What are journals approved by UGC?

UGC-approved journals are those publications that fulfill the appropriate academic and ethical standards of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India. UGC used to have an official list previously called the UGC Approved List of Journals. Nonetheless, this list became the UGC-CARE List (Consortium of Academic and Research Ethics) that aimed at making sure that only fine journals are acknowledged.

Under UGC-CARE the journals are classified under:

Group I: GJs rated by UGC-CARE according to a particular parameter, including peer review and publication ethics.

Group II: Journals that are included in renowned international databases such as Scopus or Web of Science.

Why is UGC approval important?

By publishing in a UGC-recognized journal, your research is guaranteed to:

• Academically sound and acceptable.
• Tally PhD submissions, faculty promotions, and research reviews.
• Helps develop a good research profile that is more visible and cited.

Checking a journal to determine whether it is UGC-approved or not.

This is the way you can check whether a journal is officially recognized:

• Visit the UGC-CARE Portal:

Go to ugccare.unipune.ac.in

— the home page of Savitribai Phule Pune University.

• Login or Register:

Add the free account to the full UGC-CARE list.

• Journal Title or ISSN Search:

The name should be the same as the original name or ISSN; otherwise, it will be confused with duplicated or fraudulent journals.

• Check the Group Category:

Upon whether or not it belongs to Group I or Group II.

• Verify Publisher and Scope:

The publisher should always be checked against the website and the indexing information of the journal prior to submission.

Warning Signs of Fake or Cloned Journals

Be cautious of journals that:

• Guaranteed publication or assured acceptance.
• Secret agendas or absence of an evident editorial policy.
• Not available on the official UGC-CARE web page.
• Derive deceptive titles like authentic journals.

On the page UGC-CARE clone report, you can report cloned journals.

Latest Update (2025)

In 2025, UGC stated that it would no longer sustain the UGC-CARE List but a model that revolves around research quality parameters and not fixed journal listings. This implies that researchers now have to judge journals by peer review, editor transparency, and indexation and not necessarily UGC status only.

FAQs

•  What is the distinction between the UGC-approved and UGC-CARE journals?

The previous one was known as UGC-approved journals, and currently, there is the UGC-CARE list that is the official one.

• Is it possible to publish in a Scopus or Web of Science journal instead?

Yes. The journals listed in the Scopus or WoS database are automatically included in UGC-CARE Group II.

• Do you need to publish in UGC journals to get a PhD?

Yes, in most Indian universities, UGC-recognized journals are necessary for research assessment and submission of degrees.

Conclusion

It also helps increase your academic credibility, as publishing in a UGC-approved (UGC-CARE-listed) journal is a guarantee that your work is recognized worldwide. The authenticity of the journal must always be checked at the official UGC-CARE portal prior to submission in order to avoid predatory or duplicated journals.

In the face of researchers whose aim is to publish in the reputed journals, the attention towards quality, indexing, and the ethical publication standards comes into the limelight more than ever before.