## Modi’s ‘One Nation, One Subscription’ Scheme: A Game Changer for Indian Education and Research
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has unveiled a landmark initiative poised to revolutionize India’s higher education and research landscape: the ‘One Nation, One Subscription’ (ONOS) scheme. Approved by the Union Cabinet, ONOS represents a significant commitment to democratizing access to crucial academic resources, thereby fostering innovation and bridging the existing educational disparities across the nation.
A ₹6,000 Crore Investment in India’s Future:
The scheme boasts a substantial INR 6,000 crore allocation spanning three years (2025-2027). This substantial investment underscores the government’s unwavering dedication to elevating India’s educational standing on the global stage. The funds will be channeled into a fully digital, user-friendly platform designed to deliver seamless access to a vast repository of scholarly materials.
Unprecedented Access to Global Research:
ONOS will provide access to nearly 13,000 high-impact e-journals from 30 leading international publishers. This comprehensive collection will be readily available to over 6,300 institutions, including universities, colleges, and research and development (R&D) laboratories, impacting an estimated 1.8 crore students, faculty members, and researchers. This unprecedented access will extend even to tier-2 and tier-3 cities, ensuring that geographically disadvantaged students and researchers are not left behind.
More Than Just Access: Fostering Excellence in Research:
The benefits of ONOS extend far beyond simply providing access. By removing financial barriers to high-quality research materials, the scheme empowers researchers to undertake cutting-edge investigations, promoting both core and interdisciplinary research. This increased access will undoubtedly stimulate innovation and fuel groundbreaking discoveries across various fields.
Alignment with National Goals and Policy:
ONOS aligns perfectly with the overarching goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), and the government’s ‘Viksit Bharat@2047’ vision. It directly addresses the need to bridge the gap in access to quality academic resources, fostering a more equitable and high-performing education system.
Bridging the Urban-Rural Divide:
A key objective of ONOS is to mitigate the knowledge gap between urban and rural areas. By extending the benefits of this scheme to tier-2 and tier-3 cities, the government aims to ensure that all students, irrespective of their location, have equal access to the best educational resources available. This proactive step contributes significantly to reducing educational inequality and creating a more inclusive learning environment.
Implementation and Access:
Institutions will access the resources through a dedicated, user-friendly portal. The ANRF will continuously monitor the scheme’s impact, particularly its usage and the contributions from Indian authors. To ensure widespread awareness and effective utilization, the Department of Higher Education, alongside state governments and relevant ministries, will conduct comprehensive information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns.
Building on a Vision: From ‘Jai Anusandhan’ to ONOS:
The genesis of ONOS can be traced back to Prime Minister Modi’s Independence Day address in 2022. His call for ‘Jai Anusandhan’ (Hail Research) emphasized the vital role of research and development in propelling India’s progress. The creation of the ANRF and the subsequent launch of ONOS represent concrete steps towards fulfilling this vision, fostering a culture of innovation and strengthening India’s position as a global leader in education and research. ONOS is a significant step towards achieving the goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) and Viksit Bharat@2047 (Developed India).
