One Nation One Subscription (ONOS): Transforming Research Access in India
In the era of knowledge economies, research and innovation are critical drivers of national growth and development. Yet, one of the biggest challenges researchers face—especially in developing countries like India—is access to scholarly literature. Subscriptions to scientific journals, databases, and research publications often carry hefty price tags, placing them out of reach for many institutions and individuals.
Against this backdrop, India’s Ministry of Education and other stakeholders proposed an ambitious idea: One Nation One Subscription (ONOS). The vision of ONOS is straightforward—India, as a single entity, negotiates with scientific publishers to procure country-wide access to scientific literature, removing paywalls for all Indian citizens.
This article explores the ONOS initiative in depth, highlighting its goals, benefits, challenges, and potential impact on India’s research and education ecosystem.
The Need for ONOS
High Cost of Scientific Journals
Scientific publishing is dominated by a few major publishers who charge subscription fees ranging from thousands to millions of dollars annually.
Universities and research institutions in India collectively spend hundreds of crores annually on journal subscriptions.
Smaller colleges and state universities often cannot afford subscriptions, leaving students and researchers cut off from critical resources.
Paywalls Hamper Innovation
Lack of access creates information gaps between well-funded institutions and smaller colleges or independent researchers.
This limits the quality and quantity of research output.
Young researchers and students are often forced to rely on outdated textbooks, rather than accessing cutting-edge research papers.
Inequity in Knowledge Access
Disparities exist even within India, where premier institutions like IITs or IISc can afford extensive subscriptions while state universities or private colleges cannot.
ONOS aims to bridge this gap, creating equal opportunity for all researchers, teachers, and students, regardless of their institution’s resources.
Current Challenges in Research Access
Despite significant progress in digitizing libraries and online resources, India’s research community still faces:
Fragmented subscription policies.
Redundant spending due to overlapping subscriptions by multiple institutions.
Limited budgets restricting smaller colleges from subscribing to major publishers.
High per-article purchase costs for individuals unable to afford full subscriptions.
ONOS is envisioned to solve these challenges through centralized negotiation and a single national license.
What is One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)?
ONOS is a proposed national licensing system where the Government of India negotiates with academic publishers to secure country-wide access to scholarly journals and publications.
Key features include:
✅ A single negotiated subscription covering all Indian institutions and citizens.
✅ Free access for all Indian researchers, students, teachers, and even the general public.
✅ Cost savings through bulk national negotiation rather than fragmented institutional deals.
✅ Enhanced research output due to universal access to scholarly literature.
How ONOS Works:
The government or a designated agency acts as the single buyer.
Instead of thousands of institutions negotiating separately, India deals collectively with publishers.
The agreement ensures every institution and individual within India gets access to the subscribed content.
The cost is borne centrally, often from government funds allocated for education and research.
Benefits of ONOS
1. Democratization of Knowledge
Removes inequalities between well-funded and underfunded institutions.
Enables students from remote colleges to access the same resources as IIT or IISc students.
2. Boost to Research Productivity
Researchers can access the latest global studies without financial constraints.
Helps Indian researchers publish high-quality, globally competitive work.
3. Cost Efficiency
Saves public money through bulk negotiations.
Avoids duplicated spending by multiple institutions on the same resources.
4. National Security and Self-Reliance
Critical research in sectors like defense, agriculture, and healthcare can progress without dependency on restricted access.
Supports India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
5. Educational Advancement
Teachers can prepare better content and stay updated with global trends.
Students gain exposure to recent research, improving learning outcomes.
Global Examples of National Licenses
Several countries have experimented with similar national-level subscriptions:
Germany’s Projekt DEAL: Negotiated nationwide agreements with major publishers like Wiley and Springer Nature, enabling free reading and open-access publishing for German researchers.
Norway and Sweden: Entered country-wide deals to enable open access for researchers and institutions.
Egypt: Negotiated national licenses with Elsevier to reduce costs for universities.
These examples prove the feasibility and potential benefits of national-level negotiations, strengthening the case for ONOS in India.
ONOS Implementation Plans in India
The concept of ONOS gained significant momentum after the announcement in India’s draft Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) 2020, which explicitly mentioned:
“The Government of India will negotiate with publishers for ‘One Nation One Subscription’ to ensure that all individuals in India have access to scientific knowledge.”
Key highlights of India’s planned implementation:
✅ Centralized Negotiation: A single body (potentially the Ministry of Education or Department of Science & Technology) negotiates with publishers.
