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New India Foundation Announces Ten-Book Longlist for 2026 Prize
The New India Foundation has chosen 10 books for an important nonfiction prize about modern India.
All the books were published in 2025.
They talk about people, history, politics, communities and ideas connected to India.
Some books discuss the Constitution and how India developed after Independence.
Others look at partitions, migrant workers, fraud networks and classical music.
One book describes resistance to Indira Gandhi’s rule.
A seven-person jury will choose the winner.
The shortlist should be announced by the end of October.
The winner will receive ₹15 lakh, with the award presented on December 12 at the Bangalore Literature Festival 2026.
The New India Foundation has announced 10 books for the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize 2026.
All the longlisted books were published in 2025 and cover biography, memoir-history, ethnography and contemporary India.
The books examine subjects including the Constitution, development, partitions, migrant workers, fraud, music and resistance to Indira Gandhi’s rule.
A seven-member jury includes N Chandrasekaran, Niraja Gopal Jayal, Rahul Matthan, Jahnavi Phalke, Srinath Raghavan, Nirupama Rao and Manish Sabharwal.
The shortlist is expected by the end of October, with the ₹15 lakh award to be presented on December 12 at the Bangalore Literature Festival 2026.
- Who
- The New India Foundation, the 10 shortlisted authors and a seven-member prize jury.
- What
- The foundation announced the 10-book longlist for the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize 2026.
- Where
- The award will be presented at the Bangalore Literature Festival 2026.
- When
- The longlist was announced for the 2026 prize; the shortlist is expected by the end of October and the award will be presented on December 12, 2026.
- Why
- The prize promotes research and nonfiction writing about modern and contemporary India.
Key facts
- Longlisted books
- 10
- Publication year
- All 10 books were published in 2025.
- Prize value
- ₹15 lakh
- Prize established
- 2018
- Prize focus
- Nonfiction books on modern and contemporary India, including works translated into English
- Shortlist timing
- Expected by the end of October
- Award date and venue
- December 12 at the Bangalore Literature Festival 2026
Quotes
New India Foundation
The foundation that administers the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize.
“This year’s longlist reflects the diversity and depth of non-fiction writing on modern and contemporary India. The ten selected works offer distinctive and compelling perspectives on the people, ideas, and movements that have shaped the country. We look forward to celebrating these works and the conversations they will inspire.”
deccanchronicle.com
theprint.in
Sources
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