Title: Upholding Integrity in Research: Exposing the Fake Publication Nexus in India by Dr. Kiran Kakade

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In the pursuit of academic excellence, it is essential to maintain the highest standards of integrity and ethics. As a member of the academic community, I feel compelled to shed light on the growing issue of fake publications and unethical practices in research, particularly in India. It is my hope that this blog will serve as a cautionary tale and a call to action for fellow researchers and scholars.

For over a decade, I have witnessed various incidents that have shaken my faith in the integrity of academic research. Faculty members, driven by personal gain or professional advancement, have compromised their moral values by engaging in deceptive practices such as purchasing authorship or submitting low-quality research to dated journals. These incidents have raised questions about the state of academic research in our country.

I would like to share a personal experience that has left a lasting impact on me. I submitted two high-quality research papers to a conference organized by a reputed management Institute in Pune. I paid a conference fee of 3,000 INR with the assurance of Scopus publication. To my surprise, my paper, which had received the Best Research Paper Award, was later rejected due to alleged quality issues. The organizers then presented me with an offer: to publish my paper in the UGC CARE list, I needed to pay an additional 5,000 INR, and for Scopus publication, an astonishing 13,000 INR. Despite my paper’s quality and the recognition it had received, I reluctantly paid the 13,000 INR.

However, my ordeal did not end there. I waited for five months for the publication process, only to discover that there were unresolved issues. I reached out to the organizing committee, who informed me that the review process was ongoing. Finally, they published my paper in a special edition that was not indexed in any database. I had wasted nine months of my time, 16,000 INR of my hard-earned money, a quality research paper, and endured significant mental harassment.

Regrettably, my experience is not an isolated incident. It’s emblematic of the widespread issues plaguing India’s academic research landscape. I must also share another disheartening case: during an NBA accreditation visit to a top private university in Bangalore, it was discovered that out of 128 Scopus-indexed research papers, only six were genuine. The remainder were published in paid clone journals.

This is the disconcerting reality of today’s academic research business in India. It raises fundamental questions about the country’s path to development and growth in research and development.

We must collectively take a stand against these unethical practices, prioritizing research quality and integrity over personal gain. By sharing our experiences and exposing the fake publication nexus, we can work together to instigate positive change and restore the credibility of academic research in India.

Our academic community can choose to uphold honesty, transparency, and the pursuit of genuine contributions to knowledge. Let’s unite to create a brighter future for academia in India, where trust and integrity are the cornerstones of our research endeavors

This is the grim reality of today’s academic research business in India. It raises a fundamental question: how can India progress as a developed country, and how can we thrive in research and development when unethical practices are so deeply ingrained in our academic system?

It is crucial for us, as members of the academic community, to take a stand against these unethical practices. We must prioritize the quality and integrity of our research over personal gain or institutional pressure. By sharing our experiences and exposing the fake publication nexus, we can work together to bring about positive change and restore the credibility of academic research in India. It is time for us to collectively raise our voices and demand a more ethical and transparent research environment.

Let’s embark on a journey to preserve the sanctity of research and create a brighter future for academia in India, one built on trust, honesty, and genuine contributions to knowledge.