Anyone looking for the UGC CARE List 2026 should first understand that it is no longer how journal quality is decided. UGC has ended CARE listing, so researchers are now expected to check journals in reliable indexing databases, for instance Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, DOAJ, IEEE Xplore and other recognised research databases. Finding out where the list stands today, prior to submitting a manuscript, helps you steer clear of unsuitable or poor-quality journals.
This happens often: a PhD scholar invests months in a manuscript and later learns that the journal fails their institution’s requirements. Usually the single mistake was not verifying the journal before submitting it. A short check at the outset costs far less than a rejected or unrecognised publication.
This guide presents the top 10 research databases that every researcher ought to know, explains how each connects to journal quality and academic publishing, and offers a practical step-by-step method for verifying any journal prior to submitting your manuscript.
Where the UGC CARE List 2026 Stands Today
The UGC CARE List for 2026 does not exist, and the list will receive no more updates. UGC phased out CARE listing in steps:
- 3 Oct 2024At its 584th Commission meeting, UGC resolves to end CARE listing.
- 11 Feb 2025A public notice is released together with the final archived CARE list, which holds 1,474 journals as on 10 February 2025.
- 16 Jul 2025The end of the list is confirmed, and UGC’s suggested parameters for choosing peer-reviewed journals replace it as guidance.
- 2026There is no fresh CARE list; journals are assessed through indexing and evidence of quality.
Avoid relying on an old CARE list PDF or an archived journal list when deciding where to publish new work.
Consequently, a lot of universities and research institutions evaluate journal quality through established indexing databases, namely Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, DOAJ and subject-specific databases, depending on their own academic and institutional requirements. Since requirements differ between institutions, always get the exact criteria in writing from your own department.
Defining a Research Database
A research database is a dedicated platform that catalogues academic journals, articles and conference papers drawn from trusted sources. In contrast to an ordinary web search, it screens content for quality before admitting it. This is important because certain journals seem credible and guarantee acceptance within 48 hours but are absent from every recognised database, which is a clear warning sign. Scopus and Web of Science are typical trusted indexes that people use to judge credibility. Making a habit of looking a journal up before you trust its claims saves time and protects your reputation.
Understanding an Indexed Journal
A journal counts as indexed when a recognised research database has admitted it after measuring it against its quality standards. Indexing usually signals:
- a genuine peer-review process;
- strong editorial standards;
- consistent, regular publishing.
The UGC CARE List: What It Was and Why It Still Matters in 2026
The University Grants Commission used the UGC-CARE list to recognise credible journals in India. Until it was discontinued (see Current Status above), it served to judge research for academic promotion under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) and for Academic Performance Indicator (API) scores. It was divided into two groups:
Journals that passed UGC-CARE’s own quality review, covering peer review, editorial standards and similar points.
Titles carried by the internationally recognised Scopus and Web of Science databases, which entered the list without a separate assessment.
During the period the list was in force, only papers in listed journals earned academic credit, and the list was updated from time to time. It remains relevant for papers from that time, but each institution decides how to treat them, so ask your IQAC. Keep a copy of any proof your institution accepted at the time, since requirements may be reviewed later.
The Way Indexing Databases Raise Journal Quality
Beyond simply listing journals, indexing databases help define academic publishing standards. A journal must clear rigorous quality checks before Scopus or Web of Science will admit it.
Assessment covers peer review, regularity of publication, editorial quality and how well articles are cited. To remain indexed a journal must go on satisfying these standards, and this lifts quality throughout the field. Authors benefit from this, because a journal that is regularly reviewed has stronger reason to protect its standards.
Researchers who publish in an indexed journal gain greater visibility, credibility and citations. Measures like JIF, SJR and SNIP carry meaning only within this indexed system; beyond it, no shared standard stands behind the figures. So treat any metric quoted without a named indexing source with caution until you have verified it yourself.
