Top Traditional Publishers in India
Writing a book is one side of the story, and getting it published is another battle altogether. In the process of getting a book published, a lot of factors have to be considered. Among them, the first question is about the mode in which the book is to be published: Traditional or self publishing in India. While many authors prefer getting their books traditionally published, there are many facts and points to be kept in mind when going in this direction. Traditional publishers in India has a proper system, and a lack of awareness of that system may cost you time and energy without getting results. This blog aims to explore that.
Getting a book published by a traditional publisher is the dream of every author. However, many author sees benefits in self publishing as it provides complete control and copyrights. Both traditional publishing and self publishing have its own advantages.
Steps to traditional publishing in India:
1. Research
Every publication specializes in a specific genre. Fiction, non-fiction, or academic, choose your publisher based on the genre of your writing. The right choice of publisher after research can change the fate of your book altogether. This one decision can make it a bestseller or never let it reach its rightful audience.
2. Manuscript preparation
Before finalizing, every manuscript requires frequent checks and revisions. Ensuring that your manuscript is as error-free and flawless as possible is essential so that when it is time to submit, you do not have to check again or may be hesitant.
3. Selection of a literary agent
This may or may not be done, depending on what you decide. A literary agent can act as a catalyst in speeding up the process and can even give you feedback on the manuscripts. Literary agents in India are trusted and relied upon by publishers for their opinions and expertise. In that way, a literary agent can prove useful for you.
4. Query letter and synopsis
Craft a compelling query letter along with a synopsis to be submitted to the publisher. A query letter has to summarize the subject, and a synopsis has to detail the plot. There are many guidelines available to explain how the right synopsis has to be prepared. You can also check the website of your selected publisher to know how to write a synopsis.
5. Submission of manuscript
Once the publisher is ready to onboard and all the details have been discussed, it will be time to submit the manuscript.
This will be followed by stages of editing, proofreading, typesetting, cover design etc. It goes on until the first copy of the book is printed and shared with you.
List of Top Traditional Publishers in India
While the process may seem long and tiring, the right kind of publishers can ease your pain and make the process seamless and a good experience for you. Here is the list of the top traditional publishers in India:
1. HarperCollins Publishers
HarperCollins has been a known name for publishing diverse titles and books on unique subjects. It was established in India in 1992, and since then, it has published a variety of authors who have explored subjects in fiction, non-fiction, self-help, philosophy, travel, history, sports, and many others.
HarperCollins has been successful in both publication and finding promising authors. These authors include Arvind Adiga, Amitav Ghosh, Sidney Sheldon, Paulo Coelho, Satya Nadella and many others.
Submissions Guidelines: https://harpercollins.co.in/publish-with-us/
2. Penguin Random House
Penguin is a known name in the literary world, both nationally and internationally. Established in 1985, Penguin has produced many famous titles and authors and continues to do so with their network and wise author selections. Penguin is versatile in terms of publication categories and does not restrict itself to any particular genre. It is open to fiction, non-fiction, everyday awareness, science, horror, biography, or anything. Penguin has a few well-known authors to its credit. These include Kiran Desai, Ruskin Bond, Amitav Ghosh, Arundhati Roy, and many others.
Submissions Guidelines: https://penguin.co.in/community/publish-with-us/
3. Srishti Publishers
Completing 25 years since its establishment in 1997, Srishti is a name equivalent to diversity in genres as well as a variety of reading lists. Due to this, it has been home to many writers who grew into famous authors as they published title after title. This led to a diversity of subjects written under the publication, which include romance, children’s literature, biographies, health, fiction, management, philosophy, satire, political and fiction thrillers, in addition to many genres of writing. The list of published authors from this house includes Pretty Shenoy, Durjoy Dutta, Ravinder Singh, Ajay Pandey and numerous others.
Submissions Guidelines: https://www.srishtipublishers.com/submissions/
4. Jaico Publishing House
Jaico Publishing House is a well-known name in the publishing industry, recognized for its association with renowned authors such as Robin Sharma, Osho, The Dalai Lama, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and many others. Founded by Mr. Jaman Shah in 1956, the company has seen continuous growth and success over the years. Notably, it was the first publishing house in India to offer content in English.
Submissions Guidelines: https://www.jaicobooks.com/publish-with-us/
5. Rupa Publication
Everyone knows the name of Chetan Bhagat, who is a successfully published name from Rupa Publication. Established in 1936, Rupa has been active ever since its creation. Ever since, it has produced titles and authors from diverse genres and categories, which have contributed to differentiating it from other publications. Apart from Chetan Bhagat, Pupa has published a bunch of famous authors which, include Cyrus Broacha, Koral Dasgupta, Ira Trivedi, and so many others. At present, Rupa continuously publishes various titles regularly in order to keep their readers entertained with different genres.
Submissions Guidelines: https://rupapublications.co.in/submissions/
6. Hachette Book Publishers India
When Hachette was established in 2008 in the UK, no one had anticipated the name it would make for itself in just a decade. During this time, it has published a bunch of successful titles, which continue to be read even today. “My Friend Sancho” is a well-known name from this publication house. Other than its author Amit Verma, Hachette has also published authors like Tavleen Singh, Sumit Basu etc.
Submissions Guidelines: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/about/faqs/
7. Bloomsbury India
Before coming to India, Bloomsbury had been a name that had published an author like J.K. Rowling. By the time it came to India in 2012, it was already having different genres like poetry, fiction, non-fiction, politics, romance, self-help, and many other titles in its name. After coming to India, it has published authors like Anand Ranganathan.
Submissions Guidelines: https://www.bloomsbury.com/in/discover/bloomsbury-academic/authors/submitting-a-book-proposal/
8. Fingerprint books
From its inception in 2012, Fingerprint has strived to create a name and give opportunities to authors who have promise and potential. Hence, it has given the canvas to authors like Sonia Bahl, and Shubha Vilas, among many others. So far, Fingerprint has published women’s writing, contemporary fiction, self-help, memoirs, history, and financial awareness among the different categories.
9. Simon and Schuster
Perhaps among the oldest publication houses running to date, Simon and Schuster has been dynamic and adapting since its creation in 1924. Over time, it has shown the versatility to adapt to the changing times and adjusted by experimenting in publications by giving space to genres like literary fiction, travel, fiction, non-fiction, management, travel, current affairs, health, diet, lifestyle, and a bunch of other categories. Trying their hands at mythology, they recently published the famous Kevin Missal as a step in the direction. Other published authors include Jairam Ramesh, Shobhaa De Githa Hariharan, etc.
Submissions Guidelines: https://www.simonandschuster.com/about/publishing
Also Read: How Much Does It Cost to Publish a Book in India
10. Leadstart Publishing
From its creation in 2007, Leadstart has been experimenting with different genres and publishing as per the requirements of the time. As a result, they have published short stories, fiction works, drama, mystery, thrillers, suspense, and other exciting genres. Due to the diversity, many authors like Diwakar Bansal, Gurcharan Das, and Shreyas Bhave were published here.
Submissions Guidelines: https://www.leadstartcorp.com/get-published/submission/
Conclusion
Traditional publishing in India has long been in trend but with the rise of the number of authors, acceptance of the manuscript in 2025 has become more competitive. Following the process along with making the right decisions is the key to success in your journey to become a bestselling author. Becoming a successful author requires lot of efforts. From choosing the right publisher to getting the best book marketing services in India, everything matters. At the same time, it is crucial that the topic you choose to writing it in the right manner is done correctly and is as error-free as possible. Hence, choose wisely and go ahead with confidence. All the best!
