For industry players eyeing central India’s emerging markets, this debut edition signals NBT’s strategic shift toward tier-two cities, promising future editions with expanded B2B infrastructure.

The inaugural Nagpur Book Festival, running 22 through 30 November, has established itself as a significant regional platform for India’s publishing ecosystem.

Organised by the National Book Trust (NBT) under the Ministry of Education and the Zero Mile Youth Foundation, the event features 300+ stalls from across India, with a mandatory 10% discount and a popular ₹99 book sale – now extended by public demand until the final day.

Mid-Festival Updates (Day 7)

With two days remaining, footfall remains robust. Day 5 (26 November) attracted strong audiences for sessions on cyber psychology, biography writing, and archaeology, complemented by a Kabir Café performance that drew capacity crowds.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the festival, while Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched the literary segment, which includes parallel tracks for children’s workshops (daily from 10am) and evening cultural programming.

Maharashtra’s higher education minister Chandrakant Patil used the opening to emphasise state plans for 11,500 new libraries, positioning the festival within a broader policy push to revive India’s reading culture.

Industry Impact & Commercial Prospects

For publishers, the festival offers more than retail exposure. NBT’s model subsidises Indian-language publishers, historically offering 50% rental reductions compared to English-language counterparts – a commitment that extends to Nagpur.

NBT’s Track Record: A Publisher’s Partner

The NBT’s domestic fairs consistently generate substantial trade and attract huge crowds, the trust’s credibility stemming from decades of industry facilitation. Since 1957, it has organised 21 World Book Fairs in Delhi and nearly 400 state-level events. Its Grant-in-Aid scheme reimburses up to 75% of costs for publisher-organised seminars, training, and promotional activities.

Internationally, NBT has represented Indian publishing at Frankfurt, Beijing, and Sharjah since 1970, coordinating rights sales and co-publishing deals. The trust’s Financial Assistance Programme now actively funds foreign translations of Indian works, opening new revenue streams for domestic houses.

Looking Ahead

With digital integration becoming standard – evidenced by hybrid models at recent NBT fairs – publishers should view Nagpur as both a sales channel and a networking hub. For industry players eyeing central India’s emerging markets, this debut edition signals NBT’s strategic shift toward tier-two cities, promising future editions with expanded B2B infrastructure.

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This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.