New Delhi, Jan 10: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the 53rd edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital on Saturday.

According to sources, the nine-day literary festival, running from January 10 to 18, has drawn participation from over 1,000 publishers representing more than 35 countries.

This year’s theme, Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75, is dedicated to the Indian Army, showcasing its operations from 1947 to 2026. The Theme Pavilion is the centrepiece, featuring more than 500 books on military history and hosting over 100 theme-based events. Visitors will also have the opportunity to interact with serving and retired officers of the armed forces, underscoring the role of literature in preserving military heritage and national pride.

The fair includes more than 300 stalls and 600 literary programmes, with entry free for all visitors. Special pavilions have been set up, including Hall No. 6 for children, and dedicated spaces for books in all Indian languages. Exclusive offers on book purchases are available, while cultural programmes featuring artists from India and abroad will be held daily.

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Marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, a special exhibition has been organised, alongside another dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. A video installation on Kudopali has also been inaugurated, while “Kudopali: The Tale of 1857” has been published in Bengali, Assamese, Punjabi, Malayalam, Urdu and Marathi.

A key highlight of this year’s fair is the launch of Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya, a digital library offering access to 6,000 free eBooks. The initiative blends traditional book browsing with digital innovation, ensuring wider and more inclusive access to literature.

Other attractions include Author’s Connect, Yuva Corner, Child Authors’ Corner, and a series of cultural activities, making the fair a vibrant platform for literary dialogue, cultural exchange and national reflection.