Knowledge management and open access e-theses: Indian initiatives

Purpose - This paper aims to describe recent developments in the services provided by Indian electronic thesis and dissertation (ETD) repositories. It seeks to explore the prospect of knowledge formation and diffusion in India and to discuss the potential of open access e-theses repositories for knowledge management. Design/methodology/approach - This study is based on literature review and content analysis of Indian ETD repository websites. Institutional repositories and electronic thesis and dissertation projects in India were identified through a literature survey as well as internet searching and browsing. The study examines the tools, type of contents, coverage and aims of Indian ETD repositories. Findings - The paper acknowledges the need for knowledge management for national development. It highlights the significance of an integrated platform for preserving, searching and retrieving Indian theses. It describes the features and functions of Indian ETD repositories. Originality/value - The paper provides insights into the characteristics of the national repository of ETDs of India, which encourage and support open access to publicly-funded research.