Choosing a Journal After the UGC-CARE List

UGC Status & Parameters Journal Publication has for a long time been regarded as a yardstick in Indian academic publishing. The University Grants Commission (UGC) first set up the Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics (CARE) so that researchers, faculty members and students could spot credible, transparent, peer-reviewed journals and stay clear of predatory publishers.

UGC substantially altered the way this yardstick works during 2025. Here you will find what changed, what it means for your research, and how JMVRA and its two network journals — TIJER (TIJER – International Research Journal) and JNRID (Journal of Novel Research and Innovative Development) — compare when you are choosing where to send a paper, with Indian fees of ₹970–₹971 INR.

Peer-reviewed and consistent with UGC's 2025 suggestive parameters.

What is UGC Status & Parameters Journal Publication and Why It Matters?

Scholarly publishing has long struggled with predatory journals, sham peer review and unethical conduct. UGC CARE was introduced to tackle precisely that, offering researchers, students and institutions a means of recognising journals that rely on real, transparent peer review instead of pay-to-publish shortcuts. Knowing what genuine review looks like remains useful whichever framework applies.

For researchers who want platforms that are both affordable and credible, the three network journals keep fees low (₹971 INR / $41 USD at JMVRA, ₹970 / $50 at TIJER and JNRID) while publishing their peer-review and editorial policies openly. JMVRA is aligned with UGC's Suggested Parameters for Choosing Peer-Reviewed Journals.

Why Pick Journals That Follow These Standards?

• Academic recognition and validation for your published work
• Assistance with undergraduate, graduate and PhD programme requirements, plus promotions and evaluations
• Safeguards against predatory publishing practices
• Worldwide visibility through proper indexing
• Crossref DOI assignment that gives a lasting citation link
• A Transparent Peer Review Journal Publication process from start to finish

Understanding the 2025 UGC Parameters Update: From a Static List to Suggestive Parameters

What Changed, and Why?

The earlier fixed-list system had genuine weaknesses:

• Lists dated fast in a publishing landscape that moves quickly
• Certain journals saw CARE listing as a badge earned once, not a continuing commitment
• It was hard to keep monitoring quality going at the scale of a list
• Predatory journals at times took advantage of gaps in the review cycle

What UGC's Suggestive Parameters Now Stress

• Peer Review Journal Publication processes that can be verified
• Open editorial policies and editorial board members who are named
• Correct Crossref DOI assignment and metadata
• Publication on a regular schedule (monthly or quarterly)
• Open access, or access terms that are clearly stated for subscription titles
• Ethical publishing practice that follows COPE guidance
• Indexing in recognised discovery databases such as Google Scholar

This change puts the burden on researchers and institutions to judge journals by their transparency and demonstrated practice, not by a fixed list — the same approach JMVRA takes when it describes its own policies. For a parameter-by-parameter account of how JMVRA lines up with UGC's suggested parameters, see our dedicated UGC Status & Parameters checklist.

Our Journal Portfolio, with Affordable publication charges

Our journal network has exactly three titles. All three are multidisciplinary, open access, peer-reviewed and published monthly, and all keep their fees low. The table sets out the facts you need to compare them; the paragraphs under it explain how to read the differences.

Journal	ISSN	Fee	Key Features
JMVRA — Journal of Modern and Versatile Research Approach This journal · jmvra.org	2984-8911	₹971 INR / $41 USD	Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Open Access, ESTD June 2023, Impact Factor 11.25 (calculated by Google Scholar), Crossref DOI on request. Aligned with UGC's Suggested Parameters for Choosing Peer-Reviewed Journals.
TIJER — TIJER – International Research Journal Network journal · tijer.org	2349-9249	₹970 / $50	Low cost, High Impact Factor, ESTD 2014. UGC CARE Approved, Transparent Peer-Reviewed (Refereed) Journal as per new UGC Notification. Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Crossref DOI, Indexing in all major database & Metadata.
JNRID — Journal of Novel Research and Innovative Development Network journal · jnrid.org	2984-8687	₹970 / $50	Low cost, High Impact Factor, ESTD 2023. UGC CARE Approved, Transparent Peer-Reviewed (Refereed) Journal as per new UGC Notification. Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Crossref DOI, Indexing in all major database & Metadata.

The descriptions given for TIJER and JNRID are the wording those journals use about themselves. JMVRA's own position is narrower and stated precisely: JMVRA is aligned with UGC's Suggested Parameters for Choosing Peer-Reviewed Journals. It has no UGC journal number and does not claim a place on any list, because UGC no longer maintains one.

