Open access journals – UGC NET Question

Statements A, B and D give a correct picture of open access journals, while statement C is incorrect. Many open access journals are peer-reviewed and maintain quality standards while offering free access to readers. Creative Commons licences often define how content may be reused. By increasing accessibility, open access can enhance visibility and citations. Therefore, the set A, B and D only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it includes only A and B and leaves out D. While A and B are true, statement D is also correct in explaining the impact of open access on visibility and citations. Excluding D makes this option incomplete.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it groups A, B and C as correct, accepting C. Statement C is wrong because peer review and open access are independent decisions; many journals are both open and peer-reviewed. Including C therefore invalidates the combination.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it lists B, C and D as correct. Although B and D are true, C is false and claims that open access implies lack of quality control. Any combination that accepts C cannot be the right answer.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it chooses A, B and D, which accurately describe free access, licensing and enhanced visibility. It excludes the misleading idea that open access negates peer review and so matches current scholarly communication practices.