Understanding INFLIBNET Centre and its Key Initiatives

The question asks about a specific service or platform that the INFLIBNET Centre maintains. INFLIBNET (Information and Library Network) Centre is an autonomous Inter-University Centre of the University Grants Commission (UGC) in India. It plays a crucial role in modernizing university libraries and information centres and promoting resource sharing.

Let's examine the options provided to identify which one is maintained by INFLIBNET Centre:

• Swayam Prabha: This is a project providing 32 (now increased) DTH channels transmitting high-quality educational programmes. While related to education and supported by the Ministry of Education and UGC, it is a broader initiative with contributions from various institutions like CEC, IGNOU, NCERT, and NPTEL. INFLIBNET Centre is involved in the web portal, but is not the primary maintainer of the entire DTH channel infrastructure and content generation across all channels.
• e-Pathshala: This is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Education, NCERT, and CIET (Central Institute of Educational Technology). It serves as a portal and mobile app hosting educational resources like e-books, audios, videos, and journals, primarily for school education. It is not maintained by INFLIBNET Centre.
• e-Gyankosh: This is the National Digital Repository of IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University). It stores and preserves the learning resources developed by IGNOU and other institutions. It is maintained by IGNOU, although INFLIBNET's INDCAT (Indian Digital Library in Engineering Science & Technology) project might link to such resources.
• Shodhganga: This is a repository of Indian electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs). It provides a platform for research students to deposit their PhD theses and for universities to make them available to the wider academic community. The INFLIBNET Centre is directly responsible for developing, maintaining, and hosting the Shodhganga repository.

Based on the analysis of each option, Shodhganga is the initiative directly maintained by the INFLIBNET Centre.

Key Services of INFLIBNET Centre

INFLIBNET Centre undertakes various activities and maintains several services to support higher education and research in India. Some of its prominent initiatives include:

• Developing the IndCat database (Online Union Catalogue of Indian Universities).
• Maintaining the Shodhganga repository for theses and dissertations.
• Managing ShodhGangotri, a repository of synopses of research topics submitted to Indian universities.
• Providing access to e-resources through projects like UGC-Infonet Digital Library Consortium and N-LIST.
• Developing library automation software like SOUL (Software for University Libraries).
• Facilitating resource sharing among libraries.

Among the given options, Shodhganga is the well-known repository of Indian theses and dissertations that is directly managed and maintained by the INFLIBNET Centre.

Therefore, the INFLIBNET Centre maintains Shodhganga.

Revision Table: INFLIBNET and Related Initiatives

Additional Information on INFLIBNET Centre

The INFLIBNET Centre was established in 1991 and became an independent Inter-University Centre in 1996. Its primary objective is to create a national network of libraries and information centres in universities, colleges, and R&D institutions. It promotes automation and modernization of libraries and facilitates access to electronic information resources for the Indian academic community.

Key areas of focus for INFLIBNET Centre:

• Networking of libraries and information centres.
• Development of library automation software.
• Creation of national databases and repositories.
• Providing access to scholarly e-resources.
• Capacity building through training programs for library professionals.
• Research support services like plagiarism detection (e.g., via Shodhshuddhi, linked to Shodhganga).

Understanding the specific roles of different government and autonomous bodies in India's digital education and research landscape is important for exams.