UGC CARE Journal List: How to Publish — Complete Guide (2026)
Meet the Expert
Shruti Sharma
Academic Writing Coach & Research Communication Specialist
- Guided 300+ PhD scholars and faculty members through UGC CARE journal selection and publication in India
- Expert in understanding UGC guidelines, API score requirements, and PhD publication mandates across Indian universities
- Helped researchers avoid predatory journals and identify genuine UGC CARE Group 1 and Group 2 options
The UGC CARE (Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics) journal list is the University Grants Commission's curated database of quality-assured, peer-reviewed journals approved for use in Indian academic promotion and research evaluation contexts. Introduced in 2019 to replace the discredited earlier UGC-approved journal list (which had included hundreds of predatory journals), UGC CARE is the definitive publication benchmark for faculty seeking Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) promotions, API score calculations, and PhD thesis submission across most Indian universities.
For Indian researchers, PhD scholars, and university faculty, understanding UGC CARE — what it covers, how it is structured, and how to publish in CARE-listed journals — is no longer optional. With UGC's minimum standards requiring at least one CARE/Scopus/WoS publication before PhD thesis submission, and with API scores determining faculty promotions, choosing the wrong journal can result in wasted time, money, and academic credibility.
UGC CARE: Key Facts
UGC CARE Journal List — At a Glance
Managed by UGC through INFLIBNET Centre, Gandhinagar
Replaced the earlier UGC-approved journal list
Directly evaluated Indian and international journals
Journals in Scopus, WoS, PubMed, MathSciNet, etc.
Free to search; updated periodically by UGC
API scores, PhD thesis requirements, accreditation
UGC CARE Group 1 vs Group 2: Detailed Comparison
| Feature | UGC CARE Group 1 | UGC CARE Group 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Journals directly evaluated and whitelisted by UGC CARE committee | Journals indexed in approved international databases |
| Approved databases | N/A (UGC CARE direct evaluation) | Scopus, WoS (SCI/SCIE/SSCI/A&HCI), PubMed, MathSciNet, zbMATH, PsycINFO, Chemical Abstracts |
| Where to verify | ugccare.inflibnet.ac.in (official portal) | Individual database portals (Scopus, WoS MJL, PubMed, etc.) |
| Coverage | Predominantly Indian journals; some international | Most major international peer-reviewed journals |
| Prestige | Variable — some are excellent; some are low-impact | Higher on average; all meet international database quality criteria |
| Risk of predatory journals | Lower (evaluated by UGC committee) | Lower (must meet Scopus/WoS quality criteria) |
| Accepted for PhD? | Yes — accepted by most Indian universities | Yes — universally accepted |
| Accepted for API (faculty promotions)? | Yes | Yes (higher API score for WoS/Scopus-indexed) |
How to Check the UGC CARE Journal List: Step by Step
| Step | For Group 1 Verification | For Group 2 Verification |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Go to ugccare.inflibnet.ac.in | Go to scopus.com/sources or webofscience.com/wos/mjl |
| 2 | Select "Search" and enter journal title or ISSN | Search by journal title or ISSN |
| 3 | Verify the journal appears with an active status | Confirm the journal is listed as active/indexed |
| 4 | Note the subject category and ISSN | Note which specific index it is in (SCIE, SSCI, Scopus, etc.) |
| 5 | Cross-check on the journal's own website | Cross-check database name matches what the journal claims |
| 6 | Check the journal's recent issues and peer review process | Check the journal's impact factor / CiteScore on JCR or Scopus |
UGC Minimum Publication Standards for PhD in India (2026)
UGC's Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of PhD Degree (2022 Regulations) requires PhD scholars to publish before thesis submission:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum publications | At least 1 research paper published or accepted for publication in a UGC CARE-listed, Scopus, or Web of Science-indexed journal |
| Timing | Paper must be accepted / published before thesis submission (not after viva) |
| Quality of journal | Must be in UGC CARE Group 1, Group 2, Scopus, or WoS (SCI/SCIE/SSCI) — not just any peer-reviewed journal |
| University variation | Many universities require 2 papers, or specify Scopus/WoS only — check your university's PhD ordinance |
| Conference papers | Conference papers alone (without a journal paper) generally do not satisfy the UGC minimum requirement |
How to Choose a UGC CARE Group 1 Journal Without Getting Caught by Predatory Publishers
Even though UGC CARE Group 1 journals are vetted, the list is periodically updated and some older entries may no longer meet quality standards. Before submitting to any Group 1 journal, verify that: (1) the journal has published recent issues (within the last 12 months); (2) the editorial board lists real academics with verifiable affiliations; (3) peer review takes at least 4–8 weeks (instant acceptance is a red flag); (4) the journal is not listed in Beall's archived predatory list or Cabells Predatory Reports; and (5) the journal's published papers are genuinely citable and retrievable in searches. A legitimate UGC CARE Group 1 journal will tick all these boxes.
