Twenty-Two Volumes, One Annual Revision Cycle: The 2027 Edition Reaches India
Key Takeaways
- The World Book Encyclopedia 2027 is a print set of 22 hardcover volumes and 14,400 pages [IME product page].
- The MRP in India is ₹1,59,999, including GST and delivery [IME product page].
- World Book writes the set for school-age readers aged 9 to 18 and for adults [World Book].
- World Book updated its India article in the 2025 edition to reflect recent election outcomes, so 2024 and earlier sets predate the June 2024 Lok Sabha election results [World Book 2025].
- UDISE+ 2025-26, the national school census, records a library in 90.5% of Indian schools [PIB].
World Book Encyclopedia 2027: What Indian Families and Schools Are Buying
World Book, a Chicago publisher, has produced its encyclopedia since 1917 [World Book timeline]. Its editors update hundreds of articles for each annual edition [World Book 2026]. It issues a new print edition each year, and the 2027 edition is the latest to go on sale in India [IME product page].
World Book describes the print set as a resource for building library and research skills, suited to classroom and library use. There are two types of buyers in India. One is the family choosing a reference set for the home, and the other is the school adding to its library.
This post sets out what changes between editions, who checks the content, what the set costs, and how to order it. The World Book Encyclopedia 2027 is the edition covered throughout.
The Set at a Glance
Two sources describe the set. IME’s product page carries the 2027 print specification, and World Book’s own website describes editions up to 2026 at the time of writing.
The table below sets out the main facts a buyer needs:
| Feature | Detail | Edition and source |
| Format | 22 hardcover volumes | 2027 print specification, IME |
| Pages | 14,400 across the set, from 408 to 1,112 pages per volume | 2027 print specification, IME |
| Page size | 6.875 by 9.75 inches (about 17.5 by 24.8 cm) | 2027 print specification, IME |
| Paper | 80 gsm silk | 2027 print specification, IME |
| Pictures and maps | More than 25,000 photographs, illustrations, diagrams and maps | 2026 edition page, World Book |
| Index | Tens of thousands of index entries | 2026 edition page, World Book |
| Readers | School-age readers aged 9 to 18, and adults | 2022 edition page, World Book |
| MRP in India | ₹1,59,999, including GST and delivery | IME product page |
Sources: IME product page, World Book 2026 edition page, World Book 2022 edition page.
What Changes From One Edition to the Next
With each year’s World Book edition, it publishes a short list of what changed, covering the articles revised in depth, the new articles and biographies, and other updates. Owners of an older set can read these lists to see what later editions added.
Articles and Biographies
Each list names the articles revised in depth and the new entries added. World Book reports that hundreds of articles are updated in each edition [World Book 2026].
The table below compares World Book’s published highlights for recent editions:
| Edition | Extensively revised articles | New articles, biographies and other updates |
| 2027 | Animation, Electric Car, Haiti, Medicine, Military Aircraft, Nutrition, Olympic Games, Psychiatry, Reading, Solar Energy. | Pope Leo XIV, Donald Trump, Iran, Israel, Venezuela, Space Exploration |
| 2026 | Adolescent, Literature for children, Mental illness, Olympic Games, Science | New biographies of Mark Carney and J.D. Vance. Politician biographies and U.S. governor tables updated after recent elections |
| 2025 | United States Air Force, Library, Mars, Newspaper, Philippines, Venezuela | Country articles updated for election outcomes, including Argentina, France, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Entries revised to reflect events in Gaza |
| 2024 | Artificial intelligence, Great white shark, Global warming, Mathematics, Space exploration | New articles on the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Ron DeSantis, the James Webb Space Telescope, and the Nuremberg Laws. Election and voting articles updated |
| 2023 | Homeschooling, Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, Olympic Games, Rugby Football, Shark, Space Exploration, Telephones, Television | New biographies of Chloe Kim, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Statistics updated with the most recent U.S. Census information |
Sources: World Book edition pages for 2026, 2025 and 2024, and the 2023 edition announcement.
