Released on September 3, The India Book Market Report 2026-30, compiled by NielsenIQ BookData and the Federation of Indian Publishers, offers a comprehensive look at the third largest publishing market in the world behind the U.S. and China.

By Andrew Richard Albanese, Editor-in-Chief

India’s book publishing market is projected to reach $21 billion by 2030-31, according to the latest edition of the India Book Market Report released this week by NielsenIQ BookData and The Federation of Indian Publishers.

The India Book Market Report 2026-30 is a comprehensive look at the various sectors of the Indian publishing economy—the third largest publishing market in the world behind the U.S. and China—including an outlook for print, digital, and scholarly publishing, as well as a look at how AI, copyright, and other policy frameworks are shaping the future of publishing in India. The previous edition was published in 2022.

In a release, Vikrant Mathur, Executive Director at NielsenIQ BookData, India & GCC, said the report was developed to offer a “clearer understanding of the scale, structure and evolution” of India’s publishing sector, combining “market data with industry expertise,” to offer “practical insights into the trends, opportunities and challenges” shaping the industry.

“The important story is not a simple shift from print to digital,” the executive summary notes. “It is the development of a more connected knowledge industry in which print, digital, audio, accessible content, translation, assessment, licensing, and research publishing can work together.”

Among some of the report’s key findings:

• India’s print book market was estimated at $10.1 billion, while the digital marketplace was estimated at $700 million. The scholarly journals market was estimated at $500 million.
• Employment in printing and book publishing was estimated at approximately 3,75,534 people in 2025.
• While Education remains the foundation, the Indian publishing sector is broadening, with growth emerging in trade books, children’s content, professional learning, Indian-language publishing, research, and lifelong learning.
• Print and digital are working together to “strengthen discovery, learning, accessibility, assessment, licensing, and the overall reader experience.”
• Artificial intelligence can improve speed and reach, but quality, creator rights, privacy, source, but “accuracy and human judgement must remain central.”
• India has the potential to “expand its international presence” through advancements in “intellectual property, translation, publishing technology, educational solutions, editorial services, manufacturing capability and rights partnerships.”

“Publishing is fundamental to India’s intellectual, educational, and cultural progress. As the industry evolves, its future must be guided by reliable data, rigorous research and a shared understanding of the opportunities and challenges ahead,” said Federation of Indian Publishers VP Pranav Gupta, said in a statement accompanying the report. “The India Book Market Report 2026-2030 helps strengthen that foundation and we hope it encourages more evidence-led discussions and meaningful action across the sector.”

To purchase a copy of the report, email: bookindia@nielseniq.com or fippresident@gmail.com.