Dharmendra Pradhan Inaugurates 53rd World Book Fair In New Delhi

The 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair started at Bharat Mandapam on Saturday, with the theme ‘Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75’, and publishers from more than 35 countries joining in.

The event

was inaugurated by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, along with Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun Domenech, Qatar’s Ambassador to India Mohammed Hassan Jabir Al-Jabir, and Qatar’s Culture Minister Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.

For the first time, entry is free for everyone, and the fair is honoring the bravery and wisdom of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force as its main theme, celebrating their courage, sacrifice, and role in building the nation since Independence.

The theme pavilion will showcase over 500 books, curated exhibits, posters, documentaries, and installations inspired by the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. Highlights include models of the Arjun Tank, INS Vikrant, and LCA Tejas, tributes to 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, and sessions on major wars and military operations from Budgaon 1947 to Operation Sindoor. There will also be exhibitions on 150 years of Vande Mataram and the life of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

At the opening, Pradhan said the fair’s theme reminds us of the courage and wisdom needed for nation-building. He explained that this year’s theme honors the soldiers of the nation.

The nine-day fair, running from January 10 to 18, brings together over 1000 publishers from more than 35 countries, with about 600 literary activities and nearly 1000 speakers, and is expected to attract over two million visitors.

Pradhan called the fair a festival of discussion and creativity. He quoted the Bhagavad Gita, saying nothing is more sacred than knowledge, and books are part of this tradition that connects generations and cultures.

He also said the New Delhi World Book Fair-2026 is a great example of India’s literary awareness in terms of size and influence. With more than 3000 stalls, over 1000 publishers, and more than 600 literary and editorial programs, it’s not just a book fair but a gathering of ideas and a celebration of creativity.

He added that India is now the third largest country in book publishing, showing the depth of its knowledge, languages, and cultures. This also shows India’s self-reliance, bringing Indian literature to the world through its culture.

The fair will host authors, speakers, and public figures like Piyush Mishra, Smriti Irani, Hema Malini, Kailash Satyarthi, Ricky Kej, Jaya Kishori, Durjoy Dutta, Shalini Passi, and Shubhanshu Shukla.

This year, Qatar is the Guest of Honour Country and Spain is the Focus Country.

Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun Domenech said that taking part in the fair is part of the India-Spain dual year, showing the bond between the two countries and their shared commitment to the rule of law, sustainability, and a rules-based international order.

He said the habit of reading connects us with humanity, thought, memory, and the future, and books speak when people cannot. He added that shared reading experiences help us grow in the present.

The fair features publishers, authors, and cultural groups from more than 35 countries, including Russia, Japan, Poland, France, Abu Dhabi, Iran, Kazakhstan, Hungary, and Chile.

The international pavilion will host book launches, poetry evenings, cultural events, children’s literature sessions, and talks on topics like artificial intelligence, gaming, migration, and heritage.

This year, 10 international book fair directors will also take part, including those from Leipzig, Bologna, Seoul, and Tuyap Fairs from Turkiye.

In the evenings, there will be cultural performances by Manganiyar artists from Rajasthan, poets from the Rekhta Foundation, and official bands of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The children’s pavilion will offer storytelling, theatre, quizzes, art and craft, Vedic maths, book design workshops, and interactions with child authors.