Top 10 Research Databases That Indian Researchers Use for Journal Verification
Every database below is reviewed under seven headings: its nature, its coverage, its credibility, its indexing value, its citation-tracking tools, its relevance for Indian scholars and its genuine limitations. Turn to this guide each time you evaluate a journal.
Scopus (Elsevier)
Elsevier launched Scopus in 2004 as an international abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed research. It takes in journals, books and conference papers from every major discipline.
- Coverage
- Publishers around the world contribute titles in science, medicine, the social sciences, and arts and humanities.
- Credibility & recognition
- Each title is examined by an independent Content Selection and Advisory Board for the quality of its peer review, its editorial standards, how regularly it publishes and how it performs in citations. A journal whose standards decline may be discontinued.
- Indexing value
- Scholars everywhere recognise it, and it covers more than Web of Science does. The CiteScore metric makes it possible to compare journals from different disciplines.
- Citation tracking
- Researchers get h-index values, citation tallies and co-authorship maps, and journals are rated by CiteScore, SJR and SNIP.
- Relevance for Indian researchers
- While the list was active, UGC-CARE Group II was made up of Scopus-indexed journals, and Scopus remains the database requested most often for API scoring, PhD submissions, NAAC assessments and research-grant applications. Check which database your own committee names before choosing a target journal.
Limitation: Coverage differs from year to year. Always make sure the journal is actively indexed for the year in which you publish.
Web of Science (Clarivate)
Among citation databases, Web of Science is one of the oldest and most selective. It developed from the Science Citation Index, which Eugene Garfield’s Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) started in the 1960s, and Clarivate now operates it. The Core Collection comprises four indexes: SCIE, SSCI, AHCI and ESCI.
- Coverage
- It holds peer-reviewed journals and chosen conference proceedings in the sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities, with solid worldwide coverage of English-language material.
- Credibility & recognition
- Strict quality criteria decide which journals enter, and for the flagship indexes citation impact counts too. Indian funders such as ANRF (formerly DST-SERB) and ICMR recognise it widely, as do international funding agencies. Only Web of Science publishes the Journal Impact Factor (JIF), doing so through Journal Citation Reports.
- Indexing value
- Strong academic weight attaches to SCIE and SSCI. ESCI is the entry tier, and certain institutions value it less. As a rule, SCIE and SSCI are more selective than Scopus.
- Citation tracking
- It provides JIF, the Journal Citation Indicator (JCI) and detailed author citation profiles. The free Master Journal List lets anyone see which index a journal belongs to.
- Relevance for Indian researchers
- Journals indexed in SCIE count for ANRF and DST funding, ICMR grants and UGC promotions, and IITs, IISERs and central universities often expect them.
Limitation: Most evaluation systems rate an ESCI journal below one in SCIE or SSCI. ESCI journals have also been given a JIF since 2023, which means a JIF by itself does not reveal the tier. Verify the index category prior to submitting.
PubMed / MEDLINE (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
NCBI maintains PubMed, a free public biomedical database, at the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). MEDLINE is its core curated subset, and the journals in it pass a strict review by the Literature Selection Technical Review Committee (LSTRC).
- Coverage
- The scope spans biomedical and life sciences, clinical medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, public health and allied health, with journal articles, clinical trials, systematic reviews and case reports. Coverage is global, dominated by the US and Europe while Asia contributes a growing share. Any journal can be checked free of charge in PubMed and the NLM Catalog.
- Credibility & recognition
- MEDLINE ranks among the most respected biomedical indexes. Journals are picked by an external expert committee that weighs scientific scope, editorial quality and production quality. ICMR, the National Medical Commission (NMC) and other health bodies commonly treat it as a quality benchmark.
- Indexing value
- Getting into MEDLINE is harder than appearing in PubMed generally. PubMed also carries PubMed Central (PMC) content, yet the LSTRC fully reviews only MEDLINE journals, so MEDLINE is the stronger international sign of biomedical quality.
- Citation tracking
- PubMed generates no citation metrics. For citation analysis you need Web of Science or Scopus, where MEDLINE journals are usually tracked, or else Google Scholar. What PubMed does provide is MeSH indexing and citation linking.
