KAMALADEVI CHATTOPADHYAY NIF BOOK PRIZE 2026

The Longlist

The New India Foundation has unveiled the Longlist for the 9th annual Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize, in recognition of the finest non-fiction writing about the history of Independent India. The ten books on this year’s longlist point to the complex dynamics of post-Independence India that continue to shape the country today.

One of the most prestigious literary awards in the country, the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize celebrates excellence in non-fiction about India published in the previous calendar year, by writers of all nationalities. Established in 2018, the Book Prize carries a cash award of INR 15 lakhs and a citation.


Important Dates

Shortlist: Late October
Winner: To be awarded at the Bangalore Literature Festival (BLF) on 12 December 


Jury Speaks

Announcing the Longlist, the Chair of the Jury, Prof. Niraja Gopal Jayal said, “This year’s longlist reflects the diversity and depth of non-fiction writing on modern and contemporary India. The ten selected works offer distinctive and compelling perspectives on the people, ideas and movements that have shaped the country. We look forward to celebrating these works and the conversations they will inspire.”