One Nation One Subscription
Democratising Knowledge for Equity and Growth
Ranjana Kumari
Starting January 2025, the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme will revolutionise access to academic resources in India, offering a streamlined, affordable, and inclusive platform to democratise knowledge for millions.
The launch of the scheme on December 4, 2024, represents a monumental step toward dismantling barriers to knowledge access and fostering a more inclusive and innovation-driven society. Knowledge, long recognised as the foundation of progress, plays a dual role: as a tool for individual empowerment and as a catalyst for collective development. By providing unified access to nearly 13,000 e-journals from 30 leading international publishers, ONOS ensures that researchers, students, and educators across India- whether in metropolitan hubs or remote rural areas- have equal opportunities to participate in the global exchange of ideas. This democratisation is particularly vital in a country as diverse and populous as India, where inequities in educational resources have perpetuated regional and socio-economic divides.
From a social perspective, the ONOS scheme addresses systemic disparities that have long hindered marginalised communities. In tier-2 and tier-3 cities and rural areas, where institutions often lack the resources to secure individual subscriptions to prestigious journals, access to global knowledge has been a privilege rather than a right. ONOS transforms this landscape, empowering underserved students and researchers to excel on par with their urban counterparts. This inclusivity fosters social mobility, breaking the cycle of disadvantage and creating pathways to upward mobility through education. By enabling access to diverse academic disciplines, ONOS also promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, which is crucial for addressing India's complex societal challenges, such as public health crises, climate change, and socio-economic inequities.
Economically, the scheme underpins India's aspiration to become a knowledge-based economy- one that values ideas, research, and innovation as key drivers of growth. By equipping students, researchers, and professionals with access to cutting-edge research, ONOS strengthens the nation's intellectual capital. This, in turn, fuels innovation, supports the growth of industries like technology, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence, and fosters entrepreneurship. For competitive exam aspirants and job seekers, access to these resources bridges the gap between academic learning and industry requirements, enabling them to enhance their skills and employability in an increasingly globalised job market. Moreover, the availability of scholarly materials through ONOS empowers small and medium-sized institutions, which often struggle to compete for funding or recognition, thereby contributing to a more balanced academic ecosystem.
Beyond individual and institutional benefits, the ONOS scheme also strengthens India's position on the global stage. By fostering a culture of academic excellence, the scheme enhances the country's research output, boosts its academic reputation, and attracts international collaborations and investments in the education sector. It paves the way for Indian researchers to lead in fields of global importance, such as sustainable energy, medicine, and technology, contributing not only to national development but also to solutions for global challenges.
The ONOS scheme also hints at a broader shift toward making knowledge a public good. While it currently focuses on subscription-based access, its success could catalyse India's transition to promoting open-access publishing, ensuring long-term sustainability and inclusivity in academic resource sharing. By emphasising equitable access, ONOS aligns with India's constitutional promise of equality and reflects the government's recognition of education as a fundamental enabler of social justice and economic resilience.
Encouraging Collaborations Between International and Local Publishers
The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme provides a unique opportunity to foster collaborations between international and local publishers, creating a more inclusive and representative academic landscape in India. By incentivising partnerships, international publishers can work with Indian counterparts to develop collaborative publishing models that cater specifically to the Indian academic context. These efforts could lead to the creation of new journals focussed on regional disciplines and local issues, ensuring Indian research gains visibility on global platforms. Such collaborations not only enhance the global recognition of Indian scholars but also diversify the academic landscape by addressing India's unique challenges and innovations. International publishers bring expertise in maintaining high academic standards and rigorous peer-review processes, ensuring the quality of new publications. At the same time, their involvement in capacity-building initiatives, such as training programmes for local editors and researchers, can strengthen the publishing capabilities of Indian institutions. By supporting emerging researchers and expanding opportunities for interdisciplinary studies, these partnerships foster a robust research ecosystem. Mechanisms for user feedback under ONOS can further refine these collaborations, ensuring journals remain relevant and effective. Together, these efforts position Indian academia to contribute more meaningfully to global knowledge while amplifying local voices in international discourse.