- Relevance for Indian researchers
- Within India, PubMed is a key benchmark for medical and health-sciences research and features in ICMR assessments, NMC faculty promotions and the rules of medical, dental, pharmacy and nursing institutions. Since it costs nothing, it also serves researchers at state colleges and those short of resources. Medical faculty should keep their institution’s list of accepted sources at hand when planning a submission.
Limitation: PubMed covers only biomedicine and has no bearing on non-medical fields. It is also not identical to MEDLINE, because PMC content is included as well. Where academic credit hinges on it, confirm MEDLINE status.
Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) (DOAJ)
The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) is a selective index covering peer-reviewed open access journals. Lund University started it in 2003 with around 300 journals, and many people use it as a quality filter for legitimate open access publishing.
- Coverage
- Every subject area is covered, from sciences and medicine to engineering, social sciences and humanities, using peer-reviewed open access journals from around the globe.
- Credibility & recognition
- Strict DOAJ criteria cover peer review, transparency, licensing and editorial quality, and the DOAJ Seal was awarded to the strongest journals. Funders and institutions rely on it to check compliance with open-access requirements.
- Indexing value
- Being listed in DOAJ shows that a journal is a legitimate open access title rather than a predatory one. Unlike Scopus or Web of Science, it does not gauge citation impact.
- Citation tracking
- It offers no citation metrics, so look in Scopus or Web of Science for citation data. DOAJ supplies metadata, for example ISSN, publisher and open-access status.
- Relevance for Indian researchers
- Helpful to researchers at Indian institutions with few resources, since numerous DOAJ journals levy no publication fee, which makes publishing more accessible.
Limitation: A DOAJ entry does not indicate citation strength or a global ranking. Where high-impact academic credit is needed, a DOAJ listing alone falls short.
ERIH PLUS (HK-dir, Norway)
ERIH PLUS is a selective list of peer-reviewed humanities and social-science journals. The Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) maintains it, and the European Science Foundation originally developed it.
- Coverage
- It spans history, linguistics, philosophy, sociology, education, law, political science and neighbouring areas. Journals from many countries appear, and it gives good space to regional and non-English titles that Scopus and Web of Science frequently miss.
- Credibility & recognition
- Titles are assessed against standards for peer review and editing. Across Europe, ERIH PLUS is a common reference for validating humanities and social-science research.
- Indexing value
- ERIH PLUS differs from citation databases in concentrating on quality validation rather than impact metrics, which suits the humanities, where citation counts are naturally lower.
- Citation tracking
- It has neither citation statistics nor author tracking, so check citation data separately in Scopus or Web of Science when possible.
- Relevance for Indian researchers
- It is among the few humanities and social-science indexes with international recognition, and it helps most in literature, sociology and philosophy, where other databases have little coverage.
Limitation: Evaluation systems at Indian institutions accept it less frequently than Scopus or Web of Science, so ask your IQAC whether it is acceptable.
Embase (Elsevier)
Elsevier maintains Embase, an abstract database for biomedicine and pharmacology. It began in 1974 as the electronic edition of the Excerpta Medica abstract journals, whose history goes back to the 1940s, and it is now among the most valuable sources for drug research, clinical trials and pharmacovigilance.
- Coverage
- Its strengths lie in pharmacology, toxicology, clinical medicine, psychiatry and drug safety; sources range from papers and conference abstracts to records on drug safety.
- Credibility & recognition
- Selection standards are high, and a great deal of content overlaps with Scopus. Cochrane systematic reviews use it extensively, as do regulators like the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in drug-safety monitoring.
- Indexing value
- It is very relevant to clinical and pharmaceutical research, especially systematic reviews and regulatory studies. In India, an Embase journal is generally recognised because it is indexed in Scopus.
- Citation tracking
- Its search is strong and supports PICO-based queries. For most indexed journals, Scopus supplies CiteScore and SJR.
