Publishers GuideFor Publishers
Bharat Citation Index (BCI) is a free full-text archive of scholarly journal literature published from India. Join us in advancing research discovery and accessibility.
Submission Options
To support these goals, BCI offers submission options for publishers to consider:
Journal Participation
A journal deposits the final published version of every article or its funded articles if the journal meets BCI's standards for inclusion in BCI.
Selective Deposit Participation
A publisher deposits select articles from a collection of journals and/or articles that have support from BCI-partner funders.
Author Manuscript Deposit
A publisher initiates deposit of the author manuscript version of an article to support compliance with funder policies.
Why Publishers Should Index Their Journal in BCI
The publishers, who are publishing research journal(s), essentially need to disseminate their contents to potential users/buyers. Getting your journal indexed in Bharat Citation Index (BCI) will be highly advantageous to a journal's publisher(s). The BCI database is useful for performing following R&D activities by the users and the journals covered/indexed in this database shall be the subject/object of their study.
Journal Engagement: Initially for two years considering general time lag factor in Indian publications, BCI has decided to provide an opportunity to such publishers to bring their publications as per defined schedule. A journal will deposit the final published version of every article or its funded articles if the journal meets BCI's standards for inclusion in BCI.
How to Apply for Journal Inclusion
This page outlines the steps required to have a journal included in BCI, along with the necessary prerequisites before applying. Journals that submit a complete application meeting all criteria will enter an evaluation process. Publishers are advised to carefully review each step and familiarize themselves with BCI's policies prior to submitting an application.
Pre-Application Requirements: For Journals
The journal must have a valid ISSN, officially registered and verified by the ISSN International Centre.
BCI must be granted immediate access to the journal's content, either through the publisher's own platform or via a third-party hosting service.
Pre-Application Requirements: For Publishers
Publishers should have a proven track record of at least three years in producing high-quality scholarly work within the relevant field.
In certain cases, BCI may consider applications from publishers with less than three years of experience, provided there is strong evidence of sufficient background and expertise.
Publisher Portal
Access your publisher dashboard to manage your journal submissions, track application status, view analytics, and communicate with the BCI team. Our portal provides a streamlined experience for all your publishing needs.
Track application status in real-time
Manage multiple journal submissions
Access detailed analytics and reports
Preparing to Apply
Before beginning your application, follow the BCI parameters:
It's highly recommended that publishers familiarize themselves with the following resources prior to applying.
How to Begin the Application
You have two options to start your application:
Sign in with your BCI account to manage multiple applications in one place, or
Choose Start new application to proceed without logging in.
After starting, you will receive an email containing a unique link to return to and edit your application as needed.
After You Submit
Once your application is submitted, a confirmation email will be sent with a direct link to monitor its status—regardless of whether you signed in.
Criteria for Journal Selection in BCI
The BCI considers many factors when evaluating journals for its indexing ranging from qualitative to quantitative parameters. These include basic publishing standards, editorial context, focus on whether the journal is National and International, Citation Analysis, etc.
| CATEGORY | EVALUATION CRITERIA |
|---|---|
| Ethical Publishing Standards | Journals engaging in unethical practices—such as predatory publishing, misleading editorial policies, or fraudulent behavior—are not eligible for BCI indexing. If such practices are identified in a journal already indexed, it will be delisted immediately. |
| Indian Origin Requirement | Regardless of the publisher's country of origin, the journal must be published from India to be considered for indexing. |
| Timely Publication | Adherence to a journal's declared publishing frequency is a fundamental criterion. Consistent delays—especially those extending over several months or years—disqualify a journal from BCI indexing. |
| Research-Focused Content | Only research-oriented journals are eligible. General-interest magazines or popular publications are excluded. |
| Peer Review Integrity | Blind peer review is essential as it reflects the academic rigor and integrity of the journal. Additionally, proper and complete bibliographic information must be provided. |
| Regularity | A journal must follow its scheduled publication cycle. Irregular journals are not indexed. |
| Minimum Three-Year Publication History | Journals must have a consistent publication record of at least three years to allow proper citation analysis and reliability assessment. |
| Qualified and Diverse Editorial Team | Editors and reviewers must be experts in their fields and should represent a range of institutions, reflecting the national or international scope of the journal. |
| Diverse Authorship | Articles within each issue should come from authors affiliated with different institutions. Full author details and affiliations must be clearly provided. |
| Relevant and Complete References | All citations must be relevant, complete, and preferably include Indian sources where applicable. Editors and reviewers should ensure strict reference verification. |
| Citation Analysis | Citation metrics are used to assess a journal's academic impact and relevance within its field. |
| Metadata in English | For journals in regional or local languages, essential metadata—such as title, abstract, keywords, authors, affiliations, and references—must be provided in English. Full-text can remain in the original language. |
| Publisher Reputation | The credibility and recognition of the journal's publisher are also considered, including consistency and leadership. |
| Excluded Content Types | Journals that primarily publish non-scholarly content such as digests, book reviews, news columns, advertisements, or messages from authorities are not indexed. |
