India's Push Toward Open Science in Higher Education
India's higher education sector is undergoing a significant transformation with the adoption of open science policies. These developments aim to enhance accessibility, collaboration, and innovation across universities and research institutions. The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative, rolled out in 2025, has been a cornerstone, providing centralized access to thousands of journals for over 6,500 institutions.
Key National Frameworks Supporting Regional Implementation
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has introduced measures to ease research processes, including dedicated funding for open access publications. NITI Aayog's 2026 reports on Ease of Doing Research highlight the need for streamlined governance to support open science at state and regional levels. These frameworks encourage institutions like IITs and state universities to adopt open access mandates.
Regional Variations in Open Access Adoption
In southern India, institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and IISERs have led in establishing preprint servers like IndiaRxiv. Northern universities are focusing on partnerships for accelerated innovation, while eastern and northeastern regions are leveraging ANRF's PAIR program to build research capacity in underserved areas.
Role of Regulatory Bodies in Policy Rollout
The University Grants Commission (UGC) and Department of Science and Technology (DST) continue to refine guidelines from the 2014 open access policy. Recent updates emphasize compliance with ONOS for public-funded research, ensuring equitable access for scholars in regional colleges.
Impact on Research Collaboration and Innovation
Open science policies have boosted international collaborations, with India exploring association with Horizon Europe. Regional hubs are seeing increased output through shared data repositories, fostering interdisciplinary work in areas like sustainable development and health sciences.
Challenges in Implementing Open Science Regionally
Despite progress, disparities persist between elite institutions and smaller state universities. Issues include limited infrastructure for digital repositories and awareness gaps among faculty in remote areas. ANRF initiatives address these through targeted funding and training.
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Case Studies from Leading Regional Institutions
IIT Delhi has expanded open access to all public-funded research facilities. In Maharashtra, universities are piloting APC support under ONOS, leading to higher publication rates in open access journals. Similar efforts in Tamil Nadu focus on integrating open science into NEP 2020-aligned curricula.
Future Outlook for Open Science in Indian Academia
With the 2025-2026 Union Budget allocating resources for an RDI Fund, regional open science ecosystems are poised for growth. Emphasis on equity and inclusion will help bridge gaps, positioning India as a global leader in open research practices by 2030.