- Relevance for Indian researchers
- Indian pharmaceutical and clinical researchers find it important, above all in drug trials and international medical collaborations.
Limitation: Access requires a subscription, which restricts use at numerous Indian institutions.
ProQuest (Clarivate)
ProQuest is a multidisciplinary research platform that functions chiefly as a content aggregator. Users can reach journals, dissertations, newspapers, e-books and specialist academic databases through it, and it is best known for ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, among the largest collections of graduate research worldwide.
- Coverage
- Its subject databases serve business, education, humanities, social sciences, STEM, health sciences and library science, supplying archives, e-books, newspapers, conference papers, dissertations and journal articles from many countries.
- Credibility & recognition
- Unlike Scopus or Web of Science, ProQuest is not a selective citation index. Its credibility derives from the quality of the collections it hosts, above all dissertations and academic archives, and it was never a route to UGC-CARE by itself.
- Indexing value
- ProQuest serves for access and discovery rather than for validating journal quality. Being listed there does not vouch for a journal’s credibility when academic credit or API assessment is at stake.
- Citation tracking
- It carries no journal metrics like JIF or CiteScore, so do citation analysis in Scopus or Web of Science. Its emphasis is on providing content, not on bibliometrics.
- Relevance for Indian researchers
- It is handy for literature reviews in business, education and the social sciences, and its dissertation database is particularly valuable. Many Indian universities offer access via institutional or consortium subscriptions. Ask your library which subscriptions are active before relying on any of these collections.
Limitation: It cannot be used to check journal quality for UGC or API purposes. Content of mixed quality is gathered there, and access comes only through an institutional subscription.
EBSCO (EBSCO Information Services)
EBSCO Information Services, a content aggregator based in the US, offers many academic databases via EBSCO Discovery Service. The platform hosts well-known databases such as Academic Search Ultimate, Business Source Complete, APA PsycInfo, ERIC and CINAHL.
- Coverage
- The scope is multidisciplinary, strongest in nursing and allied health (CINAHL), business, psychology and education. Content ranges from peer-reviewed journals to magazines, newspapers, e-books and trade publications, with heavy US and European coverage.
- Credibility & recognition
- EBSCO is chiefly an access platform instead of a selective index, and most of its databases do not choose journals as Scopus or Web of Science do. CINAHL is the notable exception, a subject-specific index familiar to nursing and allied-health researchers everywhere.
- Indexing value
- Appearing in EBSCO is not the same as academic indexing or a quality endorsement; it normally results from a content-licensing agreement. Only subject indexes like CINAHL apply recognised editorial selection.
- Citation tracking
- Official metrics like JIF or CiteScore are absent. A handful of databases display limited citation data, yet a complete bibliometric analysis should be done in Scopus or Web of Science.
- Relevance for Indian researchers
- Indian universities favour it for international journals, notably in nursing, education, psychology and business. CINAHL is significant for nursing and allied-health researchers, while ERIC backs education research.
Limitation: For UGC or API evaluation, EBSCO does not equal Scopus or Web of Science. Numerous journals listed there lack independent indexing, so confirm them in the official indexing databases.
IEEE Xplore (IEEE)
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), among the largest professional organisations in engineering and technology worldwide, runs IEEE Xplore as its digital library. It holds IEEE journals, conference proceedings, technical standards and partner publications, for instance those of the IET.
- Coverage
- Its holdings concentrate on electrical engineering, electronics, computer science, telecommunications, robotics and control systems, among similar fields, in the form of refereed journals, conference papers and technical standards from many countries.
- Credibility & recognition
- IEEE journals have worldwide recognition for rigorous peer review and editorial standards, and AICTE-affiliated institutions often use them in academic assessment. Most are also indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, which is what Indian institutions normally look at. Even so, a quick look at the actual index entry is better than assuming coverage.
- Indexing value
- Papers in IEEE journals, particularly the Transactions and Letters series, have considerable academic weight. Conference papers from IEEE, however reputable, are not always treated like journal articles for API credit at Indian institutions.
