2 weeks ago
Rising Book Fair Rentals Threaten Small Indian Publishers
The World Book Fair is a large event where publishers display and sell books.
Small publishers say the National Book Trust is making it much more expensive to participate in the 2027 fair.
The smallest stall will cost ₹38,940, compared with ₹17,641 the previous year.
The stall will also be larger than before.
Publishers who produce books in Indian languages say these higher prices may keep them away.
They also object to being asked for pictures of two recent book covers.
One publisher believes this rule could make it harder to publish books critical of the Union government.
The National Book Trust has been asked to explain the rent increases and the cover-photo requirement, but its response had not arrived.
The number of participating publishers and Hindi stalls has already fallen sharply since 2014.
The National Book Trust has more than doubled the standard stall charge for Indian-language publishers for the 2027 World Book Fair.
The smallest stall will grow from 2m by 2m to 3m by 3m, while its rent rises from ₹17,641 to ₹38,940.
Small publishers say higher costs could reduce participation, especially among publishers producing Indian-language books.
Since 2025, applicants have also been asked to submit cover images of two recently published books, which one publisher called politically motivated.
Participation fell from 1,098 publishers in 2014 to 549 in 2026, while Hindi stalls declined from 323 to 156.
- Who
- The National Book Trust, small publishers, and publishers of Indian-language books are involved.
- What
- Rental charges for the 2027 World Book Fair have risen sharply, and applicants must submit images of two recently published book covers.
- Where
- The fair will be held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi.
- When
- The 2027 fair is scheduled for January; the cover-photo requirement began in 2025, and participation figures cited run through 2026.
- Why
- Publishers say higher rentals and the cover-photo requirement could discourage small and Indian-language publishers from participating.
Publishers’ concerns
National Book Trust’s position
Higher rental charges
Publishers’ concerns
Small publishers say the sharp increase will make participation difficult, particularly for publishers producing books in Indian languages, and argue that subsidies should be provided.
National Book Trust’s position
The National Book Trust has not yet responded to requests for its explanation of the increased rentals.
Cover-photo requirement
Publishers’ concerns
Anil Chamadia and other critics describe the request for two recent book-cover images as a new and potentially ideologically or politically motivated barrier, especially for publishers critical of the Union government.
National Book Trust’s position
The National Book Trust has not stated publicly in the article why it began requesting the cover images in 2025.
Support for Indian-language publishers
Publishers’ concerns
Publishers and a former National Book Trust official point to the decline in concessions and the loss of free stalls and accommodation as evidence that support has weakened.
National Book Trust’s position
The article does not provide a current National Book Trust explanation for changes to concessions or earlier support arrangements.
Key facts
- Event
- World Book Fair 2027
- Organizer
- National Book Trust
- Venue
- Bharat Mandapam, Delhi
- Standard stall
- Expanded from 2m by 2m to 3m by 3m
- Indian-language stall rent
- Raised from ₹17,641 for 2026 to ₹38,940 for 2027
- Publisher participation
- Fell from 1,098 in 2014 to 549 in 2026
- Indian-language representation
- Eight Indian languages were represented in 2026, compared with 14 in 2014
Quotes
Anil Chamadia
Chairperson of the Hindi publishing house Media Studies Group
“Ideally, the publishers of Indian-language books — who tend to be small publishers — should be encouraged with subsidies. But the NBT has been increasing the charges at such a rate that participation becomes difficult for Indian-language publishers”
telegraphindia.com
“The NBT never asked about the titles or sought photos of the cover pages before. Now it is asking for these things. This appears ideologically and politically motivated”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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