2 January 2025 : PIB Summary For UPSC
One Nation One Subscription
(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2089179®=3&lang=1 )
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What is ONOS?
- ONOS is a national initiative designed to provide students, faculty, researchers, and scientists in India’s government higher education institutions and R&D centres with access to international scholarly journals and articles.
- The scheme aims to improve research quality by offering global resources across various academic fields.
- It seeks to foster innovation and enhance India’s research capabilities by ensuring equitable access to world-class research materials.
Key Objectives of the ONOS Scheme
- Access to Global Research: The scheme provides free access to more than 13,000 international journals, benefiting about 1.8 crore students and researchers.
- Promoting Inclusive Research: It ensures equal access to research resources, including for institutions in remote and tier 2-3 cities.
- Encouraging Global Collaboration: ONOS aims to integrate India’s research community with global scholarly communities, enhancing global participation.
Implementation Process
- Centralized Coordination by INFLIBNET: INFLIBNET, an autonomous center under the University Grants Commission (UGC), will manage and distribute digital access to the journals. It ensures ease of access for users across the country.
- Digital Access: Researchers and students can access journals digitally, eliminating administrative burdens and providing on-demand access.
- Subscription Coverage: Over 6,300 government academic and R&D institutes are part of the program, ensuring extensive coverage across India.
Funding and Financial Strategy
- Government Allocation: ₹6,000 crore has been allocated for the ONOS scheme from 2025 to 2027. This will cover subscription charges for journals from 30 major international publishers.
- Support for Open-Access Publications: The government will allocate ₹150 crore annually for Indian authors to publish in quality open-access journals.
- Phase-wise Funding: ONOS will be implemented in phases, with Phase I starting in January 2025. This phase covers subscriptions for journals and payments for publishing costs.
Advantages of ONOS
- Enhanced Research Quality: Indian researchers will have access to cutting-edge research, improving the quality and depth of studies across various disciplines like science, technology, medicine, and social sciences.
- Equitable Access: The scheme ensures that even institutions in remote locations or smaller cities have access to the same global resources as those in major urban centres.
- Global Recognition and Collaboration: The scheme helps Indian researchers participate more actively in international research collaborations and increases global recognition of Indian research.
- Cost Savings: ONOS eliminates the need for institutions to purchase expensive individual subscriptions, significantly reducing costs for academic and research institutions.
Way Forward
- Strengthening India’s Research Ecosystem: ONOS is aligned with India’s vision of becoming a global leader in research by 2047, helping foster innovation and cutting-edge studies.
- Synergy with Other Initiatives: ONOS will complement other research initiatives like the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), driving further R&D efforts.
- Sustainability and Growth: Over time, ONOS will expand to include more research journals and incorporate feedback from the academic community to improve its offerings.
Conclusion
- The One Nation One Subscription scheme is a transformative step in democratizing access to global research resources, thus improving the quality of education and research in India.
- Through its comprehensive approach, it will enhance India’s position as a leader in global research and innovation.
| Practice Question: Discuss the objectives of the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme in enhancing India’s research ecosystem. How does it contribute to India’s global research standing? (250 Words /15 marks) |
For more such UPSC related Current Affairs, Check Out – PIB: January 01, 2025