For an Indian reader, the 2025 row is the one to check. World Book lists India among the countries whose articles were updated in that edition to reflect recent election outcomes [World Book 2025]. The Election Commission of India submitted the list of members elected to the 18th Lok Sabha on 6 June 2024 [ECI].
The 2024 edition and earlier sets therefore predate the June 2024 election results. The gap shows in dynamic subjects, such as elections, space exploration and artificial intelligence, all of which appear in the lists above.
Statistics, Maps and Pictures
Revision reaches beyond the named articles. The 2023 edition, for example, updated statistics throughout the set with the most recent United States Census information [World Book 2023]. World Book’s 2026 edition page counts more than 25,000 photographs, illustrations, diagrams, and maps in support of the text [World Book 2026].
A printed set carries one edition year. That makes it simple for a student to record which edition a figure came from, one of the basic information literacy skills.
The Spinescape
World Book distinguishes each new edition with a Spinescape, a continuous illustration displayed across the outer spines of the entire collection. The 2026 design pays tribute to the United States flag in the country’s 250th anniversary year [World Book 2026]. The 2025 design marks the Golden Age of Jazz [World Book 2025], and the 2024 design by Don Clark reflects on space exploration [World Book 2024].
IME’s product page names the 2027 Spinescape as ‘Where Knowledge Takes Flight’ [IME product page]. On a library shelf, the design also shows at a glance which edition is in use.
Who Writes and Checks the Articles
A reference set is as reliable as the people behind it. World Book’s description of the 2026 edition notes that “Expert contributors, advisors, and subject area specialists ensure readability and accuracy” [World Book 2026]. The same wording appears on its pages for the 2024 and 2025 editions.
Three points matter to a buyer:
- Editorial lead: Tom Evans, World Book’s Vice President of Editorial, oversees the development of all content [World Book About Us].
- Age range: World Book writes for school-age readers from 9 to 18 and for adults, so a Class 5 student and a Class 11 student can use the same set [World Book].
- Index: Tens of thousands of index entries help a reader locate a topic across the volumes [World Book 2026].
World Book serves libraries, schools, teachers, and families across 100+ countries [IME Product Page].
For Families: How the Set Works at Home
World Book describes the set as written for school-age readers aged 9 to 18 and for adults [World Book]. In Indian terms, that is roughly Class 4 to Class 12. One set can therefore serve siblings several years apart.
Parents weighing the purchase can check four things:
- Age and language: The text is in English and pitched at children aged 9 and upwards. A younger child may need an adult to read alongside.
- Homework use: World Book presents the set as a tool for looking up a subject, preparing a research report, or checking a fact for homework [World Book 2026].
- Shelf space: The set has 22 volumes, each with a page size of about 17.5 by 24.8 cm [IME product page]. Measure the shelf before ordering.
- Edition year: A print set stays as printed. Children should note the edition year whenever they quote from it.
Families with younger children may also find IME’s review of play-based and rote learning in Indian pre-schools useful.
Price and How to Buy in India
The MRP of the 22-volume set is ₹1,59,999, including GST and delivery [IME product page]. That works out to about ₹7,273 per volume. The steps and terms are as follows:
- Where to buy: Orders are placed through the Buy Now button on IME’s World Book product page.
- Payment: All orders are prepaid [IME product page].
- Enquiries: IME’s World Book desk takes calls and WhatsApp messages on +91 94155 59490, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm [IME product page].
For Schools: Where a Print Set Fits in the Library
UDISE+ 2025-26, the Ministry of Education’s annual school census, covers 14.67 lakh (1.47 million) schools [PIB Research] and records a library in 90.5% of them [PIB]. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, India’s education policy framework, says public and school libraries will be expanded to build a culture of reading [NEP 2020, para 2.8]. With foundational library spaces already in place, schools can enhance the scope and educational value of their libraries through carefully selected print resources.
