Union Cabinet approves One Nation One Subscription scheme

Union Cabinet approves One Nation One Subscription scheme. One Nation One Subscription 2024, One Nation, One Subscription UPSC, One Nation One Subscription scheme.

Cabinet approves One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)

Union Cabinet approved One Nation One Subscription,  a new Central Sector Scheme for providing country-wide access to scholarly research articles and journal publication

The scheme will be administered through a simple, user friendly and fully digital process. This will be a “One Nation One Subscription” facility for the government higher education institutions and R&D laboratories of the central government

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One Nation One Subscription scheme

The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme is a proposal by the Indian government aimed at streamlining and providing a unified subscription model for various digital platforms, primarily focusing on educational and entertainment services. While the scheme is still in the conceptual or early stages, it envisions offering citizens access to multiple digital content providers or platforms, such as e-learning resources, OTT streaming services, and more, under a single subscription fee.

Here are some key aspects that have been discussed or implied about the scheme:

1. Unified Access

• Centralized Subscription: The scheme aims to simplify the process of subscribing to various online platforms (educational resources, OTT platforms, etc.) by integrating them into a single subscription model.
• One Subscription Fee: Users would pay a single fee to access multiple services, making it more affordable and convenient.

2. Focus on Education and Entertainment

• E-learning Platforms: One of the main objectives of ONOS is to provide affordable access to online learning platforms, including those offering skill development, academic courses, and certification programs. This can help in bridging the digital divide and improving education access.
• OTT Services: Similarly, entertainment platforms such as streaming services (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, etc.) may also be covered under the scheme, reducing the overall cost for consumers who would otherwise have to subscribe to multiple services separately.

3. Affordable and Accessible for All

• The scheme is designed to promote inclusivity, ensuring that people from different economic backgrounds have access to quality digital content and resources.
• By consolidating multiple services into one, it reduces the financial burden on users who want access to a variety of platforms, especially in a country like India where affordability is a key factor in widespread digital adoption.

4. Government-Backed Initiatives

• The ONOS scheme is likely to be supported by the Indian government, which may negotiate with service providers to come up with a package that can be offered at a subsidized rate, particularly for students, lower-income groups, and those in rural areas.

5. Implementation Challenges

• Content Licensing: One of the biggest challenges for this scheme would be negotiating content licensing with multiple digital platforms, especially given the wide variety of services and differing pricing models.
• Infrastructure and Technology: Providing universal access would also require robust digital infrastructure and support for various technologies and platforms.

6. Potential for Digital India Campaign

• The ONOS initiative could align with India’s broader “Digital India” campaign, which aims to enhance digital literacy, promote e-governance, and expand internet connectivity throughout the country.

7. Integration with Other Government Programs

• This scheme could be integrated with other government programs such as SWAYAM, which provides free online courses, or PMGDISHA, a scheme aimed at improving digital literacy in rural areas.

The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme is a significant initiative approved by the Union Cabinet of India to provide all students, faculty, researchers, and scientists in government-funded educational and research institutions across the country with access to high-impact international scholarly journals and research articles.

This step is aimed at strengthening research and development (R&D) and fostering innovation in India, as part of the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and the goals outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Key Highlights of the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) Scheme:

1. Target Beneficiaries:
   • The scheme will benefit 1.8 crore students, faculty, and researchers across more than 6,300 government-run higher education institutions (HEIs) and R&D institutions in India, including those in tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
   • It will provide access to high-quality scholarly journals, covering a wide range of disciplines, thus promoting interdisciplinary research.
2. Global Access to Scholarly Resources:
   • The scheme includes 30 major international journal publishers, covering almost 13,000 e-journals. This offers researchers across India access to a wealth of global research, significantly increasing the availability of scholarly articles and papers.
   • The access is designed to be digital, making it easier for users to access journals remotely, without geographic or infrastructural limitations.
3. Implementation via INFLIBNET:
   • The Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), an autonomous body of the University Grants Commission (UGC), will coordinate and manage the subscription process.
   • A user-friendly digital platform will be set up to facilitate access to the journals and publications, making the process seamless and efficient for students, researchers, and faculty.
4. Financial Allocation:
   • The Indian government has allocated ₹6,000 crore for the scheme for the years 2025, 2026, and 2027, marking a major investment in enhancing the country’s research and development capabilities.
5. Supporting Research and Development:
   • This initiative will supplement the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), which aims to bolster research activities in India. ONOS will provide researchers and institutions with access to cutting-edge international research to further foster a culture of innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and scientific advancement.
6. Promoting Inclusivity:
   • One of the key goals of the scheme is to bridge the knowledge gap between students, faculty, and researchers in major urban centers and those in rural or underserved regions, ensuring that institutions in tier 2 and tier 3 cities also have equal access to global research.
   • The initiative aims to support the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India) by ensuring that researchers and students have the necessary resources to contribute to India’s knowledge economy.
7. Enhanced Use of Research:
   • To ensure the maximum usage of this valuable resource, the Department of Higher Education (DHE) and other ministries will carry out Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns to promote awareness about the availability and access to these journals.
   • The ANRF will periodically review how ONOS is being utilized, with a particular focus on increasing the publication output of Indian researchers and authors.

Strategic Goals of the ONOS Scheme:

1. Enhancing Research Output: By providing easy access to international journals and research papers, ONOS aims to boost research output, particularly in areas critical to India’s socio-economic growth, such as science, technology, health, agriculture, and engineering.
2. Global Positioning: The scheme is intended to integrate India more effectively into the global research ecosystem, facilitating India’s entry into the ranks of leading research and innovation hubs.
3. Building Research Infrastructure: Alongside the provision of journal access, ONOS aims to help build a robust research infrastructure by ensuring that institutions across the country are equipped with the tools needed to engage with global research.
4. Supporting the Vision of Viksit Bharat@2047: This initiative aligns with India’s broader goals under Viksit Bharat 2047, a vision for India to become a developed nation by its centenary year of independence. Improving research capabilities is a cornerstone of this vision.