One Nation One Subscription: What is it?

One Nation, One Subscription: A Milestone for Indian Academia

The Union Cabinet’s approval of the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme is a transformative step toward democratizing access to knowledge in India. By offering country-wide access to international high-impact scholarly journals and research articles, this initiative is set to revolutionize the research and education ecosystem in the nation.

Announced with a ₹6,000 crore budget for three years (2025-2027), ONOS is poised to benefit 1.8 crore students, researchers, and faculty members from 6,300 government-managed higher education and research institutions across the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi aptly termed it a “game-changer for Indian academia and youth empowerment” in his congratulatory message on X, highlighting its potential to make India a global hub for research and interdisciplinary learning.

Game-changer for Indian academia and for youth empowerment!

The Cabinet has approved ‘One Nation One Subscription’, which will strengthen our efforts to become a hub for research, learning and knowledge. It will also encourage interdisciplinary studies.…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 26, 2024

Key Features of One Nation One Subscription

1. Nationwide Access to Scholarly Resources:
   ONOS enables access to over 13,000 international journals from 30 leading publishers through a centralized subscription.
2. Inclusivity Across Regions:
   The scheme ensures equitable access for students and researchers even in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, bridging the gap between urban and rural educational institutions.
3. Digital Access Through INFLIBNET:
   A unified digital portal managed by the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) will streamline access to journals, ensuring simplicity and user-friendliness.
4. Boosting Interdisciplinary Research:
   By breaking barriers to knowledge, ONOS encourages interdisciplinary studies, fostering innovation across diverse fields.

Benefits for Students and Researchers

1. Eliminating Financial Barriers:
   Previously, high subscription fees restricted access free of Cost to critical research. ONOS removes these barriers, ensuring affordability and inclusivity.
2. Empowering Emerging Talent:
   Students and young researchers in underfunded institutions can now access high-quality resources, enhancing their ability to contribute to global academia.
3. Strengthening Academic Excellence:
   Access to cutting-edge research will empower Indian scholars to publish groundbreaking studies, enhancing the nation’s reputation in global academia.
4. The One Nation, One Subscription (ONOS) scheme is free for users, such as students, researchers, and faculty members. The central government of India takes responsibility for negotiating and covering the costs of subscriptions with publishers, eliminating the need for individual institutions or users to pay.

How it works:

• Centralized Funding:
  The government has allocated ₹6,000 crore over three years to provide this service. This ensures that participating institutions no longer need to spend their budgets on costly journal subscriptions.
• Access Without Paywalls:
  Once implemented, users across 6,300 government-managed higher education and research institutions will have access to international journals, removing financial barriers for individuals or smaller institutions.

While the funding comes from taxpayers, the direct benefit to students and researchers ensures that they can access a vast repository of knowledge without paying out of pocket.

A Step in the Right Direction

While ONOS is a commendable initiative, there is room to build further. A key priority should be developing Indian academic publishing capabilities. Currently, a significant portion of Indian research is published in foreign journals, which restricts access for domestic researchers and contributes to the monopolization of global knowledge by a handful of publishing giants.

Future enhancements to ONOS could include:

• Encouraging Indian Publishers:
  Incentivizing the development of local journals to showcase Indian research on a global scale.
• Support for Open Access:
  Introducing subsidies for Indian researchers to publish in open-access platforms, ensuring broader dissemination of their work.
• Customized Knowledge Platforms:
  Developing a national repository for Indian research to make it universally accessible.

Conclusion

The One Nation One Subscription scheme is a landmark initiative by the central government, reflecting its commitment to making India self-reliant and globally competitive in research and education. By ensuring that students and researchers from all regions have access to high-quality resources, the government has taken a bold step toward equity and inclusion in academia.

However, the journey does not end here. With continued efforts to develop indigenous publishing infrastructure and promote open-access platforms, India can truly establish itself as a global leader in knowledge and innovation.

As PM Modi rightly stated, “ONOS will strengthen our efforts to become a hub for research, learning, and knowledge”—a vision that resonates with the aspirations of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.