Impact Beyond R&D: How ONOS Empowers Job Seekers
The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme is a transformative initiative that significantly benefits job seekers preparing for a wide range of competitive examinations conducted by renowned organisations such as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), and various state-level Public Service Commissions (PSCs). By providing access to an extensive collection of nearly 13,000 e-journals and scholarly articles from globally acclaimed publishers, ONOS equips candidates with high-quality resources critical for excelling in diverse examinations and career paths.
For aspirants preparing for the Civil Services Examination (CSE), the scheme is invaluable, offering in-depth resources to enhance conceptual clarity, critical reasoning, and analytical skills in subjects such as history, geography, economics, polity, and science. Those appearing for defencerelated exams like the Combined Defence Services (CDS), National Defence Academy (NDA), or the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) examinations gain access to insightful material on international relations, defence strategies, and global security trends.
Technical candidates targeting examinations such as the Engineering Services Examination (ESE), Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) exams, or Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) recruitments can benefit from the latest advancements and research in engineering, agriculture, and technology. Medical professionals preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Post-Graduation (NEET-PG), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) PG entrance exams, and other specialty medical tests gain access to cutting-edge medical journals, which keep them updated with the latest findings and practices.
Banking and finance aspirants preparing for exams like IBPS PO/Clerk, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Grade B, and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) officer exams gain a distinct advantage with access to resources that delve into global financial systems, monetary policies, and economic trends.
Similarly, teaching aspirants sitting for exams like the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) or various State Teacher Eligibility Tests (TETs) can utilise educational journals to stay abreast of modern pedagogical approaches and teaching methodologies.
For candidates pursuing careers in law through exams such as the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for postgraduate studies, Judicial Services Examinations, or other legal tests, ONOS provides access to international legal journals, case studies, and critical articles on contemporary legal issues.
Additionally, those preparing for exams requiring general awareness, such as the Combined Graduate Level Examination (CGL) or state civil service exams, benefit from updated analyses on current affairs, global events, environ-mental challenges, and socio-economic developments.
The ONOS scheme also fosters essential skills such as problem-solving, data interpretation, and critical thinking by exposing aspirants to diverse perspectives, research methodologies, and real-world scenarios. These abilities prove particularly advantageous for sections of exams focused on essay writing, reasoning, and interview assessments.
Importantly, the scheme addresses the disparities in access to quality preparatory resources, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 cities and rural areas, where such materials are often scarce or prohibitively ex-pensive. By democratising access to premier academic content, ONOS empowers students from all backgrounds, bridging socio-economic and geographical divides. This inclusivity ensures that candi-dates from underserved regions can compete on an equal footing with their urban counterparts, enhancing their chances of success in high-stakes compe-titive examinations.
Through its wide-ranging benefits, ONOS not only supports individual preparation but also contributes to the development of a skilled and informed workforce. This aligns with India's vision of fostering a knowledge-driven economy and creating a future-ready society capable of addressing both national and global challenges.
Challenges in Implementing the ONOS Scheme
The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme, while visionary and trans-formative, faces several challenges in its implementation. However, the government has devised strategic approaches to address these hurdles, ensuring the scheme's success and sustainability.
Complex Negotiations with Publishers: Negotiating with 30 leading international publishers to secure access to nearly 13,000 e-journals for over 6,300 institutions presents significant challenges. Publishers have diverse pricing models, and aligning these with India's budgetary constraints and institutional requirements is no small task. To overcome this, the government has designated the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) as a centralised negotiating body. By leveraging the collective bargaining power of thousands of institutions, INFLIBNET ensures favourable terms and cost efficiency. This approach not only simplifies the negotiation process but also enhances transparency and accountability in publisher agreements.
Addressing Diverse Institutional Needs: India's higher education ecosystem is incredibly diverse, encom-passing institutions of varying sizes, resources, and academic specialisations. Designing a unified portal that meets the specific needs of premier universities, rural colleges, and research facilities alike is a complex undertaking. The government recognises that a one-size-fits-all approach may not suffice. To address this, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) plays a pivotal role in monitoring and evaluating the scheme's imple-mentation. Regular feedback from institutions ensures that the platform evolves to accommodate diverse user requirements, whether in terms of journal selection, subject coverage, or user interface. The government's emphasis on adaptability aims to create an inclusive system that benefits all stakeholders equitably.
