New Delhi, January 11. The Indian Navy has joined the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026, using the prestigious literary event as a platform to highlight India’s maritime heritage and the service’s own long and evolving naval tradition.
The nine-day fair, organised by the National Book Trust (NBT) under the Ministry of Education, was inaugurated by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Navy’s participation is being led by its Naval History Division (NHD), the service’s premier research and archival body, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence on January 11.
In collaboration with NBT, the NHD has set up dedicated Indian Navy stalls at the Navy Pavilion in Hall No. 5. The stalls feature a wide range of official naval publications as well as detailed scale models of ships, offering visitors a visual and scholarly journey through the Navy’s evolution, traditions and operational achievements.
Among the highlights on display are seven volumes of the official history of the Indian Navy covering the period from 1945 to 2021. Visitors can also browse through histories of individual warships, submarines, air squadrons and naval establishments, along with books on India’s wider maritime past.
As part of its academic and public outreach, the Naval History Division has also curated a series of panel discussions. On January 10, a session on the 1971 War was held, moderated by Commander Neeraj Vashisth, with retired Commander Vijai Prakash Kapil, a decorated war veteran, and defence journalist Sandeep Unnithan sharing insights into a defining moment in India’s naval history.
Another discussion on ‘Naval Maritime Expeditions: Past and Present’ is scheduled for January 11 at the theme pavilion in Hall 5, while a panel on ‘Creating Rule-Based Order: The Role of the Indian Navy’ will be held on January 14, focusing on the Navy’s role in maintaining stability in the Indian Ocean Region.
One of the major attractions of the fair will be the release of a new book on the Indian Navy, prepared by the Naval History Division and scheduled to be unveiled by the Chief of the Naval Staff at a special event.
Beyond exhibitions and discussions, the Navy is also using the fair to connect with young visitors and encourage them to consider a career in the service. According to officials, the naval stalls and publications have already drawn strong public interest, underscoring the enduring appeal of India’s maritime story.
