The 28th edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair 2020 (NDWBF 2020) was held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi from January 4-12, 2020. It was inaugurated by Union Minister of Human Resource Development (MHRD) Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’. The theme of NDWBF 2020 book fair was ‘Gandhi: TheWriters’ Writer’ celebrating 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi. Since 2013, the NDWBF is organised by National Book Trust (NBT) in association with India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), Ministry of Commerce(MoC) under Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with ITPO.
Highlights of NDWBF 2020:
i.Photo exhibition: A special photo exhibition titled “Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat” on NBT’s contribution in promoting books in schools and libraries under govt. of India’s programme for the school education was put up.
ii.Braille Books: National Book Trust(NBT) of India in collaboration with the All India Confederation of Blind (AICB) jointly published over 250 books in Braille for visually impaired readers.
iii.Foreign Country participation: Over 15 countries such as Abu Dhabi, China, Denmark, Egypt, France,Germany, Iran, Nepal, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Sharjah, Spain, Sri Lanka, UK(United Kingdom), USA(United States of America), participated in the Foreign Pavilion at the Fair.
iv.Participants: Eminent Gandhian scholar, Prof. GirishwarMisra; Chairman of National Book Trust(NBT), Prof. Govind Prasad Sharma; Joint Secretary of MHRD, Shri Madan Mohan; Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Executive Director of the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and other officials were present on the occasion.
New Delhi World Book Fair:
i.It is an annual book fair hosted at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi in the month of January. Previously it was hosted twice a year.
ii.1st edition: NDWBF was first inaugurated by Shri. Varahagiri Venkata Giri, then President of India and was held from March 18 to April 4, 1972 with just 200 participants.
iii.NDWBF is the oldest book fair in India after Kolkata Book Fair. It is also Asia’s biggest book fair is expected to soon become the world’s biggest book fair.
About Ministry of Human Resource and Development(MHRD):
Founded- 26 September 1985.
Headquarters- New Delhi.
Union Minister- Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ (Constituency- Haridwar, Uttarakhand).
Minister of State(MoS)- Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre (Constituency- Akola, Maharashtra).
