If you are a PhD scholar in India, this is probably one of the first questions you asked your supervisor — and one of the most confusing to get a straight answer to. The number of research papers required before you can submit your thesis varies by university, by state, and sometimes even by department. But there is a clear picture, and this article will give it to you.
By the end of this article, you will know exactly how many papers are typically required, which journals count, what happens if your paper is rejected, and what your options are if you are struggling to write and publish.
The Short Answer: Two to Four Research Papers
Most Indian universities require PhD scholars to publish between two and four research papers in peer-reviewed or SCOPUS-indexed journals before they are eligible to submit their final thesis. The most common requirement is a minimum of two papers, but many universities, particularly in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, specify three.
The keyword here is “published”— not “submitted,” not “under review,” not “accepted.” The paper must be formally published and accessible in the journal before your thesis submission is accepted. This distinction matters enormously for your timeline planning.
Important distinction: Some universities count only SCOPUS-indexed or UGC-CARE-listed journal publications. Others accept any peer-reviewed journal. Some accept conference proceedings. Always confirm the exact requirement with your university’s Research Cell or PhD coordinator — do not rely on what other scholars in your department have told you, as requirements are updated regularly.
What Types of Journals Count?
Not all journals are equal in the eyes of Indian universities. Understanding the difference between journal types will save you from publishing in the wrong place and having to start again.
SCOPUS-Indexed Journal — Accepted by almost all Indian universities. Highest credibility. Required by most universities in their PhD regulations.
UGC-CARE Listed Journal — The University Grants Commission’s approved list. Accepted by most Indian universities. Check ugccare.unipune.ac.in for the current list.
Web of Science (WoS) — Internationally prestigious. Accepted wherever SCOPUS is accepted. Slightly harder to publish in.
Peer-Reviewed (non-indexed) — Accepted by some universities, particularly for humanities subjects. Confirm with your university before targeting these journals.
Predatory / Fake Journals — Not accepted anywhere. Can result in disqualification or disciplinary action. Always verify on scopus.com before submitting.
How to verify a journal is legitimate: Search for the journal name on the official SCOPUS database (scopus.com/sources) or the UGC-CARE portal (ugccare.unipune.ac.in). If it is not listed there, do not publish in it without confirming with your university first.
When Do You Need to Publish — Before or After Thesis Submission?
In most Indian universities, research papers must be published before the final thesis is submitted for examination. This means your papers need to be in print while you are still writing your thesis, which creates significant time pressure.
The practical implication: begin working on your first research paper no later than the end of your second year of PhD registration, ideally earlier. A typical research paper takes four to eight weeks to write well, then three to twelve months to move through peer review and publication. If you wait until your thesis is nearly complete, you risk delaying your degree by a full year.
Year 1 — Focus on RDC clearance. Begin identifying potential paper topics from your literature review.
Year 2 — Write and submit your first research paper. Target journals with faster review cycles (3–6 months).
Year 3 — Write and submit your second (and third, if required) paper. Begin thesis chapter writing in parallel.
Year 4+ — Papers should be published or in the final acceptance stage. Focus shifts to thesis completion and submission.
What If Your Paper Gets Rejected?
Rejection is not failure; it is a normal part of academic publishing, even for experienced researchers. When a journal rejects your paper, it usually falls into one of three categories:
Desk rejection: The paper was rejected without peer review, usually because it did not fit the journal’s scope. Revise the framing and submit to a different journal.
Rejection after peer review with feedback: Reviewers found specific problems. Address every comment and resubmit to the same journal (if invited) or to a new one with revisions incorporated.
Outright rejection after peer review: The research design or methodology needs significant rethinking before resubmission. The hardest rejection, but still recoverable.
The most important thing: do not abandon a rejected paper. Revise it and resubmit. Most published papers have been rejected at least once.
The Specific Challenge for Humanities Scholars
If you are a PhD scholar in English Literature, Sociology, Philosophy, History, Management, or another humanities subject, you face a specific challenge that STEM scholars do not: there are fewer SCOPUS-indexed journals in your discipline, and the ones that exist have longer review timelines and very specific editorial preferences.
This makes journal selection critical. Submitting a paper on postcolonial literature to the wrong journal will result in an immediate desk rejection regardless of the paper’s quality. Understanding the journal landscape in your specific field is as important as writing the paper itself.
A Practical Checklist Before You Submit Any Paper
- Confirm your university’s exact requirement — number of papers, acceptable journal types, and whether papers need to be published or merely accepted before thesis submission.
- Verify the target journal is legitimate on the SCOPUS or UGC-CARE portal directly.
- Read at least three recent papers in your target journal before writing. Match their structure, tone, and citation style exactly.
- Write the abstract last — it is the most important part for editorial desk decisions and is easier to write accurately after the full paper exists.
- Check the journal’s current review timeline. Some journals take 12 months or more.
- Run a plagiarism check before submission; most journals require a similarity score below 15%.
- Have the paper reviewed by someone with subject expertise before submitting.
Need Help Getting Your Research Paper Published?
The Thesis Guide has helped PhD scholars across India write and publish over 200 research papers in SCOPUS and peer-reviewed journals — in English Literature, Sociology, Management, Philosophy, History, Library Science, and related humanities subjects.
If you are struggling with any part of the process—identifying the right journal, writing the paper, formatting citations, or recovering from a rejection—the Thesis Guide offers a free, no-obligation consultation. Fill in the short enquiry form below, and the Thesis Guide will call you personally within 24 hours.