What India must do to create Its own world-class academic journals

Abstract

The fact that a few Indian elite academic institutions have now climbed up the ladder in global rankings done by credible international bodies was reported recently with pride in India. While this might be cause for happiness in an otherwise malaise-filled Indian academic ecosystem, Indian educationists need to reflect on how the country can climb further up the ladder.

There are many issues here, for instance those related to governance, incentives and international collaboration. Of direct interest is the question of research publications – journals where Indian scholars publish. Barring a few exceptional individuals in either the physical, natural or social sciences, the average Indian academic is probably guided on the pecking order of journals either by learning from her peers, by referring to standard platforms for journal rankings like Google Scholar’s metrics, or by turning to her own institutionally mandated journal list. For example, I learnt recently that my peers at IIM look to the journal list of the IIM I am employed with (which for better or worse, they might want to adopt or follow). A key question arises here – what should be the approach when looking at the big picture?. Read more at: https://thewire.in/education/academic-publishing-india