UGC-CARE List
Publishing & metrics
The University Grants Commission's Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics list of quality journals — the reference list many Indian universities use for PhD publication requirements.
The UGC-CARE list was maintained by India's University Grants Commission through its Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics to identify credible journals for academic evaluation. It emerged in response to widespread publication in low-quality and predatory outlets, and became the reference point for whether a publication counted towards doctoral and promotion requirements.
It was structured in two groups: Group I held journals assessed and approved through the CARE process, while Group II covered journals indexed in globally recognised databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. Journals were reviewed periodically and could be added or removed.
Because UGC requirements and the status of the list itself have changed over time, verify the current position with your own university's research regulations before selecting a target journal — institutional rules govern what your degree actually requires. Where the guidance is unclear, publishing in a Scopus or Web of Science indexed journal remains the safest route.
Where it's used
- Checking whether a journal satisfies your university's PhD ordinance
- Journal shortlisting alongside Scopus and Web of Science
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