Every year, a significant number of journals that appear to be indexed in Scopus are later found to be discontinued, placed on CSAB (Content Selection and Advisory Board) hold, or operating under questionable or inadequate peer-review standards. While Scopus is widely recognized as one of the most reputable abstract and citation databases, it is important to understand that inclusion in Scopus is not permanent and is subject to continuous quality evaluation. As a result, journal status may change over time based on compliance with Scopus quality criteria.
One of the main reasons journals are discontinued from Scopus is the failure to maintain required academic and editorial standards. Scopus evaluates journals based on factors such as peer-review integrity, citation performance, editorial transparency, publication ethics, and consistency of scholarly contribution. When a journal shows signs of declining quality, such as weak peer review, excessive self-citation, irregular publication practices, or low academic impact, it may be flagged for review and ultimately removed from the database. In some cases, journals are placed on CSAB hold, meaning they are temporarily suspended from indexing while undergoing further evaluation.
Another growing concern in academic publishing is the presence of journals that appear to be indexed in Scopus but do not fully meet the expected standards of legitimate scholarly publishing. Some of these journals may engage in practices such as rapid acceptance without proper peer review, unclear editorial board structures, or aggressive solicitation of manuscripts. Although they may initially appear legitimate to authors, their indexing status can later change when Scopus identifies inconsistencies or quality issues through its monitoring systems.
For researchers, especially early-career academics and doctoral candidates, this situation presents a significant risk. Many authors may submit their manuscripts based on the assumption that journal indexing in Scopus guarantees long-term stability and academic recognition. However, in some cases, authors only discover that a journal has been discontinued or placed under review after they have already paid publication fees and completed the publication process. At that stage, the academic value and recognition of the publication may be affected, particularly if the journal is later removed from Scopus coverage.
To mitigate these risks, authors are strongly encouraged to carefully verify the current indexing status of a journal directly through official Scopus sources or trusted databases such as SCImago Journal Rank (SJR). It is also important to evaluate the journal’s peer-review process, publication history, editorial board credibility, and publisher reputation before submitting a manuscript. Selecting journals with transparent policies and established academic standing can significantly reduce the risk of publishing in outlets that may later lose their Scopus status.
Ultimately, while Scopus remains a highly respected indexing system, the dynamic nature of journal evaluation means that authors must exercise caution and due diligence. Understanding the processes behind journal discontinuation, CSAB review, and quality monitoring helps researchers make informed decisions and ensures that their scholarly work is published in credible and sustainable academic outlets.
