India Rising: A New Frontier in Scholarly Publishing

India Rising: A New Frontier in Scholarly Publishing

India is emerging as a global research powerhouse, and its influence is increasingly being felt in the academic and publishing world. As the nation’s higher education sector expands, publishers, especially society publishers, are finding new opportunities in this dynamic landscape. With a growing research output, a burgeoning higher education system, and government-backed initiatives like “One Nation, One Subscription” (ONOS), India is on the path to transforming its role in global academia. At the ALPSP 2024 Annual Conference, Kevin Lomangino, Director at KGL Consulting, Chris Reid, Director for Product and Publishing Development at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Kishor Chandra Satpathy, Chief Librarian at the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, and Akila Sridhar, Deputy Editor at Scientific Reports provided first-hand accounts of their experiences working with Indian researchers.

The Growth of India’s Higher Education System

India’s higher education system is vast and diverse. The country boasts over 54,000 colleges, including 979 autonomous colleges and 1,063 institutions offering PhD programs, many of which remain untapped markets for scholarly content. The range of institutions includes some of the world’s most prestigious names, such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), AIIMS, and IISc.

Total enrollment in higher education in India has seen substantial growth, reaching 43.3 million students in 2022, up from 41.4 million in 2021. Female enrollment has been particularly notable, with a 31.6% increase since 2015. As more women enter academia, this opens up fresh opportunities for research and knowledge dissemination.

The Rising Tide of Indian Research

India’s research output has exploded in recent years. Between 2017 and 2022, the nation’s research output grew by a staggering 54%, making it the third-largest producer of PhD graduates in the world. However, India currently ranks ninth globally for citations, suggesting that while research output is high, it may not be reaching its full potential in terms of impact and visibility.

This discrepancy between output and citations points to a need for more effective dissemination and promotion of Indian research. With the right support from publishers, India’s research could gain more visibility on the global stage.

Countrywise research growth

Challenges in the Indian Research Ecosystem

While India’s research sector is booming, several challenges hinder its global impact:

  1. Lack of Infrastructure: Many institutions, particularly those in remote areas, struggle with outdated or inadequate infrastructure, making it difficult to conduct cutting-edge research at scale.
  2. Awareness of Publishing Processes: A significant portion of the research community lacks awareness of global publishing standards and processes. This includes knowledge about the ethics and guidelines for submission, citation, and peer review, which can limit international engagement.
  3. Research Integrity Issues: The absence of robust national research integrity standards, coupled with a rise in predatory journals, has contributed to an increase in unethical publishing practices.
  4. Financial Barriers: Article processing charges (APCs) remain a significant hurdle. With limited government and institutional funding for APCs, many Indian researchers are unable to publish in high-impact open access journals, further hampering the visibility of their work.
  5. Quantity Over Quality: The pressure to publish has led to a “publish or perish” mindset, where the focus is often on producing a higher volume of work, rather than ensuring its quality or relevance.

ONOS: India’s Bold Step Toward Open Access

India’s “One Nation, One Subscription” (ONOS) initiative is poised to change the research landscape significantly. ONOS aims to provide nationwide access to over 13,184 e-journals by negotiating licenses with 36 publishers. This initiative, backed by a substantial budget of INR 2000 crore (USD 240 million), is expected to increase the number of beneficiaries in academic and research institutions from 6.5 million to 18.7 million.

The initiative includes INR 150 crore (USD 1.5 billion) specifically allocated for APCs, which could alleviate some of the financial burdens faced by researchers, allowing them to focus more on producing high-quality work. ONOS has the potential to level the playing field for Indian researchers, making high-quality resources available across institutions and encouraging more publications from underfunded areas.

Opportunities for Publishers

Despite the challenges, India presents numerous opportunities for publishers, particularly society publishers and university presses. The nation’s diverse academic landscape and rapidly growing research community offer untapped markets for scholarly content. Initiatives like ONOS are helping to ease access to global research, but there is still much room for publishers to grow and engage.

Key opportunities include:

  • Collaboration with Local Stakeholders: Strategic partnerships between Indian institutions and international publishers can help develop local content and increase research dissemination.
  • Tailored Publishing Models: Publishers can offer flexible APC structures or discounted rates for Indian researchers, helping to overcome the country’s price sensitivity and increase participation in global scholarly discourse.
  • Engagement in Open Access (OA): With open access models gaining traction in India, there is a growing market for publishers to promote OA models and collaborate with Indian institutions to disseminate research more effectively.

The Road Ahead: Leveraging India’s Potential

India is well on its way to becoming a research superpower. The nation ranks 6th in the world for research output in terms of Science.org ranking, and first when it comes to collaboration with Science Partner Journals. Chemistry, Materials Science, Biochemistry, and Engineering are just a few of the top research areas driving this growth.

However, for India to truly thrive on the global research stage, publishers must focus on promoting ethical publishing standards, fostering research integrity, and supporting capacity-building initiatives for Indian researchers. Investments in infrastructure and digital resources, like those provided by ONOS, will be crucial in enabling India’s researchers to make their mark globally.

Publishers that embrace these opportunities and address the specific challenges faced by Indian researchers will be well-positioned to capitalize on the country’s rise. In doing so, they can play a critical role in supporting India’s journey to becoming a leading force in global academia.

Conclusion

India’s rise in the global research community is undeniable, and the growth of its higher education system offers tremendous potential for scholarly publishers. By addressing infrastructure challenges, promoting open access, and engaging with local stakeholders, publishers can contribute to India’s continued growth while benefiting from a surge in high-quality research output. With ONOS and other government-backed initiatives on the horizon, India’s research sector is set to transform, offering exciting opportunities for the global academic community.

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