Page 16 - Academic and Research Book_WEB

The Role of UGC-CARE

To help the Indian academic community, choose journals/conferences that follow standard ethical
policies, improve the quality of research publications, enhance academic integrity and publication
ethics, and improve the quality of research in Indian universities, the UGC created, CARE, a
“Consortium for Academic Research and Ethics” of relevant stakeholders.

UGC-CARE is based on the well-known principle followed for quality management system by
many regulators, Corrective And Preventive Actions (CAPA). The purpose is to collect and analyse
information, identify and investigate problems, and take appropriate and effective action to prevent
incidence and recurrence. The CAPA approach involves verifying, validating, and communicating
action activities to responsible people, and documenting and providing information for management
review. Systematic investigation of the root causes of problems is very crucial to ensure effective,
corrective, and preventive actions. The CARE initiative to clean up research publications in India
focuses on predatory publishers/journals.

An Empowered Committee steers the entire activity of CARE. Over 30 statutory councils and
government bodies across disciplines are invited members of the Consortium to identify, continuously
monitor, and maintain a reference list of quality journals across disciplines. It has done a good job in
weeding out many suspect publications. The repeated public notices, gazette notifications and circulars
to institutions are sensitizing researchers to the dangers of plagiarism/self-plagiarism, publishing in
predatory journals and unethical publishing practices.

Proposals for new journals including consideration of inclusion in the UGC-CARE list can be
submitted only through CARE members or any one of CARE universities including Jawaharlal Nehru
University, Tezpur University, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and University of Hyderabad.
The UGC Cell at Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune analyses journals according to validated
protocol. The UGC-CARE list is dynamic, to be updated every quarter. The first edition of UGC-
CARE Reference List of Quality Journals was released in June, 2019 accompanying a “Public Notice
on Academic Integrity”. The CARE website provides useful resources such as, relevant publications,
audio-visual materials, videos, and weblinks. It also provides FAQs, feedback and a grievance redressal
mechanism.

Good Academic Research Practices

Responsible conduct of research, and safeguarding ethics and academic integrity in scientific
research is extremely crucial. Compromised publication ethics and deteriorating academic integrity
are contaminating all domains of research. Unethical, deceptive practices in publishing have led to
an increased number of dubious/predatory journals worldwide. In India, the percentage of research
articles published in predatory journals is high. It is important to prevent academic misconduct,
including plagiarism, in academic writing among student, faculty, researcher, and staff. The Indian
academic community needs to ensure that the journals/conferences it chooses to publish follow
standard ethical policies.

Any attempt of compromised academic integrity should be challenged, questioned, and de-recognized
at all levels. Unethical practices leading to a “pay and publish trash” culture need to be thwarted
immediately. The UGC-CARE Reference List of Quality Journals is one step in this direction. The
UGC, Indian Research Councils, Indian Science Academies as well as PSA office have published
documents related to academic integrity and ethics (as listed in Additional Readings).

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