Paper: GS – III, Subject: Science and Technology, Topic: Basics of Science and Technology, Issue: Academic access issues.
Context:
Recent Delhi HC order blocking Sci-Hub & LibGen reignited debate on academic access.
Key Highlights:
India’s academic scenario:
- India has the 4th highest number of PhD graduates globally (OECD).
- Many students face resource constraints – journals, papers, and books behind expensive paywalls.
- A PhD student’s stipend of ₹20,000–35,000 cannot sustain journal costs of $20–30 per paper.
Issues in Academic Publishing:
Significance of Open Access:
- Equity & Justice: Knowledge, like medicine, should not be a luxury and must be a tool for socio-economic empowerment.
- UNESCO Declaration (2021): Calls for open access and equitable international scientific cooperation.
- Collective Good: Science is already a collective exercise and must be recognized as a global common.
Way Forward:
- Policy Reforms:
- Push for open science policies at global forums.
- Ensure publicly funded research is freely available.
- Institutional Action:
- Universities should mandate open access publishing.
- Support repositories like Shodhganga, National Digital Library.
- Global Cooperation:
- Strengthen Global South voices in academic authorship.
- Foster collaborative frameworks for equitable knowledge sharing.
Conclusion:
Without affordable access, India and the Global South risk being left behind in addressing health, climate, and developmental crises. Democratizing access to knowledge is essential for equity, innovation, and global justice.
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/breaking-the-academic-paywall/article70077318.ece
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