Good publications need good research

The dilution of academic standards and poor quality publications have become a global concern. Recently, in an editorial of Current Science, SC Lakhotia, an eminent scientist from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has raised a very important issue regarding predatory journals and academic pollution. This problem is presently worrying almost every conscientious academician. [1] Substantial efforts from Jeffrey Beall from the University of Colorado have immensely helped to create awareness on this subject. Notwithstanding that Beall has strong views against Ayurveda, his contributions to expose bad practices of predatory publishers are commendable. The Beall's list of predatory publishers has grown from merely 18 in 2011 to nearly 700 in 2015. This list also contains over 26 misleading metrics companies fabricating spurious variants and counterfeits of impact factors, which are used by predatory journals to attract authors. Serious concerns have been expressed over declining ethics and quality of research publications. The World Association of Medical Editors (www.wame.org) recommends publication ethics policies. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors offers guidance for conduct, reporting, editing, and publication (http://www.icmje.org). The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) as a forum of editors and publishers of peer review journals promotes integrity in research publications. Recent editorial of British Medical Journal has rightly suggested that firm action is needed on predatory journals, particularly because they are harming researchers from low and middle‑income countries. A recent analysis of authors contributing to such journals has indicated that most of them are from developing countries, especially India, Nigeria, and other African and middle East countries. [4] This is certainly not good for any country. Two main reasons for this state of affairs in India include criteria for career advancement and promotions for teachers and mandatory publications for PhD students. These compulsions are mainly responsible for desperate attempts for publications. The University Grants Commission (UGC), with good intentions, proposed a measurable metrics as an academic performance indicator. However, the UGC guidelines have not explained what is " peer reviewed " and have given International Standard Serial Number as a criterion for a research journal. As a result, hundreds of new self‑styled entrepreneurs and shops have emerged in last few years who have started a lucrative business of publishing predatory journals as open access, online or e‑journals. Many private universities and colleges have started their own journals instead of genuinely adopting research culture. Many predatory commercial journals advertise and assure the fast track publication …