The broad objective of
the Scheme for the Subsidised Publication of Books is to provide
assistance to authors and publishers for producing books of
an acceptable standard at reasonable prices for students and
teachers of Indian universities and technical institutes. The
books may be in English, Hindi or in any other language listed
in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, and may serve as textbooks,
discipline-oriented supplementary reading material and reference
books.
Only such books are subsided under the Scheme for which a definite
need is felt and which relate to subject areas where books of
an acceptable standard are either not available or are so highly
priced to be beyond the means of students.
Some salient features of the Scheme, which are recently been
revised to remove bottlenecks and make it more attractive for
authors and publishers, are given below:
the author receives royalty @
20 per cent of the published price of the subsidised edition
of the book, directly from the Trust, on publication of
the book;
the publisher is paid 50% of
the total cost of production of the book, as subsidy;
the selling price of the book
is fixed at two times the unit cost of production.
The Trust invites publishers to submit proposals for consideration
under the Scheme according to the procedure described below:
1. Applications are accepted by the Trust in the prescribed
application form (Annexure II), accompanied by the complete
manuscript/book (including the rough artwork/transparencies)
and a letter of recommendation from a person who is either a
Dean of Faculty or a professor in a university in the subject
to which the manuscript/book relates or, in the case of Diploma
level books, the Head of the Department of the concerned discipline,
certifying that the book/manuscript is of an acceptable standard
and would be useful to students studying at the Diploma or Degree
level.
2. Each proposal should be accopanied by a brief description
of the book, in about 1000 words, explaining what the book is
about; in what way it is different from other books available
on the subject; the purpose that it serves, etc.
3. Manuscripts/books received for consideration are sent
for evaluation to experts in the relavant fields. If the reviewers
suggest major modifiactions or revisions, the publisher is asked
to submit a revised manuscript for re-assessment; however, if
no major changes are involved, the author is expected to carry
out the suggestions of the reviewer and submit a certificate
in token thereof.
4. Once the proposal for assistance of subsidy is accepted
in principle, the Trust calls for provisional cost estimates
from the publisher, on the prescribed proforma (Annexure III),
together with the complete (revised) manuscript and photocopies
of the final artwork and cover design with the colour layout.
5. While submitting the provisional cost estimates, the
publisher has to ensure that these are close to the actual cost
of production, subject to 10 per cent variation which may occur
due to increase or decrease in the number of pages.
6. The Trust then calculates the probable or likely cost
of production, subject to 10 per cent variation, based on the
most cost-effective method of printing and on its approved schedule
of rates, and works out the amount of subsidy and royalty payable
to the publisher and author, respectively, and the tentative
price of the book.
7. After fixing the tentative selling price and working
out the amount of subsidy and royalty, the Trust enters into
an agreement with the publisher for inclusion of the book in
the Scheme and permits the publisher to go ahead with the production
of the book. The proposal is not considered as finally approved
unless the agreement is signed by both the parties.
8. Once the book is printed, a physical verification
by the NBT officials is conducted and, if the Trust is satisfied
that all specifications have been complied with, it authorises
the publisher to release the book for sale.
9. After the book is released for sale, the publisher
submits a certificate of audit, based on which payment of subsidy
and royalty is released by the Trust.
Proposals for Financial
Assistance may be sent to any of the following
Director/Joint Director (Production)
NATIONAL BOOK TRUST, INDIA
A-5, Green Park,
New Delhi : 110016
Telephone : 6563188, 6563189
Telex : 031-73034 NBT-IN
Grams : NABOTRUST
Fax: 6851795
E-mail: nbtindia
Regional Manager
NATIONAL BOOK TRUST, INDIA
Eastern Regional Office
5A, Bhawani Dutta Lane
Calcutta- 700073
Telephone : 2413899
Telex : 021-2756 NBT-IN
Regional Manager
NATIONAL BOOK TRUST, INDIA
Western Regional Office
Municipal Urdu Primary School
Babula Tank Cross Lane
Mumbai-400009
Telephone : 3720442
Telex : 011-73814 BOOK-IN
