Overview
- The nine-day fair was inaugurated at Bharat Mandapam by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan alongside Spain’s culture minister Ernest Urtasun Domenech and Qatar’s ambassador and culture minister.
- The event runs January 10–18 and brings together over 1,000 publishers from more than 35 countries, about 600 activities with nearly 1,000 speakers, and an expected audience of over two million.
- The 1,000 sq. metre Theme Pavilion, inspired by the Indian Military Academy, features 500+ books, curated exhibits, documentaries, and replicas of the Arjun Tank, INS Vikrant and LCA Tejas, with tributes to 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees.
- Qatar serves as Guest of Honour and Spain as Focus Country, with broader participation that includes publishers from Russia, Japan, France and more, plus 10 directors from major international book fairs.
- The fair’s digital push includes Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya kiosks offering 6,000+ free e-books via QR downloads, complemented by a dedicated children’s pavilion and evening cultural performances.