Reading the Fee Columns: ₹970 vs ₹971 INR, $50 vs $41 USD

For an Indian author the three fees are effectively the same: TIJER and JNRID charge ₹970 and JMVRA charges ₹971 INR, a difference of one rupee. Price should therefore play no part in an Indian author's choice — subject fit, timing and the policies of your own institution matter far more. For an author paying in US dollars the gap is wider: JMVRA's $41 USD is $9 lower than the $50 charged by TIJER and JNRID. If you are an international author with several co-authors sharing the cost, that difference is worth noting. At JMVRA the fee is due only after an acceptance decision; confirm the payment stage on the TIJER or JNRID site before you upload.

Track Record: Established 2014 vs 2023

TIJER was established in 2014 and has the longest publishing history of the three, which some committees like to see in a back catalogue. JMVRA began in June 2023 and JNRID in 2023, so both have shorter archives. A shorter history is not a quality signal on its own; what matters under UGC's suggested parameters is whether review, ethics and editorial policies are published and followed. Browse a few recent issues of whichever journal you are considering — at JMVRA, the current issue and past issues are open to everyone.

What the Three Network Journals Share

• Peer review before publication, with JMVRA using a transparent double-blind process
• Multidisciplinary scope, so papers from most subject areas can be considered
• A monthly publication cycle in all three journals
• Open access, so published work is free to read online
• Low fees: ₹970–₹971 INR for Indian authors and $41 USD–$50 USD for international authors
• Crossref DOI: offered on request at JMVRA (₹500 Indian / $20 international add-on) and listed among TIJER's and JNRID's features
• Discovery: JMVRA has its own Google Scholar profile; TIJER and JNRID state indexing in all major databases & metadata
• A digital publication certificate at JMVRA once your paper is published; check TIJER's and JNRID's own pages for their certificate terms

Journal Spotlights

JMVRA — Journal of Modern and Versatile Research Approach

JMVRA is the network's flagship journal and has published monthly since June 2023 under ISSN 2984-8911, with an Impact Factor of 11.25. It takes multidisciplinary research spanning engineering, science, management and humanities, and uses a transparent double-blind peer review process, with a Crossref DOI available on request.

TIJER — TIJER – International Research Journal

TIJER is the oldest title in the network, established in 2014, and publishes under ISSN 2349-9249 at tijer.org. It is a low-cost journal charging ₹970 for Indian authors and $50 for international authors, and it presents itself as having a High Impact Factor. In its own words it is a "UGC CARE Approved, Transparent Peer-Reviewed (Refereed) Journal as per new UGC Notification" offering "Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Crossref DOI, Indexing in all major database & Metadata". Submission, journal and archive links for TIJER are gathered on the Research Wave network page.

JNRID — Journal of Novel Research and Innovative Development

JNRID was established in 2023, the same year as JMVRA, and publishes under ISSN 2984-8687 at jnrid.org. Like TIJER it is a low-cost journal at ₹970 for Indian authors and $50 for international authors, and it presents itself as having a High Impact Factor. It describes itself as a "UGC CARE Approved, Transparent Peer-Reviewed (Refereed) Journal as per new UGC Notification" with "Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Crossref DOI, Indexing in all major database & Metadata". Its submission, journal and archive links are on the same Research Wave network page.

Which of the Three Suits Your Situation?

Undergraduate and postgraduate students publishing a first project paper usually care most about a clear process and a predictable cost. For Indian students the fee barely varies (₹970 or ₹971 INR), so pick the journal whose scope and submission steps you find easiest to follow. If you would like to submit and track your paper on this site, JMVRA's submission form keeps everything in one place.

PhD scholars and faculty are often bound by a university or committee rule rather than a journal's own description. Before choosing, read your institution's current policy, then compare it with what each journal states: JMVRA's alignment with UGC's Suggested Parameters, or TIJER's and JNRID's own UGC wording. Keep screenshots of the policy pages you relied on in case a committee asks later.

International authors paying in dollars will find JMVRA's $41 USD the lowest of the three; TIJER and JNRID charge $50.

How the Peer Review Journal Publication Process Works

Peer Review Journal Publication is the foundation of academic credibility. This is how transparent peer review works in practice across the network, one step at a time:

1. Manuscript Submission — send your paper through the journal website, follow the formatting guidelines, and include the abstract, keywords and references.
2. Initial Screening — the editorial team reviews scope and formatting and checks for plagiarism with Turnitin/iThenticate.
3. Peer Review Assignment — 2–3 reviewers who know the subject are chosen from the network's 3,000+ reviewer panel, and double-blind anonymity is preserved.
4. Reviewer Feedback — reviewers send back detailed comments along with a recommendation to accept, make minor revision, make major revision, or reject.
5. Revision (if required) — authors respond to the reviewers' comments and resubmit together with a response letter.
6. Final Acceptance — the editor takes the final decision and informs the author.
7. Publication — the paper appears in the next monthly issue, a Crossref DOI is assigned on request, and a certificate is produced.

