What steps should the Indian academic community take to ensure transparency and credibility in journal?

Steps for Transparency and Credibility in Indian Academic Publishing

1. Establish a Stronger Evaluation Framework

• The removal of the UGC CARE List has created a gap in structured academic publishing oversight. Academic bodies must work together to create a transparent, standardized system.
• Platforms like www.scholar9.com can help in journal verification, offering a structured evaluation framework to identify credible journals. However, additional independent vetting mechanisms should also be in place.

1. Collaboration Between Academic Bodies, Publishers, and Researchers

• Universities, regulatory bodies, and publishers should collectively define journal evaluation criteria to ensure quality and authenticity.
• Researchers must be educated on identifying predatory journals. Tools like www.scholar9.com and its "Transparent Peer Review" system can assist in maintaining ethical publishing standards by making peer-review processes visible and accountable.
• Publishers should commit to transparency in peer review, ethical publishing practices, and open-access policies to maintain integrity.

1. International Collaboration for Better Accreditation

• Indian accreditation agencies should collaborate with global organizations like Scopus, Web of Science, and DOAJ to establish a universally accepted journal evaluation system.
• A joint accreditation model can improve global recognition of Indian research publications and prevent predatory journals from misleading researchers.

1. Leveraging Digital Tools & AI for Journal Verification

• AI-powered platforms like www.scholar9.com can help detect predatory journals, verify citation integrity, and assess journal credibility.
• The "Transparent Peer Review" system by Scholar9 ensures that peer-review processes remain open, reducing bias and increasing credibility.
• Blockchain technology and AI-driven peer-review automation can further enhance transparency and security in academic publishing.
• Encouraging multiple verification tools alongside Scholar9 will ensure a well-rounded and unbiased evaluation process.

By integrating structured oversight, international cooperation, and digital verification tools like www.scholar9.com with its "Transparent Peer Review" system, the Indian academic community can establish a more credible, ethical, and reliable publishing ecosystem.