Following a high-level academic review led by Prof Milind Sudhakar Marathe, the chairman of NBT, the curriculum has been overhauled. The new programme is a calculated attempt to equip publishing professionals for two concurrent, epochal shifts: the Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution and the rise of Indian regional language markets.
As per a press note issued by the NBT, "The modular structure has replaced its old structure with a brand-new, practical ‘4+2’ Modular Structure." The first four weeks are a Foundational Phase, designed to ensure a common baseline mastery for all candidates. This phase is followed by a two-week Advanced Specialisation, during which students commit to dedicated professional tracks such as editorial, marketing, production, or design. This is based on their desired career trajectory.
The rigour of the programme is evident in the schedule: approximately 120 intensive instructional sessions are packed into 30 working days, running Monday through Friday.
The foundational phase establishes the intellectual and commercial scaffolding of the industry.
The first week will map the Global Publishing Landscape, moving from the historical "Evolution of Text: From Tablets to Tablet" to an analytical view of modern market trends and the structural problems facing Indian publishing. Crucially, it includes deep dives into the distinct business challenges and operational mechanics of Hindi and other language-specific publishing.
The second week will focus on the editorial machinery, focusing on the intellectual engine of the house. Sessions include the "Business of IPs," covering Intellectual Property Rights, anti-piracy, and royalty structures. A practical focus is placed on drafting legally binding author-editor contracts.
The third week balances aesthetics and engineering with visual narratives and production. Beyond cover design psychology, the week includes a two-day workshop in industry-standard software (Photoshop, InDesign) and a comprehensive technical overview of print engineering, from paper selection and costing to sheetfed vs web-fed printing.
The fourth week shifts to strategic marketing, logistics, and digital media. It addresses commercialising the product through market domination tools, supply chain operations, and corporate cost management. Multi-day workshops are dedicated to ePublishing architectures, Digital Rights Management (DRM), and audiobook production.
The final fortnight (Weeks 5 & 6) pushes participants to the AI Horizon. Students enter their chosen Advanced Specialisation Master Classes, where theory is integrated with reality through field visits to corporate publishing houses and commercial printing presses. The programme culminates in a forward-looking seminar on ‘AI and the Book,’ mapping out how generative tools and digital aids are reshaping the creative and editorial landscape.
An official at NBT told PrintWeek that "To deliver this overhauled curriculum, NBT has curated an unparalleled faculty. The cohort will receive direct mentorship from a formidable line-up of industry executives and legal minds, a roster that serves as a collective vote of confidence in the future of the print industry." Instructors include CEOs and publishers such as Anantha Padmanabhan (HarperCollins India) and Ravi Singh (Speaking Tiger), as well as corporate executives like Milee Ashwarya and Sameer Mahale (Penguin Random House India). Specialists such as Claudia Kaiser (Frankfurt Book Fair) and IPR Lawyer Dahlia Sen Oberoi will provide a global and legal context.