National Book Trust, India, an autonomous body of Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, owes its birth to independent India's first Prime Minister, the late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru believed that India could develop as a democratic self-reliant and forward-looking society only in an environment of intellectual stimulation. In this context, he felt that effective measures should be taken to foster book mindedness amongst people of different ages and walks of life.

The National Book Trust, India was established in 1957 to serve these goals.

The National Book Trust was never visualised as just another publishing house, competing with other Indian publishers. Nevertheless, by undertaking the publication of some series of books of national significance, the Trust has played an important role in filling critical gaps in the availability of essential Literature, encouraging creativity amongst authors, explaining public reaction to new forms of Literary expression and more particularly, acting as a catalyst to encourage publishers to enter hitherto unexplored areas of relevance and responsibility.

The specific objectives laid down for the National Book Trust, at the time of its inception, were:

To produce and to encourage the production of good literature available at moderate prices to the public

In furtherance of the above objective, to publish books in English, Hindi and other Languages recognised by the Constitution of India

To bring out book lists, arrange exhibitions and Seminars and take all necessary steps to make the people book minded

To establish or promote the formation of Regional Book Trusts in different parts of the country with objectives similar to those of the Trust.