Transitioning to Open-Access Models: While the ONOS scheme currently focusses on a subscription-based model to provide immediate access to prestigious inter-national journals, the government is mindful of the growing global shift towards open-access publishing. Open-access models offer free and unrestricted access to research, reducing long-term dependency on costly subscriptions. By introducing the ONOS scheme, the government is also laying the groundwork for India's gradual transition to open-access plat-forms. This includes fostering dialogue with publishers about reducing Article Processing Charges (APCs) for Indian researchers and incentivising the publication of open-access articles. In doing so, the government aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of academic resource accessibility while promoting India's contribution to the global open-access movement.
The One Nation One Subscription scheme is a bold and visionary initiative that under-scores the Indian government's commitment to democratising knowledge. By addressing the needs of researchers, scholars, and job seekers alike, ONOS bridges critical gaps in academic and professional ecosystems. Its successful implementation will serve as a global model for equitable education and research accessibility, paving the way for India's rise as a knowledge-driven economy.
Salient Features of the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) Scheme
Feature Description
Centralised Access via a Unified Portal The scheme introduces a digital platform serving as a single access point for academic resources, eliminating the need for multiple fragmented subscriptions.
Managed by the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), an autonomous organisation under the University Grants Commission (UGC), the platform ensures seamless navigation and accessibility for students, researchers, and faculty members nationwide.
Substantial Financial Commitment The Government of India has allocated a budget of Rs. 6,000 crore for the scheme, covering a period of three years (2025-2027).
By employing collective bargaining strategies, the government has secured better subscription deals with publishers, significantly lowering the costs for higher education institutions.
Inclusivity for All Institutions The ONOS scheme aims to bridge disparities between wellfunded institutions in tier-1 institutions and those located in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, where resources have traditionally been limited.
It ensures equitable access to high-quality academic journals, fostering learning and research across both urban and rural regions.
Promoting Research and Collaboration By providing access to prestigious international journals, the scheme supports global academic collaborations, enabling Indian researchers to engage with worldwide scholarly advancements.
It bolsters India's contribution to international research output, enhancing the country's academic reputation on the global stage.
Accessing the ONOS Platform
Launch Date
• January 1, 2025 - ONOS becomes operational for all eligible users.
Who Can Access?
• Individuals affiliated with:
• Government-Run Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
• Research and Development (R&D) institutions under the Central Government.
• Target Beneficiaries: Approx. 1.8 crore users.
Platform Features:
• Fully digital platform managed by Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), under University Grants Commission (UGC).
• Registration: Institutions must register on the platform to access resources.
State Government Role
• State governments are encouraged to promote the initiative among their institutions to enhance awareness and usage.
National Subscription Model
• A single subscription price negotiated for all institutions.
• Secures better pricing than independent subscriptions.
Scope of Access
• Access to 13,000 e-journals from 30 major international publishers, including:
• Elsevier
• Springer Nature
• Wiley
• Taylor & Francis
• Institutions may opt for individual subscriptions to journals not included in the central subscription, catering to specific academic needs.
Benefits for International Publishers under the ONOS Scheme
Benefit Description
Expanded Market Access to nearly 1.8 crore students, faculty,
Reach and researchers across over 6,300 govern-
mentrun institutions, increasing visibility
and influence.
Increased Publi- Easier access to journals is expected to boost
cation Output publication output by 38%, enhancing citation
rates and the impact of journals.
Strengthened Encourages partnerships with Indian insti-
Collaborations tutions, leading to co-authored research, joint
projects, and region-specific journals.
Enhanced Participation in a major national initiative like
Reputation ONOS aligns publishers with efforts to improve
educational access and equity, enhancing
credibility.
Stable Revenue The centralised subscription model ensures
Stream guaranteed payments from institutions, offering
financial stability and reducing the risk of
cancellations.
Open Access Potential discussions around open-access
Opportunities publishing models present opportunities to
cater to growing demand for freely accessible
research outputs.
Feedback for ONOS includes mechanisms for gathering
Improvement user feedback, enabling publishers to refine
offerings and better meet the needs of resear-
chers.
(The author is an entrepreneur and an educationist. Feedback on this article can be sent to feedback.employmentnews@ gmail.com).
Views expressed are personal.