About Us

At the time India attained independence, Book Publishing Industry in India stood confronted with complex problems peculiar to any developing industry. With a view to take concerted action to cope with the growing needs of this vital industry, some far- sighted and public-spirited individuals felt that despite existence of local associations in several parts of the country, time had come to set-up an all India platform.

This was the genesis of an important publishers and booksellers conference held in Delhi in January 1953, which paved the way for setting up of the Federation of Publishers’ & Booksellers’ Associations in India (FPBAI).

THE FEDERATION OF PUBLISHERS & BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATIONS IN INDIA

GENESIS

At the time India attained Independence, publishing and bookselling was confronted with complex problems peculiar to any developing industry. Some far-sighted and public-spirited individuals in the book industry like the late Shri Sital H. Primlani felt that despite the existence of local associations in several parts of the country, the time had come for setting-up an all India platform for taking concerted action to cope with the growing needs of this vital industry. This was the genesis of an important publishers and booksellers conference held in Delhi in January 1953, which paved the way for the setting up of Federation of the Publishers & Booksellers Associations in India. The Federation was at first registered under the Companies Act, 1955 and then later registered as a Society under the Societies Act in 1969-1970. However, further the Federation having by special resolution altered the provisions of its Memorandum of Association with respect to the place of the Registered Office by changing it from state of Maharashtra to Delhi in 2021 under The Companies Act, 2013.

MEMBERSHIP

Right from its inception, the Federation has maintained its federal character with affiliation of Regional Associations from various States in the country. Membership of the Federation is open to publishers, wholesalers, booksellers, distributors, companies and corporations whose business activities are concerned with production and promotion of books. The Federation also readily accepts as associate members persons or firms, both national and international, whom the Executive Committee of the Federation finds capable of furthering its aims and objects. Through the years, the Federation has attained a truly representative character to speak on behalf of the Indian Book Industry. The Federation is the largest representative body of the Indian Book Industry. The activities and areas of operations of the Federation extend all over the country. It has a membership of around 930 establishments spread all over the country and works in close cooperation with several Associations of publishers and booksellers in different states, affiliated to it. The Federation look after the interest of all governmental libraries, academic institutions, universities, colleges and schools and work in tandem with them all.

OBJECTIVES

The Federation, as an apex body, recognizes its role in ensuring the development of publishing in English, Hindi and all other Indian languages. It provides a forum for the various segments of the book industry in the country to discuss their problems at national and international levels and looks after the interest so fits members by taking active part in all meetings with the Government and concerned professional bodies.

With the view to promote and upgrade publishing and book distribution, the Federation organizes training courses, workshops, seminars, etc., from time to time. It also takes up with concerned authorities matters of common interest pertaining to the book trade like paper prices, tax provisions, import and export regulations, copyright laws, anti-piracy measures, nationalization of text books, online/e-tailing related matters, etc.

The Federation’s advice, cooperation and assistance in all matters of mutual interest has been sought, from time to time, by the Department of Secondary & Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India, National Book Trust, India, Capexil and other organizations and agencies in India concerned with the book industry. To elaborate, the Federation, having been recognized a National level organization of the book industry in India, its President stands included as a member of several committees formed by the Department of Secondary & Higher Education, namely, National Book Promotion Council (reconstituted from time to time); reconstituted Copyright Enforcement Advisory Council, Core Group on Amendments to the Copyright Act; Committee on Promotion of Reading Habits and Development of Book Publishing Industry; National Committee on Book Reading; Executive Committee on Book Reading; Review Committee constituted by the Ministry of Culture, etc. The Federation is consulted by NBT, India on several important matters.

PUBLICATIONS

The Federation has been publishing books and other reference material on relevant subjects from time to time since its inception. These include Book Development & Some Current Problems 1969, (Report of a Seminar); Directory of Indian Book Publishing Industry, FPBAI—New Delhi 1973, Dinker Trivedi (edition); The Book Publishing Manual–New Delhi 1974–prepared by Mr. M. N. Rao, M. A.; several editions of the Directory of Members, FPBAI brought out from time to time. The Federation published (2004) an important volume, The Book Industry in India: Context, Challenge and Strategy, which provides a most comprehensive look at the Indian publishing industry. Besides, over the years, the Federation has been bringing out FPBAI Newsletter periodically, which greatly helps in giving publicity to the activities of the Federation and also provides topical information and views etc. about national and international matters of interest to our members.

GOOD OFFICES COMMITTEE

The Good Offices Committee (GOC) is an arm of FPBAI. GOC announces conversion rates of foreign currency at the end of every month. The contributions of GOC are applaudable.

It is a matter of great satisfaction that the result of the holistic and sustained efforts made by the Federation, which includes the contribution made by the Newsletter which is the mouthpiece of the Federation, more and more organizations/institutes/libraries are giving importance and recognition to FPBAI/GOC norms.