One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative

The “One Nation One Subscription” (ONOS) initiative is an ambitious scheme launched by the Indian government to provide nationwide access to academic journals and research papers. Read here to learn more.

On November 25, 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the ‘One Nation One Subscription’ (ONOS) initiative for centralised access to research articles and journal publications for government higher education institutions and the central government’s research and development (R&D) laboratories.

The central government has allocated ₹6,000 crore for ONOS until 2027. All higher education institutions under central or State governments and R&D institutions of the central government can benefit from the initiative through a national subscription.

One nation one subscription

This initiative aims to democratize scholarly resources by offering open access to research materials from national and international publishers.

• It is designed to benefit approximately 1.8 crore students and researchers across more than 6,300 higher education institutions and government R&D labs in India.
• With a substantial budget of ₹6,000 crore allocated over three years (2025–2027), the ONOS initiative is administered through a digital platform managed by the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET).
• The goal is to eliminate barriers to high-quality academic content, particularly in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, thereby promoting interdisciplinary research and fostering innovation across the country.
• This program aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes equitable access to education and research opportunities.

Significance of One Nation One Subscription

• The benefits of the One Nation One Subscription scheme will be provided to all Higher Educational Institutions under the management of the Central or State Government and Research & Development Institutions of the Central Government, through a national subscription coordinated by a central agency, namely the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), an autonomous inter-university centre of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
• This list covers more than 6,300 institutions, translating into nearly 1.8 crore students, faculty and researchers, who will be able to potentially avail benefits of One Nation One Subscription.
• This is in line with the goals of Viksitbharat@2047, National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
• The initiative will expand access to scholarly journals to a vast diaspora of students, faculty, researchers and scientists of all disciplines, including those in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, thereby promoting core as well as interdisciplinary research in the country.
• The ANRF will periodically review the usage of One Nation One Subscription and publications of Indian authors of these institutions.

Academic publishing in India

As India restructures its science governance, with the recently approved National Research Foundation, the national scientific enterprise can be a leading voice for accessible, equitable, and fiscally responsible research publishing.

• Communicating research is an integral part of the scientific endeavour. It advances scientific understanding and bridges science and society.
• One important way in which this happens in academic settings is through scholarly journals, which publish scientific papers.

Academic publishing, particularly open-access (OA) publishing, can be a double-edged sword for Indian researchers:

Cost Barrier: Article Processing Charges (APCs)

Open-access journals often require researchers to pay APCs to publish their work.

While this model makes research freely available to readers, it imposes significant financial burdens on scientists, particularly in developing countries.

Indian institutions may not always have the resources to cover these costs, leaving researchers with difficult choices:

• Publish in paywalled journals where their work is less accessible.
• Bear the financial burden personally or seek limited institutional funds.

Equity and Knowledge Production

• OA publishing promises the democratization of knowledge by removing paywalls for readers.
• However, it risks creating inequity in knowledge production, as only well-funded researchers or institutions can afford to publish in prominent OA journals.
• This could marginalize voices from India and other countries with limited research budgets, reinforcing the dominance of Global North research.

Pressure to Publish and Prestige

• Indian scientists face immense pressure to publish in high-impact journals for career advancement, funding, and recognition.
• The prestige associated with publishing in Global North journals, combined with APCs, can make it harder for Indian scientists to disseminate their research widely.
• This dynamic can skew the global research agenda, prioritizing topics of interest to the Global North.

Predatory Journals and Quality Concerns

• India has also faced challenges with the rise of predatory journals—publications that exploit the OA model by charging fees without rigorous peer review.
• These journals prey on scientists desperate to publish, further complicating the publishing landscape.

Potential Solutions and Indian Initiatives

Several measures could mitigate these challenges:

• Government and Institutional Funding: Increased funding for APCs and support for local OA journals.
• Collaborative Platforms: India could collaborate with other Global South nations to establish high-quality, low-cost OA journals.
• Policy Interventions: Mandating open-access repositories for publicly funded research could bypass the need for high APCs.

Initiatives related to research and development in India

India has launched several initiatives to promote research and development (R&D) across various sectors, emphasizing innovation, scientific advancement, and industrial growth. Here are some key initiatives:

Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Act, 2023

The ANRF Act, of 2023 is a recent legislative framework designed to establish the National Research Foundation (NRF), a central body to promote, fund, and coordinate R&D across various sectors in India.

• Enhancing research collaboration between academia, industry, and government.
• Funding interdisciplinary research in areas like science, technology, social sciences, and humanities.
• Promoting innovation ecosystems to strengthen India’s global R&D competitiveness.

