The Bible Society of India (BSI) is a Christian organisation engaged in the translation, production and distribution of the Bible in the languages of India. Headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, it is among the largest Bible-publishing bodies in the country and a member of the United Bible Societies, a global fellowship of national Bible societies.
| Name | Bible Society of India |
|---|---|
| Type | Christian non-profit organisation |
| Activity | Bible translation, publication and distribution |
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Affiliation | United Bible Societies |
The Bible Society of India traces its institutional roots to the early nineteenth century, when auxiliaries of the British and Foreign Bible Society were established in different parts of British India to support the translation of Scripture into Indian languages. Over time these auxiliaries were consolidated into a national body that, after Indian independence, was reorganised as an autonomous Indian Bible society.
The Society works across linguistic, denominational and regional lines, serving Christians from Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and other traditions. Its activity is shaped by the multilingual character of India, where Scripture is required in numerous major languages as well as in smaller tribal and regional tongues.
The Bible Society of India is governed by a general body and an elected board representing member churches and auxiliaries. It functions through regional auxiliaries spread across the Indian states, each catering to the language groups and Christian communities of its area. As a member of the United Bible Societies, it cooperates with sister societies on translation standards, scholarship and global Scripture distribution.
The Society has played a substantial role in the cultural and literary history of Christianity in India. Its translation work has contributed to the development of standardised written forms of several Indian languages, particularly tribal and minority languages where the Bible was among the earliest printed books. It remains a central provider of Scripture for the Indian Church and a participant in inter-confessional Bible translation projects.