National Book Week 2026 (14–20 November) begins

13 November 2026 · English Important Days

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Current affairs of 13 November 2026 (Shanmugam IAS Academy) – explained for UPSC, TNPSC and other competitive exams

News

National Book Week is observed in India every year from 14 to 20 November; in 2026 it begins on 14 November (Children's Day). The National Book Trust (NBT), set up in 1957 and now under the Union Ministry of Education, launched National Book Week in 1982 and organises book-promotion activities during the week every year (NBT). State and district libraries hold book exhibitions, reading events and free membership enrolment during the week (e.g. the Andaman State Library, 2025). Tamil Nadu's public libraries hold an annual library week in the same period (14–21 November) honouring S.R. Ranganathan (DT Next, 2025). Its main aim is to build the reading habit among children and young people. No separate official theme for 2026 had been announced as of 13 November.

Key facts for the exam

Background

• Library movement: S.R. Ranganathan (1892–1972) set out the 'Five Laws of Library Science' in 1931 – 'Books are for use', 'Every reader his/her book', 'Every book its reader', 'Save the time of the reader', 'The library is a growing organism'. He also devised the Colon Classification. His birthday (12 August) is observed as National Librarians' Day.
• Laws: India's first comprehensive public libraries law by a province/State was the Madras Public Libraries Act, 1948 (in force from 1950; the princely State of Kolhapur's 1945 Act covered only its State library); Hyderabad (1955), Andhra Pradesh (1960), Mysore/Karnataka (1965), Maharashtra (1967), West Bengal (1979), Keralam (1989) and others followed. Libraries are in the State List (Entry 12) of the Seventh Schedule. Under the 1954 delivery Act every publisher must send a copy to four national depository libraries – the National Library, Kolkata; the Asiatic Society, Mumbai; the Delhi Public Library; and Connemara, Chennai.
• Print history: Johannes Gutenberg of Germany built the movable-type printing press in the 15th century. In India the Portuguese set up the first press at Goa in 1556. 'Thambiran Vanakkam', printed by Henrique Henriques at Kollam in 1578, was the first book printed in Tamil script; Tamil was the first Indian language to appear in print. Ziegenbalg set up a press at Tranquebar in 1712.
• National bodies: the National Library of India began as the Imperial Library in Calcutta in 1903 and opened to the public as the National Library at Belvedere Estate in 1953 (Ministry of Culture). The Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (Kolkata, 1972) supports public libraries with State governments.

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Sources: National Book Trust – nbtindia.gov.in (National Book Week, 1982); DT Next (17 Nov 2025) – Chennai library week; INFLIBNET e-PG Pathshala – public library Acts; Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act, 1954 – indiacode.nic.in; Britannica – S.R. Ranganathan. Compiled by Shanmugam IAS Academy.

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