| Mass Publishing Practices | Journals functioning as bulk publishing platforms, especially in the Open Access model, will be excluded. If any are found to have been inadvertently indexed, they will be removed immediately without notice. |
| Reasonable Article Count | While there is no fixed limit, reputable journals typically publish around 12–18 articles per issue, with exceptions allowed for special issues. |
| Discrepancies in Versions | Journals showing inconsistency between print and online editions will not be indexed. Previously indexed journals with such discrepancies will be delisted. |
| Post-Publication Alterations | Journals modifying published content (adding or removing articles) post-release will be immediately removed from BCI upon discovery. |
| Balanced Inclusion for Underrepresented Fields | Journals from less-developed academic areas (e.g., Sports Science, Media Studies) or regions (e.g., J&K, Northeast India) may be considered with slightly relaxed criteria to ensure balanced representation. |
| Diverse Editorial and Author Affiliations | Editorial boards and contributing authors should reflect appropriate institutional and geographical diversity, especially for journals targeting an international audience. |
| ISSN and Minimum Frequency | A journal must have a valid ISSN and publish at least one issue per year to qualify. |
| Feedback and Transparency | BCI values constructive feedback from stakeholders and uses it to maintain quality and transparency. Reports of predatory behavior or poor standards are thoroughly investigated. |
| Global Quality Benchmarking | The journal's overall quality should meet international publishing standards. |
| Promoting Self-Reliance in Scholarship | Indian researchers are encouraged to adopt a self-reliant and nationalistic mindset to strengthen domestic academic publishing. |
| Reflecting India's Research Potential | As a country with a vast research community, India's scholarly output should be effectively represented on the global stage. |
Agreements for Participation
Types of Publisher Participation Agreements
To participate with BCI, publishers must enter into a formal Participation Agreement. There are three available agreement types. Refer to the eligibility criteria to determine which option is the right fit.
Comprehensive Submission
This agreement requires the publisher to submit the full content of a journal, beginning with a specific volume, issue, or publication date.
Funded Content Submission
Through this agreement, the publisher agrees to submit all funded articles from a journal. Publishers may also include non-funded articles if they wish.
Selective Article Submission
Designed for flexibility, this agreement allows publishers to submit specific articles from various journals, rather than providing full journal content.
Publisher Frequently Asked Questions
BCI stands for the Bharat Citation Index. It is a multidisciplinary citation and abstracting database that includes scholarly journals published from India.
BCI benefits researchers, academicians, policy-makers, librarians, and institutions by providing access to Indian scholarly research, citation analysis, and research metrics.
Yes. Once you register on the website, you will receive a free trial access for 2 hours, allowing you to explore the platform and evaluate its features.
Access to BCI requires registration. Unregistered users are restricted from using the platform. However, registration is free and easy to complete.
After completing and submitting the registration form, you will receive a confirmation email at the address you provided. This email will include your login ID and password.
Use the email address you registered with as your login ID, and the password provided in your confirmation email. Enter these credentials and click on the Login button to access the platform.
This error usually occurs when the email ID or password entered is incorrect or does not match the registered information. Please refer to the confirmation email from BCI and ensure that you're using the correct login credentials. Try again carefully with the exact details.
Specifications for File Submissions
File Submission Guidelines
At BCI, our mission is to build and maintain a high-quality archive of journal literature that ensures long-term, reliable access. To support this goal, we follow standards that promote sustainability and adaptability as technology and formats evolve.
Full-Text Submission (PDF Format)
Journals are required to submit the full text of each article in a separate, searchable PDF file. Each file should accurately represent the complete content of the article.
Submission Metrics and Reports
Monthly Submission Summary
This chart displays the total number of new manuscripts successfully submitted during each month.
Document Types Covered in BCI
| NO. | DOCUMENT TYPES | DEFINITION |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Research Article | Article of original research carried out by author(s). |
| 2. | Review Article | Significant review of original research literature. |
| 3. | Short Communication | Brief research communication/ news/views/ article. |
| 4. | Editorial | Editorial item summarizing several articles or providing editorial opinions or news. Letter to or correspondence with the editor. |
| 5. | Research Note | Original research communication in discussion or commentary form. |
| 6. | Case Study | Analytical findings of an individual case and communicated in journal publication. |
| 7. | Research Method | Reporting of new research methods. |
| 8. | Opinion Papers | Article provide opinion of individual or group. |
| 9. | Observations (R&D) | Expression of observations on R&D method/experiment/test and findings etc. |
| 10. | Special Articles | Invited article, memorial lecture/working paper/special paper/expert views/comments. |
| 11. | Patent | Patent document contain technological information. The term patent usually refers to a right granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof. |
| 12. | Standard | A standard is a document that establishes uniform engineering or technical specifications, criteria, methods, processes, or practices. |
| 13. | Report (R&D) | Report a non-serial publication giving a detailed account of information or statements, often including opinions and findings, of an individual or group on a particular topic. |
| 14. | Proceedings Paper | The paper published in a Conference/Symposium/Seminar/Workshops etc or summarization of all papers from conference proceedings. |
Document Types NOT Covered in BCI
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Abstracts of dissertations or articles
Bibliographies
Digests
Obituaries
Book reviews
News and views
Announcements etc
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