Indian Institutional Repositories: Technological Innovations, Green Access Models and Policy Alignment in NEP 2020

Abstract:  The paper has discussed the technological advancements in the light of the Institutional Repositories (IRs) in India in the context of both green open access practices and in keeping up with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. They found out that IRs were emerging as a more important digital infrastructure to store and share institutions-based academic products of the nature of theses, dissertations and research publications. In the research, the methodology followed was descriptive-analytical in which secondary sources like research literature, repository and policy document reports were employed. These were the main parameters considered like repository platforms, Web 2.0, Dublin Core and metadata practices, Knowledge Organisation Systems (KOS), user interface and discoverability, integration with national platforms (e.g., NDLI and OER systems), and its relevance to NEP 2020. Results further showed uneven technology maturity in institutions: basic search and browsing and metadata structures were also widespread, but advanced alternatives amongst others, such as interactive Web 2.0 tools, more customized metadata, and user-centered design were not common. The research paper also noted that IRs were able to assist in ensuring green open access by the use of self archiving that helped to increase visibility and lowered barriers to accessibility. The paper concluded that the IRs need to operate with greater standardization, capacity building as well as policy-oriented implementation in order to emerge as sustainable digital knowledge hubs in Indian higher education.