• Acts as a bridge between researchers and industries to translate scientific advancements into practical applications.
• Supports India’s goal to increase gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) from the current ~0.7% of GDP to ~2% over time.

Vigyan Dhara Scheme

The Vigyan Dhara scheme focuses on promoting scientific temper and enhancing grassroots innovation through outreach and engagement with diverse stakeholders.

• Science outreach programs targeting rural and underrepresented communities.
• Encouraging students and young innovators to participate in scientific research.
• Strengthening regional R&D capacity by focusing on decentralized innovation ecosystems.

• Foster inclusivity in scientific research by engaging marginalized and rural populations.
• Promote awareness about the role of science and technology in socio-economic development.

National Research Foundation (NRF)

Established under the ANRF Act, the NRF aims to provide a cohesive and comprehensive mechanism for fostering innovation, research excellence, and capacity-building in India’s R&D ecosystem.

• Funding high-impact research in priority areas such as AI, quantum computing, health sciences, and sustainable energy.
• Encouraging international research partnerships to enhance knowledge exchange.
• Supporting academic institutions in improving research quality and infrastructure.

• NRF is expected to have a significant budget, with contributions from the government and private sectors.
• The governing board includes eminent scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders to ensure strategic oversight.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)

• Objective: Promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in schools, universities, and businesses.
• Key Programs:
  • Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) for school-level innovation.
  • Atal Incubation Centers (AIC) to nurture startups and entrepreneurs.
  • Challenges and grants for innovative solutions to national problems.

National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI)

• Launched by: Department of Science & Technology (DST)
• Focus: Support startups at different stages of their lifecycle.
• Programs:
  • NIDHI PRAYAS for prototyping ideas.
  • NIDHI-EIR for encouraging young innovators.
  • NIDHI-SSS for seed funding startups.

Make in India & Startup India

• Objective: Boost indigenous manufacturing and startup ecosystems through R&D investments.
• R&D Support: Special focus on sectors like electronics, biotechnology, and defence.
• Government-backed incubation and innovation hubs.

Technology Development Board (TDB)

• Focus: Commercialization of indigenous technology and financial assistance for R&D.
• Key Activities: Support innovative projects in technology-driven sectors like healthcare, renewable energy, and materials.

IMPRINT (Impacting Research Innovation and Technology) India

• Launched by: Ministry of Education
• Objective: Address societal challenges through technology-driven solutions.
• Domains Covered: Healthcare, energy, ICT, water resources, and advanced materials.

UAY (Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana)

• Focus: Encourage industrial R&D collaboration with academia.
• Special Feature: Funding comes jointly from the government and industry for projects focused on applied research.

NewGen Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (NewGen IEDC)

• Objective: Promote innovation among young technocrats and entrepreneurs in academic institutions.
• Support: Financial and mentorship support for innovative projects.

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)

• Focus: Promote R&D in the biotechnology sector.
• Initiatives:
  • Biotech Ignition Grant (BIG) for early-stage R&D.
  • BIRAC AcE Fund for startup scaling.

SERB (Science and Engineering Research Board)

• Objective: Provide funding for scientific research in emerging areas.
• Programs: Start-up research grants, core research grants, and national postdoctoral fellowships.

Digital India

• R&D Focus: Foster innovation in ICT, AI, cybersecurity, and IoT.
• Initiatives: Establishment of Centres of Excellence in AI and Blockchain.

Conclusion

India’s R&D ecosystem is evolving rapidly, with significant public-private collaboration. These initiatives aim to position India as a global leader in innovation-driven growth.

The R&D initiatives collectively aim to:

1. Strengthen India’s position as a global R&D hub.
2. Attract and retain talent in scientific research and innovation.
3. Drive socio-economic growth through technological advancements and knowledge creation.

Together, they represent a paradigm shift in India’s approach to research and innovation, emphasizing collaboration, inclusivity, and global competitiveness.

While open-access publishing aims to make knowledge universally accessible, the current model risks perpetuating global inequalities in academic publishing.

For Indian scientists, navigating these challenges requires systemic changes in funding, policy, and global collaboration to ensure equitable access to publishing opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does the ONOS scheme offer?

Ans: Through the ONOS scheme, the Centre aims to consolidate the disaggregated approach to journal access for all government HEIs. ONOS will enable state and central government HEIs to access thousands of journals on one platform, which will be active from January 1, 2025.

-Article by Swathi Satish