✅ Free Access Nationwide: Researchers, students, and even the public can access scientific literature.
✅ Budget Allocation: Government will allocate funds to cover subscription costs.
✅ Focus on Top Journals: Priority will be high-impact journals relevant to Indian research needs.
✅ Monitoring and Evaluation: Usage data will help evaluate the value and effectiveness of ONOS.
Timeline: As of early 2025, discussions continue between government agencies, publishers, and stakeholders. Pilot initiatives and negotiations are underway, although a formal rollout is pending.
Challenges Facing ONOS
Despite its promise, ONOS also faces significant hurdles:
1. High Financial Cost
Publishers may demand high fees for national licenses.
Even bulk discounts could result in costs running into hundreds or thousands of crores.
2. Negotiation Complexity
Publishers are multinational corporations with strong bargaining power.
Negotiating fair terms requires careful planning and expertise.
3. Publishers’ Resistance
Some publishers fear revenue losses from abandoning per-institution subscriptions.
4. Infrastructure Requirements
Delivering seamless digital access nationwide requires robust IT systems.
Bandwidth limitations in rural areas may restrict access.
5. Monitoring Usage
To prevent misuse or piracy, systems must track how and by whom resources are accessed.
Impact on Open Access Movement
An interesting question is how ONOS intersects with the open access (OA) movement. Open access seeks to make research free for everyone worldwide. ONOS, while not identical, shares a similar spirit:
It makes research free for all Indians.
However, it does not necessarily make Indian research freely accessible worldwide (unless the deal includes open-access publishing rights).
Many experts suggest ONOS should negotiate for transformative agreements allowing Indian researchers to publish open-access papers without additional article processing charges (APCs).
Future Outlook
ONOS represents a bold vision aligned with India’s goals of becoming a knowledge superpower. Its successful implementation could:
✅ Democratize access to knowledge.
✅ Accelerate research and innovation.
✅ Promote equity in education and research.
However, success depends on careful negotiations, sustainable funding models, and technological infrastructure. If India can navigate these challenges, ONOS could transform the country’s academic landscape for generations to come.
Conclusion
One Nation One Subscription is more than a policy proposal; it’s a transformative idea that could redefine research and education access in India. By removing paywalls and democratizing knowledge, ONOS aligns perfectly with India’s ambitions of becoming a global leader in science, technology, and innovation.
While significant challenges lie ahead, the benefits—both tangible and intangible—are enormous. The world will be watching closely as India charts its path toward universal access to knowledge.
FAQs on One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Q1. What is One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)?
ONOS is an initiative by the Indian government to negotiate national-level subscriptions with scientific publishers. The goal is to provide free access to scholarly literature for all Indians, eliminating paywalls for students, researchers, and the public.
Q2. Who will benefit from ONOS?
Everyone in India—including students, researchers, teachers, doctors, industry professionals, and even the general public—will benefit from free access to research publications.
Q3. Will ONOS replace existing institutional subscriptions?
Ideally, yes. ONOS aims to replace fragmented subscriptions with a single national license, reducing redundant spending and ensuring universal access.
Q4. How much will ONOS cost?
Costs could run into hundreds or thousands of crores annually, depending on negotiations with publishers. However, it may still be cheaper than the combined cost of all individual institutional subscriptions.
Q5. Is ONOS the same as open access?
No. Open access makes research free for everyone worldwide. ONOS makes research free for Indians, but unless negotiated, it doesn’t guarantee that Indian research will be open access globally.
Q6. When will ONOS be implemented?
Negotiations and planning are ongoing. A formal rollout date has not yet been announced as of mid-2025.
Q7. Will ONOS include all publishers?
Not necessarily. India may start with major publishers covering high-impact journals most relevant to national research priorities.
Q8. How can individuals access resources under ONOS?
Access will likely be provided through government portals, digital libraries, or institutional networks. Details will depend on final implementation.
Q9. Can ONOS help improve India’s research rankings?
Yes. Better access can enhance research quality, resulting in more publications, higher citations, and stronger global rankings for Indian institutions.
Q10. Are there examples of other countries with similar systems?
Yes. Germany’s Projekt DEAL and national agreements in Norway, Sweden, and Egypt are examples of country-wide subscription deals with major publishers.
One Nation One Subscription could become a milestone in India’s journey toward a robust, equitable knowledge economy. As the policy takes shape, it promises to empower millions of students and researchers and propel India closer to its vision of scientific excellence.