Currently India is having over 700 Universities. There are 45 Central Universities, 318 State Universities, 185 Private Universities, 128 Deemed-to-be Universities, 51 Institutions are of national importance. The number of colleges has also registered manifold increase of 74 times with just 500 in 1950 growing to 37,204, as on 31st March, 2013 . On an average, over 40,000 Ph.D. theses and M.Phil. dissertations are annually contributed by these Universities. University Grants Commission(UGC) is the controlling body for the University education in India. UGC vide minimum standard and procedure for the award of M.Phil./Ph.D. degree regulation 2009, has mandated electronic submission of theses and dissertations under Open Access in its repository-Shodhganga. The e-theses repository known as Shodhganga has been created by Information Library Network Centre, Ahmadabad. About 65,000 e-theses have been deposited to Shodhganga by 231 Universities from India. Only 249 Universities from India have formally joined Shodhganga. Over a million Ph.D. theses and dissertations are available with the Indian Universities. So the process of ETD implementation is slow. Still a long way to go. ETD publishing, open access and embargo are some of the issues responsible for the slow process of electronic theses and dissertations. Besides, as per UGC guidelines, it is mandatory for each researcher to contribute at least one paper in reputed journal. How this policy has helped in enhancing research output of Indian Universities? In the paper efforts will be made to identify various problems faced by Indian Universities in implementing ETD programmes. Various embargo policies adopted in Indian Universities will also be discussed. The efforts should also be made to find out status of other ETD publishing initiatives in Indian Universities. The data will be collected through online questionnaire. However, various secondary sources available through internet may also be referred to gather desired information. Ultimate aim is to present a status report on preservation and access to theses and Dissertations in India.

On the author:

Dr. Ramesh C.Gaur  is the University Librarian, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi India. His past assignments include Ministry of Culture(IGNCA), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research(TIFR), CRRI-CSIR, Management Development Institute(MDI), IMT etc.

A Fulbright Scholar(VT, USA), Dr. Gaur has visited USA, UK, Australia, Russia, Germany, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and the Netherlands in relation to various assignments related to Digital Library and allied areas. 

Honours & Awards: IASLIC- S M Ganguly Best Librarian award for year 2007 ; Satkal Young Librarian award for year 2009 , SRFLIS India Professional Excellence Award 2013 and Professional Excellence Award 2015 by ADR Publications'.

Dr. Gaur is the Member of Think Tank on Library and Information Services formed by Ministry of Culture, Government of India to advise Government on Library Policy Matters. He is the member of many important national and international professional bodies. Important affiliations includes; NDLTD Board of Directors 2013-2016, Member of UGC National Committee for Implementation of Submission and Access to Electronic Theses and Dissertations in Universities in India, Member of various Committees of International Federations of Library Associations (IFLA), Member Databib Advisory Board, USA, and Member Delhi Public Library Governing Board(DLB). Academic Advisory Board of all major publishers; Elsevier, Springer, Royal Society of Chemistry, EBSCO. Member of Library Advisory Board / Committees of various Universities in India.

He is the Member of Editorial /Advisory Board several International and National Journals.

In over 24 year's professional career, he has authored and edited 5 books, has written over 50+ articles /papers and has presented / delivered over 200 papers / talks in various national and international conferences etc . Has organized and directed number of national and International conference.