Overview
- Held January 10–18 at Bharat Mandapam, the fair drew an estimated 2 million-plus visitors, according to organisers.
- The first-time free entry policy was credited with broader participation and a 30% rise in National Book Trust book sales.
- More than 1,000 publishers from over 35 countries took part, with 600+ events and visits by dignitaries including Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Home Minister Amit Shah.
- A major theme pavilion on Indian military history featured 500+ titles, hardware replicas such as the Arjun tank and INS Vikrant, and visits by top service chiefs.
- Viral videos from the closing day showed crowds grabbing books at stalls, drawing public criticism and questions over crowd management and visitor conduct.