In a move to strengthen India’s research capabilities, the Union Cabinet approved the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme on November 25, 2024. The first phase, launching on Wednesday, will grant access to over 13,000 international journals for 6,300 institutions, benefiting 1.8 crore students, faculty members, and researchers across the country.
The ONOS scheme aims to transform India’s research landscape by providing comprehensive access to international scholarly journals for government-run higher education institutions (HEIs) and central government R&D centers.
This initiative follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for advancing India’s innovation capabilities during his Independence Day address on August 15, 2022, where he introduced the slogan “Jai Anusandhan,” aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which focuses on developing a research-driven educational system.
The ONOS scheme seeks to democratize access to knowledge by providing students, faculty, and researchers at government institutions with world-class research resources.
By ensuring equitable access to research materials, especially for institutions in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, ONOS seeks to bridge the knowledge gap between urban and remote areas. It also empowers Indian researchers to collaborate with global scholarly communities, elevating India’s presence in international research.
Managed centrally by INFLIBNET, the subscription process will provide seamless digital access to resources for all users. The government has allocated ₹6,000 crore for the years 2025 to 2027 to support this initiative, with an additional ₹150 crore allocated annually for publication in selected Open Access (OA) journals.
ONOS also offers significant discounts on Article Processing Charges (APCs), making it more affordable for Indian researchers to publish in high-impact international journals.
The phased implementation of ONOS will inform future expansions, aiming to enhance both research access and quality.
The scheme complements India’s Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), further supporting R&D activities and facilitating easy access to international research resources.