HYDERABAD: The One Nation, One Subscription (ONOS) scheme will help reduce research costs, broadening access to academic resources, suggests an assessment made by IIM Mumbai.
The scheme is projected to lower research expenses by 18%, enabling students and researchers to access over 13,000 research papers online, it says.
IIM Mumbai Director Professor Manoj Kumar Tiwari emphasised the importance of data reliability and factual accuracy in determining the success of any research endeavour. “Research costs, tools, consumables, and support services play a significant role. However, limited funding for research affects both the quality of research and education standards,” he said.
“Empowering Research, Advancing Innovation: One Nation, One Subscription (ONOS) We at IIM Mumbai are excited to spotlight the transformative One Nation, One Subscription scheme, set to launch in January 2025,” Professor Manoj Kumar Tiwari posted on social media platform ‘X’.
In addition to technical expertise, factors such as time, equipment, consumables, and support services play a vital role in creating a robust research ecosystem, he noted.
At present, lack of adequate fundings is among the major bottlenecks for research projects, which makes researchers depend on costly subscriptions of international journals. These subscriptions put a heavy financial burden on higher education institutions.
What is ‘One Nation One Subscription; scheme
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has recently approved the ‘One Nation, One Membership’, under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation. This scheme aims to ease financial burdens on researchers by streamlining access to high-quality academic resources.
With a budget allocation of Rs. 6,000 crore for 2025-2027, the initiative will ensure centralised digital access to over 13,000 e-journals from 30 renowned international publishers through INFLIBNET.
This will benefit 6,300 institutions and 1.8 crore students, teachers, and researchers by eliminating the need for costly subscriptions.
In its first phase, the ONOS will expand resources for institutions like IIM Mumbai, enhancing access to journals and conference proceedings, boosting publication output by 38%, and reducing library expenses by 18%.