One Nation One Subscription: catalysing transformation in Indian research policy: Policy Reviews in Higher Education: Vol 0, No 0 - Get Access

Abstract:  India’s One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative proposes a groundbreaking model to democratise access to scholarly knowledge by negotiating nationwide subscriptions to paywalled academic journals. This paper critically examines ONOS’s potential to transform India’s research ecosystem, addressing its objectives, implementation challenges, and socio-economic implications. Through a comparative analysis of global models – such as the EU's Plan S, Germany's Projekt Deal, Egypt’s Egyptian Knowledge Bank, South Africa’s national licensing consortium, and Peru’s open-access repository; the study identifies key lessons for India. While ONOS promises to bridge the urban-rural knowledge divide and reduce institutional costs by 30–40%, its success hinges on overcoming publisher resistance, funding uncertainties, and infrastructural inequities. The paper advocates for a hybrid approach that integrates ONOS with open-access mandates and public-private partnerships to balance affordability and sustainability. By contextualising ONOS within India’s ambitions under the National Education Policy 2020, this research underscores the initiative’s role in fostering inclusive growth and positioning India as a global research leader.