What is NMC Indexed or NMC Approved Journals?

Abstract

 The National Medical Commission (NMC) released guidelines in 2021 regarding faculty eligibility and journal indexing for research publications in medical institutions. To address the confusion surrounding journal selection, the term “NMCindexed Journal” was introduced to refer to journals indexed in Medline, PubMed Central, Science Citation Index, Science Citation Index Expanded, Embase, Scopus, and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). These guidelines impact faculty promotions, making it essential to verify journal indexing before submission. Many medical professionals face challenges in identifying credible journals, as misleading claims about indexing are common. Predatory journals often advertise fast-track publication services for commercial gains, which can misguide researchers. Verification through official indexing databases such as DOAJ, Scopus, PubMed, and Clarivate Analytics is crucial to ensure legitimacy. Faculty members should check journal indexing at the time of publication and confirm the presence of print and online ISSN numbers. Additionally, a journal's classification as international requires editorial board representation from multiple countries and international manuscript submissions. Newly established journals are often ineligible for recognized indexing, necessitating scrutiny before submission. To aid researchers in journal selection, a web tool (https://nmcindexedjournals.org/) has been developed to verify journal indexing as per NMC guidelines. This platform helps differentiate between legitimate indexed journals and predatory ones, promoting ethical publication practices and enhancing research credibility. Ensuring adherence to NMC indexing criteria is vital for maintaining academic integrity and the quality of medical literature.