Finding Peer-Reviewed Journals After UGC-CARE

Indian researchers still often begin with the question “Is this a UGC CARE journal?” before they submit a paper, yet the answer is no longer what it used to be. UGC has stopped the UGC-CARE journal listing; the final list survives as a reference only, and institutions, faculty and students are now expected to pick peer-reviewed journals by applying suggestive parameters. This guide covers what changed, how to look through the old list, how to find and confirm a good peer-reviewed journal, and how to steer clear of doubtful ones. Treat these steps as a habit you repeat for every new submission rather than a one-time check.

UGC-CARE Journals Explained for 2026

Originally UGC maintained a “UGC approved list of journals”. It created the Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics (UGC-CARE) in November 2018 to look after a “CARE Reference List of Quality Journals”, and that list took the place of the earlier one in 2019. Over the years, researchers, supervisors and selection committees treated the CARE list as a quick test: a journal appearing on it counted for academic purposes.

That convenience is gone. Following a review of the system, UGC concluded that institutions ought to evaluate journals on their own using open quality criteria. The focus has shifted from “Is it listed?” to “Is this peer-reviewed journal in line with the quality parameters, and does it fit my institution’s rule?” The second question takes more effort, but it protects you from a costly mistake.

Does the UGC-CARE Journal List Still Operate in 2026?

No. The official notices leave no doubt:

Ways to Look Up the Former UGC-CARE Journal List

1. Start with the archived list. You can find the final list of 1,474 journals (as on 10 February 2025) on the UGC website (PDF), and JMVRA also holds a local copy.
2. Look up the title and ISSN. Because the final list is a scanned document, go through it by subject and match the exact title and ISSN, since near-identical titles are frequent.
3. Cross-check the publisher’s details against the journal website and the entry in the ISSN Portal.
4. Mind the date of the list: it reflects only the situation on 10 February 2025.
5. Read it as a record of the past: having once been included does not prove present indexing, quality or approval.

Our UGC CARE journal list 2026 page holds every notice and list in an embedded PDF viewer. You can search the earlier pre-CARE list on the old UGC approved list page.

Finding a Good Peer-Reviewed Journal

To follow a stepwise process, read how to choose the right journal.

Confirming Scopus and Web of Science Indexing

• Scopus: look up the exact title or ISSN on the Scopus Sources page and make sure its coverage is up to date.
• Web of Science: query the Master Journal List and record which index (SCIE, SSCI, AHCI or ESCI) carries it.
• Precise match: the title, ISSN, publisher and website must all be identical to the journal you are looking at.
• No guessing: a place on an old UGC-CARE list is no sign that a journal is indexed now.

Further reading: finding Scopus-indexed journals · checking four databases.

Suggestive Parameters from UGC for Peer-Reviewed Journals

The 16 July 2025 notice carries an Annexure-I that sets out 35 suggestive parameters in 8 categories. HEIs are urged to adapt them to their own disciplines and can form internal committees to refine them. (The draft of February 2025 had 36; the final text dropped “Online Availability” and changed 7.1 to “Impact Factor or Similar Factor”.) Using them as a checklist, rather than a pass-or-fail score, gives a fairer picture of any journal.

Each parameter, along with JMVRA’s answer to it, is on the UGC CARE journal list 2026 page; the UGC notice of 16 July 2025 itself is also available.

UGC-CARE Listed, Peer-Reviewed and Scopus-Indexed Compared

Spotting Predatory or Dubious Journals

• Invented or unlabelled metrics: figures lacking a source, year or method.
• Deceptive indexing claims: “Scopus” or “UGC CARE” badges that the official source does not confirm.
• Vague editorial policies: nothing stated about the review model, ethics, fees or archive.
• Assured acceptance or a set publication date pledged ahead of review.
• Cloned websites that borrow a real journal’s name but sit on another domain.

Our predatory journal checklist, journal hijacking guide and Think. Check. Submit. are worth reading too.

Where JMVRA Stands Against UGC’s Parameters

Against the 35 parameters, JMVRA fully meets 28, meets 2 in part, publishes no figure for 3, and considers 2 not applicable. Key points include ISSN 2984-8911, monthly publication since June 2023, a transparent double-blind review, open access under CC BY 4.0, fees that are stated openly (₹971 INR / $41 USD, charged only after acceptance), policies on ethics, plagiarism, conflict of interest and AI, and an impact factor of 11.25 based on Google Scholar. JMVRA can be found in Google Scholar and is registered with Crossref and the ISSN Portal / ROAD, but it is not currently indexed in Scopus, Web of Science or DOAJ.

Pre-Submission Checklist for Your Paper

• I have read my university’s present publication rule in writing
• Journal name and ISSN agree with the ISSN Portal entry
• The site is the official one, not a look-alike domain
• Board members and their affiliations have been checked
• A peer-review policy exists, and authors receive the comments
• My paper fits the scope; comparable recent papers located
• Published policies on ethics, plagiarism, conflict of interest and AI
• Fee amounts, payment timing and what is covered are stated
• Every Scopus or WoS claim has been verified in the database itself
• Each metric carries its source and year
• Issues come out regularly and are archived
• Screenshots or PDFs of these checks saved with dates

Share Your Research Through JMVRA

Your At-a-Glance Checklist

1. StatusCARE list in the archive, no longer active
2. RuleWhat your institution requires now
3. ParametersUGC’s 35, put to use
4. IndexingConfirmed at its origin
5. SafetyNo signs of predatory practice
6. EvidenceRecords with dates retained

Practical Steps for Finding a Sound Peer-Reviewed Journal

Searching for a trustworthy journal can feel confusing once old lists stop being updated. A simple routine of reading, checking and asking questions will take you from a long search to a confident submission.

• Start from your reference list. Look at where the papers you cite were published. Journals that regularly carry work close to yours are natural candidates, and you already know the standard of their articles.
• Read the aims and scope. Spend a few minutes on the scope page and match it with your title, abstract and article type. Many rejections happen simply because a manuscript was sent to the wrong audience.
• Inspect the review process description. A credible journal explains how submissions are screened, who reviews them and how decisions are communicated. Vague or missing descriptions are a reason to hold back until you receive clearer answers.
• Test the editorial contact. Send a brief, polite question about scope or process and observe the reply. A prompt, specific and courteous answer from a named editor is a good sign of professional management.
• Prepare a backup option. Choose a second suitable journal before you submit. If the first decision is a rejection, you can revise quickly according to the feedback and resubmit without losing momentum.

Let your own reading and a few polite questions guide the choice, and always keep a second suitable journal ready in case the first decision goes against you.

Questions Researchers Often Ask

In Summary

In 2026 the question about UGC CARE journals has a different answer. The CARE list has ended and sits in an archive for reference; UGC’s 35 suggestive parameters now steer how peer-reviewed journals are chosen. Consult the old list only as history, confirm indexing at the official source, evaluate each journal on its review, board, ethics, fees and transparency, observe your institution’s rule, and retain proof of your checks.

Official Sources

• University Grants Commission (UGC) — official website
• UGC-CARE portal (historical reference and notices)
• UGC Public Notice, 16 July 2025 (local copy, PDF)
• UGC Public Notice, 11 February 2025 (local copy, PDF)
• Final list of UGC-CARE journals (UGC website, PDF)
• Scopus Sources · Master Journal List