The usual time from submission to a publication decision is a timeline that depends on reviewer availability, and you are kept informed by email at every stage.

Why a Crossref DOI Matters for Academic Publications

A Crossref DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a permanent, unique alphanumeric code that is attached to your published paper.

• Permanent Link — your paper stays reachable and citable even when websites change over the years.
• Citation Tracking — see how frequently others cite your work.
• Credibility — indicates a genuine, professionally run publication.
• Institutional Recognition — frequently expected in grant applications and formal assessments.

Across the network, JMVRA offers a Crossref DOI on request as an add-on (₹500 for Indian authors, $20 international), and TIJER and JNRID list Crossref DOI among their features. Whichever journal you choose, ask in writing whether the DOI is included in the fee or charged separately, and once it is issued, paste it into doi.org to confirm it resolves to your paper.

Why Affordable publication charges Does Not Mean Poor Quality

Researchers reasonably ask whether a ₹971 INR publication can still hold real academic quality. It can, provided the savings come from running things efficiently and not from skipping review.

How the Low Pricing Is Made Possible

• Digital-First Approach — there are no print or physical distribution costs.
• Efficient Systems — submission and review workflows are streamlined and mostly automated.
• Open Access Model — there is no subscription administration to pay for.
• Mission-Driven Operation — the aim is to stay accessible to students and early-career researchers.

Feature	Typical High-Fee Journals (₹5,000–₹15,000)	Our Network (₹970–₹971 INR)
Peer Review	Yes	Yes
Crossref DOI	Included	Available
Open Access	Sometimes extra	Included
Google Scholar / discovery	Yes	JMVRA Google Scholar profile; TIJER & JNRID state major-database indexing
Accessibility	Costly for students	Affordable for all

Choosing the Right Journal for Your Research

If your priority is...	Consider
Engineering, science, management, humanities (general multidisciplinary)	Any of the three — JMVRA, TIJER or JNRID are all multidisciplinary
The lowest fee for an international author paying in dollars	JMVRA ($41 USD, against $50 at TIJER and JNRID)
The lowest rupee fee for an Indian author	TIJER or JNRID (₹970) — only ₹1 below JMVRA's ₹971 INR, so decide on fit
A journal with the longest publishing history	TIJER (established 2014)
A published impact factor figure you can quote	JMVRA (11.25, calculated by Google Scholar); TIJER and JNRID state "High Impact Factor" without a figure here
Submitting and tracking your paper on this website	JMVRA (submit · track)
Modern / contemporary research methodologies	JMVRA

Because all three network journals are multidisciplinary, open access, peer-reviewed and monthly, the deciding factors are usually subject fit, the currency you pay in, and what your institution asks for. Reading each journal's scope statement before you decide saves time.

What to Check on Each Official Site

• ISSN on the ISSN Portal: look up 2984-8911 (JMVRA), 2349-9249 (TIJER) or 2984-8687 (JNRID) on portal.issn.org and check that the title matches the journal you are paying. A matching ISSN record is the quickest way to rule out a look-alike site.
• The right domain: JMVRA is at jmvra.org, TIJER at tijer.org and JNRID at jnrid.org. Payment requests from any other address deserve a second look.
• Fee and payment stage: confirm the amount (₹970 or ₹971 INR; $41 USD or $50) and whether you pay before review or only after acceptance.
• Recent issues: open two or three recent papers in your subject to judge the editing and formatting you can expect.

How Submission Works Across the Network

For JMVRA, submit directly through the JMVRA submission form on this site and check charges on the publication charges page. For TIJER or JNRID, start from the Research Wave network page, which links to each journal's submission form, current issue and archive. Whichever route you take, send the manuscript to one journal only and wait for its decision before trying another.

At-a-Glance Checklist

1. Parameters checkedOne by one
2. Review documentedPolicy and comments
3. DOI resolvesAt doi.org
4. Fees transparentBefore submission
5. Institution consultedFinal rule

Making a Confident Journal Choice in the Post-List Era

With no single list to consult, scholars must weigh several signals together. These suggestions help you reach a sensible decision without relying on slogans or a single badge.

• Weigh several signals together. Combine evidence about peer review, editorial board, fees, policies and visibility rather than leaning on one attractive feature. A balanced picture is harder for a weak journal to fake.
• Check that identifiers resolve. If a journal displays a persistent identifier for its articles, click a few and confirm they lead to the correct paper. Broken or mismatched links suggest careless record keeping.
• Test visibility yourself. Search for recent article titles in a general academic search engine and see whether they appear. Do not assume visibility from a statement on the journal's homepage.
• Confirm costs before final upload. Ask in writing what you will be charged and when, and whether revision or formatting adds anything. Surprises after acceptance put authors under unfair pressure.

Combine several independent signals, verify them yourself and settle costs in writing before you commit your manuscript.

