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4 Consortium for Academic Research and Ethics CARE

FOREWORD
Increased incidence of compromised publication ethics and deteriorating academic integrity is
a growing problem contaminating all domains of research. It has been observed that unethical /
deceptive practices in publishing are leading to an increased number of dubious/ predatory journals
worldwide. It has been reported that the percentage of research articles published in predatory
journals is high in Indian Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). Unethical practices leading to
‘pay and publish trash’ culture in India needs to be thwarted immediately.
Research and innovation involve rigorous scientific effort in search of truth, creation of new
knowledge contributing to socioeconomic benefits for global good. It is important to ensure
prevention of academic misconduct including plagiarism in academic writing among student,
faculty, researcher and staff. Responsible conduct of research and safeguarding ethics and integrity
in scientific research is extremely crucial.

Academic Integrity is defined as “the intellectual honesty in proposing, performing and reporting
any activity, which leads to the creation of new knowledge, intellectual property”. Any attempt of
compromised academic integrity should be challenged, questioned and de-recognized at all levels.

Indian academic community including teaching faculty, scientists and research scholars need
to ensure that the journals / conferences they choose follow standard ethical policies. For this
purpose, the UGC has set up a Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics (CARE) to identify,
continuously monitor and maintain reference list of quality journals across disciplines. We suggest
that research articles published only in CARE Reference List of Quality Journals (CARE List)
should be considered for all academic purposes.

Indian academic community must avoid publication in predatory/ dubious journals or participate
in predatory conferences. They must not get associated (as Editors/Advisors or in any other capacity)
with journals / publishers / conferences involved in fraudulent, dubious, / deceptive practices.

Vice Chancellors, selection committees, research supervisors / guides and such other experts
involved in academic evaluation / assessment must ensure that their decisions are primarily based on
quality of research work and not merely on number of publications. Any publicationsin predatory
journals or presentations in predatory conferences should not be considered for academic credit
for selection, confirmation, promotion, performance appraisal, award of scholarship or academic
degrees or credits in any form. We hope CARE list will be useful for this purpose.

UGC (Promotion of Academic Integrity and Prevention of Plagiarism in Higher Educational
Institutions) Regulations, 2018 and UGC CARE website may be referred for more information.
Guidance from Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), San Francisco Declaration on Research
Assessment (DORA) and the Leiden Manifesto may be also referred for this purpose.