The Union Cabinet has approved a landmark ₹6,000 crore budget for the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative, aimed at centralizing access to academic journals for nearly 6,300 higher education institutions (HEIs). Starting January 1, 2025, the initiative will provide free access to 13,000 scholarly journals under a unified platform, benefitting an estimated 18 million students, researchers, and faculty members.

Key Highlights of ONOS

Unified Access to Academic Resources ONOS will consolidate journal subscriptions from various consortia and institutions, replacing the fragmented model currently in place. Journals from 30 leading publishers, including Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley, and IEEE, will be available on a single platform managed by INFLIBNET (Information and Library Network Centre).

Cost Savings and Efficiency The government negotiated significant price reductions with publishers, cutting initial costs of ₹4,000 crore annually to ₹1,800 crore. By avoiding overlapping subscriptions and centralizing access, ONOS is expected to save 18% on research expenses.

Democratizing Knowledge ONOS ensures equitable access to academic resources for students and researchers across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. It aims to eliminate barriers posed by the high cost of individual subscriptions, fostering a culture of innovation and research across India.

Enhanced Research Ecosystem The initiative aligns with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes research excellence as a cornerstone for national development. By monitoring journal usage, the government plans to encourage underutilized institutions to fully leverage this resource.

Criticism and Debate

While ONOS is hailed as a groundbreaking move, it has sparked debate among experts:

Advocates of Open Access (OA): Critics argue that India’s reliance on traditional subscription models is a short-term solution, as OA publishing, which provides free access without fees, is gaining global traction.

Alternative Investments: Some suggest that the funds could be better used to enhance research stipends, laboratory infrastructure, and support services.

However, supporters believe ONOS is a critical step in creating a robust research infrastructure, providing immediate access to high-quality resources while addressing India’s broader research challenges.

Next Steps and Long-Term Goals

Negotiating Article Processing Charges (APCs) The government plans to negotiate APCs with publishers, further reducing costs for authors publishing research papers.

Integration with Open Access Models Experts anticipate ONOS could serve as a transitional phase toward broader adoption of OA publishing.

ONOS has drawn international attention as a transformative initiative for democratizing knowledge. Foreign commentators have praised India’s effort to bridge the gap in academic accessibility, with hopes that similar models will be adopted globally.

As India, the third-largest producer of research papers, moves forward with ONOS, the initiative is poised to revolutionize academic research, leveling the playing field for millions of students and researchers across the country.