National Book Trust

What National Book Trust does

National Book Trust (NBT) India is a statutory apex body established by the Government of India in 1957 under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education), headquartered in New Delhi. Its mandate is to promote reading culture, literacy, and book publishing across India. The organisation publishes books in 22+ Indian languages across 40+ series spanning children's literature, popular science, biographies, Indian and world literature, academic content, and government-prioritised topics such as the PM-YUVA authored series on freedom fighters and regional history. NBT also operates specialised divisions including the National Centre for Children's Literature (NCCL) with a Library-cum-Documentation Centre, and runs subsidy and grant-in-aid schemes (Subsidized Books Publications, Grant-in-Aid Financial Assistance, Translation Assistance) to support authors and publishers.

The commercial and engagement stack is delivered through a website-based e-commerce storefront (nbtindia.gov.in) with online catalogue, multi-language UI, and cart-based direct-to-consumer book sales (INR 17–875 per book, minimum 10% discount, free shipping above INR 200, 5-copy per-title cap, Visa/MasterCard acceptance), supplemented by a Google Play Store eBook reader app and the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya digital library platform. Distribution combines this online channel with an authorised distributor/agent network across at least 14 Indian states, mobile exhibition units reaching semi-urban and rural areas, and a calendar of book fairs including the flagship New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) alongside regional events such as the Chinar Book Festival (Kashmir), Gomti Book Festival (Lucknow), Ladakh Book Festival, Pune Book Fair, and Ahmedabad International Book Festival.

NBT makes money through a mix of direct book sales (online and via distributors at wholesale), event-driven sales at book fairs, and implicit government budgetary support as a statutory body. Customers span individual general readers and students, educational institutions (schools, colleges, universities, and education departments), and retailers/libraries purchasing through the distributor network. The customer mix is highly fragmented across B2C volume transactions and B2B institutional/educational buyers, with no disclosed large-anchor enterprise customers. Marketing is multi-channel — official website, Facebook page, email newsletter, events, and mobile exhibitions. As a government apex body, NBT is ultimately controlled by the Government of India, with no external equity investors or funding rounds.

Name

National Book Trust

Legal name

National Book Trust, India

Website

https://nbtindia.gov.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

National Book Trust (NBT) India is a Government of India apex body, established in 1957, that publishes books across 22+ Indian languages, operates nationwide distribution through fairs and a digital storefront, and organises major book fairs including the New Delhi World Book Fair, Chinar, Gomti, and Ladakh festivals for general readers, students, and educational institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

General Trade Publishing (Adult Fiction & Nonfiction) (MPAJAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s Nonfiction Publishing (MPAJAFAE), E-book Retail & Reading Platforms (Stores, Apps, Devices) (MPAJAMAA)

Keywords

• Government book publishing
• Multilingual publishing
• Book fairs festivals
• Children's literature
• Educational publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Book Sales (Direct): NBT publishes and sells books directly to consumers through its online store. Books are available in multiple Indian languages including Hindi, English, and regional languages. Pricing ranges from INR 17 to INR 875 per book with a minimum 10% discount on all publications.
2. Distributor/Agent Sales: NBT distributes books through a network of authorized distributors and agents located across Indian states including Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, and others. These channel partners purchase books in bulk and resell to retailers and end consumers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

National Book Trust, India is a government apex body that publishes and sells books across more than 40 series in multiple Indian languages through its e-commerce website, distributors, agents, book fairs, and mobile exhibitions. It operates the NBT eBook Reader app, the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya digital library, and the National Centre for Children's Literature (NCCL), and administers publisher/author support schemes such as Subsidized Books Publications and Grant-in-Aid Financial Assistance.

Product overview

National Book Trust (NBT) India is a government publishing house established in 1957, operating primarily as a book publisher and distributor. The organization functions as a unified product portfolio centered on book publishing, distribution, and promotion. Core offerings include the NBT Online Book Store for e-commerce sales, the NBT eBook Reader App for digital access, and the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya digital library. The publishing programme spans multiple book series including Nehru Bal Pustakalaya, Rashtriya Bal Pustakalaya, PM-YUVA Series, and general titles. NBT operates physical and digital distribution channels through book fairs (New Delhi World Book Fair, Chinar Book Festival, Gomti Book Festival), the NCCL Library-cum-Documentation Centre, and Readers Club programmes. Financial assistance schemes support publishers and authors, while subsidized publication programmes ensure affordable access to literature.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NBT Online Book Store
• NBT eBook Reader App
• Chinar Book Festival
• Gomti Book Festival
• New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF)
• Nehru Bal Pustakalaya
• Rashtriya Bal Pustakalaya
• PM-YUVA Series
• Grant-in-Aid Financial Assistance Programme
• Subsidized Books Publications
• National Centre for Children's Literature (NCCL)
• Library-cum-Documentation Centre (NCCL Library)
• Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya
• Readers Club

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000 visitors per day at Chinar Book Festival 2026

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj SinhaminorOthers · 18 July 2026LG Manoj Sinha inaugurated the Chinar Book Festival in Srinagar and flagged off a Reading Marathon at the event. The festival is organized by NBT in partnership with local government as part of Education Week celebrations marking six years of National Education Policy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting: Government of India publishing arm under the Ministry of I&B that publishes books, magazines, and journals on Indian history, culture, and government policy. Comparable as another government publisher with a similar subsidy-driven, mission-led model and Indian-language coverage.
• Oxford University Press India: India's leading educational and reference publisher, with significant school and higher-education publishing programmes. Comparable as a long-standing institutional publisher serving Indian schools, colleges, and readers, including bilingual and dictionary programmes.
• Penguin Random House India: One of India's largest English-language trade publishers, publishing fiction, nonfiction, and children's books. Directly comparable on trade publishing activities, English-language catalogue, and Indian-language translations, but as a private commercial competitor rather than a government body.
• National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT): Indian government apex body that publishes textbooks and educational materials for school curricula. Directly comparable as a Government of India publishing organization serving institutional and educational buyers across India, with overlapping language and curriculum mandates.
• Pratham Books: India-focused children's book publisher and non-profit that creates affordable multilingual reading material. Comparable as an Indian children's literature publisher with multilingual catalogues and a literacy-promotion mission overlapping NBT's Nehru Bal Pustakalaya and NCCL programmes.
• Sahitya Akademi: India's National Academy of Letters and an autonomous government body that publishes literature in 24 Indian languages. Closely comparable as a Government of India institution promoting Indian-language publishing, running translation programmes, and organising literary events.
• HarperCollins India: Major Indian trade publisher of English-language and translated fiction and nonfiction. Comparable on core book publishing activities, catalogue breadth, and Indian market focus; differs in being a private multinational subsidiary competing on author advances and marketing spend.
• Aleph Book Company: Indian trade publisher focused on serious nonfiction, history, biography, and translated literature. Comparable on Indian-language and English publishing activities and on serving institutional and trade markets with curated content.
• Rupa Publications: One of India's oldest private publishers with a broad trade catalogue across fiction, nonfiction, and children's literature. Directly comparable on Indian-language and English-language trade publishing activities and Indian market focus.
• Speaking Tiger Publishing: Indian independent trade publisher with a strong literary fiction, nonfiction, and translation catalogue. Directly comparable as an Indian-based trade publisher competing for authors, shelf space, and festival visibility in the same market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nationalbooktrustindia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-book-trust-nbt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Book Trust