The “One Nation One Subscription” (ONOS) Scheme, approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2024, is a landmark initiative aimed at democratizing access to high-quality scholarly research across India.
By providing nationwide access to international journals and publications, ONOS seeks to bolster research and innovation among students, faculty, and researchers in higher education institutions and research & development (R&D) laboratories managed by both central and state governments.
Objectives of the ONOS Scheme
The primary objectives of the ONOS Scheme include:
- Enhancing Research Capabilities: Providing equitable access to approximately 13,000 e-journals from 30 major international publishers to foster advanced research and innovation.
- Promoting Interdisciplinary Studies: Encouraging collaborative research across various disciplines, including those in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, to bridge knowledge gaps and promote holistic education.
- Cost-Effective Resource Sharing: Streamlining subscriptions to avoid duplication and reduce unnecessary expenditures on overlapping resources.
Key Features of the ONOS Scheme
The ONOS Scheme offers several salient features:
- Comprehensive Access: Benefiting over 1.8 crore students, faculty, and researchers across more than 6,300 government higher education institutions and central government R&D institutions.
- Digital Accessibility: Implementing a user-friendly, fully digital process through a unified portal managed by the Department of Higher Education, enabling seamless access to subscribed journals.
- Coordinated Implementation: The Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), an autonomous inter-university center under the University Grants Commission (UGC), will coordinate the national subscription, ensuring efficient management and dissemination of resources.
Budget Allocation and Duration
The government has allocated a total budget of ₹6,000 crore for the ONOS Scheme, covering three calendar years: 2025, 2026, and 2027. This substantial investment underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing the research infrastructure and academic excellence in the country.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the benefits under the ONOS Scheme, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Residency: Must be permanent residents of India.
- Institutional Affiliation: Must be students, faculty, or researchers affiliated with higher education institutions or R&D laboratories managed by the central or state governments.
Application Process
Access to the resources provided under the ONOS Scheme will be facilitated through a unified digital portal developed by the Department of Higher Education. Eligible institutions will be required to register on this portal to avail the benefits.
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) will periodically review the usage of the ONOS resources and monitor publications by Indian authors from these institutions.
Implementation Timeline
The ONOS platform is scheduled to become operational on January 1, 2025, and will continue until December 31, 2027. During this period, the Department of Higher Education, along with other relevant ministries and state governments, will conduct Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns to maximize awareness and utilization of the facility across the country.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) Scheme |
| Approval Year | 2024 |
| Implementation Period | 2025-2027 |
| Budget Allocation | ₹6,000 crore |
| Beneficiaries | Approximately 1.8 crore students, faculty, and researchers across 6,300+ institutions |
| Number of E-Journals | Nearly 13,000 from 30 major international publishers |
| Coordinating Agency | Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) under UGC |
| Access Mode | Online through a unified digital portal |
| Eligibility Criteria | Permanent residents of India affiliated with government-managed higher education institutions or R&D laboratories |
| Official Website | To be updated soon |
What is the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) Scheme?
The ONOS Scheme is a government initiative aimed at providing nationwide access to high-quality scholarly research articles and journal publications to students, faculty, and researchers of higher education institutions and R&D laboratories managed by the central and state governments.
Who are the beneficiaries of the ONOS Scheme?
The scheme benefits approximately 1.8 crore students, faculty, and researchers across more than 6,300 government higher education institutions and central government R&D institutions.
How can eligible institutions access the resources under the ONOS Scheme?
Eligible institutions can access the resources through a unified digital portal developed by the Department of Higher Education. Registration on this portal is required to avail the benefits.
