One Nation, One Subscription ONOS Scheme UPSC Notes: Transforming Research and Education in India

One Nation, One Subscription: The Union Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the scheme called One Nation, One Subscription (ONOS). The scheme aims to provide nationwide access to the research articles and journal publications. ONOS will bridge the gap between the academic resources of higher education and research in India.

What is One Nation, One Subscription?

The One Nation, One Subscription scheme is designed to enable seamless access to scholarly journals for higher educational institutions (HEIs) and research and development (R&D) laboratories managed by the Central and State Governments. A budget of Rs 6,000 crore has been allocated for the period of three calendar years, 2025, 2026, and 2027. The initiative is aligned with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), and Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.

What are the Key Objectives of One Nation, One Subscription?

The One Nation, One Subscription scheme will help all higher educational institutions that are under the Central or State Government and Research & Development Institutions of the Central Government through a national subscription, which is further coordinated by the central agency Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), an autonomous inter-university centre of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The scheme targets to cover approximately 6300 institutions, helping 1.8 crore students, faculty and researchers. Some of the key objectives are listed below:

Easy Access to Knowledge: The ONOS scheme targets to bridge the gap between top-tier institutions and those in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities by providing equal access to a vast range of scholarly journals.

Fostering Research and Innovation: The scheme will provide a research-centric culture by encouraging interdisciplinary studies and innovation across all disciplines.

Cost-Effective Solutions: Consolidate journal subscriptions under a single umbrella, eliminating redundancies and achieving cost efficiency.

Promoting Indigenous Research: The scheme will enhance the visibility and publication rate of Indian researchers in globally recognised journals.

How Does One Nation, One Subscription Work?

The scheme will be implemented through a unified digital portal, which will be managed by INFLIBNET (Information and Library Network), an autonomous inter-university centre under the University Grants Commission (UGC). The centralised system of INFLIBNET will ensure that all the institutions have access to a comprehensive repository of all scholarly content. 

Beneficiaries: The scheme will have more than 6,300 institutions, which include central and state universities, colleges, and R&D laboratories, which provides access to nearly 1.8 crore students, faculty, and researchers.

Digital Process: Institutions will be able to access journals through the digital central process. The system will be designed in a way that it will be user-friendly and fully digital and ensure easy access to all the stakeholders. 

Monitoring and Evaluation: The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) will periodically review the usage and impact of ONOS, which will also ensure that the allocated funds and resources are optimally utilised.

Impact of One Nation, One Subscription

The ONOS will provide access to a wide range of journals, which will empower researchers and educators to get engaged with the latest research and developments in their respective fields.

Researchers will also be able to do more in-depth research, collaborate across disciplines, and contribute to the new innovations as it will provide remote access to high-quality academic materials.

ONOS will significantly help India’s global standing in academic and scientific research. The easy availability of journals across various disciplines will help in fostering new ideas and solutions to complex challenges. 

The ONOS scheme will be an important component of the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, which aims to transform India into a global knowledge hub. It also aligns with the goals of NEP 2020 to improve the quality of higher education and research infrastructure in the country

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Role of INFLIBNET in ONOS

The Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) plays a pivotal role in the implementation of the ONOS scheme by providing centralised access, technical support, and data monitoring. INFLIBNET will also be responsible for managing subscriptions and providing smooth access to institutions. 

Integration with NEP 2020 and ANRF

The One Nation, One Subscription scheme is closely aligned with India’s educational and research policies. NEP 2020 emphasises the importance of quality education and resources. ONOS will complement NEP 2020 by making high-quality academic journals accessible to all.

The ONOS scheme will supplement the objectives of ANRF by fostering a culture of research and innovation across Indian institutions. The collaboration between these frameworks ensures that ONOS is not an isolated initiative but a part of a broader strategy to enhance India’s academic and research landscape.