The New India Foundation (NIF) has opened nominations for the 9th Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize, recognising excellence in non-fiction writing on modern and contemporary India. It is inviting publishers, authors and translators to submit their outstanding works for consideration. The prize carries a substantial cash reward, with the winner to be honoured at a formal ceremony later in the year.
Instituted in 2019, the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize builds on the New India Foundations sustained effort to champion rigorous research and original scholarship, while encouraging high-quality writing to democratise access to literature focused on the world’s largest democracy.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The Prize recognises book-length non-fiction works examining any aspect of modern or contemporary India
- Only titles first published between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025will be considered for the 9th edition of the Prize
- Eligible entries must be originally written in English or translated into English from a work originally published in another language
- There is no restriction regarding the authors nationality, or with regards to the ideology or genre of the nominated title as long as it is non-fiction
- Authors whose titles have been supported by the New India Foundation Fellowship are not eligible for nomination
- The deadline for submitting nominations is 31 January 2026 (Saturday).
Fill in your nomination here: The Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize 2026
The selection process will be overseen by a jury appointed by the New India Foundation, which will review all eligible entries and determine the longlist, shortlist and the final winner. As part of the nomination process, applicants must submit a completed nomination form along with three physical copies of the nominated book to:
NIF Book Prize
New India Foundation, C/o Neev Academy, Yemalur Kempapura Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560037 Phone: 08071101700
For queries related to the Prize, write to info@newindiafoundation.org Details on the nomination process are available at www.newindiafoundation.org
*Disclaimer: Applicants are advised to carefully review all eligibility conditions, submission guidelines and instructions outlined in the official nomination form before submitting their entries. *
