Why has the UGC-CARE list of journals been discontinued?

Background:

• The UGC-CARE list, introduced in 2018, aimed to recognize reputable academic journals for faculty selection, promotions, and research funding.
• On February 2024, the UGC discontinued the list, replacing it with 36 suggestive parameters under eight criteria for evaluating journals.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance , Education )

New Suggestive Parameters (36 under 8 Criteria):

1. Journal Preliminary Criteria: Title, ISSN, periodicity, transparency in review policy.
2. Editorial Board Criteria: Availability and composition details of editorial board.
3. Editorial Policy: Ethical publishing standards and peer-review process.
4. Journal Standards: Consistency, citation practices, and quality indicators.
5. Journal Visibility: Indexing, reach, and accessibility.
6. Research Ethics: Measures against plagiarism and predatory practices.

Why did UGC withdraw the CARE list?

• Criticisms of CARE List:
  • Over-centralisation: Excessive control in journal recognition decisions.
  • Delays: Slow process in adding or removing journals.
  • Limited Representation: Exclusion of respected Indian language journals.
  • Lack of Transparency: Opaque decision-making processes.
• UGC’s Justifications for New Approach:
  • Decentralisation: Institutions can develop their own evaluation mechanisms aligned with UGC parameters.
  • Flexibility: Allows consideration of discipline-specific needs and emerging fields.
  • Combating Predatory Journals: Places responsibility on HEIs to ensure publication quality.

Response & Concerns:

• Students’ Federation of India (SFI):
  • Condemned the move, citing lack of consultation with academic communities.
  • Feared proliferation of low-quality journals without central oversight.
  • Warned of academic integrity erosion and inconsistent evaluation processes.
• Broader Concerns:
  • Part of deregulation trend under NEP 2020.
  • Risk of arbitrary journal evaluations by different institutions.