Introduction
In India’s diverse academic landscape, research in regional languages holds immense value. However, many PhD scholars and early-career researchers hesitate to publish in their native languages, unsure whether UGC-recognised journals will accept such work. This confusion can lead to either limiting research expression or falling prey to unsuitable journals. So, what’s the actual position of UGC and academic publishing on regional language submissions?
The UGC’s Stand on Language Diversity
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has made efforts to support linguistic plurality in higher education. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 further reinforces this by encouraging scholarly work in Indian languages. As a result, several journals in the UGC-CARE list do accept submissions in regional languages like Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali, and others.
However, not all UGC-CARE journals accept regional languages. The journal’s scope, editorial board, and submission guidelines play a key role. Researchers must review this information carefully to ensure compatibility.
Challenges in Publishing Regional Language Research
Despite this encouragement, practical challenges exist.
These include:
- Limited number of quality journals: Only a small proportion of UGC-listed journals publish in regional languages.
- Peer review bottlenecks: Finding qualified reviewers fluent in a specific language may delay or hinder the peer review process.
- Lower citation potential: Articles in regional languages may get cited less internationally, affecting the paper’s visibility and the author’s academic metrics.
- Translation issues: Many authors are expected to provide abstracts or even full papers in both the regional language and English, which requires precision.
How to Find the Right Journals
Here’s how Indian researchers can locate credible journals accepting regional language research:
- UGC-CARE Portal: Use filters on the UGC-CARE website to search by subject and language.
- University Departments: State universities or language departments often manage or contribute to regional-language journals that are UGC-listed.
- State Language Academies: These institutions often collaborate on academic journals that might be UGC-recognised.
- Experienced Researchers: Asking your guide or senior faculty can save time and help avoid fake journals.
- Check Language Policy: Even if the journal is UGC-CARE approved, ensure that it explicitly mentions your regional language in its submission criteria.
Why Publishing in Regional Languages Matters
While publishing in English is often seen as the default, especially for STEM disciplines, regional language research has its own power. For instance:
- Cultural relevance: Research on folklore, traditional medicine, rural studies, and vernacular literature benefits from being presented in the local language.
- Accessibility: It ensures knowledge is accessible to grassroots communities, local policymakers, and educational institutions.
- Preservation of knowledge: Language is not just a medium but a container of indigenous knowledge, values, and context.
Tips for Regional Language Publication
- Follow formatting carefully: Regional language submissions must often follow dual-format guidelines (native language + English abstract or vice versa).
- Get professional proofreading: Errors in spelling or grammar—even in regional scripts—can lead to rejections.
- Consider interdisciplinary journals: Some education or cultural journals accept a mix of languages and subjects.
- Mention relevance clearly: In the abstract, justify why the regional language is appropriate for your research theme.
- Stay away from predatory journals: Many fake journals pretend to accept all languages without editorial rigour. Don’t fall into this trap just for convenience.
Conclusion
Yes, you can publish regional language research in UGC-recognised journals—but only if you choose wisely and follow all editorial expectations. The goal of academic publishing is both to preserve and to disseminate knowledge. If your research gains more relevance when written in your mother tongue, then don’t shy away. Just ensure that it also meets academic standards and is published through a credible, UGC-listed platform. In doing so, you not only contribute to your field but also to the linguistic and cultural richness of Indian academia.