PIB 10 January 2026 general

53rd New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 Opens at Bharat Mandapam with Free Entry for All

Q: What is the theme and significance of the 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 held at Bharat Mandapam?

The **53rd New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) 2026** opened on **January 10** at **Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi** (running until January 18). The central theme was **'Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75'** honouring Armed Forces' contributions since Independence. For the **first time in its history**, the fair offered **free entry** to all visitors. Organised by the **National Book Trust** under the **Ministry of Education** with **ITPO** as co-organiser; over **1,000 publishers from 35+ countries** participated.

Q: What were the Guest of Honour and Focus Country at the 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair 2026?

At the **53rd NDWBF 2026** (January 10-18, Bharat Mandapam), **Qatar** was designated the **Guest of Honour Country** and **Spain** was the **Focus Country**. The fair was inaugurated by **Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan**. Over **1,000 publishers from 35+ countries** participated. The central theme was **'Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75'** and for the first time in its history, **free entry** was offered to all visitors. The **National Book Trust** organised it under the Ministry of Education.

Q: What was unique about the Theme Pavilion at the 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair 2026?

The **1,000 sq metre Theme Pavilion** at the **53rd NDWBF 2026** (Bharat Mandapam, January 10-18) offered a **360-degree immersive experience** with over **500 books** and replicas of military hardware including the **Arjun Tank** and **INS Vikrant**. This reflected the central theme **'Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75'**. The fair was organised by **National Book Trust (Ministry of Education)** with free entry for all visitors — a **first in NDWBF history** — and had **Qatar as Guest of Honour** and **Spain as Focus Country**.

Q: Why was free entry offered at the 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 for the first time?

The **53rd New Delhi World Book Fair 2026** (January 10-18, Bharat Mandapam) offered **free entry** to all visitors for the **first time in its history**, making the fair more accessible to the public. Inaugurated by **Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan**, the fair was organised by the **National Book Trust** under the **Ministry of Education** with **ITPO**. The theme was **'Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75'** with over **1,000 publishers from 35+ countries**, **Qatar (Guest of Honour)** and **Spain (Focus Country)**.

Q: Who organises the New Delhi World Book Fair and who inaugurated the 53rd edition in 2026?

The **New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF)** is organised by the **National Book Trust (NBT)** under the **Ministry of Education**, Government of India, with **ITPO (India Trade Promotion Organisation)** as co-organiser. The **53rd edition (2026)** was inaugurated by **Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan** at **Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (January 10-18)**. The theme was **'Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75'**, with **free entry** (first time), over **1,000 publishers from 35+ countries**, **Qatar** (Guest) and **Spain** (Focus Country).

53rd NDWBF opens at Bharat Mandapam with free entry; theme 'Indian Military History @75'; Qatar Guest of Honour.

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Key Points for RAS

53rd New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) 2026 opened on January 10 at Bharat Mandapam, running until January 18, with free entry for all visitors for the first time
Organised by National Book Trust under Ministry of Education with ITPO as co-organiser; attracted over 1,000 publishers from 35+ countries
Central theme was 'Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75' honouring Armed Forces' contributions since Independence
1,000 sq metre Theme Pavilion offered 360-degree immersive experience with over 500 books and replicas including Arjun Tank and INS Vikrant
Qatar was Guest of Honour Country and Spain was the Focus Country; inaugurated by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

The 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) 2026 opened on January 10 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, running until January 18. For the first time in its history, the fair announced free entry for all visitors. Organised by the National Book Trust under the Ministry of Education, with ITPO as co-organiser, the fair attracted over 1,000 publishers from 35+ countries.

The central theme was 'Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75', honouring the Armed Forces' contributions since Independence. A 1,000 sq metre Theme Pavilion offered a 360-degree immersive experience with over 500 books and replicas of military hardware including the Arjun Tank and INS Vikrant. Qatar was designated Guest of Honour Country and Spain was the Focus Country. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the fair.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1 What is the theme and significance of the 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 held at Bharat Mandapam?

The 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) 2026 opened on January 10 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (running until January 18). The central theme was 'Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75' honouring Armed Forces' contributions since Independence. For the first time in its history, the fair offered free entry to all visitors. Organised by the National Book Trust under the Ministry of Education with ITPO as co-organiser; over 1,000 publishers from 35+ countries participated.

2 What were the Guest of Honour and Focus Country at the 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair 2026?

At the 53rd NDWBF 2026 (January 10-18, Bharat Mandapam), Qatar was designated the Guest of Honour Country and Spain was the Focus Country. The fair was inaugurated by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Over 1,000 publishers from 35+ countries participated. The central theme was 'Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75' and for the first time in its history, free entry was offered to all visitors. The National Book Trust organised it under the Ministry of Education.

3 What was unique about the Theme Pavilion at the 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair 2026?

The 1,000 sq metre Theme Pavilion at the 53rd NDWBF 2026 (Bharat Mandapam, January 10-18) offered a 360-degree immersive experience with over 500 books and replicas of military hardware including the Arjun Tank and INS Vikrant. This reflected the central theme 'Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75'. The fair was organised by National Book Trust (Ministry of Education) with free entry for all visitors — a first in NDWBF history — and had Qatar as Guest of Honour and Spain as Focus Country.

4 Why was free entry offered at the 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 for the first time?

The 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 (January 10-18, Bharat Mandapam) offered free entry to all visitors for the first time in its history, making the fair more accessible to the public. Inaugurated by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the fair was organised by the National Book Trust under the Ministry of Education with ITPO. The theme was 'Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75' with over 1,000 publishers from 35+ countries, Qatar (Guest of Honour) and Spain (Focus Country).

5 Who organises the New Delhi World Book Fair and who inaugurated the 53rd edition in 2026?

The New Delhi World Book Fair (NDWBF) is organised by the National Book Trust (NBT) under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, with ITPO (India Trade Promotion Organisation) as co-organiser. The 53rd edition (2026) was inaugurated by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (January 10-18). The theme was 'Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75', with free entry (first time), over 1,000 publishers from 35+ countries, Qatar (Guest) and Spain (Focus Country).

Mains Exam Angle

Practice question with model answer for RAS Mains

Q: Discuss the significance of the 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, especially its military history theme and free-entry decision.

Answer (50 words): The 53rd New Delhi World Book Fair opened on January 10, 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, running until January 18 with free entry for the first time. Themed 'Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75', it attracted over 1,000 publishers from 35+ countries, with Qatar as Guest of Honour and Spain Focus Country.

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