Publishing houses and authors will now be able to apply for ISBN, a 13 character code to identify publications, online and get it within a week.
A website was launched today by HRD Minister Smriti Irani which will simplify the process and shorten the time period for procuring ISBN, which normally takes a few months.
"I got this idea when a journalist told me that his mother, an author, could not get her book published as she had been waiting for ISBN for six months.
"Only a handful of applications received (by the department) are timely processed because the entire process is tedious," Irani said at the launch event.
"Using this portal, publishers and self-publishing authors will be able to get ISBN in a week's time. The hard copy of documents will also be not needed unless they are required for establishing the applicant's identity," she added.
ISBN is an unique number used to identify text-based monographic publications. The 13-digit number, alloted by the UK-based International ISBN Agency, is displayed in bar code format.
At present, there are separate forms for authors, publishers and educational institutions which have to be filled and sent with required documents and the codes are allotted free of cost.
"The ISBN portal seeks to completely automate the process of seeking application, their examination and allotment of ISBNs. The developed software has several modules-users registration, online application submission, examination, allotment of ISBN number," a statement said.
"The automation process will seek to maintain inventory as well as process the data that will be provided by the users," it added.
Bestselling author Amish Tripathi was also present at the launch who shared how his first book was rejected by 20 publishers and when he decided to self-publish it, he had to wait for over two months for the ISBN number.