Questions Researchers Often Ask

Q1. What is UGC Status & Parameters Journal Publication?

It means journals that meet the quality and transparency standards first set out under UGC's CARE framework: transparent peer review, ethical publishing practice and sound editorial governance.

Q2. Does the UGC CARE list still exist?

No. UGC ended the static CARE list through notices dated 11 February 2025, confirmed on 16 July 2025, and now offers "Suggestive Parameters for Choosing Peer-Reviewed Journals" as its current guidance.

Q3. Do publications from this network count for academic purposes?

JMVRA is aligned with UGC's Suggested Parameters for Choosing Peer-Reviewed Journals. TIJER and JNRID describe themselves as UGC CARE Approved, Transparent Peer-Reviewed (Refereed) Journals as per new UGC Notification. Since acceptance policies differ, always confirm the exact requirements with your own institution.

Q4. What is meant by "Transparent Peer Review"?

It means that the journal follows a documented review protocol in the open, names its editorial board, gives reviewers' feedback clearly and publishes its ethical guidelines.

Q5. How long does publication take?

Normally a timeline that depends on reviewer availability from submission to publication, once plagiarism screening and peer review are done, with status updates sent by email.

Q6. How much is the publication fee?

JMVRA charges ₹971 INR for Indian authors and $41 USD for international authors. TIJER and JNRID charge ₹970 for Indian authors and $50 for international authors.

Q7. Are there any hidden charges?

There are no hidden charges on the base publication fee, which pays for peer review, publication and a digital certificate. A Crossref DOI and hard-copy certificates may be priced separately and transparently.

Q8. Is a Crossref DOI available for my publication?

Yes. At JMVRA a Crossref DOI is available on request as an add-on (₹500 Indian / $20 international). TIJER and JNRID list Crossref DOI among their features; confirm the terms on their sites.

Q9. What subjects do these journals cover?

All three network journals (JMVRA, TIJER and JNRID) are multidisciplinary: engineering, computer science, management, commerce, the sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities, education and law. For clinical or medical papers, check the scope statement of your chosen journal first.

Q10. Do Google Scholar indexes these journals?

JMVRA has its own Google Scholar profile, and TIJER and JNRID state indexing in all major databases & metadata. The surest check is to search the title of a recent article yourself.

Q11. Will my university recognise these publications?

JMVRA is aligned with UGC's Suggested Parameters for Choosing Peer-Reviewed Journals, and TIJER and JNRID publish their own UGC statements. Check your own institution's present policy as well, because acceptance criteria are decided at institutional level.

Q12. Is each paper checked for plagiarism?

Yes, every submission is screened before it moves on to peer review.

Q13. Is a publication certificate provided?

Yes, a digital certificate is issued once the paper is published; hard copies may be offered separately.

Q14. How does the cost compare with Scopus/Web of Science journals?

Journals indexed in Scopus/Web of Science frequently charge a good deal more. This network provides transparent peer review for a small part of that cost, which suits students and early-career researchers, but note that these journals are not currently indexed in Scopus or Web of Science themselves.

Q15. Are international researchers able to publish here?

Yes, all three journals welcome international submissions. The fee is $41 USD at JMVRA and $50 at TIJER or JNRID.

Q16. What happens if my paper is rejected?

Reviewer feedback will explain the decision. You may rework the paper substantially and resubmit it to another journal in the network, or deal with the concerns and try again where that is appropriate. Sending a paper to several journals at the same time is not allowed under standard academic ethics.

Q17. How do I begin?

Pick the journal that fits your research area from the Our Journals page, read its submission guidelines, get your manuscript ready and submit it online.

Q18. Does UGC still approve individual journals?

No. UGC has issued suggested parameters rather than a list. JMVRA is aligned with UGC's Suggested Parameters for Choosing Peer-Reviewed Journals.

Q19. What does JMVRA provide for authors?

Transparent double-blind review, CC BY 4.0 open access, Crossref DOI on request and Google Scholar indexing.

Final Thoughts: Making a Sound Publishing Decision

• It is Transparent Peer Review Journal Publication, and not the name of a database, that truly safeguards research quality.
• Affordable publication charges let quality publishing reach people without financial obstacles.
• A Crossref DOI gives lasting identification and lets citations be tracked.
• Our network has three multidisciplinary, open access, monthly journals — JMVRA, TIJER and JNRID — so choose by subject fit, the currency you pay in (₹970–₹971 INR or $41 USD–$50 USD) and your institution's rules.
• Verify the ISSN on portal.issn.org and the domain (jmvra.org, tijer.org, jnrid.org) before paying any fee.
• Google Scholar indexing helps your published work stay openly available online.

See the whole portfolio on the Our Journals page, or go through the full UGC Status & Parameters checklist for a parameter-by-parameter comparison with UGC's current guidance.