- Citation tracking
- It reports citations and usage statistics for individual articles, whereas journal-level metrics like JIF and CiteScore come from Web of Science and Scopus.
- Relevance for Indian researchers
- It is a central platform for engineering research in India, especially at IITs, NITs and AICTE institutions, and matters for faculty evaluation, research visibility and national rankings like NIRF.
Limitation: People often confuse IEEE Xplore conference papers with journal publications, and that leads to trouble in API scoring. Read your institution’s guidelines prior to submitting.
Indian Citation Index (ICI) (Knowledge Foundation)
The Indian Citation Index is a citation indexing service for India that seeks to raise the visibility of Indian scholarly journals and to follow citations in Indian research. It was built to close the gap that exists because international databases like Scopus and Web of Science omit many good Indian journals.
- Coverage
- Its coverage is multidisciplinary Indian journals in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, engineering, medicine and management. The emphasis is on peer-reviewed journals published in India, whose citations it follows within the Indian scholarly setting.
- Credibility & recognition
- ICI is a citation index of India’s own. It lacks the global standing of Scopus or Web of Science, and critics have pointed to irregular updates and uneven coverage.
- Indexing value
- Being in ICI shows that a journal belongs to a national scholarly monitoring system. Its worth is mainly domestic and it cannot replace international indexing when global recognition or grant applications matter.
- Citation tracking
- Indexed journals receive citation data and author-level reports, and the Indian Citation Score (ICS) allows Indian journals to be compared where global metrics are lacking.
- Relevance for Indian researchers
- It helps in fields where strong Indian journals lack international indexing, for example regional studies, law and some social sciences, and for analysing the output of Indian research. A few institutions accept it as supporting evidence.
Limitation: International academic assessment rarely uses ICI, and its data consistency and recognition fall short of international indexes. Regard it as a supporting tool instead of a main publication target.
Side-by-Side Summary of All 10 Databases
The “UGC-CARE link” column is a historical record, showing how each database was connected to the CARE list during its active years.
| Database | Subject focus | Free / paid | UGC-CARE link | Citation metric | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scopus | Multidisciplinary | Free to check; full access paid | Former CARE Group II source | CiteScore, SJR, SNIP | All-round journal quality check |
| Web of Science | Multidisciplinary | Free to check (MJL); full access paid | Former CARE Group II source | JIF (via JCR), JCI | Impact factor and SCIE/SSCI status |
| PubMed / MEDLINE | Biomedical, health | Free | Not a CARE group; many titles also in Scopus/WoS | Via WoS / Scopus | Medical and life sciences |
| DOAJ | All disciplines (open access) | Free | Not a CARE group; open-access legitimacy check | None | Choosing an open access journal |
| ERIH PLUS | Humanities, social sciences | Free | Not a CARE group; recognised in Europe | None | Humanities and social sciences |
| Embase | Biomedical, pharmacology | Paid | Indirect (large Scopus overlap) | Via Scopus | Drug research, clinical reviews |
| ProQuest | Multidisciplinary | Paid (institutional) | No — aggregator | None | Dissertations, business research |
| EBSCO | Multidisciplinary | Paid (institutional) | No — aggregator (CINAHL is selective) | None | Nursing, allied health, business |
| IEEE Xplore | Engineering, computer science | Free to search; full text paid | Not a CARE group; most journals in Scopus/WoS | Via WoS / Scopus | Engineering and computer science |
| Indian Citation Index | All disciplines (India) | Paid (institutional) | Supplementary only | Indian Citation Score | India-specific journal tracking |
Checking Whether a Journal Is Indexed: A Step-by-Step Guide
Complete all four steps; each needs just a few minutes, and together they expose nearly every problematic journal.
Step 1Look up UGC’s official position (there is no “2026 CARE list”)
- Visit the official portal. Browse to www.ugc.gov.in directly instead of trusting third-party sites, because cached or outdated lists have cost scholars their API credit.
