The Delhi High Court banned Sci-Hub and its mirror sites:
The Delhi High Court banned Sci-Hub and its mirror sites following a copyright case by global publishers.
- This has revived the debate on access to research papers and the role of the government’s One Nation, One Subscription (ONOS)
Sci-Hub:
- Founded in 2011 by Alexandra Elbakyan, Sci-Hub is a free online repository of millions of research papers.
- It bypasses paywalls, offering access to academic journals without subscriptions.
- Hugely popular among students, researchers, and independent scholars in developing countries.
The Sci-Hub Case:
- Elsevier, Wiley, and ACS sued Sci-Hub for copyright infringement. The Delhi HC held Elbakyan in contempt for breaching earlier undertakings.
- Internet Service Providers were directed to block Sci-Hub and related portals.
- While the verdict upheld intellectual property rights, it left unresolved the larger question of how ordinary researchers can afford access in India.
One Nation, One Subscription (ONOS) Scheme:
- Launched in 2024, with an outlay of ₹6,000 crore for the first phase (2023–26).
- Negotiates bulk deals with 30 publishers to give access to 13,000 journals.
- Phase I: Covers public institutions and universities.
- Phase II: To include private institutes and colleges.
- Objective is to ensure universal and legal access to research material across India, reducing reliance on piracy.
