How to Find & Verify UGC-CARE, Scopus and Web of Science Indexed Journals

Why Journal Verification Matters More Than Ever

Publishing in the right academic journal is no longer just a milestone — it's a prerequisite. Academic evaluations, Ph.D. submissions, faculty promotions, and research grant approvals are increasingly tied to whether a journal can be independently verified in a recognized database. It's essential for every scholar to know exactly how to find and verify UGC-CARE, Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS) listed journals before committing time, a manuscript, or a fee to any of them.

This guide walks through the exact search process for each of the three databases, a quick-reference comparison, how to spot cloned or discontinued journals, and where IJRTI itself honestly stands across all three.

The Three Databases You Actually Need to Check

Database	Run By	Relevant For
UGC-CARE List	UGC / Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU)	PhD submissions, API scoring, Indian institutional compliance
Scopus	Elsevier	International citation tracking, CiteScore, some institutional/grant requirements
Web of Science	Clarivate	Journal Impact Factor (JCR), SCIE/SSCI/AHCI/ESCI categories

Step by Step: Finding UGC-CARE Listed Journals

1. Visit ugccare.unipune.ac.in.
2. Register and log in with your name and email.
3. Use the search filters: Journal Name, ISSN, Subject, Publisher, Language, and Group I / II.
4. Confirm the journal appears in the current list — not an archived or superseded version.

Step by Step: Finding Scopus Indexed Journals

1. Visit scopus.com/sources (Elsevier's official Scopus Source List).
2. Filter by Title, ISSN, Subject Area, or Publisher.
3. Confirm the journal is shown as currently, actively indexed — Scopus periodically discontinues titles that no longer meet its standards.

Step by Step: Finding Web of Science Indexed Journals

1. Visit mjl.clarivate.com (the Clarivate Master Journal List).
2. Search by the journal's exact title or ISSN.
3. Check the specific index category: SCIE (Science Citation Index Expanded), SSCI (Social Science Citation Index), AHCI (Arts & Humanities Citation Index), or ESCI (Emerging Sources Citation Index).

These categories are not interchangeable — SCIE/SSCI/AHCI carry a Journal Impact Factor (JCR) in Clarivate's system, while ESCI-listed journals currently do not. If your requirement is specifically "JCR Impact Factor," confirm the journal sits in SCIE, SSCI, or AHCI, not just anywhere on the Master Journal List.

Quick-Reference Verification Table

What You Want to Confirm	Where to Check	What to Look For
UGC-CARE listing (Group I/II)	ugccare.unipune.ac.in	Journal appears in current list, correct ISSN
Scopus indexing	scopus.com/sources	"Active" status, matching ISSN and title
Web of Science indexing	mjl.clarivate.com	Listed with a specific index category (SCIE/SSCI/AHCI/ESCI)
DOAJ (Open Access) listing	doaj.org	Journal appears with matching ISSN
Cloned/fraudulent journal warning	UGC-CARE cloned journals lists (Group I & II)	Journal name should not appear here

Does Scopus/WoS Indexing Outweigh UGC CARE Listing?

It's a fair and common question, and the honest answer is: it depends entirely on your specific institution's evaluation framework, not on any universal ranking of the databases themselves. Some institutional API frameworks assign additional weight to Scopus or Web of Science indexed publications beyond baseline UGC CARE listing; others treat UGC CARE Group I and Group II listings equivalently for compliance purposes regardless of separate Scopus/WoS status.

Red Flags: Spotting Cloned or Discontinued Journals

Journals get discontinued from UGC-CARE, Scopus, or Web of Science for reasons including low content quality, lack of timely updates, or failure to meet ongoing standards. Separately, cloned journals impersonate real, listed titles using the same name, ISSN, or logo to deceive authors. Watch for:

• A journal website with a domain that doesn't match what's shown on the official database entry.
• Indexing badges or logos displayed with no working link to verify them.
• Claims of "Scopus indexed" or "UGC CARE approved" that don't match what you find on the official portals yourself.
• Guaranteed acceptance, unusually fast turnaround with no real review, or unusually aggressive fee collection before any review happens.

A Practical Pre-Submission Checklist

• ☐ Searched the exact journal title and ISSN on ugccare.unipune.ac.in
• ☐ Searched scopus.com/sources if Scopus indexing is a specific requirement
• ☐ Searched mjl.clarivate.com if Web of Science indexing is a specific requirement
• ☐ Confirmed the journal's own website domain matches the official database listing
• ☐ Checked the journal is not on any UGC-CARE cloned-journal list
• ☐ Confirmed the editorial board and peer review process are disclosed and verifiable
• ☐ Confirmed the fee structure is transparent, with no hidden charges after acceptance

Where IJRTI Stands Across All Three Databases

Database	IJRTI's Status
UGC-CARE	Operates as a Transparent Peer-Reviewed Refereed Journal within the UGC-CARE framework
Google Scholar	Indexed — basis for the disclosed 10.57 Impact Factor
CrossRef	Registered — DOI issued on request
Scopus	Not currently indexed
Web of Science	Not currently indexed
DOAJ	Not currently listed

This is stated directly and without ambiguity so you can verify it yourself using exactly the same steps outlined above, and decide whether IJRTI fits your specific submission requirement. For the full context on why IJRTI follows Scopus/WoS-style editorial rigor without being indexed in either, see Does IJRTI Follow Scopus & Web of Science Standards?

Frequently Asked Questions