- Read the public notice about CARE journals. It is the UGC public notice (PDF), which describes the discontinuation and refers you to UGC’s suggested parameters for choosing peer-reviewed journals.
- For earlier papers, look in the archived list by title or ISSN. That archived CARE list is organised by discipline, so enter the exact journal title or ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) for a precise match.
- Keep a record of the result. When the journal is listed, write down its group (I or II) and capture a screenshot that shows the date of your check. Then ask your IQAC how your institution handles such publications.
Step 2Verify Scopus indexing
- Visit the Scopus Sources page. Go to scopus.com/sources; looking a journal up there costs nothing and requires no subscription.
- Search by title or ISSN. Type in the full journal name or its ISSN. A journal that does not show up is not indexed in Scopus.
- Make sure the journal is active. People skip this step more than any other. Check that the status reads active and record the years coverage begins and ends. Should the journal be inactive or discontinued, or its coverage finish before the year you submit, your article will not be indexed. Screenshot the status page on the day you check, because entries can change without notice.
- Check the subject area and publisher. Make sure the publisher on record and the website correspond to the journal you are dealing with, since hijacked and predatory journals sometimes copy legitimate titles.
Step 3Verify Web of Science indexing
- Use the Master Journal List. Visit mjl.clarivate.com, the free official verification tool from Clarivate.
- Search by title or ISSN. The result reveals the index containing the journal, whether SCIE, SSCI, AHCI or ESCI.
- Record the index tier. SCIE and SSCI count for the most in Indian academic and grant contexts. ESCI is the emerging tier, so prior to aiming at a journal that is only in ESCI, ask your institution if ESCI papers earn the same API credit as SCIE or SSCI.
Step 4Spot and steer clear of predatory journals
- Begin with Think. Check. Submit. The checklist at thinkchecksubmit.org guides you through a structured assessment of any journal, looking at how open its peer review is, whether an editorial board is visible, who the publisher is and whether real contact details exist.
- Compare against Scopus, Web of Science and DOAJ. Absence from all three does not automatically make a journal predatory, yet it is a warning sign that calls for closer inspection.
- Be aware of Beall’s List. Librarian Jeffrey Beall compiled the original list of predatory publishers, which is no longer officially maintained; independent researchers keep updated copies, frequently linked from academic library portals. Use them as one further reference, not as a final blacklist.
- Treat unsolicited email invitations with great suspicion. Genuine journals seldom mail large numbers of people to ask for manuscripts. If an invitation arrives unasked, guarantees fast acceptance or boasts of an unusually brief peer review, investigate the journal carefully before taking another step.
Finding a Journal’s Citation Index
Citation metrics reveal how frequently the papers in a journal are cited. The principal ones, Journal Impact Factor (JIF), SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) and Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP), each offer a different perspective on a journal’s research impact.
- Journal Impact Factor: it appears in Clarivate’s Journal Citation Reports (JCR) alongside the JCI. JCR needs a subscription, though many universities give access.
- SJR: SCImago Journal Rank costs nothing and displays quartile rankings (Q1–Q4), SJR scores and the journal’s h-index. Journals in Q1 and Q2 are usually regarded as strong, and quartiles simplify comparing journals between disciplines.
- CiteScore and SNIP: the Scopus Sources page displays both free of charge for every journal.
Where JMVRA Stands
JMVRA is a Transparent, Peer-Reviewed, Open Access Journal (Refereed Journal). Following the discontinuation of the UGC and UGC-CARE journal listing, and in alignment with the latest UGC-CARE recommendations and guidelines, JMVRA is aligned with UGC’s Suggested Parameters for Choosing Peer-Reviewed Journals. UGC public notice (PDF)
Please test us with the steps above too. JMVRA (ISSN 2984-8911, established 2023) appears in Google Scholar and is registered with Crossref, yet it is not indexed in Scopus, Web of Science or DOAJ, a fact we make no attempt to hide. Its impact factor of 11.25 is calculated by Google Scholar.