Not sure if your target journal qualifies as UGC CARE Group 1 or Group 2 for your PhD submission or API score? Thesis Ace Writers' publishing specialists can verify your journal and help you prepare a publication-ready manuscript.
How to Publish in a UGC CARE-Listed Journal: Step-by-Step
| Stage | Action | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Journal shortlisting | Use UGC CARE portal + Scopus/WoS to identify 3–5 target journals in your field | Shortlist based on scope fit, acceptance rate, and timeline — not just UGC CARE status |
| 2. Manuscript writing | Write a full research paper: Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, References | Follow the target journal's author guidelines; use correct citation format |
| 3. Plagiarism check | Run Turnitin or iThenticate before submission; similarity index must typically be below 10–15% | Most universities require a plagiarism report with the thesis — ensure your paper clears this |
| 4. Submission | Submit via the journal's online portal (email submission only is a warning sign) | Upload all required files; complete all author declaration forms; pay APC only after acceptance |
| 5. Peer review | Respond carefully to reviewer comments; submit revised version within the deadline | Keep the acceptance letter — you will need it for thesis submission even before the paper is published online |
| 6. Post-acceptance | Obtain and preserve the acceptance letter, final published version, and DOI | Submit these to your university as proof of publication requirement fulfilment |
API Score for Faculty Promotions: How UGC CARE Publications Count
| Publication Type | API Score (Indicative) |
|---|---|
| Paper in WoS SCI/SCIE journal | 10–15 points per paper |
| Paper in Scopus-indexed journal | 8–10 points per paper |
| Paper in UGC CARE Group 1 journal | 5–7 points per paper |
| Paper in non-UGC CARE peer-reviewed journal | 0–2 points (often not counted) |
| Book chapter (international publisher) | 3–5 points |
| Conference paper (indexed proceedings) | 2–4 points |
Related Reading from Thesis Ace Writers
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Frequently Asked Questions
Click a question to expand the answer.
The UGC CARE (Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics) journal list is a database of quality-assured, peer-reviewed journals approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India. It was introduced in 2019 to replace the earlier UGC-approved journal list and to combat predatory publishing. The UGC CARE list includes two groups: Group 1 (journals specifically evaluated and recommended by UGC) and Group 2 (journals indexed in internationally recognised citation databases — Scopus, Web of Science, etc.). Publications in UGC CARE-listed journals count towards Academic Performance Indicators (API) for faculty promotions and PhD thesis submission requirements at most Indian universities.
UGC CARE Group 1 contains journals that have been directly evaluated and whitelisted by UGC's CARE committee. These are predominantly Indian journals or journals of specific interest to the Indian academic community. UGC CARE Group 2 contains journals indexed in approved international citation databases: Scopus, Web of Science (SCIE, SSCI, A&HCI), MathSciNet, zbMATH, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Chemical Abstracts. If a journal is indexed in any of these approved databases, it automatically qualifies as UGC CARE Group 2, even if it is not listed specifically on the UGC CARE portal. Group 2 is therefore very broad — most good international journals qualify.
To check if a journal is in UGC CARE Group 1, go to ugccare.inflibnet.ac.in and search by journal title, ISSN, or subject area. For UGC CARE Group 2, check whether the journal is indexed in Scopus (scopus.com/sources) or Web of Science (WoS Master Journal List). If the journal is in any of the UGC-approved databases (Scopus, WoS, PubMed, MathSciNet, etc.), it qualifies as Group 2. Always use the official INFLIBNET portal for Group 1 verification — do not rely on third-party lists which may be outdated.
Yes. UGC's minimum standards require PhD scholars to have at least one publication or acceptance letter from a UGC CARE-listed, Scopus-indexed, or Web of Science-indexed journal before thesis submission. Publishing in a UGC CARE Group 1 journal, a Scopus-indexed journal, or a WoS-indexed (SCI/SCIE/SSCI) journal all satisfy this requirement. However, individual universities may have stricter requirements — some specify only Scopus or WoS; others accept UGC CARE Group 1 as well. Always verify your specific university's PhD ordinance before submitting.
To find a UGC CARE Group 1 journal in your field: (1) Go to ugccare.inflibnet.ac.in; (2) Select the search by subject area; (3) Browse journals listed under your relevant subject category; (4) For each candidate journal, check its peer review process, editorial board, acceptance rate, and recent published articles; (5) Verify the journal has a valid ISSN and is active (recently published issues). Prioritise journals with a visible editorial board of recognised academics and a clear, transparent review process. Avoid Group 1 journals that accept papers very quickly or charge high APCs without commensurate quality assurance.