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One Nation One Subscription

Context

The article explores various facets of the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme, focusing on its objectives, implementation process, advantages, and its role in enhancing India’s research ecosystem.

What is ONOS?

• ONOS is a national initiative designed to provide students, faculty, researchers, and scientists in India’s government higher education institutions and R&D centres with access to international scholarly journals and articles.
• The scheme aims to improve research quality by offering global resources across various academic fields.
• It seeks to foster innovation and enhance India’s research capabilities by ensuring equitable access to world-class research materials.

Key Objectives of the ONOS Scheme

• Access to Global Research: The scheme provides free access to more than 13,000 international journals, benefiting about 1.8 crore students and researchers.
• Promoting Inclusive Research: It ensures equal access to research resources, including for institutions in remote and tier 2-3 cities.
• Encouraging Global Collaboration: ONOS aims to integrate India’s research community with global scholarly communities, enhancing global participation.

Implementation Process

• Centralized Coordination by INFLIBNET: INFLIBNET, an autonomous center under the University Grants Commission (UGC), will manage and distribute digital access to the journals. It ensures ease of access for users across the country.
• Digital Access: Researchers and students can access journals digitally, eliminating administrative burdens and providing on-demand access.
• Subscription Coverage: Over 6,300 government academic and R&D institutes are part of the program, ensuring extensive coverage across India.

Funding and Financial Strategy

• Government Allocation: ₹6,000 crore has been allocated for the ONOS scheme from 2025 to 2027. This will cover subscription charges for journals from 30 major international publishers.
• Support for Open-Access Publications: The government will allocate ₹150 crore annually for Indian authors to publish in quality open-access journals.
• Phase-wise Funding: ONOS will be implemented in phases, with Phase I starting in January 2025. This phase covers subscriptions for journals and payments for publishing costs.

Advantages of ONOS

• Enhanced Research Quality: Indian researchers will have access to cutting-edge research, improving the quality and depth of studies across various disciplines like science, technology, medicine, and social sciences.
• Equitable Access: The scheme ensures that even institutions in remote locations or smaller cities have access to the same global resources as those in major urban centres.
• Global Recognition and Collaboration: The scheme helps Indian researchers participate more actively in international research collaborations and increases global recognition of Indian research.
• Cost Savings: ONOS eliminates the need for institutions to purchase expensive individual subscriptions, significantly reducing costs for academic and research institutions.

Way Forward

• Strengthening India’s Research Ecosystem: ONOS is aligned with India’s vision of becoming a global leader in research by 2047, helping foster innovation and cutting-edge studies.
• Synergy with Other Initiatives: ONOS will complement other research initiatives like the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), driving further R&D efforts.
• Sustainability and Growth: Over time, ONOS will expand to include more research journals and incorporate feedback from the academic community to improve its offerings.

Conclusion

• The One Nation One Subscription scheme is a transformative step in democratizing access to global research resources, thus improving the quality of education and research in India.
• Through its comprehensive approach, it will enhance India’s position as a leader in global research and innovation.