How to Self-Publish a Book in India: Step-by-Step Guide

To self-publish a book in India, you finish and format your manuscript, open a free Amazon KDP account, complete the tax interview and add your Indian bank details. You can then get a free ISBN from India's national ISBN agency if you want one, set your price in rupees for Amazon.in, and choose how your print edition will be made. This guide walks through each step in order and explains what to check along the way.

Store rules, tax procedures and government portals change. Treat this as a map, and confirm the current details in your KDP dashboard and on the official ISBN portal before you act.

What you need before you start

Gather these before you open any accounts. It saves you from stopping halfway through a form.

• A finished, edited manuscript. Self-editing is fine for a first pass. A second reader helps you catch what you can't see.
• A PAN card. Tax and payment forms commonly ask for a tax identification number. For most Indian residents this is the PAN.
• An Indian bank account in your name. You need the account number, the IFSC code and the exact account holder name as the bank records it.
• Identity and address proof. You need these if you apply for your own ISBN.
• A cover. For an eBook this is a single front image. For a paperback it is a full-wrap PDF with back, spine and front.
• A decision on your author name. You can use your real name or a pen name. Your tax and bank details always stay in your legal name.

Step 1: Get your manuscript ready to publish

1.1 Finish and edit the text

Do a structural read for gaps and order, then a line-by-line pass for clarity, then a final proofread. Read the proof aloud if you can. Typos you skim past on screen often show up when you hear them.

If you are writing in Hindi or another Indian language, check that the store supports it before you format. KDP's list of supported languages includes several Indian languages for eBooks. Support for paperbacks can differ, so check KDP's current supported-languages page for each format.

1.2 Add front and back matter

Your book needs at least:

• a title page
• a copyright page
• a table of contents (for most non-fiction and longer fiction)
• an "About the author" page at the back

In India, copyright exists automatically once you create the work. Registration with the Copyright Office is optional. Some authors register because it adds a formal record if a dispute ever comes up.

1.3 Create your files

KDP accepts several formats. Two of them are the most reliable:

• eBook: an EPUB file (or a DOCX that KDP converts)
• Paperback: an interior PDF set to your chosen trim size, plus a full-wrap cover PDF

If you draft with Inkora, you can export an EPUB 3 file, a print-ready interior PDF in eight trim sizes (including 5x8, 6x9 and A5) and a DOCX. Inkora writes in 19 languages, including English and Hindi. It does not fact-check, so verify any facts, figures or recipes yourself before you publish.

Step 2: Set up a KDP account from India

Go to KDP and sign in with an Amazon account, or create a new one. Many authors use a separate account for publishing so their shopping and publishing are not tied together.

Fill in the account section in this order:

1. Author/publisher information. Use your legal name and current address in India.
2. Payment information. Add your bank details (see Step 4).
3. Tax information. Complete the tax interview (see Step 3).

KDP won't let you publish until the account information is complete. Do these three parts before you upload anything.

For a fuller walkthrough of the KDP screens, see the Amazon KDP publishing guide.

Step 3: Complete the KDP tax interview as an Indian author

Amazon is a US company, so the tax interview is built around US tax forms. For an Indian resident who is not a US citizen or US resident, the interview generates the equivalent of a W-8BEN form electronically.

3.1 Answer the classification questions

The interview asks whether you are a US person and whether you are an individual or a business. Most first-time authors publish as individuals.

3.2 Enter your tax identification number

You will be asked for a foreign (non-US) tax identification number. Indian authors typically enter their PAN here. Type it exactly as it appears on your PAN card.

3.3 Claim treaty benefits if they apply

India and the United States have a tax treaty. Claiming its benefits in the interview can reduce the US tax withheld on royalties from US sales. The interview shows the rate that applies to you once you finish. Read that summary before you submit.

3.4 Understand your Indian tax side

Royalty income is generally taxable in India. You should declare it when you file your income tax return. Indian tax may also be deducted on some marketplace income, and GST rules can apply depending on your situation.

A chartered accountant can tell you what applies to you. This matters most once your income grows or if you already run a business.

Step 4: Get paid by KDP in India

In the payment section, choose the option to be paid by bank transfer (sometimes called direct deposit or EFT). Then add:

• the account holder name, exactly as your bank records it
• the account number
• the IFSC code
• the bank name and branch details the form asks for

Check which payment methods KDP currently offers for Indian bank accounts. Also check whether payments from each marketplace (Amazon.in, Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and others) can go to your Indian account. KDP's help pages explain the current setup and any minimum payment amounts.

KDP pays royalties on a delay after the month of sale. Its help pages state the current schedule. Expect your first payment some time after your first sales, not within days.

Step 5: Decide whether you need an ISBN, and get one in India

5.1 Decide if you need one

• Kindle eBook: No ISBN is needed. Amazon assigns its own identifier, the ASIN, for free.
• KDP paperback: An ISBN is required. You can use KDP's free ISBN or your own.

KDP's free ISBN works only for distribution through KDP, and it lists KDP's publishing designation rather than your own imprint. Your own ISBN lets you name yourself or your imprint as publisher. You can also use it with other printers and distributors. For a longer comparison, read do I need an ISBN.

5.2 Apply through the national ISBN agency

In India, ISBNs are issued by the Raja Rammohun Roy National Agency for ISBN. It works under the Ministry of Education, and you apply through its online ISBN portal. ISBNs from this agency have been issued free of charge. Check the portal for the current terms.

The general process looks like this:

1. Register on the official ISBN portal as an author/publisher.
2. Upload the identity and address documents the portal requests.
3. Wait for your registration to be verified.
4. Apply for ISBNs, giving the book details the form asks for (title, format, language and similar).
5. Once they are allotted, record each ISBN against the right format.