However, maintaining and expanding these collections requires adequate funding, and public spending currently falls short. Samagra Shiksha, the central government’s scheme for school education, gives government schools an annual library grant of ₹5,000 to ₹20,000, depending on the category of school [PIB]. The maximum grant may cover only a fraction of the cost of a print set. Hence, most educational institutions have to rely on private spending to provide updated libraries and references.
The target buyer of an encyclopedia for schools changes based on the school’s funding model:
- Private schools: Schools affiliated to national boards such as the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), which conducts the ICSE and ISC examinations, and the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), pay from their own library budgets.
- International curriculum schools: Schools that teach programmes such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) also pay from their own budgets.
- Government schools: The library grant cannot cover the set, so a purchase needs state funds or a donor.
An encyclopedia for schools is of most use when teachers assign work that sends students to it. Two routines make that happen. One is a regular library period in which students read and browse the volumes, and the other is project work that asks them to look up a topic and note where they found it.
Three Checks Before You Order the World Book Encyclopedia 2027
India’s education sector depends on authoritative and verified content and references. The World Book Encyclopedia 2027 meets a specific infrastructural need within this market. As the NEP 2020 enforces better library standards and curriculum boards mandate independent research, there is an increased demand for the latest reference materials.
Make sure you complete these three checks before buying the 2027 World Book edition:
- Compare any older set with World Book’s lists, since 2024 and earlier sets predate the June 2024 election results.
- Match the set to the reader’s age.
- Confirm the delivery and return terms.
IME is World Book’s authorised India partner and sells this set. Buy the 2027 set on IME’s product page.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the price of the World Book Encyclopedia 2027 in India?
The MRP is ₹1,59,999 for the full 22-volume set. The price includes GST and delivery, according to IME’s product page.
- How do I buy the set?
Orders are placed on IME’s World Book product page through the Buy Now button, and all orders are prepaid. IME is World Book’s authorised India partner.
- How long does delivery take, and what if a volume arrives damaged?
Delivery is free anywhere in India and takes up to 14 days. The sets are already in stock in India, so nothing ships from overseas.
Please record a video while you unbox the set. If a volume arrives damaged, WhatsApp us with that video and we’ll [replace the damaged volume / refund you]. We can only accept a damage claim if there’s an unboxing video. Apart from damage, the set can’t be returned.
- What age is the set suitable for?
World Book writes it for school-age readers aged 9 to 18 and for adults. That is roughly Class 4 to Class 12 in India. Younger children can use it with an adult’s help.
- Is the print set the same as World Book Online?
No. The 2027 set is a printed product, and World Book Online is a separate group of digital databases sold by annual subscription [World Book Digital].
- If I already own an older World Book set, should I buy the 2027 World Book edition?
First, check the year of your World Book set. World Book’s India article was updated for the 2024 Lok Sabha election results only in the 2025 edition [World Book 2025], so a 2024 or earlier set is out of date there and on dynamic subjects. A 2025 or 2026 set is much closer to the 2027 edition.
References:
- World Book: World Book Encyclopedia 2026 edition page
- World Book: World Book Encyclopedia 2025 edition page
- World Book: World Book Encyclopedia 2024 edition page
- World Book: World Book Announces New 2023 Encyclopedia (15 August 2022)
- World Book: The World Book Encyclopedia 2022 edition page
- World Book: About Us
- World Book: Our Global Partners
- World Book: 100 Years of The World Book Encyclopedia (timeline)
- World Book: Digital products
- India Market Entry: World Book Encyclopedia 2027 product page
- Press Information Bureau: Ministry of Education releases the UDISE+ 2025-26 report (7 July 2026)
- PIB Research: Beyond the Numbers, UDISE+ 2025-26 Report (17 August 2026)
- Government of India: National Education Policy 2020
- Lok Sabha: Unstarred Question No. 957, Library and Sports Facilities under Samagra Shiksha (answered 10 February 2025)
- Ministry of Education: Samagra Shiksha, library grant for promoting reading habits
- Election Commission of India: Press Note ECI/PN/117/2024 (6 June 2024)
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
- Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)
