India’s One Nation One Subscription Initiative

January 2, 2025

India’s commitment to enhancing its research and development capabilities has taken step forward with the introduction of the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative. Announced on November 25, 2024, this scheme aims to democratise access to scholarly knowledge across the nation’s higher education institutions and research centres. The initiative aligns with the broader vision of Viksitbharat@2047, which seeks to position India as a global leader in innovation and research.

Overview of ONOS Initiative

The ONOS initiative provides access to over 13,000 scholarly journals from 30 major international publishers. It targets more than 6,300 government-managed higher education institutions and research centres. This initiative benefits approximately 1.8 crore students, faculty, and researchers across various disciplines, including STEM, Medicine, and Social Sciences.

Key Objectives of ONOS

The primary goal of ONOS is to enhance access to high-quality research publications. It aims to democratise knowledge by ensuring that institutions in tier 2 and tier 3 cities have equal access to global research resources. The initiative also seeks to facilitate India’s participation in international research communities.

Implementation Strategy

The ONOS initiative will be centrally managed by INFLIBNET (Information and Library Network), an autonomous inter-university centre. This ensures a streamlined distribution of digital access to the journals. All journals will be available digitally, allowing users to access them conveniently without administrative hurdles.

Financial Framework of ONOS

A budget of ₹6,000 crore has been allocated for the ONOS initiative, covering the period from 2025 to 2027. This funding will cover subscription charges for all participating institutions. Additionally, ₹150 crore will be allocated annually to support authors in publishing in high-quality Open Access journals.

Phased Implementation Plan

The ONOS initiative will unfold in phases, starting from January 1, 2025. Phase I aims to provide access to over 13,000 journals for more than 1.8 crore users. This phase will also include provisions for payment of Article Processing Charges (APCs) for selected publications by researchers from participating institutions.

Enhancements and Future Directions

The ONOS initiative will complement existing research frameworks, such as the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). It will also negotiate discounts on Article Processing Charges with publishers, facilitating affordable publication options for Indian researchers.

INFLIBNET is the managing authority for ONOS.
Viksitbharat@2047 envisions India as a global research leader.
₹6,000 crore budget allocated for ONOS implementation.
1.8 crore beneficiaries across multiple disciplines.
Phase I starts on January 1, 2025.

« Previous Post Next Post »