The Maharashtra government will launch an online platform to enable citizens to purchase government publications and have them delivered to any address across India through India Post, in a move aimed at modernising the distribution of official publications and improving public access.
The Industries, Energy, Labour and Mines Department has issued a government resolution approving the development of an "Online and Counter Book Store Application" and the operationalisation of a dedicated portal, https://mahapublications.maharashtra.gov.in, to facilitate online sales and doorstep delivery of government publications.
The initiative is part of the government's efforts to modernise government libraries functioning under the Directorate of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications.
At present, government publications are sold only through government book depots and at book exhibitions, with purchases made through offline cash transactions. While private publishers offer online sales and home delivery services, no such facility has been available for state government publications.
The new system seeks to bridge this gap by making government publications available for online purchase and nationwide delivery.
The service will initially be launched on a pilot basis through the Government Book Depot in Mumbai. According to the government resolution, the portal will support online sales and delivery across India, while also facilitating over-the-counter and exhibition sales.
Government printing presses and book depots in Pune, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur will continue counter and exhibition sales through the same platform during the initial phase.
MahaIT Corporation Ltd. will develop the application, while two computer operators will be deployed round-the-clock at the Directorate of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications to manage the system.
For home delivery, postal charges will be calculated based on the weight of the publication and the delivery distance. India Post will generate monthly bills for postage by the 10th of the following month, and the Directorate will reimburse the postal department using the delivery charges collected from customers.
The government said the initiative aims to make official publications more accessible to citizens through a transparent, technology-driven and efficient distribution system.
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