ISBN Number

International Standard Book Number for books, e-books, and standalone publications

Validity: Permanent (no renewal required)

What is ISBN Number?

An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is the internationally recognised identifier for books, e-books, and monographs. In India, ISBNs are issued free by the Raja Rammohun Roy National Agency for ISBN under the National Book Trust. We compile and submit the application.

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a 13-digit identifier that uniquely identifies a book or distinct edition of a book. ISBNs are mandatory for books listed on major retail platforms (Amazon, Flipkart), required by distributors and library networks, and essential for academic books cited in research. In India, ISBNs are issued free of charge by the Raja Rammohun Roy National Agency for ISBN, which operates under the National Book Trust (NBT) of India, under the Ministry of Education. Each format of the same book (hardcover, paperback, e-book, audiobook) requires a separate ISBN. Self-publishers, academic presses, and trade publishers all use the same national agency. Government tenders and institutional book procurement require ISBN. The Indian ISBN agency also manages the ISBN prefix for India (978-93 range).

Who Needs ISBN Number?

Authors self-publishing books, publishers launching new titles, academic institutions publishing research monographs, e-book publishers, and government bodies publishing books or reports for distribution.

What's Included

ISBN assigned for each format (print/e-book/audiobook separately)
ISNI (International Standard Name Identifier) for the author if needed
Title registered in the international ISBN database
Barcode and ISBN display guidelines for the book cover provided

Notion — workspace, docs and AI for startups

How It Works

1
Application registration
Publisher or author registers on the ISBN India portal (isbn.gov.in) and creates an account.
2
Title entry
Title details are entered online: title, subtitle, author, format, estimated pages, subject, and publication date.
3
Review
The ISBN National Agency reviews the application and may seek clarifications.
4
ISBN assigned
The 13-digit ISBN is assigned and emailed to the applicant. The barcode can be generated from the ISBN.

Live workshop — Can My Startup Win Grants? 4 August, 10:30 AM. Register for ₹99

Documents Required

Items marked Required are mandatory; others are situational.

Publication details

Book title and author nameRequired
Format (print/e-book/audiobook)Required
Estimated publication dateRequired
Publisher or author addressRequired

Fees & Pricing

Fees

Government fee

ISBN assignment by NBT national agency is free

Nil

Professional fee

Quoted for application preparation and portal submission

Varies

* Government fees may vary. GST applicable on professional fees. Final pricing confirmed after review.

Gamma — AI deck and presentation creator for startups

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ISBN free in India?

Yes. ISBNs are issued free of charge by the Raja Rammohun Roy National Agency for ISBN (isbn.gov.in). There is no government fee. A professional fee applies for our compilation and submission service.

Can I get an ISBN for an e-book?

Yes. E-books receive a separate ISBN from the print edition. Each file format (ePub vs. PDF vs. MOBI) does not necessarily require a separate ISBN — a single e-book ISBN typically covers all digital formats of the same edition.

Do I need an ISBN if I'm self-publishing on Amazon KDP?

Amazon KDP provides a free ISBN for books distributed through their platform, but this ISBN cannot be used elsewhere. If the author wants to sell through other retailers or register the book independently, a separate ISBN from the national agency is required.

How many ISBNs can a publisher register at once?

Individual self-publishers and micro-publishers typically register one ISBN at a time per title. Established publishers with multiple titles can apply for a block.

Does a revised edition of an existing book need a new ISBN?

Yes. Each edition (first, second, revised, updated) requires a new ISBN. A reprint of an unchanged edition uses the same ISBN.

What subject classification should I use?

The national agency uses BIC (Book Industry Communication) subject codes or Dewey Decimal Classification. We identify the appropriate code when preparing the application.