One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) Scheme, Objectives and Features

The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) Scheme aims to provide affordable access to academic journals and research publications for students, researchers, and institutions across India.

Table of Contents

Context: The focus on One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) Scheme was renewed because the Delhi High Court banned Sci-Hub and its mirror sites, which many Indian researchers (especially outside elite institutions) depended on for free access to costly journals.

India has a rich legacy of intellectual achievement, spanning advancements in mathematics, astronomy, and diverse scientific fields. Recognizing the need to nurture this legacy, the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme, approved on November 25, 2024, promises to revolutionize access to research resources in India. This initiative aligns with the broader goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Viksitbharat@2047 vision.

One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) Scheme

One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme to provide country-wide access to international high-impact scholarly research articles and journal publications to students, faculty and researchers.
This initiative aligns with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat@2047, fostering a robust research and development culture in India.
Nodal Ministry: Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.

Key Objectives of One Nation One Subscription Scheme

Universal Access: Provide equitable access to high-quality knowledge resources, including e-books, research journals, and databases, regardless of geographical or economic barriers.
Boost Research: Empower researchers and academic institutions with seamless access to the latest scientific advancements and scholarly work.
Cost Optimization: Consolidate subscriptions at a national level to reduce the overall expenditure on academic resources for the country.

Key Features of ONOS Scheme

Digital Access: Managed by INFLIBNET (Information and Library Network), a UGC centre.
- Provides a fully digital platform for institutions to access subscribed journals.
Monitoring & Review: The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) will periodically review usage patterns and the publication output of Indian authors.
International Journals Coverage: Provides access to 13,000 journals from 30 leading publishers.

Coverage

The ONOS Scheme will provide access to 13,000 e-journals from 30 major international journal publishers.
The initiative is expected to help students in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, ensuring that geographical location does not limit access to high-quality academic content.

Eligibility

All government-managed higher education institutions (HEIs) and central government R&D institutions will benefit from the scheme.

Platform Access

The ONOS platform will be operational starting January 1, 2025.
Access to journals will be fully digital and coordinated by the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), an autonomous inter-university centre under the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Implementation Highlights of ONOS

Centralized Coordination by INFLIBNET
- INFLIBNET, under the UGC, will manage digital access and streamline the subscription process.
Funding and Financial Allocation
- ₹6,000 crore allocated for the three years (2025–2027).
- Provides central funding support of ₹150 crore per year for researchers to publish in high-quality Open Access journals.
Digital Accessibility
- Journals are accessible on a digital platform for seamless, on-demand use, minimising administrative overheads.

Implementation Strategy
- Department of Higher Education (DHE) to provide a unified access portal.
- Conduct Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns to raise awareness.

Strategic Benefits of ONOS

Cost-Efficient Research Publishing
- Discounts on Article Processing Charges (APCs) for Indian researchers to publish in high-quality journals.
- Helps mitigate financial barriers for researchers aiming for global recognition.
Synergy with Existing R&D Initiatives
- Complements the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), boosting R&D activities nationwide.
Long-Term Vision
- Forms the foundation for future enhancements, including support for Indian journals, new evaluation methods for research, and a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship.

About ANRF

Formation: 2023; statutory body under the ANRF Act, 2023.
Organisational Structure:
- Governing Board:
  - Chairperson: Prime Minister
  - Vice-Chairpersons: Union Minister of S&T & Union Minister of Education
  - Members: 15–25 eminent researchers/professionals
- Executive Council:
  - Chairperson: Principal Scientific Adviser
  - Members: Secretaries of key ministries/departments
Functions:
- Promote R&D and innovation in universities, colleges, and research labs.
- Foster industry–academia–government collaboration.
- Create a regulatory framework to boost industry R&D spending.
- Prepare short, medium & long-term R&D roadmap.
Major Initiatives:
- PM Early Career Research Grant (PMECRG): Up to ₹60 lakh over 3 years for young researchers.
- MAHA-EV Mission: Build domestic capacity in EV technologies: battery cells, power electronics, drives, charging infra.

Conclusion

The ONOS initiative is a transformative move to bridge knowledge gaps and advance India’s research ecosystem. By providing inclusive access to world-class resources, it empowers students, faculty, and researchers to achieve academic and scientific excellence. This unified approach will drive innovation, reinforce India’s global leadership in research, and lay the groundwork for a self-reliant, knowledge-driven nation by 2047.