The UGC CARE list is no longer active in 2026. The University Grants Commission (UGC) discontinued CARE journal listing and published a final list of 1,474 journals, as it stood on 10 February 2025, for reference only. This guide explains what changed, what replaced it, and how to verify a journal before you submit.
AI Overview
Quick Answer
No, UGC CARE is not active in 2026. UGC discontinued the listing and kept a frozen list of 1,474 journals (as on 10 February 2025) as a historical reference. Journals are now judged against UGC's suggestive parameters, so verify each journal's ISSN, peer review, ethics and indexing directly.
Is UGC CARE active in 2026?
No. The listing was discontinued.
What happened to the list?
UGC stopped maintaining it after a decision in October 2024 and public notices in February and July 2025.
What is the archived list?
A frozen list of 1,474 journals as on 10 February 2025, kept on the UGC website as a reference resource.
What replaced it?
A set of suggestive parameters for choosing peer-reviewed journals, organised under eight criteria.
What should researchers do now?
Evaluate each journal directly, verify its indexing at the source, and confirm your own institution's rules.
Quick Summary Table
| Question | Current answer |
|---|---|
| Is UGC CARE active in 2026? | No. UGC-CARE listing is discontinued. |
| Is there a final UGC CARE list? | Yes, as an archive: 1,474 journals as on 10 February 2025. |
| Can the old list be used? | As a historical reference only. It is not current validation. |
| What replaced CARE? | UGC's suggestive parameters for peer-reviewed journals. |
| How is a journal checked now? | Directly: ISSN, publisher, peer review, ethics, and indexing records. |
| Who sets final publication requirements? | Your university or institution, guided by UGC's parameters and any regulator or funder rules. |
Is UGC CARE active in 2026?
Current answer
No. UGC-CARE listing is discontinued.
Is there a final UGC CARE list?
Current answer
Yes, as an archive: 1,474 journals as on 10 February 2025.
Can the old list be used?
Current answer
As a historical reference only. It is not current validation.
What replaced CARE?
Current answer
UGC's suggestive parameters for peer-reviewed journals.
How is a journal checked now?
Current answer
Directly: ISSN, publisher, peer review, ethics, and indexing records.
Who sets final publication requirements?
Current answer
Your university or institution, guided by UGC's parameters and any regulator or funder rules.
Planning to publish? We offer journal publication support.
What Is UGC CARE?
UGC CARE stands for the UGC Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics. UGC set it up in 2018 to promote research integrity and to curb publication in low-quality and predatory journals.
Its best-known output was a list of journals that many Indian universities used when evaluating publications for PhD submission, appointments and promotions.
The list had two routes:
Group I
Journals that qualified through UGC-CARE's own review methodology.
Group II
Journals that came in through globally recognised indexing databases such as Scopus and Web of Science.
These were routes into the list, not a simple quality ranking. That distinction matters later in this guide.
What Changed With UGC CARE?
Several dates are easy to mix up, so here they are separated:
2018
UGC establishes CARE (public notice of 28 November 2018).
3 October 2024
UGC's 584th meeting decides to discontinue CARE listing and develop suggestive parameters.
10 February 2025
The date the final 1,474-journal reference list represents.
11 February 2025
Public notice announcing discontinuation.
24 June 2025
UGC's 591st meeting approves the final parameters and the archived list.
16 July 2025
Public notice confirms discontinuation and releases the parameters and reference list.
Is There a UGC CARE List 2026?
No. There is no active UGC CARE list for 2026. UGC discontinued the listing, and no new journals are being added or validated under CARE.
You will still see pages titled "UGC CARE list 2026," "UGC approved journals 2026," or "latest UGC CARE list." Most of these are republished copies of the archived list, or older content with the year changed.
Treat any of these claims with caution:
"UGC CARE approved in 2026"
"Latest UGC CARE list"
"Current UGC CARE certification"
A journal can truthfully say it was on the list as on 10 February 2025. It cannot truthfully claim current UGC approval through CARE.
What Does the Final 1,474-Journal List Mean?
UGC's notice says the list is a reference resource only. In its own words, inclusion or exclusion does not imply validation or endorsement by the Commission.
It is a snapshot. It reflects the list as on 10 February 2025.
Inclusion is not current endorsement. A journal's quality, ethics or indexing may have changed since then.
Exclusion is not proof of poor quality. A newer or discipline-specific journal may simply never have applied.
Use it historically. It is useful for checking past academic activity, such as a paper published while the listing was active.
What Replaced UGC CARE?
UGC replaced a central list with suggestive parameters for choosing peer-reviewed journals, so faculty, students and institutions judge journals against criteria instead of a whitelist. Institutions may also form internal committees to adapt the parameters to their disciplines.
Widely circulated summaries describe these as 36 parameters. The February proposal was reported that way. The annexure attached to the final 16 July 2025 notice numbers its items 1.1 to 8.3, which comes to 35. Either way, they sit under eight areas:
Preliminary criteria
Title, ISSN, regular publication, publisher and contact details, a transparent review policy, a professional website, clear access and fee policy, and an archival policy.
