Nominations open for Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize 2026

The New India Foundation (NIF) has opened the nomination process for the 9th Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize for 2026, and invited publishers, authors and translators to submit their non-fiction works examining aspects of modern or contemporary India.

Instituted in 2018, the prize carries a cash reward of ₹15 lakh. The deadline for submitting nominations is January 31, 2026.

Eligibility criteria

Only book-length non-fiction titles published between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025 are eligible to apply. The books must be originally written in English or translated into English from a work originally published in another language. There is no restriction with regard to the author’s nationality, ideology or genre of the work.

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.

The 2025 Book Prize was awarded to Aparajith Ramnath for Engineering a Nation: The Life and Career of M. Visvesvaraya.  

Speaking about the Prize, Nandini Nair, Associate Director, NIF, said, “The Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize celebrates India’s finest books on modern India. Since its inception, the award has recognized works of in-depth research and intellectual rigor. It honors publications that enhance understanding of India’s past and present, fostering an informed discourse among a broad readership.”

For more details on the nomination process, visit here.