1. Headline News
- Event: The 53rd edition (approx. count based on annual history) of the New Delhi World Book Fair is set to be a major cultural event in early 2025.
- Theme Focus: This year’s edition is heavily tied to India’s constitutional history, celebrating 75 years of the Republic.
2. Key Facts (The “Who, When, Where”)
- Dates: February 1 to February 9, 2025.
- Venue: Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi (Halls 2-6).
- Organizers:
- Primary: National Book Trust (NBT), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India.
- Co-Organizer: India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), under the Ministry of Commerce.
- Inauguration: Expected to be inaugurated by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu.
3. Theme & Significance
- Theme:“Republic@75”
- Context: Commemorates 75 years of the Indian Constitution (adopted in 1950).
- Slogan: “Hum Bharat ke Log” (We, the People of India).
- Focus: The Theme Pavilion will showcase India’s journey of nation-building, democracy, and governance through books and archives.
4. International Focus
- Guest/Focus Country: Russia
- Pavilion Name: “Roos Se Aayi Kitabein” (Books from Russia).
- Content: Russian literature, theatre, music, and cuisine will be highlighted.
- Diplomacy: Over 50 countries are expected to participate, including France, Spain, Argentina, and UAE.
5. Major Highlights & Zones
- Festival of Festivals (FoF): A unique initiative where other major Indian literary festivals (like Jaipur Literature Festival, Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival) share a common stage at the NDWBF to host sessions.
- YUVA Corner: Dedicated to young authors selected under the PM-YUVA 2.0 scheme (mentorship program for writers under 30).
- Children’s Pavilion: Features a “Kidz Kingdom” with storytelling, workshops, and illustrators’ corners to promote reading among children.
- CEO Speak: A B2B forum for CEOs and senior executives in the publishing industry to discuss trade and policy.
- New Delhi Rights Table: A dedicated event for trading translation and publishing rights between Indian and international publishers.
6. Connect the Dots (Related Policy/Schemes)
- National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: The fair often promotes books in regional languages, aligning with the NEP’s focus on multilingualism.
- Soft Power: The “Focus Country” initiative is a tool of cultural diplomacy (Soft Power), strengthening bilateral ties through literature.
- Digital India: NBT has been pushing for “Digital Experience Zones” to showcase e-books and audiobooks, reflecting the digitization of the Indian publishing market (ranked 3rd largest globally).