One Nation One Subscription: boon and bane? - Research Information

"This week, the Government of India announced the launch of its much awaited One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme. I have been following this since the idea was first proposed four years ago as part of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. 

The rationale behind this initiative must be understood before dissecting its implementation and implications. Education in India, at all levels, is treated as not-for-profit. Both central and state governments are tasked with establishing educational institutions and allocating budgets to ensure minimal fees. In 2009, Parliament enacted the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act. 

Over the years, through various acts of parliament, the policy has been amended to allow private trusts to operate education institutions. The result is that we have a number of private schools, colleges, institutions and deemed universities. But each one of these is run by a not-for-profit trust. 

It stands to reason, then, that the largest buyers of educational resources are the Central and State governments. The ONOS scheme focuses on higher education and resources that help students with research material both for curricula setting and for furthering research. 

The highlights of the scheme are as follows:

1. A single-window purchasing entity, INFLIBNET, has been tasked with negotiating with the top 30 publishers out of a pool of 70+ originally identified publishers. The balance 40+ are expected to be closed in due course.
2. In Phase1, approximately 6,300 institutions and 18 million students will gain access to all the resources of the 30 publishers, at no cost. This cost will be borne by the central government. 
3. The 6,300 institutions form the creamy layer of some 28,000 institutions believed to be operational in India. The said 6,300 are funded by central and perhaps some state budgets (education department).
4. There is a budgetary allocation of around US$ 750 million for three years. My interpretation is that this is the budgetary allocation and not necessarily the amount committed to the 30 publishers. It is highly possible that a portion is allocated first, and the rest as Indian institutions build their digital infrastructure and gain access...."