Editorial board
Named members with affiliations and relevant expertise, and a rigorous review process.
Editorial policy
Clear aims and scope, transparent APCs, publishing timelines, and acceptance rate.
Content quality
Genuine academic contribution, and articles that match the journal's scope
Journal standards
Accurate referencing, a well-maintained website, citation record, layout quality, and language availability.
Research ethics
Author guidelines, plagiarism checks, conflict-of-interest disclosure, and an AI-use policy.
Visibility
Impact factor or similar (where applicable) and indexing in reputed databases.
Impact
Self-citation levels, citation rate compared with similar journals, and CiteScore.
How to Verify a Journal in 2026
Never rely on a third-party "UGC approved journal list" alone. Work through the journal's own records and the databases directly.
Exact title
Note the full title. Many fake journals imitate genuine names.
ISSN / eISSN
Confirm both numbers in the ISSN Portal and check that the title and publisher match.
Publisher
Look for a real address, contact details and a track record.
Aims and scope
Confirm your paper actually fits.
Peer review
Look for a described process and realistic timelines.
Editorial board
Check that named members exist, and that their institutional pages list this journal.
Archives
Look for regular issues over several years, with working article pages.
Fees
Find the APC and any other charges before submitting, not after acceptance.
Ethics
Look for plagiarism, conflict-of-interest and AI-use policies.
Indexing
Verify at the database itself, not on the journal's homepage.
Coverage
Confirm indexing is active and covers the year you will publish.
Your institution
Check your university, department or research-cell rules.
Not sure how a journal measures up? Our research paper writing support team can help you make sense of journal guidelines before you commit.
How to Check a Historical UGC CARE Status
Checking historical status is different from checking current approval.
Open the archived final list on the UGC website.
Search by journal title, and cross-check the ISSN because similar titles are common.
Note that the list represents 10 February 2025.
Record the result as "listed as on 10 February 2025," not as "approved."
That is usually what you need when a university asks about a paper published while CARE was operating. Confirm with your institution how it treats that period.
How to Verify Scopus, Web of Science and Other Indexing
| Database | What to verify | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Scopus | Search the title in the Scopus sources list; check active status and coverage years | A journal can be discontinued or its coverage can lapse |
| Web of Science | Search the Master Journal List; note which collection (SCIE, SSCI, AHCI, ESCI) | Collections differ in scope and standing |
| PubMed / MEDLINE | Check the NLM Catalog for the journal's indexing status | Relevant mainly for biomedical fields |
| DOAJ | Search the DOAJ directory for open-access journals | DOAJ vets open-access journals against its criteria |
| IEEE Xplore, discipline databases | Confirm on the platform itself | Relevant to your field and institution |
Scopus
What to verify
Search the title in the Scopus sources list; check active status and coverage years
Why it matters
A journal can be discontinued or its coverage can lapse
Web of Science
What to verify
Search the Master Journal List; note which collection (SCIE, SSCI, AHCI, ESCI)
Why it matters
Collections differ in scope and standing
PubMed / MEDLINE
What to verify
Check the NLM Catalog for the journal's indexing status
Why it matters
Relevant mainly for biomedical fields
DOAJ
What to verify
Search the DOAJ directory for open-access journals
Why it matters
DOAJ vets open-access journals against its criteria
IEEE Xplore, discipline databases
What to verify
Confirm on the platform itself
Why it matters
Relevant to your field and institution
Keep three points in mind:
Indexing is not UGC approval.
Indexing does not guarantee acceptance of your paper.
Indexing does not guarantee academic credit, because rules vary by institution.
UGC CARE Group 1 vs Group 2: What Does It Mean Now?
Group I and Group II belonged to the discontinued framework. They described how a journal entered the list, not which was better.
Neither group is an active category today. If you see "UGC CARE Group I" on a journal's website, read it as a historical statement and verify the rest independently.
How to Spot a Misleading or Predatory Journal
No single signal proves a journal is predatory. Look at the pattern.
