DELHI, February 28. /Dunyo IA/. The February issue of the Indian business magazine “Business Central Asia” published an article dedicated to Uzbekistan’s new state program aimed at promoting a culture of reading among the population, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The article “Uzbekistan to reward those who read books” informs the Indian business community and international readers about Uzbekistan's initiatives, including President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s January 15, 2026, decree implementing unprecedented support for reading.

The magazine emphasizes that Uzbekistan is implementing a unique support system for the most active readers among civil servants, schoolchildren and students.

The focus of the program is on key aspects such as financial incentives for readers, support for literature and authors, infrastructural reforms in the publishing sector and other related measures.

According to “Business Central Asia”, new legislation introduces financial rewards for civil servants and students who read the highest number of books, including bonuses equal to a monthly salary for officials and 25 base calculating amounts for top students. The policy aims to incentivize reading at the state level. More information is available on the Business Central Asia website.

“For the first time, legislation establishes monetary rewards for civil servants, schoolchildren, and students who read the greatest number of books. Officials ranked among the most avid readers can receive a prize equivalent to one month’s salary, while the top 100 active student readers will be awarded a cash prize of 25 base calculation units”, - writes “Business Central Asia”.

The article also reports on the establishment of a Reading Culture Development Fund, which will provide monthly scholarships to talented writers and subsidize up to 50 percent of the costs of translating foreign literature into Uzbek and vice versa.

The publication highlights the launch of the national programme “Kitob - Ma’rifat manbai” (“The book as a source of enlightenment”). As of February 1, state promotion of books and reading has been granted the status of social information. In addition, QR codes will be introduced in public transport to provide access to the online platform “Mutolaa”.

The coverage in “Business Central Asia” - a monthly magazine reporting on economic and social developments in Central Asia — reflects the growing interest of the international community in Uzbekistan’s reforms and elevates the country’s cultural policy to the level of an attractive investment and social agenda.

The magazine’s interest in Uzbekistan’s initiatives underscores the country’s growing role as a regional leader in the fields of human capital development and humanitarian advancement.