One Nation One Subscription: A New Era in Knowledge Access
In a significant move to enhance access to research and academic resources, the Government of India has launched the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme. This initiative aims to democratize knowledge access across the country, particularly benefiting students, researchers, and academic institutions. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, led by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The event featured a panel of esteemed experts, including Dr. Parvinder Maini, Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Mr. P.K. Banerjee, Prof. Virander Chauhan, and Ms. Remya Haridasan. The discussion was moderated by Smt. Mattu J.P. Singh, Director General of the Press Information Bureau.
The Vision Behind ONOS
Prof. Sood opened the conference by emphasizing the critical role of the ONOS scheme in expanding knowledge access to the last mile across India. He highlighted that ONOS complements existing initiatives like the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020). The aim is to create a robust framework for knowledge creation and dissemination, which is vital for innovation and development in any nation.
The ONOS scheme is designed to provide access to high-quality research journals and articles, which are essential for academic growth and innovation. Prof. Sood stressed that easy access to quality research is a cornerstone of the innovation journey. By bridging the gap between researchers and vital resources, ONOS aims to empower scholars and foster an environment conducive to groundbreaking research.
Key Features of the ONOS Scheme
During the presentation by Ms. Remya Haridasan, the key components of the ONOS scheme were elaborated. The scheme has a budget of Rs. 6,000 Crore for three years, from 2025 to 2027. It is a centrally negotiated and funded National Consortium for electronic journal subscriptions. One of the standout features of ONOS is its commitment to provide central funding support of Rs. 150 Crore per year for authors to publish in selected high-quality Open Access (OA) journals.
Starting from January 1, 2025, the first phase of ONOS will grant access to over 13,000 journals for more than 6,300 government academic and research institutions, including central and state universities and colleges. This initiative will benefit nearly 1.8 Crore students, faculty, and researchers, providing them with access to a wealth of high-quality research publications. The scheme includes journals from 30 prominent publishers across various disciplines, including STEMM, management, social sciences, and humanities. This comprehensive access is expected to significantly enhance interdisciplinary research and align with the goals of ANRF and NEP.
Future Prospects and Broader Implications
The ONOS scheme is part of a larger vision to achieve open access transformation in India. It represents the first step in a three-pronged approach to expand knowledge access. The subsequent steps include enhancing the use of Indian journals and repositories and developing new holistic research evaluation methods. These methods will consider not only journal-based metrics but also the intrinsic merit of research work and other contemporary aspects of the science and technology ecosystem, such as innovation and entrepreneurship.
During the media interaction, the panel addressed various questions regarding the phased implementation of ONOS, the beneficiaries, and the modes of facilitating access to journals. They discussed the broader landscape of open access efforts, including Diamond OA and Green OA, particularly in the Indian context. Prof. Karandikar clarified that ONOS focuses solely on electronic journals from 30 publishers, while institutions can still subscribe to other resources like eBooks and databases.
The ONOS initiative marks a significant stride towards democratizing access to scientific knowledge in India. By enabling unprecedented access to global research publications, it fosters interdisciplinary research and supports the academic community in its quest for knowledge. The press conference concluded with a strong message that ONOS is not merely a critique of the subscription-based model but a practical, India-specific solution aimed at expanding knowledge access until a sustainable open access model is achieved globally.
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