The required documents and processing time can change. Read the portal's current instructions before you start. Allow extra time in your launch plan in case you need to resubmit a document.

5.3 Use one ISBN per format

Each format needs its own ISBN. A paperback, a hardcover and an eBook (if you choose to give it one) are each separate formats. Never reuse an ISBN across formats or editions.

Step 6: Upload your book to KDP

Create a new title from your KDP Bookshelf and work through the three tabs.

Details. Enter your title, subtitle, author name, description, keywords and categories. Choose your primary marketplace. If most of your readers are in India, Amazon.in makes sense.

Content. Upload your manuscript and cover, and add your ISBN for a paperback. Use the online previewer and check every page. Look for missing pages, broken chapter headings and text running into the margins.

Rights and pricing. Confirm you hold the rights. Choose a royalty plan and set your prices (see Step 7).

If your book used AI-generated content, KDP asks you to disclose it during setup. Answer that question accurately.

Step 7: Price your book in INR

KDP lets you set a separate list price for each marketplace, including a rupee price for Amazon.in. KDP can convert your price from US dollars automatically, but converted prices often land on awkward numbers. Most authors set the INR price by hand.

7.1 Understand the royalty options

According to KDP's published terms, eBooks earn 70% royalty for list prices between $2.99 and $9.99 (minus a delivery fee) and 35% otherwise. Each marketplace has its own price range for the 70% option. On some marketplaces, including Amazon.in, the 70% option has depended on enrolling in KDP Select. Confirm the current INR price range and conditions on KDP's royalty page before you choose.

For paperbacks, KDP's terms give 60% of the list price minus printing cost on Amazon, with different rates in some cases and for Expanded Distribution. Printing cost depends on page count, ink type and marketplace. The pricing screen shows your minimum list price and expected royalty once you upload your interior.

You can model different prices with the KDP royalty calculator before you commit.

7.2 Look at comparable books

Search Amazon.in for books in your genre at a similar length. Note their eBook and paperback prices. Price within that range unless you have a clear reason not to. A first book from an unknown author usually sells better near the middle of the range than at the top.

7.3 Price each marketplace on purpose

Your Amazon.in price and your Amazon.com price serve different readers. Set each one deliberately rather than letting one be an automatic conversion of the other.

Step 8: Choose your print options in India

You have several routes. Many authors combine them, for example KDP for Amazon sales and a local printer for copies they sell at events.

Option	How it works	ISBN	Best for	What to check
KDP paperback	Print-on-demand, printed when a reader orders	Required (KDP's free one or your own)	Selling on Amazon marketplaces	Whether your book can be sold on Amazon.in in your format and language
Indian self-publishing / POD services	A company prints on demand and lists your book in its stores	Varies by service	Wider Indian online retail	Fees, royalty terms, who is named as publisher, contract length
Local offset or digital printer	You order a fixed quantity and store the copies	Your own if you sell through retailers	Events, schools, bulk sales	Minimum order, cost per copy, storage, delivery
IngramSpark	Print-on-demand distribution through Ingram's network	Your own (KDP's free ISBN can't be used)	Reaching bookstores and libraries in its network	Which countries it prints and ships in for your title
Lulu	You pay print and shipping cost per order	Optional for printing copies	Proofs and author copies	Shipping cost and delivery time to India

8.1 How print-on-demand works

With print-on-demand, nothing is printed until someone buys a copy. You hold no stock and pay nothing upfront for printing. The printing cost comes out of each sale instead, which is why paperback royalties look smaller than eBook royalties.

8.2 Get your cover dimensions right

A paperback cover has to match your trim size and page count exactly, because the spine width depends on the number of pages and the paper. Use the spine width calculator as a starting point. Then check your final dimensions against the cover template from whichever printer you use. Templates differ between KDP and IngramSpark.

Inkora's cover export builds a full-wrap PDF with the spine width calculated from your page count. Its Publishing Hub includes Lulu print orders for proofs and author copies. Inkora does not upload to KDP or any other store, so you upload the files in your own account.

8.3 Order a proof

Always order a printed proof before you approve a paperback. Colours, margins and the spine text look different on paper than on screen. For step-by-step help, see how to publish a paperback on KDP.

Common problems and fixes

The tax interview shows a higher withholding rate than you expected. You may have skipped the treaty section or entered your details in the wrong place. Retake the tax interview from your account settings, check your PAN and treaty answers, and read the summary before you submit.

Your bank details are rejected or a payment bounces. The account holder name usually doesn't match the bank's records exactly, or the IFSC code is wrong. Copy the name from your passbook or bank statement, check the IFSC on your bank's official site, and update the payment section.

Your ISBN application is stuck or returned. This usually means a document is unclear or doesn't match your registered details. Log in to the ISBN portal, read any remarks, and upload clearer copies. Avoid printing anything with an ISBN until it has been formally allotted to you.

Your paperback doesn't appear on Amazon.in. Check whether KDP currently offers that format, trim size and language for Amazon.in. If it doesn't, keep the KDP paperback for other marketplaces and use an Indian print service or a local printer for Indian buyers.

The INR price looks odd or the 70% option is greyed out. Your price is probably outside the marketplace's range for that royalty option, or the option needs KDP Select. Adjust the INR price by hand and recheck the royalty terms.

KDP rejects your files or your cover. Read the email carefully. It usually names the exact problem, such as margins, bleed, spine text or image resolution. Fix it and resubmit. Our guide to what to do if KDP rejects your book covers the common causes.

Self-publishing in India mostly comes down to getting a few details exactly right: your PAN, your bank details, your ISBN and your file dimensions. Do the account setup first, apply for your ISBN early, and order a proof before you launch. After that, you can update prices, descriptions and files whenever you need to.