ShodhPatra: International Journal of Science and Humanities

Patterns and Growth of Open Access Journals in South Asia: A DOAJ-Based Analysis

Open Access (OA) publishing has transformed scholarly communication by removing financial and legal barriers to research dissemination. This paper examines the trends and characteristics of OA journal publishing in South Asia, drawing on data from the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). A total of 602 journals from seven South Asian countries were analyzed in October 2024, focusing on country of origin, subject coverage, language of publication, and article processing charges (APCs). The findings reveal that South Asia contributes 2.8% of global OA journals, with India leading the region (59.8%), followed by Pakistan (25.2%). Medicine dominates subject coverage (59.9%), while the humanities remain underrepresented (4.3%). English is the primary publishing language (92.8%), and most journals (68%) do not charge APCs, making them accessible but raising concerns about sustainability. These patterns highlight both strengths—such as affordability and visibility—and challenges, including disciplinary imbalance, linguistic exclusivity, and uneven regional contributions. The study concludes that OA has significant potential to democratize knowledge in South Asia, provided that policies and funding mechanisms support diversification and sustainability.