| Red flag | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Claims of current UGC CARE approval | The archived list; UGC's notice; the date claimed |
| Indexing claims with no links | The database directly, by title and ISSN |
| Copied or unverifiable editorial board | Whether the members' own institutional pages mention the journal |
| ISSN that doesn't match the title | The ISSN Portal record |
| Unclear publisher identity | Address, registration, contact details |
| Guaranteed publication or rapid acceptance | Realistic review timelines |
| Hidden or vague APCs | A written fee policy before submission |
| Thin or broken archives | Past issues and working article pages |
| Unrelated scope, or "impact factor" from unfamiliar sources | Clarivate's Journal Citation Reports and the journal's own metrics claims |
| Aggressive invitation emails | Whether you sought this journal or it sought you |
Claims of current UGC CARE approval
What to verify
The archived list; UGC's notice; the date claimed
Indexing claims with no links
What to verify
The database directly, by title and ISSN
Copied or unverifiable editorial board
What to verify
Whether the members' own institutional pages mention the journal
ISSN that doesn't match the title
What to verify
The ISSN Portal record
Unclear publisher identity
What to verify
Address, registration, contact details
Guaranteed publication or rapid acceptance
What to verify
Realistic review timelines
Hidden or vague APCs
What to verify
A written fee policy before submission
Thin or broken archives
What to verify
Past issues and working article pages
Unrelated scope, or "impact factor" from unfamiliar sources
What to verify
Clarivate's Journal Citation Reports and the journal's own metrics claims
Aggressive invitation emails
What to verify
Whether you sought this journal or it sought you
Common Mistakes Researchers Make
Downloading an old PDF and assuming it is current.
Trusting a "UGC approved" badge.
Confusing Scopus with UGC CARE, or SCI with Scopus.
Relying on Google results or on the journal's own website alone.
Skipping the ISSN check and the indexing coverage dates.
Choosing a journal because it promises fast publication.
Not checking university-specific requirements.
UGC CARE vs Scopus vs Web of Science vs SCI/SCIE
| Framework | What it is | Current status | What to verify | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UGC CARE | A former UGC journal list | Discontinued; archived list as on 10 Feb 2025 | Historical listing by title and ISSN | Checking past publications |
| Scopus | Elsevier's abstract and citation database | Active | Active status and coverage years | Indexing check; institutional requirements |
| Web of Science | Clarivate's Core Collection | Active | Which index and coverage | Indexing and citation analysis |
| SCI / SCIE | Science citation indexes within Web of Science | Active (SCIE is the expanded index) | Listing in the science indexes | Science and engineering journal selection |
| Peer-reviewed | A description of a review process | Not a list | Whether the journal documents real review | A baseline quality feature, not a credential |
UGC CARE
What it is
A former UGC journal list
Current status
Discontinued; archived list as on 10 Feb 2025
What to verify
Historical listing by title and ISSN
Typical use
Checking past publications
Scopus
What it is
Elsevier's abstract and citation database
Current status
Active
What to verify
Active status and coverage years
Typical use
Indexing check; institutional requirements
Web of Science
What it is
Clarivate's Core Collection
Current status
Active
What to verify
Which index and coverage
Typical use
Indexing and citation analysis
SCI / SCIE
What it is
Science citation indexes within Web of Science
Current status
Active (SCIE is the expanded index)
What to verify
Listing in the science indexes
Typical use
Science and engineering journal selection
Peer-reviewed
What it is
A description of a review process
Current status
Not a list
What to verify
Whether the journal documents real review
Typical use
A baseline quality feature, not a credential
These terms are not interchangeable, and this table doesn't rank them.
10-Point
Journal Verification Checklist
Confirm the exact journal title and publisher.
Verify the ISSN and eISSN in the ISSN Portal.
Read the aims, scope and recent articles to confirm fit.
Find a written peer-review policy.
Check that editorial board members are real and connected to the journal.
Review past issues for regularity and quality.
Find the APC and all other charges in writing.
Confirm ethics, plagiarism and AI-use policies.
Verify indexing in the database itself, including coverage dates.
Confirm your university or department accepts this journal for your purpose.
When Should You Get Journal Selection or Publication Support?
Consider help when:
You aren't sure which journal fits your topic.
The manuscript needs formatting to a journal's template.
The paper needs academic editing.
Author guidelines or indexing requirements are unclear.
You need help preparing a submission or responding to reviewer comments.
HelpForThesis offers research paper publication support , thesis assistance and research proposal writing . Support can improve preparation, but it cannot promise acceptance, indexing or academic credit. Those decisions rest with journals, databases and institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
UGC CARE is the Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics, set up by the University Grants Commission in 2018 to maintain a list of journals for academic use in India.
No. Pages using that title usually republish the archived list or older information.
1,474, as on 10 February 2025, published for reference purposes.
Yes, as a historical reference. It is not current UGC validation or endorsement.
UGC's suggestive parameters for choosing peer-reviewed journals, grouped under eight criteria.
Search the archived list by title, cross-check the ISSN, and record that it reflects 10 February 2025.
Search the ISSN Portal and confirm the title, publisher and country match what the journal shows.
Search the title in Scopus's sources list and confirm the journal is active and covers your publication year.
Search Clarivate's Master Journal List, note which index applies, and check coverage.
No. They belonged to the discontinued framework and are historical categories.
Verify ISSN, indexing, fees and editors directly, and check your institution's rules.
Final Takeaway
The old question was: Is this journal on the current UGC CARE list?
The better question now is: does this journal meet the quality, ethical, indexing and institutional requirements for my intended publication?
If you'd like a second pair of eyes on journal selection or manuscript preparation, our team can help you work through it with manuscript preparation and academic editing support.
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