News Brief
Modi Government Launches 'One Nation One Subscription' Scheme, Set To Benefit 1.8 Crore Students And Researchers—What You Need To Know
IIT Delhi campus (Representative Image) (Asad K electro/Wikipedia)
The Central government has officially launched the "One Nation, One Subscription" (ONOS) initiative today (1 January), marking a significant step towards making world-class research and scholarly resources accessible to all government-funded higher education institutions (HEIs) and research centres across India.
The scheme will benefit over 1.8 crore students from government funded higher education institutions including universities and IITs.
Breaking Barriers to Knowledge
The ONOS scheme is set to benefit over 1.8 crore students, faculty, and researchers from government-managed universities, IITs, and R&D institutions.
Approved by the Union Cabinet on 25 November 2024, this initiative aims to break down barriers to knowledge by providing seamless access to international scholarly journals and articles.
"The goal is to ensure that India’s academic and research communities are equipped with the best global resources, fostering innovation and enhancing the quality of research across disciplines," a government statement said.
Comprehensive Coverage
The initiative extends to more than 6,300 government higher education institutions and R&D centres, providing access to over 13,000 scholarly journals from 30 leading international publishers.
These resources span disciplines such as STEM, Medicine, Social Sciences, and Finance, ensuring inclusive access for institutions in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
Key Objectives of ONOS
Access to Scholarly Knowledge: By democratising access to high-quality research publications, ONOS aims to enhance the research capabilities of India’s academic communities.
Inclusivity Across Regions: The scheme ensures equitable access for institutions in remote areas, promoting core and interdisciplinary research across the nation.
Implementation and Funding
The programme is coordinated by INFLIBNET (Information and Library Network), an autonomous body under the University Grants Commission (UGC).
It will manage the centralised distribution of digital access to journals, streamlining the process for users.
A budget allocation of Rs 6,000 crore has been earmarked for the initiative for the three years spanning 2025–2027.
Additionally, Rs 150 crore per year will be provided as central funding to support authors publishing in selected Open Access journals.
Phase I Rollout
Phase I, commencing today, establishes the framework by offering access to high-quality resources for over 6,300 institutions, benefiting 1.8 crore users.
The centralised payment system by INFLIBNET will cover subscription costs, while individual subscriptions will continue for resources outside the scheme’s scope.
Discounted Article Processing Charges (APCs) for researchers publishing in high-quality journals are also part of this phase, significantly reducing financial barriers for Indian researchers.
Looking Ahead
ONOS will work synergistically with other initiatives like the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to promote research and development across the country.
The scheme is expected to strengthen India’s position in the global research ecosystem, fostering innovation and collaborative advancements.