In Summary
Choosing the right journal is no minor matter but a career decision. Verification should open every submission rather than regret closing it. Each of the ten databases in this guide serves its own purpose, and knowing which suits your discipline and academic aim is what distinguishes strategic scholars from those who guess.
Prior to submitting any manuscript, first read UGC’s official position at ugc.gov.in, then confirm international credibility in Scopus or Web of Science, and weed out predatory journals using Think. Check. Submit.
Keep in mind that a journal indexed last month could be discontinued today, which is why you should consult the live database every time. Your research deserves to appear where it will count.
At-a-Glance Checklist
- Database selectedSuited to your field
- ISSN searchedBeyond the title alone
- Records savedEach one dated
- Parameters appliedThose suggested by UGC
- Institution askedIts rule is final
A Routine for Monthly Verification
- Write down the journals you plan to use — along with their ISSNs
- Look up each one in the right database — Scopus, WoS, DOAJ or Google Scholar
- Record any changes — journals added or dropped
- Pass on what you find — to students and colleagues
JMVRA’s Statement
Verifying a Journal Across Several Research Databases Efficiently
Searching more than one database gives a fuller picture than relying on a single website. A short, repeatable routine keeps your verification fast, consistent and easy to explain to others.
- Search by exact journal title. Type the full title in quotation marks and compare the publisher name, subject area and standard serial number with the journal's own page. Mismatched details are an early warning.
- Prefer the database's own site. Always open the database directly instead of following a link from the journal. A link can lead to a lookalike page, whereas your own search shows what the database really holds.
- Confirm coverage, not just presence. Appearing in a database does not always mean every issue is covered. Check whether recent volumes are included, and note any gaps between the journal's claim and the actual listing.
- Compare spellings and titles carefully. Predatory sites sometimes copy names that differ by a single word or hyphen. Compare logos, addresses and serial numbers letter by letter before you decide that two journals are the same.
- Log results in a simple sheet. Create a spreadsheet with columns for database, search date, result and comments. A running record helps when you compare candidate journals or revisit a decision after a long gap.
Verify through the databases directly, compare details exactly, and record each result so that your checks are repeatable and easy to defend.
Questions Researchers Often Ask
How JMVRA Measures Up to UGC’s 35 Suggested Parameters
Annexure-I, the final part of UGC’s 16 July 2025 notice, organises 35 parameters into 8 categories, against 36 in the February 2025 draft. JMVRA assesses itself as meeting 28, partly meeting 2, not publishing 3 and having 2 that do not apply, and it explains each result.
Source: UGC public notice on CARE journals (PDF) · see the entire breakdown at JMVRA & UGC parameters.
Ready to Publish? Submit to JMVRA
JMVRA is aligned with UGC's Suggested Parameters for Choosing Peer-Reviewed Journals.
JMVRA is a Transparent, Peer-Reviewed, Open Access Journal (Refereed Journal). Following the discontinuation of the UGC and UGC-CARE journal listing, and in alignment with the latest UGC-CARE recommendations and guidelines, JMVRA is aligned with UGC’s Suggested Parameters for Choosing Peer-Reviewed Journals.
Helpful pages on jmvra.org
Key Terms
Subjects and search phrases this article addresses.
Related Reading
Further reading on the same theme from the JMVRA blog.
Verifying UGC-CARE, Scopus & Web of Science Claims
Read the guide RelatedUGC-CARE Discontinued — Points Researchers Should Know
Read the guide RelatedTelling Apart UGC Parameters, Scopus, Web of Science and DOAJ
Read the guide RelatedUGC’s Suggested Parameters for Choosing Peer-Reviewed Journals
Read the guide RelatedRecognising a Predatory Journal
Read the guide RelatedAn Honest Answer: Does JMVRA Follow Scopus & Web of Science Standards?
Read the guideKeep Reading on the JMVRA Blog
This guide belongs to the JMVRA journal blog, which offers practical advice on publishing, indexing, metrics and research integrity, written to be checkable instead of promotional.