The Indian tech-policy ecosystem tends to follow a ‘look and pursue’ approach: what works elsewhere is largely replicated, a method that may not be the most suitable for policy development that requires contextual nuance. Policy related to open access models is one such instance. Recent policy developments in the EU have shown strong commitment and action towards open access. In contrast, in recent times, the closest India has come to working towards fostering a robust open access model is through the One Nation, One Subscription Plan. As India begins to wield influence in global politics and economy on the one hand and emphasizes the value of indigenous knowledge systems on the other, it has the potential to pivot to ‘build and learn’ approaches to developing knowledge infrastructures. In this study, a five-point framework is offered for ways in which India can lead and contribute to policy and practice around open access models and the digital knowledge commons. These are in sync with the unique requirements of an emerging digital economy, which needs to account for multilingualism and the growth of Indian knowledge systems.