Scheme to Provide Financial Assistance to the Publishers for Publishing Books of Goan Authors

Scheme to Provide Financial Assistance to the Publishers for Publishing Books of Goan Authors is a state-level scheme run by the Directorate of Art and Culture, Goa. It helps local publishers by offering money support for printing and promoting books written by Goan authors.

Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Goa has opened applications for the financial year 2026-27. Goan publishers can now apply with the updated 2026-27 application form, which carries a form charge of ₹ 10.

Scheme to Provide Financial Assistance to the Publishers for Publishing Books of Goan Authors - Introduction

Scheme to Provide Financial Assistance to the Publishers for Publishing Books of Goan Authors is an important scheme by the Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Goa. It encourages local publishers by giving them the money support they need to bring literary works by Goan authors to the public.

Objectives

The Government of Goa has set clear aims for this scheme to help the publishing field grow.

• To support Goan publishers by creating chances and encouraging them to publish more books.
• To give money support to Goan publishers for publishing meaningful literary works.

Key Information

Benefits

This scheme provides support by purchasing up to 300 copies of a published book, with the total money support capped at ₹ 50,000.

Note: As a publisher, you should give a minimum discount of 15% on the price of the book.

For the 2026-27 round, only books published during the calendar year 2025 (from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025) are considered under the scheme. Books published after December 2025 will be taken up in the next year.

Eligibility

You can apply if you are a Goan publisher and the writer of the book is also Goan. For example, if Rahul, a publisher, wants to apply for a book written by Anjali, he must make sure the writer meets the residency rules.

• You should have good experience in the publication field.
• You should publish at least 500 copies of the book.
• The book must be 100% original content.
• The printing quality and paper standard must be high.
• If the writer publishes the book themselves, that is fine. But if another publishing unit publishes it, you must submit an NOC from the writer.

Note: A person is treated as Goan for this scheme if they have lived in Goa for at least 10 years during their creative lifespan.

Exclusions

Money support is not available for the following cases:

• Printing of second or later editions of books.
• Works involving translation.
• Any form of anthologies or compilations.

Books published by grant-in-aid institutions and books funded by different academies, government autonomous bodies or other government departments are not considered under the scheme.

Application Process

Applying for this scheme is a simple process. You should follow these steps to submit your application:

STEP 1 - Download the 2026-27 application form from the official portal, or obtain a hard copy from the office at Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Goa, 5th Floor, Shram Shakti Bhavan, Patto, Panaji, Goa - 403001.

STEP 2 - Fill in all required fields correctly. Paste a passport-sized photograph on the form and sign across it. Pay the form charge of ₹ 10 and keep the receipt.

STEP 3 - Attach all self-attested copies of the required documents with your completed form.

STEP 4 - Submit your completed application folder to the Director or the ACO-II at the Directorate of Art and Culture. For help, you may call 0832-2404623 or email aco3-dac.goa@nic.in.

Documents

Make sure you have the following documents ready to complete your application:

1. Three copies of the published book.
2. An NOC from the writer as per the specified format.
3. Official printing bill of minimum 500 copies.
4. Address proof of the writer and publisher (Residential Certificate, Election Card, Aadhar Card or Ration Card).
5. Bank account details with MICR and IFSC codes linked to the Aadhaar number.
6. An undertaking signed by the writer or publisher confirming 10 years of residency in Goa.
7. PAN card copy of the publisher. If the writer has passed away, submit a death certificate and authority letter of the copyright holder.

References

Citizen's Charter | 2026-27 Application Form | Official Guidelines

FAQ's

Is there room for relaxation of the scheme's clauses and conditions?

Yes, the government has the authority to relax any or all clauses if it sees fit, provided the reasons are officially recorded.

What are the guidelines on the use of grants?

You must strictly use the grant for the approved purpose and submit a use certificate within three months of receiving the funds. You should also give receipts for all books purchased.

Can you explain the payment procedure for this scheme?

The committee first recommends the grant. After this, the Director of Art and Culture gets government approval to process the payment for the book purchase.

How is the selection process done?

A government-appointed committee reviews and checks all applications before deciding the final support amount.

What exclusions apply to this scheme?

Grants are not given for the second edition of books, translations, or any anthologies and compilations.

How is the Goan identity of the writer decided?

Any writer who has lived in Goa for at least 10 years of their creative lifespan qualifies as a Goan under this scheme.

Are there specific content quality needs?

Yes, the book must feature 100% original content, and both the printing and paper quality should meet high professional standards.

Can writers publish their own books?

Yes, writers may publish their own work, or use a separate publishing unit, provided an NOC is submitted.

Has this scheme received approval from the Finance department?

Yes, this scheme was issued with the concurrence of the Finance Department under U.O No. 1169/F dated 04/05/2016.

Who has the final say in interpreting issues related to the scheme?

Government holds the final decision-making authority on the interpretation of any clause or expression within the scheme.