What Is the UGC CARE List — and Which Journals Count for Your PhD?

UGC CARE stands for University Grants Commission — Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics. It is the system through which the UGC maintains an approved list of quality journals for Indian academic publication. For PhD scholars, publishing in a UGC CARE listed journal satisfies the publication requirement for thesis submission at virtually all Indian universities. For faculty, publications in UGC CARE journals count toward API scoring and CAS promotions.

Understanding what UGC CARE is, how it works, and how to verify journals on the official portal is one of the most practically important things a PhD scholar in India can know.

Why UGC CARE Exists

Before 2019, the UGC maintained a list of “UGC Approved Journals.” Over time, this list became a target for abuse — predatory journals found ways to get listed, and some listed journals began accepting papers with minimal or no peer review once they had the UGC approval credential. The result was a credibility problem: scholars published in journals that were technically UGC-approved but academically worthless.

In 2019, the UGC replaced the old approved journal list with UGC CARE, a more rigorously maintained system with stricter criteria, continuous monitoring, and a mechanism for removing journals that fall below standards. The previous UGC Approved Journals list has been officially discontinued. Any journal that claims to be on the “old UGC approved list” should be treated with scepticism — verify its current status on the UGC CARE portal before submitting.

How UGC CARE Is Structured

The UGC CARE list is divided into two groups.

Group I — Journals that have been reviewed and approved through UGC’s own assessment protocols. These are typically Indian journals that meet criteria related to editorial board quality, peer review standards, publication regularity, and ethical practices. Many are discipline-specific journals in humanities, social sciences, and education.

Group II — Journals indexed in globally recognised databases including SCOPUS and Web of Science (Arts and Humanities Citation Index, Social Sciences Citation Index, Science Citation Index Expanded). A journal that is SCOPUS-indexed automatically qualifies for UGC CARE Group II.

The practical implication: If you publish in a SCOPUS-indexed journal, you have automatically satisfied the UGC CARE publication requirement as well. SCOPUS indexing subsumes UGC CARE Group II recognition. Group I journals are specifically Indian, typically less internationally prestigious, but fully valid for all PhD submission and API purposes.

Which Journals Count for Your PhD Thesis Submission?

Most Indian universities specify that the research paper submitted as part of your PhD must be published in a journal that is either SCOPUS-indexed or UGC CARE listed. Some universities specify UGC CARE only; a few specify SCOPUS only. Many simply say “a recognised peer-reviewed journal,” which in practice means UGC CARE or better.

The key rule: always confirm your university’s specific requirement with your Research Cell or PhD coordinator. University PhD ordinances vary. The Thesis Guide has worked with scholars at over 40 universities across MP, UP, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and other states, and the specific requirement differs meaningfully between institutions.

Do not assume that because a journal is UGC CARE listed, your university will automatically accept it. And do not assume that because a journal claims to be UGC CARE listed, it actually is.

How to Verify a Journal on the UGC CARE Portal

This is the step that protects you from predatory journals. Verification takes three minutes and can save months.

1. Go to ugccare.unipune.ac.in (the official UGC CARE portal)
2. You will need to register for a free account to access the search
3. Once logged in, search by journal name, ISSN, or subject area
4. Confirm the journal is listed and is currently active — not discontinued or removed

Warning signs to check for:

• The journal appears on UGC CARE’s list of discontinued journals (check the discontinued list on the same portal)
• The journal has changed its name, ISSN, or publisher since listing
• The UGC CARE portal has no record of the journal at all

If a journal cannot be found on the official UGC CARE portal, it is not UGC CARE listed — regardless of what the journal’s website, its email solicitations, or third-party listing sites claim.

How UGC CARE Journals Are Scored in API

For faculty in Indian colleges and universities, publications in UGC CARE journals contribute to the API score used in promotions and appointments. The scoring is not uniform — it depends on the journal’s category.

These figures are approximate and vary by institution and by the version of API guidelines in use. The principle is consistent: SCOPUS-indexed publications score highest, followed by UGC CARE Group I, with non-indexed journals contributing much less.

Common Mistakes When Using the UGC CARE List

Trusting a journal’s own claim. Predatory journals routinely claim UGC CARE listing on their websites, in their email solicitations, and even in their published papers. These claims are sometimes outright false and sometimes based on past listing that has since been revoked. Always verify on the official portal.

Using outdated information. The UGC CARE list is updated periodically. A journal that was listed last year may have been removed. A journal that was not listed may now be included. Check the current list before submission, not a list you downloaded or saved months ago.

Confusing the UGC CARE list with the discontinued “UGC Approved” list. Several websites still publish and sell access to the old UGC Approved Journal list from before 2019. This list is no longer valid. The only valid reference is the current UGC CARE portal.

Submitting to journals that were delisted. UGC CARE removes journals that fall below standards. A publication in a journal that was removed from UGC CARE after you submitted — but before your thesis was examined — may not be accepted by your university. This is rare but has happened. Check current status at the time of submission, not just when you selected the journal.

The Relationship Between UGC CARE and SCOPUS

The simplest way to understand the relationship is this: SCOPUS is a global quality standard; UGC CARE is the Indian regulatory framework that recognises SCOPUS as sufficient.

Publishing in a SCOPUS-indexed journal satisfies the UGC CARE publication requirement automatically. Publishing in a UGC CARE Group I journal satisfies the UGC requirement but does not carry SCOPUS recognition.

For career purposes — faculty appointments, CAS promotions, research grants — SCOPUS publications score higher. For PhD thesis submission purposes, both are typically accepted. The choice between them depends on your timeline, the availability of suitable journals in your discipline, and your long-term career goals.

Need Help Navigating the UGC CARE System?

The Thesis Guide has worked with over 200 scholars across humanities disciplines at Indian state and central universities. Part of every research paper engagement is identifying the right journals for your specific research topic, your university’s requirements, and your timeline — whether that means targeting SCOPUS or UGC CARE or both.

A free consultation is the starting point.

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