A complete guide to donating your old books to NGOs, schools, and libraries across India
Why Donate Books?
India has over 250 million children in school, but millions lack access to quality reading material. Your old textbooks, novels, and reference books can transform a child's education.
- 1 donated book can be read by 5-10 children over its lifetime
- Reduces waste — millions of books end up in recycling/landfill every year
- Tax benefits — monetary donations to 80G-registered NGOs are tax-deductible
- Free pickup — many NGOs offer doorstep collection
Top NGOs That Accept Book Donations
1. Goonj
- Website: goonj.org
- Accepts: Books, textbooks, school materials, clothes
- Coverage: 57 dropping centres across 15 states
- Cities: Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, and more
- How: Drop at their nearest centre or organize a collection camp
2. Pratham Books
- Website: prathambooks.org
- Focus: Children's books, reaching 50 million+ readers
- Published: 4,000+ books in 22 Indian languages
- Digital: Free stories on StoryWeaver platform
- Donate: Monetary donations at prathambooks.org/donate
3. Robin Hood Army
- Website: robinhoodarmy.com
- Presence: 407+ cities globally, major Indian cities covered
- Education wing: Robin Hood Academy — helped 7,328+ street children with primary education
- Model: 100% volunteer-based, zero-funds organization
4. Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust
- Website: ratnanidhi.org
- Programme: Mission Million Books — distributing 1 million books to 10,000 institutions
- Free pickup: For donations of 5 kg or more
- Contact: Call 8530485324
5. Other Organizations
| Organization | Focus | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Uday Foundation | Delhi — children in hospitals & govt schools | udayfoundation.org |
| Teach for India | 9 cities — classroom teaching | teachforindia.org |
| Katha | Community libraries (COOL! programme) | katha.org |
| Books For All | Schools & individuals | booksforall.org.in |
| Pustak Foundation | Library building | pustakfoundation.org |
Online Platforms with Free Doorstep Pickup
| Platform | Coverage | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| MyPustak | PAN India | Free doorstep pickup, also sells used books |
| Share At Door Step | PAN India | Matches donations to best-fit NGO automatically |
| PutForShare | PAN India | Free pickup, also lets you sell used books |
How to Donate Books — Step by Step
- Sort your books — keep books in readable condition. Remove torn, water-damaged, or heavily marked books.
- Choose a channel:
- Online pickup — MyPustak, Share At Door Step (most convenient)
- NGO drop-off — Goonj centres (57 locations across India)
- Direct to school — contact your local government school or Block Education Officer
- Pack the books — clean, dry, in a bag or box
- Schedule pickup or drop off — most platforms let you book online
- Get a receipt — important for tax purposes if donating through an 80G-registered NGO
Tax Benefits Under Section 80G
Important clarification: Only monetary donations qualify for Section 80G tax deductions. Physical book donations do NOT qualify for tax benefits.
- Deduction: 50% or 100% of donated amount (depends on the NGO)
- Cash limit: Cash donations above ₹2,000 are NOT eligible — use UPI, bank transfer, or cheque
- Documentation needed: Receipt with NGO name, PAN, 80G registration number
- 80G-registered NGOs for books: Pratham Books, Goonj, Teach for India, Ratna Nidhi
Source: Income Tax Department — Section 80G of Income Tax Act
Pro Tip
If you want tax benefits, make a monetary donation to an 80G-registered NGO that buys and distributes books (like Pratham Books). You get the deduction AND the books reach children who need them.
Government School Library Donations
Under the Samagra Shiksha programme (successor to Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan), government schools receive annual library grants of ₹5,000-₹20,000. However, many schools still lack sufficient books.
- Contact your local government school directly
- Reach out to the Block Education Officer in your district
- Organizations like Ratna Nidhi's Mission Million Books specifically channel donations to government schools
Source: samagra.education.gov.in
Book Exchange & Swap Communities
If you want to exchange books rather than donate, try these platforms:
- BookChor (bookchor.com) — buy, sell, and exchange used books
- Swapthebook (swapthebook.com) — swap books with nearby readers
- Goodreads India Book Exchange — online community for swapping books
Or list your books on BookBazaar to sell them at a fair price and let another student benefit!