The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has officially announced that its complete journals portfolio is now accessible to more than 6,500 Indian institutions through the Government of India’s One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative. The development is expected to benefit nearly 18 million researchers, students, educators, and academic professionals across the country by significantly expanding access to high-quality scientific literature in chemical sciences and interdisciplinary research.
The inclusion of the Royal Society of Chemistry within the ONOS framework marks a major milestone in strengthening India’s research and higher education ecosystem while promoting equitable access to globally recognised scientific knowledge resources.
Strengthening India’s Research and Academic Infrastructure
The One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme was introduced by the Government of India with the objective of providing nationwide access to international scholarly journals and high-impact academic publications for higher education institutions and government-funded research organisations.
Under the initiative, students, faculty members, scientists, and researchers associated with:
Central universities
State universities
Government colleges
Publicly funded research institutions
Scientific organisations
can access internationally reputed journals and publications through a unified national framework.
With the addition of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s journals portfolio, Indian institutions now gain access to extensive research resources spanning:
Chemical sciences
Materials science
Environmental chemistry
Medicinal chemistry
Nanotechnology
Sustainable chemistry
Interdisciplinary scientific research
The initiative is expected to support both academic excellence and research innovation across India’s rapidly expanding scientific ecosystem.
Royal Society of Chemistry Highlights Commitment to Indian Scientific Advancement
Commenting on the partnership, Dr Helen Pain, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Society of Chemistry, described the inclusion in ONOS as a significant step in strengthening the organisation’s long-standing relationship with the Indian scientific community.
She stated:
“This is an important step in sustaining our long-standing relationships with the Indian chemistry community, a strong signal to underline our commitment to empower Indian scientific advancement and to realise our ambition of helping chemistry to change the world.”
Dr Pain further emphasised the global nature of scientific collaboration and acknowledged the support provided by Indian government institutions and research bodies in enabling the initiative.
She added:
“Science is always a global endeavour, and we are proud to be working closely with both the Indian government and the institutional partners we have forged relationships with over many years.”
The Royal Society of Chemistry also acknowledged the contributions of:
Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India
Ministry of Higher Education
Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
Department of Science and Technology (DST)
University Grants Commission (UGC)
INFLIBNET Centre
for supporting the implementation process.
Expanding Access to High-Quality Chemical Science Research
The Royal Society of Chemistry publishes some of the world’s most respected journals across chemistry and related scientific disciplines. Through ONOS, Indian institutions will now receive broader and more streamlined access to:
Peer-reviewed journals
Research articles
Scientific databases
Academic publications
Emerging research insights
This move is expected to particularly benefit:
University researchers
Doctoral scholars
Science faculty
Research laboratories
Innovation-focused institutions
by reducing barriers to accessing premium international scientific content.
Supporting India’s Vision for Inclusive Scientific Growth
Dr Venkatesh Sarvasiddhi, Managing Director – India and South Asia, Royal Society of Chemistry, highlighted the organisation’s broader vision of supporting India’s scientific and educational growth.
He stated:
“The Royal Society of Chemistry is proud to partner with Indian researchers and institutions – helping advance their success by publishing their work, supporting their development, and amplifying their voices on the global stage.”
He further noted that the organisation aims to promote:
Open scientific collaboration
Sustainable innovation
Inclusive scientific culture
Environmentally responsible chemistry solutions
through stronger engagement with India’s research ecosystem.
INFLIBNET Welcomes RSC’s Inclusion in ONOS
Professor Devika P. Madalli, Director of INFLIBNET Centre, welcomed the addition of the Royal Society of Chemistry to the ONOS initiative, stating that it significantly strengthens equitable access to world-class scientific literature for Indian academia.
She said:
“The Royal Society of Chemistry content within the One Nation One Subscription initiative significantly strengthens equitable access to high-quality chemical sciences research for students, researchers, and faculty across India.”
According to INFLIBNET, the partnership aligns closely with the Government of India’s broader mission to democratise access to knowledge and support a more inclusive research environment.
Government Officials Highlight Strategic Importance
Senior officials from the Indian higher education ecosystem also recognised the significance of the collaboration.
Sh. P.K. Banerjee, Joint Secretary, Indian Department of Higher Education, said:
“We are delighted for the Royal Society of Chemistry to be part of One Nation One Subscription. The RSC plays a significant role in advancing science and research in India’s ecosystem, especially across chemistry and interdisciplinary sciences.”
The collaboration is expected to strengthen India’s position in:
Scientific publishing
Academic research
Innovation-led education
Global research collaboration
particularly in emerging scientific disciplines where access to international journals remains critical.
A Major Step Toward Democratising Research Access
India’s higher education and research landscape has historically faced challenges related to unequal access to expensive international academic resources, especially for institutions in smaller cities and state-funded systems.
The ONOS initiative aims to bridge this gap by creating a unified national research-access infrastructure that ensures:
Equal access to global journals
Improved research quality
Enhanced academic collaboration
Better innovation outcomes
Stronger global competitiveness
The inclusion of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s journals portfolio significantly strengthens the scientific depth of the programme, particularly for chemistry and interdisciplinary sciences.
Empowering the Next Generation of Researchers
With nearly 18 million researchers, educators, and students expected to benefit from ONOS access, the partnership has the potential to accelerate:
Scientific discovery
Research publication quality
Academic collaboration
Innovation-led education
Global research participation
As India continues positioning itself as a major global research and innovation hub, initiatives such as ONOS are expected to play a critical role in building a stronger, more inclusive scientific ecosystem powered by accessible knowledge and international collaboration.
