Cabinet approves new scheme for research journals on one platform

Context: The Union cabinet on Monday approved the ‘One nation One Subscription’ (ONOS)
scheme, under which all centrally run and state-run higher education
institutions (HEI) will have access to reputed journals published by
international publishers on a single platform. The platform is set to become operational
on January 1,2025. Access will be provided through a national subscription,
coordinated by the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET). The scheme
involves an outlay of Rs. 6000 crore for three years, until 20267 and will
provide subscriptions to around 13,000 journals published by 30 international
publishers.

Key points

·       Overview: The Union
Cabinet has approved the “One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme” aims to
provide nationwide access to scholarly research articles and journals.

·       One
Nation One Subscription (ONOS): About - Fully
digital and user-friendly Central Sector Scheme approved by the Union Cabinet.

Aims and
Objectives - Provide unified access to scholarly journals and research articles for
government HEIs and R&D labs. Support research through the Anusandhan
National Research Foundation (ANRF) and other government initiatives,
particularly in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Centralize subscriptions to reduce
the financial burden on individual institutions. Align with Viksit Bharat@2047,
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and National Research Foundation (NRF).

·       Structural
Mandate: Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), an autonomous
inter-university center under UGC, will coordinate ONOS and ensure seamless
access to research materials. 6,300 institutions under central and state
government management, including universities, colleges, and R&D labs. A
dedicated digital portal for easy access, designed for wide accessibility.

·       Provisions
and Eligibility Criteria: All government-run HEIs and R&D institutions
are eligible. 13,000 journals from 30 international publishers are available
free of cost. ₹6,000 crore allocated for 2025-2027; payments to publishers made
centrally by INFLIBNET.

·       Government
Initiatives related to R&D: Development of Centres of
Excellence. Creation of National Research Foundation. VAIBHAV Fellowship. Global
Innovation Index 2023: India secured the 40th position in the latest GII 2023. Atal
New India Challenge 2.0. Announcement of New Science Awards (Vigyan Yuva-Shanti
Swarup Bhatnagar). Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDFs): The government has
increased the number of Post-Doctoral Fellowships (PDFs) from 300 annually to
1000.

·       Way
forward: Consistent Investment - Science requires consistent, large-scale
investment to bear fruit. For India to reach ‘developed nation’ status, it
needs to spend more to scale R&D than developed countries spend to maintain
that status.

Philanthropic
Funding - Encouraging wealthy individuals, corporations, and foundations to invest
in R&D through philanthropy can significantly boost funding. Establishing
dedicated funds or grants for scientific research can attract donations from
those interested in contributing to societal progress.

Industry-Academic
Collaboration - Facilitating partnerships between academia and industry can leverage
resources and expertise from both sectors. Industry can provide funding,
equipment, and real-world problems for research, while academic institutions
offer scientific knowledge and talent. Government incentives or tax breaks can
incentivise such collaborations.

Venture Capital
and Angel Investors - Encouraging venture capital firms and angel
investors to invest in R&D projects with high potential for
commercialisation can provide a significant source of funding. Startups and
small enterprises often drive innovation and can benefit from private
investment to scale their research efforts.