. For this purpose, the UGC has issued a public notice on 28th November, 2018 regarding the setting up of a Consortium for Academic Research and Ethics (CARE). The main task of the CARE is to improve the quality of research in Indian universities and to promote academic and research integrity as well as publication ethics.

Tasks of CARE

  • To promote the quality research by the faculty members and creating credible research
  • To promote academic and research integrity as well as publication ethics.
  • To promote high quality publications in reputed journals that would help in achieving higher global ranks and overall improvement of the quality of research and education.
  • To Develop an approach and methodology for identification of good quality journals.
  • To prevent publications in dubious / sub-standard journals which reflect adversely and tarnish the image of research work and thus lead to a long term academic damage.
  • To create and maintain a “CARE Reference List of Quality Journals” for various academic evaluations.

The credibility of research publications is extremely important because it represents the academic image of an individual, institution and the nation. The number of research articles published in reputed journals is one of the globally accepted indicators considered for various academic purposes including institutional ranking, appointment and promotions of faculty members and award of research degrees. Publications in dubious / sub-standard journals reflect adversely leading to long term academic damage and a tarnished image. The problem of dubious / sub-standard journals has become a cause of serious concern all over the world. The percentage of research articles published in poor quality journals is reported to be high in India, which has adversely affected its image. To improve this situation, UGC CARE has taken a responsibility to prepare a “Reference List of Quality Journals” (CARE List).

Research journals from all disciplines indexed in Scopus (Source list) or Web of Science (Arts and Humanities Citation Index Source Publication, Science Citation Index Expanded Source Publication, Social Science Citation Index Source Publication) are globally accepted as quality journals and considered for all academic purposes.

CARE List, therefore, includes journals indexed in Scopus and / or Web of Science. Apart from these, a list of journals especially from disciplines of Arts, Humanities, Languages, Culture and Indian Knowledge Systems needs to be prepared. For this purpose, the UGC CARE has established an Empowered Committee (EC) to create and maintain CARE List which also refined and strengthened the UGC approved list of journals.

EC comprises of Statutory Councils/ Academies/ Government bodies in Social Sciences, Humanities, Arts and Fine Arts, Science, Medical, Agriculture, Engineering and the Association of Indian Universities (henceforth named as CARE members) and Regional Universities identified by the UGC (henceforth named as CARE Universities). The UGC has entrusted the responsibility of journal analysis for the CARE List to Centre for Publication Ethics, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune.

CARE Councils

CARE councils includes relevant Government Statutory Councils and Academic Bodies from multiple disciplines.

CARE Universities

UGC Cell for Journal Analysis

Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has been entrusted the responsibility of journal analysis and the UGC has established a “Cell for Journals Analysis” at SPPU, Pune. INFLIBNET Centre, Gandhinagar, will serve as supporting agency. UGC Cell at SPPU shall function under the supervision of CARE Empowered Committee (CARE-EC).

CARE List

The journals submitted by CARE Members and CARE Universities will be analysed by the UGC Cell as per Part I, II and III of the analysis protocols. The CARE List will comprise of four groups.

Group A : Research journals from all disciplines indexed in Scopus (Source list) or Web of Science (Arts and Humanities Citation Index Source Publication, Science Citation Index Expanded Source Publication, Social Science Citation Index Source Publication).  No further analysis of these journals will be done by the UGC Cell and all such journals are included in the CARE List

Group B : Journals from the existing UGC Approved List qualifying as per analysis protocols.

Group C : Journals from all disciplines recommended by CARE members which are qualified as per the analysis protocols.

Group D : Journals from all disciplines and languages submitted by CARE universities which are qualified as per the analysis protocols.

Updation of CARE List

CARE List will be updated quarterly i.e. on first of March, June, September and December (or on the next working day if there is a public holiday on these dates) of every year.

Note: CARE List is dynamic. If any good quality journal is missing that can be submitted following the prescribed process. If any undeserved journal is found, it should be reported through feedback form.