The National Book Trust (NBT) by the Human Resource Development Ministry (HRD) started a free book downloading initiative called the #StayHomeIndiaWithBooks. According to a press release, the initiative has launched ” to encourage people to #StayIn and #StayHome.” in the wake of preventive measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The notification read, “the National Book Trust of HRD Ministry, in its efforts to encourage people to read books while at home, is providing its select and best-selling titles for free download as part of its initiative of #StayHomeIndiaWithBooks.” The 100+ books are available in PDF format and can be downloaded from the NBT’s website: https://nbtindia.gov.in.

“Available in Hindi, English, Asamiya, Bangla, Guajarati, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Kokborok, Mizo, Bodo, Nepali, Tamil, Punjabi, Telugu, Kannada, Urdu and Sanskrit, the books cover all genres of fiction, biography, popular science, teacher’s handbook, and majorly books for children and young adults. In addition, there are books by Tagore, by Premchand, and books on Mahatma Gandhi — all in all there are books for everyone in the family to read and enjoy. More titles will be added to the list,” the HRD release mentioned.

Some select titles include, Holidays Have Come, Animals You can’t Forget, Nine Little Birds, The Puzzle, Gandhi Tatva Satkam, Women Scientists in India, Activity-Based Learning Science, A Touch of Glass, Gandhi: Warrior of Non-Violence, and others.

Also read: Summer reading lists for teachers & parents