Pragati Maidan Book Fair

The New Delhi World Book Fair, held in Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, is India's oldest book fair. The first New Delhi World Book Fair was held on roughly 6790 sq. mts. area with 200 participants from March 18 to April 4, 1972. It was inaugurated by V. V. Giri, then President of India. 

Year-wise Fair Details

2012

The 20th New Delhi World Book Fair 2012 was held in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from February 25, 2012 to March 4, 2012 and was organised by the National Book Trust, India. The fair was inaugurated by the then HRD Minister Kapil Sibal. A corporate social responsibility initiative was undertaken by the publishing industry to launch the Pink Ribbon Book Tag at the Book Fair to support the Indian Cancer Society for a humanitarian cause. The theme of the 20th World Book Fair was Towards 100 years of Indian Cinema.

2013

The biennial World Book Fair (now annual beginning with the 21st edition) was scheduled from February 4-10 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Under an MoU, the annual event was organized jointly by the National Book Trust, India & India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) with the theme being Indigenous Voices: Mapping India's Folk & Tribal Literature and France as the guest country.

The then HRD Minister Shashi Tharoor inaugurated the Fair, presided by Dr. Karan Singh, M.P. & Chairman Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Some of the events held for the first time included cosplay, school librarians' meet, artist & illustrators' gallery and the counsellors desk in the Children & Youth pavilion. An annual National Debut Youth Fiction Writers meet was also held to promote greater interest in readership.

2014

The 22nd New Delhi World Book Fair 2014 was held from February 15-23. The Guest of Honour country was Poland, while the theme was Kathasagara: Celebrating Children's Literature.

2015

The 23rd New Delhi World Book Fair 2015 was held from February 14-22. The guest of honour country was Singapore with Korea as the focus country. The theme of the Fair was Suryodaya: Emerging voices from North East India. The slogan of the fair was Books opening the mind. Doors opening the future. The Union HRD Minister Smriti Iraniinaugurated the Fair, while HRD Minister of State Upendra Kushwaha inaugurated the Children's pavilion. National Book Trust under the Young India Library series was to put up for sale a new edition of a book on parables covering a new dimension of Swami Vivekananda for developing scientific temper in children.

2016

India and China have agreed that China will participate in the New Delhi World Book Fair 2016 as the Guest of Honour Country.