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deviation from best editorial/publication practices, lack of transparency, and/or use of aggressive and
indiscriminate solicitation practices” (Moher, et al., 2019).

Predation and deception in scientific publishing has become pandemic in India, and there is an
urgent need to take preventive steps. In 2015, it was estimated that over 8000 predatory journals were
churning out more than 400,000 items each year (Shenand Björk, 2015).

Educating the academic community and creating more awareness about how to evaluate the integrity
of a journal is crucial in combating predators (Cobey, 2017). Akin to resistant microbes, predatory
journals are becoming increasingly invasive and adept at appearing legitimate. We need systematic
efforts to educate authors and warn them to stay away from such predators. According to Nature
Index analysis 2014, Indian science has shown a marked growth in high-quality scientific publications.
However, it has also been reported that the percentage of research articles published in predatory
journals is high in the country (Priyadarshini, 2017). This study showed that 51 per cent of predatory
authors were from affiliated colleges, followed by 18 per cent in private universities and 15 per cent
in state universities. The more worrying revelation is that 51 per cent faculty members and 32 per
cent doctoral students were authors in predatory journals (Seethapathy, et al. 2016). This indicates
the sheer desperation to publish poor-quality research just by paying money for pseudo recognition,
employment, promotions and doctoral degrees. Predatory journals and academic pollution along
with some factors responsible for this state of affairs have been discussed earlier (Patwardhan, 2013,
Lakhotia, 2015). Serious concerns regarding increasing number of Indian authors in predatory
journals and immediately regulating the quality of science and education have also been stressed
(Seethapathy, op. cit.).

The expansion of predatory publications from India seems mainly due to overemphasis on quantity
rather than quality of research publications as an academic performance indicator and the mandatory
requirement to publish at least two papers prior to submission of a doctoral thesis. But good
publications need very good research (Patwardhan, 2015). Although well meaning, the regulatory
provisions of UGC apparently triggered a sudden spurt in predatory journals giving way to the
“publish or perish” culture (Lakhotia, 2017).

Preventive Measures

Taking cognizance of the increasing menace of predatory publishing, UGC released a list of approved
journals in 2017. Creating a white-list was a well-meaning, proactive step by the Commission,
however, due to some flaws during implementation, it faced severe criticism. The large number of
poor-quality journals opened the floodgates for desperate authors. The rapid penetration of predators
in the Indian academic community became a major concern. After October 2018, UGC decided to
take firmer steps to improve research quality, academic integrity, and curb predatory publishers. As a
proactive step, the UGC list was critically reviewed using a robust protocol developed with the help of
like-minded academicians.

The critical analysis of the UGC list showed that over 88 per cent of journals from the university
source were of poor quality (Patwardhan, et al. 2018). The results attracted attention of the media,
the academic community and regulators. Curating the UGC list resulted in removing over 4000
predatory journals. But this was just a beginning. Subsequently, the UGC Journal Steering Committee
accelerated the work of curating UGC-approved list of journals on priority basis. UGC was only one
of the ten common funders, which provided guidance about journal selection on its website (Moher,
et al. 2017).

4 | University Grants Commission