India, a nation with a rich legacy of intellectual and scientific achievements, is set to revolutionize its research and academic landscape with the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme. Approved by the Union Cabinet on November 25, 2024, ONOS aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Viksitbharat@2047 vision, emphasizing innovation, self-reliance, and global leadership in research and development.
The Vision Behind ONOS
Announced in alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for “Jai Anusandhan” during his Independence Day speech in 2022, the ONOS scheme aims to democratize access to global knowledge resources for students, faculty, and researchers across India.
Key Features of ONOS
- Access to Over 13,000 Scholarly Journals: From 30 major international publishers across fields like STEM, Medicine, Social Sciences, Finance, and Accounts.
- 1.8 Crore Beneficiaries: Including students, faculty, and researchers from 6,300+ government-managed higher education and R&D institutions.
- Equitable Access Across Geographies: Ensuring inclusion for institutions in tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
- Centralized Coordination by INFLIBNET: Digital access will be managed seamlessly by Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), an autonomous center under UGC.
Funding and Financial Strategy
- Total Allocation: ₹6,000 crore allocated for three years (2025-2027).
- Phase I Implementation: Begins on 1st January 2025, providing centralized access to journals for 6,300 institutions.
- Article Processing Charges (APCs): ₹150 crore per year allocated for authors to publish in Open Access journals.
- Cost Optimization: Central payments to publishers will ensure cost-effective resource management across institutions.
Key Objectives of ONOS
- Democratizing Access to Knowledge: Equipping Indian academia with world-class research resources.
- Inclusion and Equity: Equal opportunities for institutions across urban and rural regions.
- Global Research Participation: Facilitating Indian researchers to collaborate on global platforms.
- Support for Open Access Publishing: Financial assistance for publishing in top-tier journals.
Integration with Existing Initiatives
- Synergy with Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF): ONOS complements ANRF’s goals by enhancing access to international research publications.
- Discounts on APCs: Negotiated discounts on APCs will reduce the financial burden on Indian researchers, enabling wider publication opportunities.
The Road Ahead
ONOS Phase I will serve as the foundation for subsequent phases, focusing on expanding access, optimizing financial strategies, and integrating with national research repositories. Insights from the first phase will inform the design of future enhancements.
Conclusion
The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme is a transformative step towards building a self-reliant and research-driven India. By providing equitable access to global research resources, ONOS will empower India’s academic community, foster innovation, and position the country as a global hub for scientific research and discovery.
As India progresses towards its Viksitbharat@2047 vision, initiatives like ONOS will play a crucial role in shaping a knowledge-driven, innovation-focused future.
References:
Ministry of Education
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2077097
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2083002®=3&lang=1
https://x.com/airnewsalerts/status/1861066599006146761
Go to :- National News
The One Nation One Subscription initiative is a game-changing scheme for India’s research ecosystem. By providing digital access to over 13,000 journals from 30 international publishers, it will bridge gaps in research infrastructure across India. Through its phased implementation, the scheme will significantly contribute to enhancing India’s academic and research excellence, fostering innovation, and helping the country emerge as a global hub for scientific research. By leveraging existing consortia initiatives of 10 central government Ministries and Departments as well as initiatives of many government higher education institutions, an unifying approach through the one nation one subscription will democratise knowledge dissemination and empower a new generation of researchers and students, providing them with the resources they need to excel. ONOS is a key part of a broader vision to transform access to knowledge in the country. As the first step in a multi-pronged approach, it expands access through the widely used subscription model. The other steps focus initially on promoting Indian journals and repositories and then introducing new research evaluation methods that consider both journal metrics and factors like innovation and entrepreneurship.
